Expensive Lures Part II: Frogs

[cjac]

It seems like $10 is now the norm for soft body frogs like the Koppers and Spros. Are they really that much better than the old school $3 Scum Frog series of frogs/poppers/bassrats?

I think I know the answer is "yes" but I'm curious if anyone has field tested examples like in the expensive crankbait thread or reasons they're better. It's not like a frog's action is imperative to success compared to the wobble of a crank, it's commotion on the surface more or less.

Also: any feedback on the Dahlberg diver frog? Some reviews I've read have been suspect at best.

[Friar_Tuck]

how well can you walk a scum frog or walk a popper scum frog? i can walk a spro popper with ease & the standard spro frogs. which is very important & worth the expense

[polarsusd81]

I actually prefer the old school soft bodies of the Scum Frog. It seems the Spro frogs are a lot stiffer on average, but they are also very inconsistent. I get a better hookup ratio with the softer bodies like the Scum Frog. Running them side by side, similar color patterns with two in the boat, I seem to get more strikes too. That may be one of several factors though as imparted action can vary greatly as well as cast accuracy and being first or second to hit the spot. For me the Scum Frogs get the nod.

[RumRiverRat]

Booyah has a new frog this year that retails for about 6 bucks.

Read lots of good reviews on it.

[BTL]

I will pay any price if I can find a frog that actually floats. After a few fish, most of them start taking on water so fast that they're worthless. I don't mind squeezing after each cast, but I have no use for a frog that starts sinking 5 seconds into every retrieve.

The most reliable floater I've found is the Bobby's Perfect Frog. But even those are not, ummm, perfect.

[fishcast]

I like the unweighted popper mouth scum frogs for fishing the edges and pockets in pads, and prefer the more expensive weighted ones for pulling across the real thick pads. I never have much problems with either sinking...

[thatoneguy]

I am not at all a fan of the Dahlberg Diver Frog. Mine never even made it into the boat after the first couple of times using it.

[AwesomZZ]

Me, personally, like the scum frogs. After about 20 fish with the frogs, most frogs, Scum frogs or not, them wont be the same anymore. Its tough to design something that is soft and can withstand the abuse of pulling fish out of weeds. Besides, northerns love the frogs as much as bass and you can easily lose one to them.

[Gekhang]

koppers has always been good for me. granted ive only caught larger lmb on them, the frog gets heavily disformed when caught, but goes back to its normal shape with alittle moving things around. and has not sunken yet after dozens of 2 plus pounders pounding on this.

this one was 4.5lbs

[slopmaster]

I feel like my hook up percentages are best with those 3$ scum frogs, but they usually only last 3-6 fish before they start to do the inevitable sink. My personal favorite is the trophy scum frog which cost around 5.50$. They seem to be softer than a lot of the 10$ ones so i still get high hook up percentages and they last just as long in my experience. For the price I think there about impossible beat. I also like Bobby's perfect frog. I'd say its easier to get the desired action out of this frog compared to the scum frogs and its still lower than most @ 7.50ish dollars.

[Stick in Mud]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for. I don't always mind a sinking frog...sometimes letting it sink in a pocket in the pads works well for me. That's why I throw unweighted plastic frogs, like the Rage Tail or the Zooms, most of the time. Of course, you can't get quite the variety or range of action on these as you can with Spros or other frogs in that price range, but they work well enough for me.