FURBIT: Optimum baits has introduced two new frog style baits to the fishing market, you’ve read about one of them, the Poppin’ Furbit.  The second one is “Furbit the Frog”.  Furbit the frog is a more traditional hollow bodied frog, it has pointed nose similar to most frog baits on the market.  Once you get past the nose, Furbit leaves the look-alike world behind.  The bait features a 5/8 oz belly weight just as the Poppin’ Furbit, and also sports the same spinner bait configuration only with a #3 Colorado blade instead of a willow leaf blade.  Furbit has two rabbit fur legs positioned at the rear of the body, right between the two hook points of a 6/0 wide gap Owner frog hook.  Furbit comes through the water and vegetation with ease.  Furbit’s body easily depresses when bitten, to allow for a high percentage of hook-ups.  This will walk the dog with a little practice, and has a tendency to turn 45-90 degrees on every pause, which in turn activates the rabbit fur legs nicely.  Althoug I find it difficult to understand how the spinner bait blade comes across vegetation without hanging, Furbit does so with ease, this frog also has a good hook-up ratio, just like the Poppin’ Furbit.

POPPIN FURBIT: The fishing market seems to operate in trends; one of those trends is the mass introduction of “frog-type” baits to the fishing world.  One of the newest additions to the frog-type baits category is the Poppin’ Furbit by Optimum baits.  This bait is a cupped face hollow bodied frog imitation. 

The bait features a 5/8 oz belly weight to ensure the bait will always position itself correctly in the water.  Molded into the 5/8 oz belly weight is a wire loop that has a high quality swivel and a #3 willow leaf blade attached to it, definitely unique.  Instead of the industry standard rubber or rubber skirt legs the Poppin’ Furbit’s tail is single strand of real rabbit fur.  The rabbit fur tail flares and ripples with the slightest of movements. 

As for the function of the bait, I was skeptical of being able to drag the bait over matted vegetation with a #3 willow leaf blade dangling beneath; however, I can report that the bait not only worked well, but very little vegetation hung on the blade or the swivel.  The bait is equipped with a 6/0 Owner frog hook, which had no trouble hooking up a very high percentage of the bites I received. As a matter of fact, I never lost any of the fish that bit Poppin’ Furbit.  After using the Poppin’ Furbit, I allowed the tail to dry for several days, and then took it back to the water, much to my surprise, the tail immediately flared and moved just as it had when I first took it to the lake.  I definitely plan to add the Poppin’ Furbit to my arsenal of Frog baits.

FURBIT: Those who know me and have fished with me, quickly realize “slop” fishing is not on the top of my list of favorite fishing techniques. Yes I love a fish blowing up on a bait and the excitement that goes with it, but I prefer fishing baits that give me a higher percentage bite to hook-set ratio. This bait has cured that phobia!!!

1. The bait is soft – once a fish has it and squeezes down with it’s mouth, it is easy to sink the hook into the fish.
2. I believe that the flash of the Colorado blade entices the fish to take the bait deeper.
3. A fish will chase this bait well out of the slop because of the action of the rabbit fur legs and the flash of the blade. An angler needs to work the bait all the way back to the boat.
4. It is an awesome bait to throw under overhanging tree branches near the bank.

Frog fishing is one of the most exciting types of bass fishing there is.  Everybody knows the excitement of watching a big largemouth blow up on a frog.  It’s what keeps us fishing time and time again.  I’ve grown up fishing the backwaters of the Mississippi river in which using frogs is a staple for success.  I’ve thrown about every type of frog out there and when I was offered the opportunity to field test Optimum’s new Furbit the Frog, I jumped right on it.

I judge frogs on 3 major criteria:  Plastic softness/durability – Cast ability – and hook quality.  Upon first glance of the frogs I was quite enthused about what I saw.  The plastic of the Furbits are tough, yet very flexible.  This is important b/c it allows the bass to chomp down on it and expose the hooks for an optimal hook set. 

The best feature that this frog possess’ is the molded in weighted belly.  Most of you know what it is like to be using a frog all day and have to keep tucking the hook and weight back into the plastic of the frog.  With the Furbit, I never had to mess with it.  Not having to worry about your bait working properly saves a lot of time throughout the day.  The weighted belly also allows for greater casting distances, which helps cover a lot of water.  Lastly I noticed that every bass I caught was double hooked right through the roof of the mouth, which I believe is due to the molded weight and hook.  It prevents the hooks from sliding off the frog, thus decreasing your hooking percentage.  It doesn’t get any better than a double hook in the roof!!!

The small Colorado blade is normally something I typically don’t use, but I left it on for testing and noticed that I got more strikes in open water than I do when I fish frogs with out it.  It gives off a nice vibration and flash and almost sounds like a buzz bait coming through the water.  I think it gives it a little something extra and it works.

I caught a bass on my first cast using Furbit the Frog.  I proceeded to catch bass on it all day and never once did it rip or tear or sink on me.  Optimum has definitely cast themselves right into the top echelon of frog makers in my opinion.  I give this bait a thumbs-up and I for one will continue to use them.