Yum Buzz frog problem vs. other brands?

[arul]

So I had a post last week about soft plastic frogs (or toads as I later came to find out).

I went with the Yum Buzz frog, but have not been happy with it's result.  It seems the body is too narrow, and it easily flips upside down or "barrel rolls".  Also, it takes a good 6-8 feet of cranking to get it to the surface after casting it out.

I guess I could try superline hooks, but I am afraid the frog won't float it, as i am already having trouble floating it, it seems.  BTW I am ussing Sufix performance braid, so that shouldn't be the problem.

Do you guys think it is just a problem with the lure design?  Do other brands like the ragetail or the Zoom horny toad float better, and stay belly down better?

[SenkoShawn]

get a snag proof... you''ll never fish another frog..

[CRFisher]

Start cranking right before it hits the water to get them up.  None of them float that I know of.  A swivel (heavy duty) may keep them from rolling.  Also make sure the hook is centered.

[Micro]

I stopped using Yums for that very reason. You have to really cook them across the water, or they roll on their sides and strike all sorts of poses.

The Ragetails I tried rolled occasionally, but they perform MUCH better than the Yums. They are the best frog for buzzing, IMO. They really kick up the water. I got some new ones in the mail () and they do seem to do better than the ones I bought when they first came out.

I like Zoom Horny Toads. They are good for slipping through pads and cover, but they don't buzz as well as the Ragetail.

IMO, the Ragetail is the best full-sized buzzing soft plastic frog on the market.

For a "finesse frog," if there is such a thing, I really like The Wright Bait 4" Frog.

This little frog can be fished on a Gammy 2/0 EWG or an Owner 2/0 Twist Lock Hook. It doesn't have much action when buzzing it. You can fish it like a fluke. Jerk it and those little leg do all sorts of things. It slips through slop, sinks slowly slight nose first. It's made with garlic and the bass really hold onto it. Order a couple bags and try these little hand-poured gems.

[BossierBassHunter]

get a spro... you''ll never fish another frog..

:)

[BassFishingMachine]

Not meaning to insult anybody or anything, but why do you guys bring up spro and snag proof frogs? He is asking about soft plastic frogs, not hollow frogs. A hollow frog and a soft plastic frog are two different types of baits.

Regarding your question Arul, I have had similiar problems with the yum buzz frog. At first I used to love this frog and had great results with it, although as days came, I found I couldn't get the yum frog to work the same as it used to. The feet would barely paddle, it would constantly roll over, and it just had all sorts of problems. Maybe I got a bad bag, but I tryed other bags all with the same negative results. So all in all I gave up on the yum buzz frog, and never use it.

I have tryed the zoom horny toads plenty of times as many people talk great about them, but for me I just can't get them to work right, and I rig them with the same EWG hooks as many recommend. I don't know, they just don't seem to paddle right for me, and they also tend to roll on their back a good 50% of the time from how I saw it.

Ragetail toads I have yet to fish, so I will not say anything about them. I now use a soft plastic frog called a Stanley Ribbit. I rig these frogs with a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu, and the feet paddle beautifully. They arise to the surface pretty quickly and I have caught plenty of bass on them, definetly my go-to frog for soft plastic frogs. Unfortunately they do tend to roll onto their backs on some casts, but alot less then any other frog I have fished. I'd say they roll onto their back 25% of the time. Which is pretty good if you ask me. As for frogs rolling on their back, I really don't think thats too much of a problem, as I don't think this effects the fish's decision on hitting the bait or not. I mean if you think about it, with the paddle coming from the feet I'snt that what the fish is targeting in on? And if not, with the frog constantly moving in the usual locations it is casted around/through such as lillys/weeds do the fish really get a good luck at the under belly of the frog? I believe the fish see the action of the feet paddling, and that is what they are striking at. Although I tend to be a perfectionist and am most comfortable when the frog is riding belly down. All in all I recommend the stanley ribbit, they even make a larger size if your interested, I have yet to try this size though. I doubt you'll be dissapointed with the Ribbit.

[NEKvt]

Not meaning to insult anybody or anything, but why do you guys bring up spro and snag proof frogs? He is asking about soft plastic frogs, not hollow frogs. A hollow frog and a soft plastic frog are two different types of baits.

