Introducing the Frog Pond.. an all Frog Review Site

In case you have not found it yet, I wanted to make you all aware that I started an all new site that is 100% dedicated to product reviews and more importantly.. 100% dedicated to Frog fishing reviews.

The "Frog Pond" will give more in-depth reviews of products that have been spotlighted on this blog. Rating each one on Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-Up Ratio as well price and availability. My goal is to not only review the products but also supply you with info on where you can buy them (at the best prices)

Products will continue to be reviewed on this site, but for those looking for more then just a high level recap, be sure to check out the Pond. Products reviewed on the Pond are all products I have personally used on the water, no guessing or dribble you have heard spouted 1000 times.  I do need your help though.. The Frog Pond is interactive, I need your help finding the new frogs as they become available, I check multiple sites on a regular basis, but can use a hand. If you have or know of a frog you want reviewed, please contact me at

bass.junky@hotmail.com


If you are interested and want to learn more about the Frog Pond.. check out the below links.

Welcome to the Frog Pond (explains how the site works)

Product Review: Scum Frog (the sites first review)

The Frog Pond will be updated at a minimum of once a week, be sure to check back and see if your favorite frog has been added.

Jackall's got the Craw market covered

I dont know about you, but I have been highly impressed with the line of hard and soft baits that have been coming out of Jackall over the past couple seasons. With the release of the Aska Square bill, the Iobee Frog, right on down to the FlickShake worm, they truly have my full attention and my wallets as well.

Adding to the above are a pair of craw baits unlike many on the market today, the Cover Craw and the Sasuteki Craw are two newer additions, and two very different baits that both have a definitive place in your arsenal.


Cover Craw

I dont know if you have seen or better yet held one of these baits in your hand, but if you have, you will notice something different about it, and that is the soft and supple body of the bait. It has an almost spongy  feel to it, yet it is firm and feels durable.

Soft, scented and salted the cover craw is designed so that the fish holds on, this is not a bait that will be coughed up easily. The short compact, yet bulky frame makes this craw hard to describe, but i'll try.. similar to a tube jig (just not hollow) the craw was designed to be fished upside down, with the hook point coming out near the base of the craw and the hook eye and line coming out at the top end between the claws.

The cover craw was designed this way based strictly on presentation.. and to allow the bait to fall "away" once it enters the water, so it will slide in under any cover.. Do you remember the "flying Lure" a flat tube designed to spiral away from the angler.. this craw is similar to that. Great for flipping docks the cover craw will glide in under the doc instead of falling straight down. It is meant to be fished weightless, but by adding weight to cover craw you will alter its fall, and remove that "fall away" motion, so if you dont like what you see straight out of the package try adding a little weight.

The compact body is great for punching, but the short firmer arms will not flail around and draw in the hawgs like it's bigger brother, the Sasuteki Craw...


Sasuteki Craw

Kinda like twins, just the fraternal type, the Sasuteki craw has many of the same attributes as its smaller brother the Cover Craw. Both share the same rounded bottom end and the ability to use the reverse rigging technic. The largest diffrence between the two is the large flapping claws and flat head that make the Sasuteki craw a little more unique then its brother.

The Sasuteki is designed to be a flipping and punching craw, but can be rigged a couple separate ways. Standard rigging is obvious, with the weight being added to the bottom of the craw, it's compact body will slip through cover and fall with the claws flapping like crazy, but if you are interested in trying something new, use that nice little flat spot on its head the Sasuteki and try fishing it upside down, by placing a bullet weight between the claws, giving this craw a very different look and swim when in the water.

Another obvious way to fish the Sasuteki craw is on a jig or shakey head. The durable body slides easily into place and holds up well when bounced around or dragged. Available only in one size you may want to rip off a bit of the tail to reduce it to a smaller 3" frame when using it on a standard jig.

Both of these craws are a welcome addition in the craw market, and If Jackall plastics are not on  your radar yet you are truly missing out. They are a quality product and continue to push product innovation each and every season.. are all Jackall baits a success, No, but Ive learned that with Jackall, it is worth weeding through the "misses" to find all the "hits"

Humminbird Introduces 360 Imaging.. With a little help from Cabela's

http://www.humminbird.com/360Imaging/

In what can only be described as an epic blunder, Cabela's leaked info and images of  Humminbirds new 360 degree Imaging system, a product Hummbird went to great lengths to keep hidden even just hours prior to the live web streamed press conference being held in conjunction with the Bass Master Classic.

Yes, the boards blew up this afternoon as fishing-tech nerds like myself started drooling over images and links leading us to the new technology that now gives anglers the ability to see a full 360 degrees.. no more side imaging or down imaging..  we are now talking about 300 feet of a full 360 degrees of vision. Imagine being able to see a full 150 feet ahead of your boat! no more back tracking, you now see things before they happen!

