Why are there gazillions of hollow body frogs and how do you pick a few?

[Masaccio]

Let's just start with Booyah Pad Crasher frogs.  Why/ when would these be a bad choice?

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Booyah_Pad_Crasher_Frogs/descpage-BYPC.html

Cheers. 

[Jar11591]

When frog fishing, a Pad Crasher is never a bad choice. I use the standard version for lily pads as opposed to the popping style because I find the pointed nose comes through the pads easier. The popping Pad Crasher is great for emergent weeds with open pockets. And the Pad Crasher Jr. is great for when you want to downsize. Pad Crashers are quality fish catchers and can cover pretty much all frog fishing situations. And I believe they make a Popping Pad Crasher Jr. now as well. 

[KCFinesse]

Pad crashers are a pretty solid choice... They cast ok, they walk ok, have an ok hook up ratio, and they do a reasonable job of pushing through mats. 

 

To me, I judge my choice of frogs based upon those four criteria. Some other options certainly do those things better. To me, I try to check the first three boxes and judge my frog choice at any given moment by how much 'umph' I need from my frogs to push mats/break through weeds without being too obnoxious. A lot of times, you really can't walk really really heavy mats so that may not as matter as much in some instances...

 

Popping and 'running' frogs are a little bit of a different ball game.

 

I fish the live target frogs a lot (I don't like other live target baits, but the frog is great), I fish the Booyahs some, and I throw some spro frogs. In the nasty thick crap I've liked the big terminator walking frog.

 

-Jared

[steve-pierce]

Pad Crashers walk the best of all I’ve tried, but, they aren’t my go to because I thing the narrow space between the hooks compared to most other frogs affect my hook up ratio. 
 

I fish strike kvd because it walks good, has a good hookup and is cheaper than most make brand name frogs. Bonus is you can pick them up at Walmart. My Walmart only has the small pad crashers

[KP Duty]

I don't know why the hollow body frog exploded in popularity like it did.  Sure they work,  but the Scum frog had been around 35+ years, but all the sudden around 2010 or so it became huge and a bait that needed it's own rod.  I think most are good...just stick to popular models like the bronzeye and you'll be good.

[Jaderose]

Scum Frog Trophy Series Natural Green and Black.  The only frog you need.  I have others.  I throw others occasionally.  I throw this one 98% of the time.  Also happens to be one of the cheaper ones.  Learn it, know it, live it.

BTW...get the 5/8 size

[Deleted account]

13 hours ago, Masaccio said:

Why are there gazillions of hollow body frogs and how do you pick a few?

a) Because tackle companies are in the business of making money

b) Pad Crasher and Trophy.

[Masaccio]

Yeah. Thank you for answering my bitter, rhetorical question. The selection seems staggering even keeping this in mind. Thanks for another “yes” vote for Pad Crasher and Trophy. 

[Jaderose]

33 minutes ago, Masaccio said:

Yeah. Thank you for answering my bitter, rhetorical question. The selection seems staggering even keeping this in mind. Thanks for another “yes” vote for Pad Crasher and Trophy. 

 

I throw frogs in HEAVY slop.  Most of that slop is located in stump fields.  There isn't a lot of "walking the dog" or finesse stuff going on.  I do a high arc cast (when I can) on the Trophy series and they land with a very distinct *plop*.  You want that simply to let the fish know something is around as they sure as heck can't see it.  The Trophy series will take an absolute beating doing this.  You'll lose the glued-on eyes pretty quickly but they don't matter at all.  This is strictly reaction-strike fishing.  I don't modify them at all.  I don't trim the skirt, bend out the hooks, or add color.  I've had them last 2 seasons and one year I burned through about 10 of them by getting them hopelessly hung up on stumps and debris.  A well made, inexpensive lure for a technique that does NOT require custom, realistic paint or life-like "kicking legs".  Pad Crasher is also a solid, well-priced option.  I have and throw them, too.  I have a couple of Pad Crasher Jr.'s that I cut the legs OFF.  It's like a spastic little June bug in areas with some open water

[Masaccio]

Great info!  Thanks so much, Jaderose. 

[Jaderose]

Just now, Masaccio said:

Great info!  Thanks so much, Jaderose. 

You're welcome.  I'm an avid frogger and I love talking about it.  I should say that my style of frogging is pretty specific.  I do not do a lot of what I refer to as "Finesse Frogging."  Areas with lots of open water.  Open lily pad fields, that sort of thing.  The Trophy series is NOT your best option in those areas, imho.  They don't walk that well, and that *plop* they make becomes counter-productive.  To me, that's where something like a Pad Crasher jr. or a smaller Spro Bronzeye shines.  When faced with a BIG muck field, I will tie on a Spro Bronzeye King Daddy.  It's a BIG frog that I can throw a mile.