Snag Proof Bleedin' Frog Review

Bleeding' Frog:    Colors: 5     Weight: 1/2oz    Size: 3"   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

Snag Proof has proven to me over and over again that they know how to make a good frog, but every once in a while I feel that take a step back. In my opinion the Bleeding' frog is one of those instances. Its not a frog problem, simply put they loaded this frog up with a bunch of gimmicky features that for the most part don't put any more fish in your boat.

Overall Rating:  6.6/10

Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price

Quality: 3.0/5

Built Snag Proof tough you won't find many issues with this frogs quality and or durability. That is other then the usually read hook problem.. like braided line red hooks just don't seem to hold their color,  the more fish you land, structure you bang or pliers you use.. kiss the rod coating goodbye. Any since that is a feature of this frog I had to deduct points here.

Cast ability: 3.5/5

The Bleeding frogs large profile allows you to get some pretty decent casting distance when needed. It has an exposed rear weight that make sure it lands ass down 9 times out of 10 and its quickly in its fighting stance.

Like the red on the hooks, the exposed rear weight can wear down over time, this may shave a bit off the frogs weight, we are not talking jenny craig here, but it may be noticeable in the wind or when casting for distance.

Presentation: 3.5/5

The Bleedin' frog moves average to well in the water. Its not a great walker but also not one of the worst. The Version of this frog "with attitude" walks slightly worse then the version without the trailer hook.

Even with the rear weight I found my bleeding frog to sit more flat than ass down, This may be due to the larger body frame. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

As mentioned above there are two versions of this frog. One "with attitude" and apparently one without attitude. 'With attitude means it comes with a trailer hook and a $2 price increase. It may not look like it here but I bough the attitude version and ended up removing the trailer hook. Sure they are good in sparse or open water, but all in all I didn't find it made that much difference other then to the amount of time i spent cleaning my hooks.

Snag Proofs medium soft body allows for decent hook-up ratios. I don't have exact measurements but I will say this frog fishes larger then my SP fav's.

Availability & Price: 3.5/5

Reasonably priced at $7.99 these frogs are very common. Bleeding lures were the rage a few seasons back and still often hook anglers. 

Options: 3.0/5

1 Size, 5 basic colors and an attitude adjustment is what you have for options here. its standard dare for Snag Proof but as usual it leaves me wanting more.

Where to Find:

In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.

TackleWarehouse ($7.99)

Monster ($7.59)

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 60lb Daiwa J-Braid. This rod and reel combo offers the perfect balance of power and sensitivity needed when frog fishing, 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B+

Pads (Medium Cover): B+

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): C

Walk the Dog: C

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: C+

Boze Sumo Frog Review - Retired

Sumo:    Colors: 5     Weight: 5/8oz    Size: 2 3/4"   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

Last year I wrote my first Boze frog review, and it was at that time that I realized that I had been sitting on a review of the Boze Sumo walker for a couple years now.. you know a frog didn't make an impression what you don't even remember using it. So last season I tied it back on and gave it a few more casts hoping it would all come back to me, and I'd fall in love.. that was not the case

Overall Rating:  5.8/10

Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price

Quality: 3.0/5

I'm not really blown away by anything Ive seen on the Boze frog, but at the same time there's not a lot wrong with it. I'm not a huge fan or frogs with external weights, so that would be considered a bit of a con, and the frogs body is thicker then I would like, but that also means its durable. 

I had a few water issues with this frog, not titanic, more like a leaky canoe.

Cast ability: 3.5/5

With a slender body and a rear weight its easy to get this frog airborne and it covers some nice distance. The bellow of the frog is also nice and flat making it one of the easier frogs to skip.

Presentation: 3.0/5

The Sumo frog has an odd body shape that sits well in the water, but its not ideal for walking. I'm not sure if this is due to leg placement or the length of silicone used in the legs, but all in all this frog seems to trip all over itself when walking.

But.. the wide stance and flat body make it easy to pull the Sumo frog over pads and other debris on the water, it pushes or moved water well which is a great way to call fish in from all around.

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

Between the round bend hooks and the firm body I found my hook-up ratio with the sumo frog was average to poor. I felt fish were not getting enough of the frog when they struck, and the hooks weren't finding a home on my hooksets. 

Availability & Price: 2.0/5

This is a hard category to grade on as this frog is all but obsolete at this time. I actually couldn't find this frog at all on any of the websites i frequent including Ebay.. hey maybe its a collectors item.

Options: 3.0/5

I loved the colour options available when this frog was in its prime, Boze offered a mix of traditional and bright colours. At one point two sizes were available but as mentioned above you'll be lucky to find either now.

Where to Find:

In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.

