Rage Toad/Shad problems 2025

burleytog reply :

Out of four packages of Rage Toads, only two have run correctly (upright). No matter what hook we use, they all want to run upside or run on their side.

The shads have been a little better, with the packages running about 50/50 good/bad. Just don't fish them in dink factories because one strike = one bad bait. The tail action is great, but even Yamamoto baits aren't this fragile. If you are lucky enough to catch a couple of fish on one, then the nose of the bait is so torn up it won't stay on the hook during the retrieve.

2 months ago I was ready to say the buzzbait was obsolete. Now I'm not so sure. At least a buzzbait isn't ruined after one fish.

:-/

Micro reply :

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Out of four packages of Rage Toads, only two have run correctly (upright). No matter what hook we use, they all want to run upside or run on their side.

Reluctantly, I have to agree. I rig mine the same as I rig Zooms, with a 5/0 Spiral Lock Owner hook. Unless I'm buzzing it hell-bent-for-leather with a high rod tip the toads seem to roll over. Pausing them makes for a frog sitting on its side. Starting the retrieve again sometimes causes the rog to retrieve upside down.

Big-O sent me some new Ragetails to try before they hit the shelves. They are amazing baits and I'm grateful. I give all the ones I've tried thusfar A+. But all the toads I've tried seem to have this characteristic. I think it could be the best buzzing frog out there if it weren't for this issue.

paul. reply :

have you tried using one of the weighted swimbait hooks? i thought about this, but i haven't tried it yet. it'd sure make 'em cast farther too. of course you'd have to reel a little faster to keep 'em on top. :-/

Dan: reply :

I've had the same experiences with both baits. Glad I'm not the only one.

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

I haven't found a frog yet that doesn't flip over the wrong way.

One question: Did these shads and toads come out of the new clamshell packs? The ones Big-O sent me ran perfect. Until I tried those I was very sketchy about buying anymore due to the 50/50 fact.

TheBeast reply :

The only fish I have gotten on the toad have been the instant the lure hit the water and a pure reaction strike so I can't really attribute them to the bait since about anything that hit the water would have been eaten. The shads are great I love throwing them but I am getting very put off with one small fish strike at it and the tail is torn and useless. I have been using super glue on them to fix the tear and getting more casts out of them. There is no fix for the nose getting ripped after a couple fish and rendering them floor fodder.

Don't get me wrong I will continue to use the shads especially the green pumpkin/chartreuse ones (got 15 packs) but I can buy them wholesale.

The toads I used out of the clamshell packs have actually been worse, the older ones I have without the clam pack actually ran moe like 75/25 good/bad.

Also alot of the new toads have the nose messed up out of the package. Appears they are poured into the molds with the nose at the top and they don't fill it completely and it makes the nose misshapen.

fishinfiend reply :

I have had problems as well, but I have not tried using a weighted hook. I think I will just use the few I have left. It is a shame because these things cause a lot of commotion and I did catch some fish. I think I would have a lot more success if they ran properly. Some ran better than others in the pack I have.

rondef reply :

You should try using the keel weighted hooks, it should solve the running upside down issue for you. The toads run much better using them with the keel weighted hook.

slomoe reply :

I've caught three or four nice fish on the toads before the nose gets all jacked up. I fish them on a 5/0 and they run fine. Sometimes they will start to run upside down, but I will just pause and then start my retrieve again and it seems to fix itself.

adclem reply :

I have not noticed either running upside down, but I have noticed the nose getting torn up pretty quickly.

Later,

basser89 reply :

I was throwing the buzzfrog yesterday at lunch time and started noticing mine running upside down as well after I had a bass blow up on the frog. After inspecting it, I found the bass must have had one of the legs because I found a tear right at the bend in the leg. After rigging up a new frog, the running upside down issue went away. I'm using a 5/0 Gamakatsu Deep Throat Wide Gap hook, which does have a little more weight to it then the standard EWG hooks.

MSPbass reply :

I've been experimenting with a bunch of different buzz-frogs this summer and I've found this to be a problem with all of them. Someone recently suggested sticking a nail in the rear end of the frog. I have yet to test it, but it sounds like a good idea.

And for what it's worth, I think I'm going to stick with the Stanley Ribbit.

fourbizz reply :

You should try the Netbait Paca Toad. I use their craw and chunk and they are awesome. You don't get your pants pulled down over the price like with the Rage stuff either. The toads also make a SICK big jig trailer.

http://www.***.com/descpageFROGNETBAIT-NBPT.html

Pigsticker reply :

Quote
You should try the Netbait Paca Toad. I use their craw and chunk and they are awesome. You don't get your pants pulled down over the price like with the Rage stuff either. The toads also make a SICK big jig trailer.
http://www.***.com/descpageFROGNETBAIT-NBPT.html

I know that game.

Micro reply :

Net Bait's Frog is another excellent bait. More of a finesse frog. I rig them with 2/0 Spiral Lock Owners. Fish grab and don't let go.

brgbassmaster reply :

frogs for calm water i like manns hardnose...but the rage tail shad i have not had a problem with them running wrong yet. i do have the problem that when i get a fish i might be able to get 2 fish out of one bait.

BossierBassHunter reply :

I HAVE COMPLETELY GIVEN UP ON RAGE TAIL TOADS.

I was so put off by them that it really is stopping me from getting anything else with "Rage-Tail" printed on it, im sorry, but that's how I feel. Stanley Ribbits aren't perfect, but they are ranked way above the toads on my list. And to everyone saying to use weighted hooks: I feel like that almost defeats the purpose, because I like how light they are, so you can stop them on top of vegetation without sinking, but if you go and put weights on them, then you can't.