Seems like a good option for him if the frog turning over is a big deal to him. Don't see any issue with offering them up, he may not have thought of them before.

That said, I have only tried the toads that *** sent in my freebie pack but I like them a lot. They do turn over but on either side put out a lot of noise and really churn up the water.

[fishinfiend]

I like the *** frog a lot as well. The action is great and you just can't beat the price. I caught 5 fish off them this weekend.

[Paul Roberts]

I have the same roll-over problem with the ***. Worse, though, is that they sink like rocks. A friend uses the Ribbits and they seem to be pretty easy to operate.

[J Francho]

A Scumfrog Bigfoot is a reasonable alternative.  Any of the other frogs with skirts for legs are totally different baits.

[CWB]

Not meaning to insult anybody or anything, but why do you guys bring up spro and snag proof frogs? He is asking about soft plastic frogs, not hollow frogs. A hollow frog and a soft plastic frog are two different types of baits.

Seems like a good option for him if the frog turning over is a big deal to him. Don't see any issue with offering them up, he may not have thought of them before.

That said, I have only tried the toads that *** sent in my freebie pack but I like them a lot. They do turn over but on either side put out a lot of noise and really churn up the water.

X2

If you want a frog that makes a commotion try a Scumfrog Bigfoot.

Stanley Ribbits and Sizemic make floaters but if you add a 4/0 or 5/0

heavy wire hook, they still sink but very slowly. I always raise my rod and start reeling fast right before the bait hits the water and adjust as it's coming in.

[CRFisher]

I've heard some people using a weighted hook to stop the rolling.  

[Big-O]

Arul, It is my thought that 5/0 and 6/0 ewg superline hooks will help to keel all buzz frogs to maintain belly down and help hook up ratios as well.

I personally like to stop the toad and let it fall in pockets (not too fast) but at a descent pace so that it is more likely to get the reaction strike on the fall.

You mentioned the timing required to get the bait on top quickly upon water entry. As a designer, it's important to take into consideration the bouancy of the plastic relative the overal bait design to achieve the best of all worlds.

A priority to consider would be the design and size of feet to provide water resistance, sound and water movement relative to the design and size of body to provide both appearance and stability for topwater action. More resistance provides oppotunity for quicker surfacing and the possibility of slower and varying retrieval speeds.

I know this info is not directly answering your questions and comments but really puts into focus what we as fishermen can and should expect with the variety of bait designs on the market relative to our choices of hooks styles of rigging etc.

Big O

[Brad_Coovert]

Soft plastic toads and frogs roll, it's something you have to put up with, kinda like death and taxes.

Weighted hooks help to act like a keel, but the frogs can still roll from time to time.

IMO, the YUM frogs are not very good.  Cane Toads, Horny Toads and Rage Toads are all good toads that I have had good results with.

As for floating, toad type baits were not really designed for floating, but more for faster fishing or for falling into holes.  Still, Gambler, Stanley and Sizmic make "floaters".  I have not ued them, so I do not know how good they are.

Brad

[BossierBassHunter]

ok, chill out, I was just messing with the guy that said snag-proof

The first frog I ever had was a Bigfoot frog. It's probably the best compromise, becase it has the hollow body that floats, but with the paddle feet you can buz it across. I'd rate them like 7.5/10

Ribbits- I have used both the floaters and sinkers. The sinking ones I used a couple times were pretty good. (Gam. Superline EWG) The first batch i had hardly rolled at all. The second one rolled every once in a while. The Floaters, however, I can't hardly make them stay right side up, they were always land upside down and wouldn't turn back over, not to mention the floaters seem a lot tougher than the sinkers, causing me to miss more strikes.

: : :  There, was that helpful enough?

[arul]

Thanks for the input.  I will try a superline hook for better results.  Also, I don't think my gear ratio on my reel is quite fast enough to get it to surface quickly.  I will try it out a few more times though, then maybe check out some other brands.

[CRFisher]

Went out for about 45 minutes tonight, threw on a frog because it was about dusk and partly from reading this thread.  My frog rolled (Manns Hard Nose) on first cast and the bass basically hooked himself.  2lber. I think the rolling only increases your chances of snags if you have some hook exposed but I don't think it impacts the action or hooking percentages of the bait.