Review: Ragetail Toad Vs. Zoom Horny Toad

[tcbass]

This comparison has come up recently between Ragetail Toads and Zoom Horny Toads. I've used Ragetail Toads for about 6 years when my friend introduced me to bass fishing. He also introduced me to Senkos and spinnerbaits.

 

I've racked up a lot of fish with the Ragetail Toads but also had picked up a bag of Zoom Horny Toads awhile ago but never used them. I'd had so much success with the Ragetail Toads that I didn't see the need to switch. One thing about the Zoom Horny Toads is that they are cheaper by about $1 a bag. Not a huge difference but if you're on a budget it could effect you.

 

Well, since it appears that a lot of people are asking about both I thought I'd try them both out today at the same time. I wanted to fish them at the same time side-by-side so it would be a fair comparison. Conditions were slightly windy with some areas close to the dock that were almost glass. After a short time the wind picked up to the point where fishing topwater was hard.

 

 

I caught one on the Ragetail Toad after about 30 casts and then lost another one on the sink that I got 1/2 way to the boat. I then switched to the Zoom Horny Toad. I didn't get one bite. After about an hour I went back to the Ragetail and caught 2 more fish. I then switched back to the Zoom Horny Toad and didn't get a bite. I switched to the Ragetail Toad and caught another one, right where I had been casting the Zoom Horny Toad. I had been casting the Zoom Horny Toad in the same exact areas I was fishing the Ragetail Toad and areas surrounding those areas so it would be fair. I let both sink some times and retrieved immediately some times. I will note that with the wind I caught all of my bass except one on the Ragetail on the initial splash or sink. A lot of times they are hit on the first 10 feet of a retrieve. This didn't happen today. The Ragetail has proven to be extremely successful on glass calm days all the way through light to moderate windy days.

 

 

Well, later that night I fished the Ragetail again and caught some fish, one was a nice 3lbs. bass that I let go.

 

 

 

So, from that small, unscientific, and short head-to-head test I would say that without a doubt the Ragetail Toad is the far better solid body frog.

 

 

I did take away the fact that the Ragetail Toad is heavier and casts much farther. It also has a much deeper thump with it's legs that is awesome. When I first used that lure I felt that thump and the gargle in the water it made and new that lure would catch fish.....and it did. The Ragetail Toad also catches fish on the drop/sink, not something that I've found with the Zoom Horny Toad, although to be fair I didn't catch any fish on the Zoom Horny Toad, so when it works it may catch fish on the drop/sink also. When the Ragetail Toad catches fish on the drop/sink it's basically a weightless Texas Rigged frog. The one negative about the Ragetail Toad is that the legs are vulnerable to getting nipped off by fish, even small fish. I haven't had a fish bite the Zoom Horny Toad to see if it's legs get ripped off or they are more durable. I do have a bag of Zman Hard Leg Frogz made out of ElaZtech, but I haven't had a chance to try them out yet. The fact that they have to be kept separate from other plastics because they will melt together has stopped me from using the until next weekend when I hope to try them out. It's said to be one of the most durable solid body frogs on the market.

 

 

The Ragetail Toad the greatest topwater frog I've ever used (solid body and hollow body) and my #2 best all time lure, #1 is the 5" inch Senko. The KVD Sexy Dawg in Perch is #3.

 

 

Obviously there should be more side-by-side testing for fairer test but this is what I came up with in 1 day.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's some threads the Ragetail Toad.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/136614-tip-missing-this-great-aspect-of-the-ragetail-toad-catching-fish-on-the-sink-sit/

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/142166-problem-with-ragetail-toads-who-do-i-blame-big-o/

[roadwarrior]

Great post! 

 

I am a big fan of the Rage Tail Toad, too.

[Primus]

tcbass thanks for your review, that said I don't think 1 outing is a large enough sample size to make a fair comparison regarding the effectiveness of these baits in my opinion .

[tcbass]

tcbass thanks for your review, that said I don't think 1 outing is a large enough sample size to make a fair comparison regarding the effectiveness of these baits in my opinion .

Agree.

Did you read the OP? It says the same thing.

[frogflogger]

The horny toad was the first toad I fished - it was responsible for unbelievable catches, as more companies came to the market I started noticing the differences in styles - horny toads, case plastics toad and the mann hard-nose are, for me, a good choice when it is calm or the fish want a less aggressive lure - cane toads, rage toads, ribbits and toads of that ilk (ones that make more commotion) are better when there's a little breeze or the bass want a more aggressive action. These are subtle nuances that can make a huge difference in a particular days success - stay open and flexible and willing to experiment.