Lol, sorry about the rant, but I was just really upset with my toads after hearing how good they were supposed to be. Maybe I will go get the shads, but probably not.

rondef reply :

Sorry you feel that way and I hope you try the other baits because Big O has done a great job providing baits for us that catch bass. I have been fishing these baits since they came out with a lot of success and I know that there are numerous ways to fish each of the baits, including the toads. I know the keel weighted hooks do in fact help and that they change the dynamics of the bait a bit. However I am still having success using the keel weighted hooks. When I am not using a keel weighted hooks I just let the bait stop for a couple of seconds and then start reeling and the toad rights itself. I use a 5/0 EWG Gamakatsu hook with these toads.

tyrius. reply :

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I was so put off by them that it really is stopping me from getting anything else with "Rage-Tail" printed on it, im sorry, but that's how I feel.

Never fished the toad, but the shads flat catch fish. The chunk and craw are excellent trailers and I'm impatiently waiting to get some anacondas.

TheBeast reply :

The toads are the only ones I really have a problem with. Got some space monkeys and anacondas in last week, got a couple dinks on the monkey and one bite on the anaconda. Burley gave the anaconda good workout at the cheerleader pond and didn't even get a bite, or very few with no hookups.

Dan: reply :

I just tried the keel weighted hook. I had 5 blowups--missed 1, lost 2 on bad hooksets coming unbottoned, and landed 2. The weight solved the rolling over problem but I would really like to fish the bait slowly and I can't do that without the bait sinking because of the weighted hook. For those 5 blowups, I had one bait's leg rip off and caught a fish on the second bait without any damage. I have to say, I really like these baits for grass mats but I wish I could fish them without the weighted hook without them rolling over.

Pigsticker reply :

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. I'm using a 5/0 Gamakatsu Deep Throat Wide Gap hook,which does have a little more weight to it then the standard EWG hooks.

This guy knows how it is done. those hooks were pratically made for frog fishing. Really is as long as a 6/0 hook, it has extra long bite(long hook point), and is heavy wire. I do not like this hook for other applications, because it is difficult to properly hook other plastics. But for hooking toads it is PERFECT.

Also just using a 5/0 EWG hook will not cut it! You need at least 5/0 heavy wire hook. Like a gamakatsu superline hook(ewg or straight shank), but again this is the bare minimum. I only use a super deep throat 5/0 or a 5/0 gamakatsu monster(style) hook for frogging and any other soft plastics under 6 inches

Oh and Like Bass Finatic said, all toads flip over get used to it. I love a Gambler Cane Toad. It doesnt have a thick body so a hook slot is not nessacary. This makes this toad work perfectly right side up or right side down, and has a better hook-up ratio. The cane toad is also much cheaper.

Big-O reply :

Hey Group,

Been out of commision for a while....had to get my plumbing re routed and a transfusion for my old wreck but the Doc that did the work said my rebuild job went well and I've got alot more fishin days in me.

Been trying to keep up with everyone but my up time has been very limited. I am thankful for my wireless laptop.

Sorry to hear that some of you have been having trouble with the toads running just right for you and if you follow these steps, I think you will find all soft plastic toads and frogs will perform right for you.

A 5/0 Superline (Heavy guage wire) EWG hook is a minimum and a 6/0 SL EWG is a standard for the larger size buzz frogs in the market place today and when used properly, takes care of the majority of challenges and or comments noted above.

The Rage Toad was actually designed around this larger heavier wire wide gap hook as this is the style most often preferred on the Pro circuit, and many use 7/0. On the Toad I prefer 6/0 because it is more accessable. The most important factor for these larger style hooks is that they give the toad the keel effect necessary to keep the toad upright 95% of the time and if toad lands on it's back on the cast, a simple pause is all that is necessary for the toad to upright itself. The Wide Gap adds depth to the keel effect and increases hookups, and adds distance to the cast as well. Also allows faster fall rate in pockets for reaction strikes on pause.

The advantage of the Rage Toad when used accordingly, is the amount water noise, movement and buzzing action that it provides above and beyond the competition. But it will only provide you with such action consistantly when use as mentioned.

There will always be one style hook that works best on each different design of bait, so it is important to mix an match accordingly.

Also as mentioned above the Toads now come in the hard clam packages to avoid any shipping and handling deformation that is common on soft plastics. So look for them on the store shelves.

Pigsticker got it right on the hook size and DominionDan when using a keel weighted hook like Rondef advised, just go to lightest weight available in that hook size.

Attached below is the link to show photos of hooking insructions and when hooking make sure to place hook 1/2 inch deep into nose and be careful not to stretch the Toad out but maintain the boat shape or keel effect as illustrated in the photos.

http://www.ragetail.com/ragetailtoad.html

westpalmfrogpunk reply :

i Took out the rage tail shad this morning and it was just awesome I caught three nice fish off a shallow rock pile . Using a larger hooks I had no problem with the shad rolling over. I will bring the camera next time. By the way O the coffee tube was a great follow up bait when they missed shad.

Dan: reply :

ok, I'll give the larger Superline hooks a shot and see how it works.

Big-O reply :

Quote
i Took out the rage tail shad this morning and it was just awesome I caught three nice fish off a shallow rock pile . Using a larger hooks I had no problem with the shad rolling over. I will bring the camera next time. By the way O the coffee tube was a great follow up bait when they missed shad.

Yes it is, and glad you had a good shad outing....

And DominionDan, If you can't find the 6/0 superline ewgs locally I usually order them from *** or Bass Pro. You will never go small again on any of the bigger frog style baits and hook ups are much increased.

Big O

Bassboss reply :

I hope I don't have the same problems, I just got some shads! :-/

Micro reply :

I don't want to change the subject, but I just went to Gammy 7/0 Monster EWGs for the 10" Annie and they work great.

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Rage Toad/Shad problems 2025

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