Toads, A Comparitive "Study."

[toad-aholic]

My teachers about have to kill me to do reports, but I'll gladly do a right up on Toads.

I've fished Toads a ton over the past two days.  The Toads used:

Stanley Floating Ribbit

Stanley Ribbit

Zoom Horny Toad

Mann's Hardnose Swim Toad

Strike King Rage Tail Shad

Yum Buzzfrog

The Setup: Shimano Curado 200DPV spooled with 30 pound Spiderwire Stealth, paired with an Abu Garcia Conolon 7ft Medium Heavy Casting Rod.  

1. Stanley Floating Ribbit:

 

Through probably 50 casts or so, this bait has accounted for 3 fish for me.  I had many open water strikes on it, but they were dinks.

Application: 4 out of 5.  Great on the retrieve, great on the pause.  In pads, it doesn't move as much water as other toads, but it the best in open water IMO.

Durability: 1 out of 5.  Very poor durabilty, leg tore off after the 4th bite.  The body tore easily on the first fish as well.  The bait seems to have a foam feel to it, rather than soft plastic.  I have now caught three fish on these and have gone through three baits, and the floaters only come in a pack of three.

2. Stanley Ribbit:

     

Through roughly 50 casts or so, the Ribbit accounted for 1 fish.  The fish came in open water.  Moves a good amount of water in the slop and in the open.

Application: 4 out of 5.  Great open water frog as well as in the slop.  THROWS A TON OF WATER.

Durability:  5 out of 5.  No blemishes after a fish.

3. Zoom Horny Toad:

     

I'll grade this tougher because I have used it for a while.  Throws a fair amount of water, pretty subtle bait though.  This bait has accounted for most of my toad fish, but has been fished a ton.

Application:  4 out of 5.  Rides right side up most of the time.  Relatively easy to keep on top.  

Durability: 5 out of 5.  Very durable bait.  Normally get 5 or 6 fish out of them.

4. Mann's Hardnose Swim Toad:

       

Great action on top.  Very subtle, but moves a fair amount of water.  Easy to keep on top.  Accounted for 2 fish, one in open water and one in thick pads.

Application: Great in open water, doesn't really throw any water, but leaves a nice wake when retrieved.

Durablity: 3 out of 5.  Soft body tears easily, hard head holds up great.

5. Strike King Rage Tail Shad:

Accounted for one fish.  It hit as soon as the bait hit the water.  Great action on the retrieve.  THROWS A TON OF WATER!  Had a few hits, but no hookups after the first fish.

Application: 4 out of 5.  Easily stays on top.  Great wake and moves lots of water.

Durability: 5 out of 5.  Not a single blemish on the bait after the fish.

6. Yum Buzzfrog:

     

I've fished this bait about as much as the Horney Toad.  It's accounted for some nice bass for me.  I've caught spawners buzzing it over them.  I also have caught some in the pads.

Application:  4 out of 5.  Its a little heavier than most toads.  This leads to great casting, but a pretty rapid sink rate.  It's tougher to keep on top, but when you can, it gets blasted.

Durability: 4 out of 5.  Tears a little around the hook.  Lasts about 3 fish.

If you read the whole thing, firstly, thanks.  Secondly, wow you're bored.

Good luck guys, if you enjoy these baits as much as I do, I hope you put this into consideration.

Ross

[.dsaavedra.]

and you must be bored to write such a thing!

cool!

[ba7ss3in]

You had an A+ until you dinked me on being bored. lol, I am bored.

[Simp]

I use the Stanley frogs alot at a pond with tons of vegitation. In fact it got me this decent fish.

[sodaksker]

Thanks for the review.  I used to be a big fan of the buzzfrog because it sunk a little faster, which seemed to get me bigger fish when fishing under the docks.  I'm happy to know that I was not just imagining that.

On the down side of the "buzzfrog"  I bought several bags of them last fall, and they must have been a bad batch because they did not swim right.  I like the seizmic toad for slow sinkers and durability.  I think I caught 8-10 fish on one frog alone.

[rondef]

I like the Rage Tail toads, they do move water and I caught a few lmbs with them so far.  I just went out and bought a few more packs today.  I will be throwing them Saturday morning and I expect to catch some nice sized lmbs with them again.

[fretfishman]

thanks for the comprehensive write-up! good stuff.

I like the stanley ribbit except for the way it sinks so quickly after the cast, but you can cast it a mile, so I always cast past my target anyway - not a huge deal. it has a great "subtle buzzbait sound and water kick to it, which is great. plus it looks so much more natural than a buzzbait.

granted, though, when they're aggressive enough a buzzbait is all you need...they're going to hit it like a mack truck.

thanks for the insight on the other frogs.  

[Big-O]

Great reporting Toad-aholic, I get bored with generic info but never with details. Keep up the good work!

Big O

[toad-aholic]

Thanks fellas.  I can't get a hit on a buzzbait, but I have all the confidence in the world in these toads.

I picked up a pack of some Rage Tail frogs yesterday (along with some more Mann's Hardnose Toads and Ribbits ;D).  Hopefully gonna have enough info on them worth writing about later today.

[basspimple]

good write up, ive been wanting to ty out some frog fishing, just never got around to it. quick quest.: whats a good all around color? green pumpkin, or anything close to that?

[toad-aholic]

My most productive color has been any dark hue, black with red flake and Zoom's bullfrog color.

[djmax22]

If you had to choose one, which frog would you get?

[roadwarrior]

This is the only frog I fish:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_90242____SearchResults

8-)

[djmax22]

Thanks RW. That is the one I use too.  ;D

Have you ever tried using this frog in open water? I have only thrown it around grass.

[tyrius.]

If you had to choose one, which frog would you get?

Most people make a distinction between frogs and toads.  The OP listed differing types of toads (solid soft plastic baits that do not float).  Frogs are hollow plastic and do float.

The toads have more action in open water as the feet churn through the water, however a frog can also be fished in open water with a walk the dog retrieve (although you may have to trim the legs to get the desired action).

[toad-aholic]

If you had to choose one, which frog would you get?

Probably the Mann's Hardnose Toad.  The Floating Ribbit a very close second.  The Mann's is great in open water and the slop.   The Floating Ribbit is made for open water and struggles in the slop IMO.