Monday, July 8, 2013

Bass Kandi Croaker Frog Review




Croaker:      Colours: 8   Size: 3.5"     Pack Count:  5     
                            Leg Style: Buzz            Scent: Salt


Intro:

Bass Kandi Baits is an up and coming company out of Louisiana. Their line of baits consist of various worms, craws, lizards and of course.. Frogs. The "Kroaker" can be described as a subtle buzz frog that gives off a motion very unique from any of the other frogs I have test driven (so far).. check it out..



Overall Rating: 6.8/10
Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price


Quality & Durability: 3.5/5


I was very happy with the overall quality of the Kroaker, it has a nice body design and I like the concept behind the inlayed channels to push water towards the legs as it swims. Almost all of the 8  colour options are two-tone which gives the finished product a nice look

As for durability the legs are a little soft, I understand the need to have them be agile, but the below image is of a Kroaker after being struck by a fish (note: this is the result of a blow-up not a hooked fish). It is hard to tell but other then the lost foot, both legs also have small rips






Castability: 3.5/5

The Kroaker casts and or skips very well. It has a thin/flat aerodynamic body that makes it easy to work in almost all conditions. You will need to be quick on the uptake as it sinks fairly quickly once it hits the water and takes some effort to get it back on top and buzzing


Presentation: 3.5/5

The legs and feet on the Kroaker give it a very different presentation then most buzz frogs. On the retrieve it has the look of a scared women running away from a zombie in a B horror movie (picture a women running and screaming with her arms waving frantically int he air)... Note that this is not a bad thing. Instead of kicking behind the frog the legs on the Kroaker kick out to the side and give it a softer churn or buzz then most buzz frogs.

When Paused the Kroaker sinks well (though fast) giving off a nice frog profile to any fish paying attention.. actually the majority of my fish on the Kroaker came while the frog sank.

One concern I did have is that I felt I had to really burn this frog back to the boat in order to get the presentation I was looking for. Even a fairly steady retrieve found this frog turning into a wake bait and it swam just below the waters surface.. watch your rod tip, and keep it high if want to to keep the Kroaker up and running


Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

No issues here, the Kroaker holds a hook well and keeps it in position to hook any fish that hammers it. The legs are soft and flexible and overall they stay out of your way.



Availability: 3.0/5

If you live in Lousianna or Texas you should have no issues getting you hands on some Bass Kandi baits, but those of us out of driving distance will have a harder time. They are available on-line from both Bass Kandi as well as Bass Tackle Depot, and I expect this list to grow as word gets on on these quality baits.

Canadians: There is not currently an option to ship  into Canada on the Bass Kandi site, but the team there were gracious enough to work with me to get me order across the boarder.. thanks again!



Options & Price: 3.5/5

For a smaller bait provider Bass Kandi does provide a decent colour selection with 8 options available many of which are two-tone. The baits themselves come 5 to a pack and on average they will cost your $4.99 a pack or $0.99 a frog. This is very reasonable for a quality bait



Where to Find:
In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.




Equipment:

I completed all my Kroaker testing with a Dobyns 735c paired with a Daiwa T3 Ballistic reel. This combo gives me the power and speed to pull fish out of cover quick, but also the ability to skip this frog into tight corners and under trees.




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