Monday, May 4, 2015

Nories Ebigaeru Popper Frog Review

Ebigaeru  : Colors: 10  Length: 3"  inch Weight: 1/2oz  Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Not really a frog, not really a popper. The Nories Ebigaeru was designed to mimic a top water popper yet offer the angler the weedless performance of a frog. Overall it achieved this goal but this crossover bait does not fit perfectly in either category meaning there are very few times I would choose this frog over a standard hollow body or a traditional popper, here's why...


Overall Rating: 6.3/10
Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price


Quality & Durability: 4.0/5

Nories makes a quality bait. As you know their NF60 is one of (if not) my favourite frog bait currently available on the market. They use soft pliable body material that holds up well to the abuse all frog baits are put through, and it comes equipped with a strong hook specially designed for this bait .

I did have some sinking issues when fishing the Ebigaeur that brought down this score a bit (as it should)






Castability: 4.0/5


With it's bullet shape, the Ebigaeru is as arrow dynamic as them come, which means casting for distance is a breeze. Maybe if this frog didn't take on water during the course or my retrieve I would have taken more advantage of its distance 

Presentation: 3.5/5

The Ebigaeru moves like a standard top water popper. It walks the dog with ease and pops pretty damn well. Again if it did not take on water like a submarine with a screen door, this may be a whole different conversation and review.

The one area in which this bait would shine would be in short distance targeted fishing. If you have an area with a bunch of holes and spots and you want to drop a bait for a few quick twitches (or pops) then pull it back, this frog would excel at that.

Hook-up Ratio: 3.5/5

Overall I have no concerns with the Ebigaeru's hook-up ratio, the hooks are strong and sharp but slightly narrower then i would like. The hooks were specifically designed for this bait, and although I appreciate the effort, a standard wider hook would be my personally preference.




Availability: 2.0/5

Ouch, I guess I should have published this review last season when I bought and tested the bait. Since that time it has become hard to find and appears to be discontinued by major retailers like Tackle Warehouse. Currently your best bet may be to order on EBay, they have the largest selection and various price points.

Options & Price: 2.0/5

When first available the Ebigaeru came in one size but 10 colour options. I really like the crayfish designs they went with, though I'm not sure how many crayfish spend their time swimming along the top of the water column for any distance..oh, I guess they do have something in common!



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


Tackle Warehouse ($10.49)

Nories (NA)

Samurai Tackle ($13.31)

Equipment:

All  testing was done on a  Dobyns DX746 this is my go to rod  for hollow and soft plastic baits alike. As for reels, the Daiwa Lexa pairs well with this rod and gives you a nice over sized spool for that added distance and power. Line choice was SunLIne FX2





Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B
Pads (Medium Cover): C+
Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): D

Walk the Dog: B
Popping Action: B
Sit/Pause: B+








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