Strike King's Rage Toad brings the Fury
|
Date: |
9/11/10 |
|
Tackle type: |
Lures |
|
Manufacturer: |
Strike King |
|
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score:
8.25 -
GREAT
Introduction:
Strike King lures are
endorsed by some of the
biggest names on tour
including KVD and the
company has enjoyed a
lot of success both with
their hardbaits and soft
plastics which includes
their Rage Tail line of
lures. The Rage Toad
makes use of the
company’s cleverly
designed tail to
generate some serious
turbulence behind this
topwater bait to incite
bass to strike.
|
Strike
King
Rage
Toad
Specifications |
| Type |
Soft Bodied
Frog (Toad) |
| Depth |
Topwater
(primary),
sinking bait
(secondary) |
|
Weight |
Variable
depending on
rigging |
| Size |
4" |
| Colors/Patterns |
8+ |
| MSRP |
$4.99 (pack
of 5) |
Strike King's Rage Toad comes five
per pack, each toad rests in a plastic formed tray ensuring they maintain proper
shape up to the minute you fish them
Impressions:
I relish testing topwater lures, the aggressive strikes are well worth the lull
periods. Frog fishing has grown on me in recent years and one really can’t
fully enjoy lure fishing on the California Delta until they have fished a few
hollow bodied frogs over the weed mats. That being said most anglers started
topwater frog fishing not with hollow bodied frogs but with soft bodied
versions, which are also nicknamed “toads.”
The Rage Toad's head is more
detailed than other soft bodied frogs and features bulging eyes
Some of the more popular
toads include the venerable Zoom horny Toad, the Sizmic toad and the Reaction
Innovations Trixie Shark, just to name a few. All of these toads share a frog
profile with a pair of legs with some sort of padded “foot” on each leg that
catches the water when retrieved generating both surface disturbance and noise.
Some anglers refer to this style of lure as a “plastic buzzbait.”
The back feet look like Pac-Man
mouths
Each of Strike King’s Rage
Tail series of lures features an exclusive tail design that is engineered to
deliver some sort of distinct action whether the bait is a topwater or
subsurface lure. The use of certain plastic materials is designed to impart very
specific action depending on the application. In the case of the Rage Toad that
plastic is designed to be very durable so that the legs can not only continually
slap the surface without taking damage but survive brutal strikes as well.
The underbelly of the Rage Toad
Unlike many other soft
bodied frogs the rage Toad doesn’t have paddle-like feet, instead it features
what looks like flat “Pac-Man” shaped feet that come attached to the legs of the
lure. Before fishing the baits on the surface angler need to break the small
connection allowing the foot to move freely. Each pack of Rage Toads ships in a
plastic re-sealable package, but unlike other soft bodied frogs Strike King
ships the frogs in a plastic mold so that each frog (legs and all) are separated
and held in position so that they stay in perfect form up to the moment they are
ready to be deployed.
There is a recessed area for the
hook point on the back of the lure
Real World Tests:
To test the Rage Toad I fished the both at Clear Lake and the California Delta
both when the vegetation growth was thick and when the water was relatively
clear during the cooler months. While I primarily fished the Rage Toad as a
topwater bait I also used it as a pitching bait as well as a trailer. I fished
it both with mono and braided lines using everything from jig to frog rods.
Rigged weightless the Rage Toad is
ready to go
Next
Section: The Rage Toad brings the Strikes
