Generate surface eruptions with the Sizmic Toad
Date: |
4/21/05 |
Tackle type: |
Lures |
Manufacturer: |
Sizmic Lures,
Uncle Josh |
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.91
Introduction:
Do you love topwater fishing? Does your heart skip a beat every time you get a
splash hit? If so then the latest generation of plastic frog baits are probably
just what you have been waiting for. The Sizmic Toad is an exciting plastic bait
than can be fished topwater, flipped and pitched, or used as a trailer.
Sizmic Toad
Specifications |
Type |
Plastic Creature Bait |
Material |
Molded Soft Plastic |
Colors/Patterns |
23
available |
Size |
4
inch |
Number per pack |
6 |
Package |
Resalable Bag |
MSRP |
$2.99 per pack of |
Impressions: Frog baits are all the rage as more
and more anglers find themselves hooked the very first time a largemouth
explodes on their surface lures. The two most well known are the Zoom "Horny
Toad" and "Sizmic Toad." Both of these lures have distinctive profiles, colors,
and feature characteristics that help each lure generate their own unique
action. I have fished the Zoom Horny Toad prior to reviewing the Sizmic Toad,
and its actually one of my go to topwater baits in and around heavy cover. Upon
first inspection of the Sizmic Toad I would have to say that the Horny Toad has
a more realistic profile, and features a wider more natural belly. The most
noticeable difference between the two is the implementation of the swimming
tails. The Zoom Horny Toad has two worm tails, while the Sizmic Toad makes use
of a much more swimbait-like set of tails.
Meet the Sizmic Toad, a unique
plastic frog
The Sizmic Toad features an
indented hook keeper in which the hook point rests exposed beneath the main
level of the toad's body. The Horny Toad is the exact opposite, and the hook
point rests right on top of the baits body exposed, and a raised bump on either
side of the hook is designed to thwart hang-ups on structure. The Sizmic toad
feels a bit more rubbery than the Horny Toad, and Sizmic lineup includes two
tone designs that blend colors better than the Zoom offering. For example some
of the frog color combinations are more realistic with a dark spotted top and a
solid lighter colored belly.
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A recessed slit in the back of the
toad allows you to expose the hook and still remain weedless
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Field Tests: To
test the Sizmic Toad we head out to prime
froggin' fishing grounds in the California Delta. Plenty of recent sun and warm
weather had inundated a lot of the shallower cuts with plenty of vegetation. The
timing was perfect and conditions for our test couldn't have been more ideal.
Complete
test Rig for fishing the
Sizmic Toad |
Rod |
Kistler Helium HE69APC |
Reel |
Quantum PTX-Metal |
Line |
12 lb. Trilene Big Game |
While most of our normal topwater frogging is done
with braided lines we opted to fish the Sizmic Toad like a regular plastic and
used one of our favorite plastic rods, a Kistler Helium (HE69APC), and a Quantum
PTX-Metal spooled with normal 12lb. Trilene Big Game line.
The Sizmic Toad creates a wake
with two swimbait-like paddle tails
Casting: The
Sizmic Toad can be fished a variety of ways, but my favorite way is to apply it
as a topwater lure. This involves casting right into the center of the
vegetation and retrieving it over the surface. The lure makes use of dense
plastic and does have some weight to it so casting weightless is both easy and
recommended. Rigged normally the lure is weedless and with limp braided line or
even a mid weight mono the Sizmic Toad is easy to flip and pitch if you wish to
drop it directly into predetermined pockets.
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When at rest the Sizmic toad will
fall slowly, a characteristic you can use to your advantage |
Retrieving: The very
first time I started retrieving the Sizmic
Toad I couldn't quite believe my ears. The best way I can describe how the
distinctive sound the Sizmic Toad generates is a rhythmic spinning, almost what
a plastic buzzbait sounds like. The sound is generated by the uniquely shaped
swimbait tails coming in contact with the surface. While the Horny Toad's
worm-like tails "churn" the water the Sizmic Toad's tails "slap" the surface.