[tcbass]

The horny toad was the first toad I fished - it was responsible for unbelievable catches, as more companies came to the market I started noticing the differences in styles - horny toads, case plastics toad and the mann hard-nose are, for me, a good choice when it is calm or the fish want a less aggressive lure - cane toads, rage toads, ribbits and toads of that ilk (ones that make more commotion) are better when there's a little breeze or the bass want a more aggressive action. These are subtle nuances that can make a huge difference in a particular days success - stay open and flexible and willing to experiment.

 

 

 

Good info. I'll experiment more with the Zoom Horny Toad on some glass calm days.

[iceintheveins]

The horny toad makes less noise and is for very calm conditions.

[tcbass]

The horny toad makes less noise and is for very calm conditions.

 

 

Ok.

[Jrob78]

If you really want to kick up a commotion, try the Rage Shad.

[tcbass]

If you really want to kick up a commotion, try the Rage Shad.

 

 

 

That's supposed to be used just like the Toad, right?

[Jrob78]

That's supposed to be used just like the Toad, right?

Yes, it's like a soft plastic buzz bait.

[Avalonjohn44]

I love them both, but each has their place.  For me, the Rage toad is best when the bite is aggressive, it weeds out the dinks.

The Horny toad has a subtler profile and gurgle and catches em for me when the bass are more shy. The Horny toad also has a really cool glide underwater when you let it sink. I like to buzz the horny toad up to a pad and stop reeling, letting it glide under the pad, it really mimics a frog diving.  The rage toad just doesn't sink the same way...

 

That said, I prefer Stanley Ribbits over both of the other two. 

[Mike2841]

What kind of hooks are y'all using with these toads

[tcbass]

What kind of hooks are y'all using with these toads

 

 

 

I've mostly used Gamakatsu 5/0 with Twistlocks.

 

 

But I just picked up a set of Stanley Ribbet double hooks with weights and a set without weights and I am going to be trying them now.

[Catt]

Never ever fish a Rage Lobster on top

Horny Toad, Rage Toad, Ribbit, & Lobster all produce different noise, all work!

[War Eagle 44]

Owner 6/0 Twistlock CPS XXX

[collards]

I am glad this came up. I went fishing yesterday and caught several with the horny toad. The watermelon didn't work, but the bull frog sure did. It was calm and the pond has a lot of frogs in it. On a lark, I threw a teeny torpedo and the bass followed it to the edge and nailed it there. Nothing else worked.

[tcbass]

I am glad this came up. I went fishing yesterday and caught several with the horny toad. The watermelon didn't work, but the bull frog sure did. It was calm and the pond has a lot of frogs in it. On a lark, I threw a teeny torpedo and the bass followed it to the edge and nailed it there. Nothing else worked.

What was nothing else? Did you try a Rage Toad?

I used a Rage Toad this weekend with success. I have switched to the Stanley Ribbet double take hooks and I think that has helped with the hook up ratio.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Different baits for different times. Hard to do a direct comparison between the two. I've had days where a Zoom Toad would far out produce a Rage Toad and vise versa. Both of them are great baits.

[collards]

What was nothing else? Did you try a Rage Toad?

I used a Rage Toad this weekend with success. I have switched to the Stanley Ribbet double take hooks and I think that has helped with the hook up ratio.

 

Senkos, dinger, Bagley twin prop, baker walker, D&M piranha with perch trailer, Yellow magic plug (high price and I don't like the place where you tie) 3 other top water, tiny torpedo, huddleston swim bait, southern lure frog trophy and a few bug lures.

 

I stopped when I got a first cast bite with the horny toad. I got the bites about a foot or 2 feet from the bank on the fall. I only failed to hook one. The pond was calm and a lot of frogs jump in where I threw it. I used the zoom horny toad hooks which are hard to find now (Dick's has them online). I would have tried the rage, but the water was peaceful and I was catching a lot. On a lark at the end I tried a teeny torpedo and it worked. The bass were quite calm.

 

 

On Friday I caught a heap of good sized Bass hanging out on the grass. I cheated though as I used shiners. One big one bite my line off. It wasn't fair as I caught one with about every cast. It was the last of my summer Fridays off and I wanted just to catch so I used the shinners.

 

Both days were a blast

I agree that different days, different lures, but I was gonna post about the horny toad and I was happy this was started.  Dicks online has plastics buy 1 get one half off and free shipping if you spend 50.

[tcbass]

I agree that different days, different lures, but I was gonna post about the horny toad and I was happy this was started.  Dicks online has plastics buy 1 get one half off and free shipping if you spend 50.

 

 

 

If you go into the store there is no minimum. They have great deals too. I got Storm Arashis, Rapala Scatter Raps, Senkos, and others on that deal.

 

 

 

They had the same deal on Power Pro and Sufix lne for awhile also.