TackleTour Autopsy: Cutting up
the Koppers Live Target Walking Frog
(continued)
We
also noticed that at total rest the lure sits with the legs angled back and the
head popping over the water's surface. At this angle the bait looks very
realistic. Through the translucent underbelly we could see a weight positioned
at the rear of the bait. This backloading not only helps give the bait a
realistic action and angle at rest but helps anglers make long controlled casts.
The underbelly behind the belly is
semi-transparent
Time to see what makes this frog walk:
After removing the hooks we strapped the Walking Frog in and ran a variety of
abrasive surfaces over the frogs finish. The lure ranks above average in
abrasion resistance and underneath the lure's realistic finish the
semi-transparent plastic body. We also tested impact resistance and found the
lure to be surprisingly durable under duress. This is one bait that you can cast
confidently in and around rocks and docks.
Under the paint is the same
semi-transparent frame
Next up we cut into the belly of the frog where we
saw sparks fly when the blade came in contact with two bearing weights. We could
immediately tell that both bearings were locked solidly in position as the blade
hit them on each and every pass.
The underbelly of the beast
Once we cracked open the lure we could see just
why the lure was so impact resistant. The walls of the Walking Frog are
extremely thick, which is why it is able to stand up to constant surface
impacts. The lure features independent wire hardware at the line tie and at all
hardware hookup points, this is less durable that a complete through wire design
but because the plastic is so thick the hardware is well sandwiched to take on
plenty of pressure and torque.
The rear is reinforced with solid
plastic and the weight is locked in place to aid with casting
The rear center and front of the lure is
reinforced with extra plastic and as we suspected when we were cutting into the
lure, both bearings are sandwiched securely in place. Even though the bait
doesn't have any noise creating bearings there are two individual sealed
chambers.
A look at the completely opened up
bait. Simple yet deadly effective.
The Koppers Live Target Walking Frog features a
very simple yet elegant construction that is designed for consistency. What
interested us most about the bait was the weighting of the lure behind the head
and at the very back of the legs. This design makes the bait easy to cast and
walk back ad forth. This enticing action combined with the fact that this bait
is downright realistic makes for a deadly strike inducing combination. Sometimes
less is more, and the Koppers Walking Frog features a simple yet effective
design that will stand up to everything from bass to Walleye, and other top of
the foodchain freshwater fish that target juvenile frogs in North American
rivers and lakes. After fishing this lure more in places like the Delta and
Clear Lake I wish that I had brought it with me to the Amazon, perhaps the frog
will find a space in Cal's tackle bag on his return trip this year.
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