The Sizmic Toad creates more commotion on the water, as well as generates a
clearly visible wake trail. The Sizmic Toad will sink slowly when at rest, and
the head will sink slightly faster than the tail. This characteristic can be
used to your advantage, and you can buzz right over dense vegetation and pause
your retrieve over holes in the blanket and allow the Sizmic Toad to sink into
potential strike zones. The strikes typically are rather violent, and usually
involve a vicious surface splash. When pitching this lure all of my strikes
occurred within seconds of the lure hitting the surface rather than deep in the
drop. Yet another way to fish the Sizmic Toad is as a trailer on a spinnerbait
or jig. The Sizmic Toad can be worked up the hook so that only the legs flap or
it can be hooked in the head just like a pork.
Yet another way to fish the Sizmic
Toad...as a trailer for spinners and jigs
Durability: In terms of durability the Sizmic Toad has the competition
beat. The plastic used in the construction of the Sizmic Toad has a more rubbery
and dense makeup and the swimbait paddles are far more durable than the Horny
Toad's worm tails. Even when hooked on jigs and spinners the plastic doesn't
break off and can be removed and reused many times with no issues. I also found
that I lost a lot less Sizmic Toads than Horny Toads because of the recessed
hook design. The Horny Toads tended to hang up more on the hook point, while the
Sizmic Toad hangs up a bit more on the swimbait style legs. The difference is
that you can much more easily pull out of a snag on the soft plastic tails than
when hooked directly into weed with the hook.
Dig hidden fish out of the
thickest weed beds
Applications: First and foremost the Sizmic
Toad is an excellent topwater lure. You can use it in replacement of a buzzbait,
and the ability to allow the bait to fall weightlessly in pockets gives you an
extra tactic to employ. The Sizmic Toad actually has a wider usable range than a
traditional buzzbaits because it can be used in even the thickest vegetation.
The lure is effective across expanses of open water, but I found it most
valuable in and around heavily weeded out areas. The fact that the lure can be
flipped or used as a trailer is an added bonus. There are plenty of colors
available but my favorite are the green pumpkin/pearl or pure white for topwater
retrieves, the green pumpkin or brown/orange for pitching, and the black/blue
for use as a trailer.
Sizmic Toad Ratings
(?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
The
Sizmic toad boasts a quality construction and design and is surprisingly
durable for a plastic bait. It can be reused many times |
9 |
Performance |
The
lure is fantastic for explosive topwater action and drew many strikes from
fish in and around thick vegetation. This lure can go where even buzzbaits
get hung up |
9 |
Price |
One
word....cheap. These lures are a bargain at under 3 dollars per pack |
9.5 |
Features |
The
two main features this lure has is the recessed hook hider which allows you
to fish this lure totally weedless and the two swimbait like paddle tails |
9 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
A
unique design, with unique action. The lure may not look as realistic in
profile as some of the other frogs but it makes up for it with innovative
features, quality action, and plenty of color choices |
8 |
Application |
This lure is excellent when targeting bass in and around structure, and can
be fished weedless. As an added bonus it can be fished a variety of ways |
9 |
Total Score |
8.91 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Got to hear it to believe it |
L
Realism of profile |
J
Explosive action |
L
Somewhat hard to find |
J
Can be fished multiple ways |
|
J
Durability |
|
J
Reasonable price |
|
Conclusion: The Sizmic Toad is a great lure to get the blood
flowing in any topwater loving bass fan. The lure delivers a quality action and
a inimitable sound that you just have to hear to believe. The distinctive action
and surface commotion emitted by the Sizmic toad during retrieves was more than
enough to get bass to come up and brutally strike this lure, but the lure's
performance on top of the thickest vegetation was what impressed me the most.
The Sizmic Toad can actually be fished where even buzzbaits struggle to get
through, and topwater retrieve and pause techniques were enough to dig even the
most veiled fish out of hiding. These explosive strikes were usually followed
with a hard fought battle of pulling the fish right out of the center of the weeds, but every time one of these fish got hooked up I could swear that my
heart took pause. For generating surface eruptions its hard to beat the Sizmic
Toad.
Until next time....Tight Lines.
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