RETIRED

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 60lb braid. This rod and reel combo is built to handle frogs of all shapes and sizes and work well in tandem with the Boze Sumo frog.

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): C

Pads (Medium Cover): C

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B-

Walk the Dog: C

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: C

The 2015 Frog Pond Season is Closed.. see you in 2016

see ya in 2016

Top Frog Awards 2015 - Best Hollow Body and Soft Body Frogs from 2015

I thought I would switch things up this year, and instead of nominating a frog from each of my review categories, I will be focusing on the highest rated frogs overall, and this year (although I expect some flack) the Top frog Awards go to.. Teckel USA Honker and the Gary Yamamoto Yamma Frog

Here's why...

Top Frog Award - Best Hollow Body

TECKEL USA HONKER

With an overall score of 7.8/10 the Teckel Honker not only was the highest rated hollow body frog from this seasons reviews, but it was also the most surprising. After reviewing the Teckel Whacker last season I expected to be in for more of the same, but in all honesty the Honkers unique blade like legs really gave this bait a new lease on life.

the flutter and splash produced by the blade feet were visible from almost the moment this frog hit the water, and although I expected them to get hung up on every little piece of floating debris they actually fished fairly clean.

Couple it's on water performance with the fact that Teckel uses quality components and you have a frog that is built to last all while putting fish in your boat, a pairing not often seen in this industry where quality baits don't always catch fish, and fish catching baits rarely last. If only this frog was more readily available it would be nearly perfect.

Check out my full review HERE

Top Frog Award - Best Soft Body Toad

Gary Yamamoto Yamma Frog

This Top Frog choice i expect to get a little flack for. I heard it when I first posted the review and I expect to hear it a bit more now. But with that said I instantly fell in love with the Yama Frog's on water performance which led me to giving it a 8.6/10 review, which was not only the highest rating for a soft body toad in  2015, it was my highest rating every in this category.

With a wide body and thick flexible legs the Yama frog can be swam both as a swim frog (soft churn) as well as a buzz frog (hard churn) the ribbed body gives off a little extra commotion and it's incredibly soft plastic body is pliable enough to ensure solid hook-ups and dense enough that its added weight makes the Yamma frog a dream to cast.

The elephant in the room here is that its durability is suspect, a problem that plaques all Yamamoto baits.  It is nothing for me to go through a pack of these frogs in a single trip (when the frog bites on) and with a Yamamoto price tag things can and will get expensive quick.

All in all this is a frog that shouldn't be overlooked, and is my Top Frog choice from 2015

Check out my full review HERE

Mann's Goliath Frog Review

Goliath Frog:    Colors: 5     Weight: 1oz   Size: 3 1/2   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

Big flat and floppy the Mann's Bait goliath frog is more flat tire then it Goliath. This bait moves a lot of water and gives fish a healthy target, but its actual performance leave much to be desired.

Overall Rating:  6.0/10

Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price

Quality & Durability: 3.0/5

Kind of a mix of Good, Bad and Ugly here.. first off the frog is simply put.. UGLY, but strap on your beer goggles as we all know its not how the frog look that matters (well at least some of us know that). The bad is the baits body construction and finish, it looks like a kindergarten art project and at times fishes like one. As for the good, the hooks are sharp and strong, just not positioned well.

Castability: 3.0/5

With a kite like body this for gets caught up in the wind and can be blown off target easily. The flat belly does help when skipping, so reserve this frog for shorter targets and leave it at home when distance and spot on accuracy is needed.

Presentation: 2.5/5

I found the Goliath frog was awkward to fish, it could be walked but at times it skated across the top or just pushed water instead of walking. This often had to do with the distance you were retrieving the bait. Just like on the cast this frog performs better at shorter distances when you have more control over its movement. When casted for distance I found it was harder to walk during the fist half of my retrieve 

Hook-Up Ratio: 2.5/5

I don't like the body deign on this frog, its wide body over shadows the hooks that appear tiny on its back. I think placing the hooks on the outside of the frogs lets, snug up against the body would have provided it with a better overall hook-up ratio. 

Availability & Price: 3.0/5

Mann's baits are pretty common in most areas, and this frog was easy to find. For the quality I feel the price is slightly high, but it is under the $10 mark so I can't be too picky. I felt there would have been more bang for the buck at the $5-$6 price range. 

Options: 3.0/5

The Goliath frog is available in one size and 4 colors. The colors are the standard yellow/green, a white/green, a  brown and finally black. Not exactly mind blowing, but pretty standard frog color choices.

Where to Find:

In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.

