Some of the greatest fun that can be had when fishing in the BNF zone is with topwater frogs. Slurp or smash, when walking, popping, or hopping a topwater frog through the slop or the pads, it’s an adrenalin pumping experience, and that’s just waiting for the strike!
I’ve decided to do an extended archive of topwater frogs just due to my OCD nature of trying to see just how many variations of the topwater frogs tackle companies have come up with, and so far, the list is over 200 (!!!) separate models from over 60 different tackle manufacturers.
The requirements for inclusion to this list are: It must be weedless and be able to be fished through slop and pads.
No treble hooked (3 barbs bad, 2 barbs good!) lures like the Rebel Pop’n Frog or Moreau Baits Original Topwater Walking Frog:
Treble hooks bad! Weed and snot magnets!
As beautiful as this hardbody frog is, trebles = no go.
No buzzblades like the Snag Proof Bobby’s Perfect Buzz Frog or Rebel Buzz’n Frog.
Buzz blades = no go. Too much hardware for the slop. It’s OK though, the Snag Proof brand is well represented in the BNF Ultimate Topwater Frog Compendium.
Although I think the Rebel Buzz’n Frog is an awesome lure, and the design been around a while, it’s not what I have categorized as a topwater frog. Sorry Rebel.
No soft plastic buzzfrogs or toads like the Zoom Horny Toad or Gambler Cane Toad.
The Zoom Horny Toad is an awesome buzzing topwater lure, but is soft plastic and sinks, so therefore doesn’t meet the criteria.
Again, the Gambler Cane Toad in Bullfrog color is one of my favorite toads, but doesn’t make the list.
There’s some frogs that skirt the edges of the requirements, so I assessed them on a case by case basis.
The 3:16 Lure Company No Bull Frog makes the list even though it is a soft plastic frog, it has a sealed air bladder that enables it to float.
This Canyon Plastics Frog is pretty cool as well, but the hollow cavity is not sealed, so it doesn’t qualify for the list.
The 3:16 Lures No Bull Frog, I included because even though it is a soft plastic frog and doesn’t come pre-rigged, it has an sealed air bladder like a hollow bodyy frog. The Canyon Plastics Frog, which I chose not to include, is a soft plastic frog like the 3:16 No Bull Frog, and though it has a hollow body cavity, it is not a sealed bladder like the No Bull Frog and so in my opinion doesn’t qualify for this list.
My search isn’t limited to just the US domestic market, but markets like southeast Asia and Europe as well. It’s also not limited to just currently available frogs, but also discontinued and vintage frogs that if they meet my criteria, will be included. If you have a suggestion for a frog, send me an email or contact me through this site or the BNF Facebook page and I’ll add it.
I will be documenting each one with as much information as I can get. The info that will be included to start will be: Manufacturer, Model, Colors, Length, Weight, Price. I’m going to try to include a full color chart as well as color names and codes if they’re available, and a brief description if I can get one.
They will be broken up into 5 categories;
-Traditional hollow body style frogs like the Mann’s Super Frog:
The Mann’s Super Frog in Cypress Frog color, a nice representation of the traditional hollow body frog.
-Popping style frogs like the Deps Buster K:
The totally cool Deps Buster K, a not so typical representation of a popping style frog.
-Spook and shad style frogs like the Picasso Shad Walker:
Bring on the night bite with the Picasso Shad Walker, a spook/shad style topwater frog
-Mice and rats like the Strike King King Rat:
Be seen from space with Strike King’s King Rat, an example of the mouse/rat category!
-Wooden hardbody and handmade frogs like the Vagabond Bush-0:
A beautiful Vagabond Bush-0 hardbody frog. Notice the weedless two barb topwater hook which satisfied the requirements for inclusion into the hardbody/handmade category.
I’m still figuring out the logistics of everything and how I can present it in a nice easy visually interesting yet uncluttered way, but the first sections should be going up shortly, so stay tuned!!
Functional Topwater Frog Art!