This new technology comes in the form of a new telescopic transducer that has the look of a PowerPole mounted on the back of your boat. A quick button deploys the transducer beneath the boat that allows it to give you the full 360 imaging. The unit is set up to be deployed from your H-bird unit or if your lazy just yell at your partner at the back of the boat and ask him to do it (buttons are also mounted on the unit)

Along with the new transducer a system upgrade is also needed to make the technology compatable with at least four current H-bird units (798c,898c,998c, & 1198c). This was highly smart on H-birds part, as this allows current customers who recently purchased a sonar unit to still upgrade to the new technology.. and wont create a line-up on the returns desk.

With a hefty price tag of $1,999 this new sonar may not be for all (remeber that is on top of the price of an actual Humminbird Sonar), but I wont be surprised at all when I see it on a few boats this coming tournament season. Congrats to H-bird for yet again pushing the envelope, and thanks to Cabelas for sharing it with us

Cabelas Leaky Link

Bass Magnet Lures.. bringing a little Alambama to Ontario

I read some pretty crazy statistics in a recent issue of Bass Master Magazine, it spouted off some numbers  that blew my mind.. the number of anglers on the pro circut currently using the Alabama rig, and the number of wins already racked up for this "fad" or "gimmick".. Yeah I said those words, or typed them anyways. I have been skeptical to say the least when it comes to the Alabama rig, but recently while at the Toronto Fishing & Boat show I made a couple purchases that made me question my own sanity.. yes I too now own an Alabama rig (or 2)

If you are a Canadian Bass Angler I would be pretty surprised if you have not heard of Bass Magnet lures. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, Bass Magnet started making hand poured lures back in 2002, and today they boast a collection of some of the best soft plastics on the market today.

Adding to that soft plastic line, Bass Magnet has also recently joined the growing ranks of companies producing the..Alabama Rig (or Umbrella Rig).  The Canadian market has been slightly behind the the fast growth scene in the US market.. first because we are skeptical, and second because the standard Alabama rig is illegal to use in the biggest market in Canada (Ontario).. The 5 arm bandit that is the Alabama rig is not designed with Canadian anglers in mind, so companies like Bass Magnet needed to go back to the drawing board to product a version of the Alabama rig that will allow it to be fished in our home waters (up to 4 arms)

Released in Feb 2012, the BM Alabama rig comes in one size and one color only, it is built tuff, with 4 stiff but bendable arms capped with 30lb rated ball bearing swivels. The Bass Magnet version of the A-rig provides a substantial cost savings to the Canadian angler, beating out traditional A-rigs which sell for anywhere from $22.99 to $27.99 the Bass Magnet version comes in nicely at $16.99.

I got to see an handle this rig at the Toronto fishing and boat show this past weekend. I liked the look and feel of it, and liked the fact that unlike the US version (I also own a Mann's Alabama Rig) I dont need to find filler for that 5th arm...Yes you can fish a 5 arm A-rig in Ontario it just cant have a hook on it. I have mine rigged up with a willow blade. I feel overall the Bass Magnet version of the Alabama rig holds up well to the OG version ("original Gangsta", for those not in the know) even though it may not offer all the bells and whistles, and it feels slightly stiffer

Also released this year, and I dont think by coincidence is the Shift'r Shad, a great swim-bait that is the perfect match for an A-rig. Personally I was just as excited to see these beauties as I was the A-rig itself. In typical Bass Magnet fashion they have produced a high quality swimbait with a great ribbed body in an awesome selection of colors. The Shift'r shad is available in two sizes a 3.5" and a 5" model. Both give off a great profile would look great in the Alabama rig school.

If your not a fan or intrigued at all by the Alabama Rig, dont discount the Shift'r shad, like other swimbaits it has many uses, and can be fished on a weighted or unweighted EWG hook, or used as a jig trailer. 

If you have been holding off on picking up a Alabama rig, I dont know why.. yes it may just be the current version of the banjo minnow, or the flying lure, but I dont think it is going anywhere soon. So put away your pride and hide one of these in your tackle box. I wont tell if you dont

Note: At time of publishing this blog I have been advised that Bass Magnet has decided to no longer carry the Alabama Rig, citing discussions with anglers and others in the industry.  They sold out of all stock at the Toronto Sportsman show and have since removed it from their website and product list.. I guess mine is now a collectors item

Great Finds from the Toronto Spring Fishing & Boat Show 2012

(Rob Edwards, Dustin Lemmon, Jim Van Ryn)

Well, thus ends another year for the Toronto Spring fishing and Boat show. Im not privy to how well the event does, but I will tell you that there was some great traffic moving through that building, and some great purchases to be had.. If you know where to look.