Tackle Warehouse ($8.99)

Cabela's ($7.99)

Mann's ($8.99)

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 40lb braid. It you are working sparser cover feel free to drop down to a 735c and use that extra tip to really make this bait dance. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): C+

Pads (Medium Cover): B-

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): D

Walk the Dog: B+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: B

Renosky Rockin' Rattlin' & Walkin' Shad Review

Walking Shad:    Colors: 6     Weight: N/A   Size: 2 or 3"   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

One of the first shad style hollow body baits to hit the market, the Renosky RRW Shad brings with it some interesting features.. including a vertical body profile, as well as each colour coming with its own specific tail design and replacement tail.

Overall Rating:  6.3/10

Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price

Quality & Durability: 2.5/5

Rensoky is really hit or miss when it comes to the quality of their baits. The Shad has a thick air tight body that keeps water out, but also takes a long time to get its shape back once a fish hits it, or you squeeze it too tight. (guilty)

The tail looks pretty budget and like the Rensoky frog it can be pulled off during battle,  but Ill be honest, it moves incredibly well in the water and really makes the shad come alive.

Castability: 3.0/5

This frog/Shad is properly weighted and the body shape allows for great casting distance. Its not a great bait for skipping, but if you want to cover water and need an agile bait, this frog may just be for you.

Presentation: 3.5/5

I was extremely happy with this baits on water performance, it fishes like a quality swimbait and can be walked across the top of the water at almost any speed. The tail on this bait really, really impressed me, it may look cheap but it has a purpose.

Unlike other shad style frog baits the Renosky RRWS sits vertical in the water instead of on its side , and acts more like a fleeing baitfish then a wounded one. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

I might be slightly generous here with a score of 3/5, as this frog does have some weaknesses, mainly the side profile and thicker back can make it awkward when it comes to hammering the hooks home.

The hooks also are not covered as well as they could be, and pick up some serious debris when fishing in medium to heavy cover.

Availability & Price: 3.0/5

Another "only at tackle warehouse" bait, this frog is not exactly easy to find but its low $5 price point saves the day here.

Options: 4.0/5

Renosky offers up a cool assortment of options on this bait including 6 colours that each have a unique matching tail. Some have a crawfish tail, others a standard shad tail or jig skirted  tail. I like this idea, as it is one step closer to matching the hatch.

Oh yeah, the RRW Shad is also available in 2 sizes.

Where to Find:

In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.

Tackle Warehouse ($4.99 - 5.99)

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 40lb braid. It you are working sparser cover feel free to drop down to a 735c and use that extra tip to really make this bait dance. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B

Pads (Medium Cover): B-

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): D

Walk the Dog: B+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: B

Teckel USA Honker Frog Review

Teckel Honker:    Colors: 16     Weight: 1/2oz    Size: 2 3/4"   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

Last season I had an opportunity to review the Teckel Whacker Frog, and gave it a sold 7.3, I purposely left the Honker for this season in order to ensure my biases from the original frog did not carry over to the honker. And in all honesty I expected to give this frog a review of between 6.8 and 7.3.. but as you can see, I was wrong. 

Overall Rating:  7.8/10

Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price

Quality & Durability: 4.5/5

Both Teckel frogs have soft yet durable bodies, and strong sharp hooks. The legs on the Honker are what make this frog an exception. They flash and cause commotion on the water really letting fish know that something is going on. (aka ringing the dinner bell) 

Castability: 4.5/5

This frog casts like a dream, the body of the frog has some nice heft (1/2 oz) and its aerodynamic shape lets it cut though the wind for long bombs no matter the weather conditions/

The legs can hurt the frogs ability to be skipped, they catch water if you don't nail the perfect angle
but overall this doesn't hurts the frogs rating.

Presentation: 4.5/5

I was honestly blown away by the way these legs flutter and flash all while the frogs body walks perfectly. This bait scream "eat me" and is a blast to fish.

Obviously light to medium cover allows you to really work this bait, the thicker the cover and the more slop involved the less this frog shines. With that said its did not get all caught up in the slop as I kinda expected it would. You can expect some cleaning from time to time, but the benefits outweigh the issues.

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

Solid hook-up ratio for a bait that has large metal blades coming off its ass end. The legs can get in the way at times and the flutter and flash can results in short strikes as fish try to take this bait out at the knees.

Availability & Price: 3.0/5

This frog is only easy to find if your shopping at tackle warehouse, if not, good luck getting your hands on one. As for the price, $10.99 is at the high end of what I like to pay for non imports, but well worth it for this versions of Teckels frog. 

Options: 4.0/5

16, count em', 16 color options. But only one size.. lets spend more time on size offering and cut those colours in half and you still get a great score here.

Where to Find:

In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.

Tackle Warehouse ($10.99)

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 40lb braid. It you are working sparser cover feel free to drop down to a 735c and use that extra tip to really make this bait dance. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B+

Pads (Medium Cover): A

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B-

Walk the Dog: B+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: B