We have already talked about the fact that there were a lot of new entries into the terminal tackle segment at ICAST 2011. Another area that saw an explosion of new products was hollow body frogs. We will be reviewing as many of these as we can as the year progresses but for now let’s take a look at one that caught our eye with its unique take on this venerable and proven lure.
The new Snag Proof Guntersville Frog. What makes this ribbit stand out? Let’s get it on the water and find out!
Guntersville Frog Construction
Snag Proof has been producing frogs for some time. They are at the forefront of developing the frogs that we use today including the plastics, actions and double hooks that we are all familiar with. They are also known for being willing to try something different that might open up even more design modifications that will be useful for anglers. This kind of thinking is what led to the new Guntersville Frog.
Snag Proof has done away with the traditional legs on this frog and replaces them with much shorter solid material that houses a rattle in each leg. For years, anglers have been adding rattles, beads and other goodies to their frogs as a way of customizing them as well as adding some sound.
The reasoning has been that it is easier, especially at night or fishing over dirty water, for the fish to find your frog if there is the addition of some noise. Now, the Guntersville frog has that built in.
Guntersville Frog Action
Unique Weighting System Makes The Guntersville Frog Move Like No Other Frog
If you’ve ever thrown any hollow body frog you know that they all claim to walk the dog with ease. You also are aware that this assertion is only true about half the time.
In the case of the Guntersville Frog, it does indeed walk the dog. You have to be aware though, that walk the dog doesn’t mean the same thing with a frog as it does with a topwater plug. No frog is going to glide back and forth on a path as wide as a bait like a spook.
Rather, a frog’s action is much more confined with some of the best going only a few inches from one side to the other. This bait will do a couple to three inches consistently without much difficulty.
During our testing, we have had no problems whatsoever with the frog filling with water and sinking or the back weight falling out. I know that we have used some frogs that do both and believe me, that can be one of the most annoying occurrences when you’re on the water.
You take a cast or two and your bait suddenly either sinks or simply won’t cast near as far. With the Guntersville Frog, we haven’t experienced any of this.
One item of note that took us completely by surprise when we first got the bait is what happens when you kill the frog. Most of the baits in this segment simply sit horizontally on top of the water.
Snag Proof designed the Guntersville Frog to sit vertically in the water column with the head above water while the back is completely submerged. We really didn’t know what to think of this when we first got this lure. We were wondering what if any effect it would have on hook sets. Well, here is the bottom line concerning that.
Since we began testing this bait, the percentage of strikes that come when the bait is motionless has only been about ten percent. All other strikes have come as the frog is moving. Our hook up percentage has been somewhat better than average with the Guntersville Frog but not exceptional.
In the baits that we have been fishing, the hook point is very snug to the sides of the body so while you might expect that sitting in this position would negatively affect it when fishing over grass or muck, that simply hasn’t been the case. While it does make it a little more prone to picking up some gunk, it’s not near the amount you might think.
The Snag Proof Guntersville Frog has some unique design characteristics that do have suit themselves to some specific applications. If you’re looking for a frog that will make a little noise out of the package without you having to fill the body to accomplish this, take a look at this ribbit. It has impressed us enough that we will continue to use it as the season progresses.
| Guntersville Frog | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |   |
| Unique design and decent action | |
See ya’ on the water …