If you attended the show I hope you got the chance to drop by the VRX/Dobyns booth, if not you missed the chance to handle some serious rods, and of course pick of some great Rod Glove products to protect your gear. Us Dobyns guys were kept pretty busy, these rods are really building a reputation in the market, and this show really proved that. I got to meet a lot of great people this weekend,  there was a ton of interest in not only the Dobyns series of Rods but of course, Numa Optics,  tuff as nails sunglasses really built for Anglers and Hunters. If you missed your chance to see them up close and personal this past weekend, be sure to drop by a local retailer and check them out. .. In the GTA head over to Pro J's and/or Fishing World, and if you are in the Ottawa Market be sure to check out Paddletales.

When not working in the booth my focus was on finding some killer deals and steals.. new frogs, and some gear to help me on a Lake Erie Trip coming up this May were also on the top of my mind. 

One booth that caught my eye right off the bat was Vok fishing, set up with the Ultra Tungsten team, VOk fishing had a very cool selection of Frogs on display. With super soft bodies and some crazy color options, I had to pick a few up (review to follow). These frogs are priced right at $6.99 and $7.99, they come in 3 sizes including a tiny frog even smaller then the one made by Live Target. These frogs come in two styles, the Croaker and the Samurai. I love the croaker color selection, but for some reason the hooks are set a bit to far in for my liking. So In my opinion the Samurai is the way to go.

(the Croaker Frog & The Samurai Frog)

Next up was a mouse I had been eyeing on a couple of my last orders with Tackle Warehouse, and when I saw in up close and personal at the show, I could not resist. The MLT Rat N Rat, caught my eye due to the tiny blades that have been adding in place of rubber strands for feet. It comes in some great color options and will do battles with my Live Target mice for time on the water. These little blades will improve the baits ability when fishing pads and open water alike. They are small enough to not get in the way when the fish takes it, but big enough to give some flash in the water.

OSP is a company that I know very little about, it is not readily available in my market so it is hard to get a gauge for the product quality and selection. At the show I was able to handle some of their unique soft plastics and fell in love with the "Do Live" stick (or Olive stick as I was calling it. This thick worm/senko style bait has a large profile and a great finesse tail.. when the package is open you get the very familiar scent of what one can only call "power bait". Im hoping this is one of my secret weapons this season (although the color selection was a bit lacking)

These are just some of the cool finds I had while walking the floor at the Toronto Fishing and Boat show, many other companies were releasing some great products and product lines at the show.

 I spent most of my money at the Bass Magnet lure booth, a great bunch of guys and some very cool new products on the shelf. Be sure to check out their new alabama rig, and swim-bait series called "Shift'r Shad. They also launched a great drop shot bait called the "twitch". Like always I fell in love  with their tube selection, some great new colors added again this season.

I had a blast at the show this year, if you missed it, be sure to mark the date on your calendar for next year. There are some great buys to be had, and a ton to learn at the vaious seminars and booths.

Friendly Reminder: Spring Fishing & Boat show - Starts Tomorrow!

For those with a short attention span I thought I would throw out a reminder that the Spring Fishing & Boat show is this weekend.. even better it starts tomorrow! be sure to steal some time this long weekend and take in Canada's largest fishing show.. celebrating it's 15th Anniversary.

If you do make it down, be sure to swing by the Dobyns  booth, we will be packing 50+ models of Dobyns rods and for those attending the show the rods will be priced "tax in" so if you have been wanting to pick-up your first or next Dobyns rod, now is the time.

check out the below link for more details and to print coupons to save $2 at the door.

http://springfishingandboatshow.com/

see ya there

Jerseys for St Jude - Anglers Support Needed

One thing that has always impressed me about Anglers and those that work in the fishing industry, is the amount they are always willing to give back, in and outside of the industry. Recently I came across a great cause being run with the support of some great anglers that I just had to share with you.

"Jerseys for St. Jude is a fundraising event to benefit the St. Jude's Children's research hospital. This collaborative effort features EBay auctions for autographed tournament jerseys from some of the biggest names in the Industry. Each week in Feb and March a selection of Jersey will be auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds going to the benefit of St. Jude's.

If you are not interested in owing a signed fishing jersey, donations are also welcome. For every $10 donation your name will be entered into a draw for some great prizes. As a member of the Dobyns team I'm proud to say that Gary has donated a Coalition series rod.. see what $10 can getcha!

This event is part of the 14th annual Dick Hiley/St. Judes Bass fishing tournament. To date the tournament alone has raised over $1 Million for the hospital.

If you are interested in donating funds or placing a bid on one of the Jerseys up for auction, please check out the below links.

For more info: http://www.jerseysforstjude.blogspot.com/

EBay Auction: http://www.ebay.com/sch/bassfan2/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

Remember new jerseys will be available each week, so check back often. This week up for grabs there is also a gift certificate from RayJus Fish jerseys, they make a quality product and with tournament season fast approaching it is a great way to get your jersey made and support a great cause.

As Anglers we always preach "Take a Kid fishing", by supporting St Jude's we can help make sure more kids get healthy and get the chance to go fishing