QED

Fun times with 2lb test:

BTW, just did a quick check and all my PAs were made in China. So there's that info if it matters to you. I wasn't aware of that when I purchased them and it probably wouldn't have toggled my ultimate purchase decision but it would have been a negative decision variable.

It's you. [kidding!] My local lake/pond (which designation depends upon the max depth at the time of inquiry and is a function of whether or not there is an aphotic layer) is really tough right now - toxic algae bloom and suffering from "natural" fish die-off per the park rangers. Best strategy is to throw known productive baits, e.g., wacky rigged green pumpkin 4" senkos at the interesting structures. Then carpet bomb everywhere else with fast movers (spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatterbaits, whatever) to cover as much water as possible. When selective fishing doesn't work then max area coverage is a good fallback strategy.

I am a big fan of black frogs but like to keep some natural colors on hand as well. The color scheme on the frogs I use tend to extend below the water line, so on the margin, I would think it can improve the hit rate. And it doesn't cost anything extra to select the closest matching available color scheme. BTW, Booyah, Spro, LiveTarget, and Castaic all make fine <= 1/4 oz hollow body frogs (some in popper form) for those who like to use lighter tackle.

Your experience is more relevant than mine to the original query, since I’m at the opposite end of the light/heavy action spectrum. I imagine that the build quality remains excellent across the range.

I have 2 PA casting rods and 1 PA spinning rod. All are BFS or ML/F. They tend to fish slightly heavier (action-wise) than their nominal ratings but they are awesome rods and are very light. The build quality is excellent and some come with stylish nylon rod socks.

I caught a 4lb bass on 2lb stren mono. Heck of a fight. Only recommended for venues that don't have a lot of things that you might get hung up on, e.g., man-made lakes designed for housing developments.

I still like the Mann's Jelly Worm scent. It brings back vivid memories of fishing back in high school. "Scents bypass the thalamus and go straight to the brain's smell center, known as the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus, which might explain why the smell of something can so immediately trigger a detailed memory or even intense emotion." https://www.discovery.com/science/Why-Smells-Trigger-Such-Vivid-Memories

BTW, I'm a foodie so I am especially fond of French food, so I love me some escargot or grenouille but the toxic algae bloom put an end to eating the latter. The frog has a sore foot but should be fine otherwise. Sorry, I've been in the minority bike component camp as a Campy fan, though Shimano makes great fishing gear. ? My only non-Italian bike is a Ritchey titanium/carbon travel bike (though it does have Campy SR components) so I know nothing of Shimano bike gear.

I do my own now. I have measured and documented all the cockpit dimensions referenced off the bottom bracket. I've assembled and configured all but one of my bikes from frame and components and have built the wheels on the first few back when that was a thing. But if you are telling me that I am overly meticulous, yes guilty as charged! ?

Frogs go through metamorphosis so they are dramatically different looking depending on where they are in their life cycle. I mostly use light/UL fishing gear, so I only throw 1/4 oz hollow frogs. So the problem is to figure out how they might look when they are post tadpole phase, but only about 1-1/2" long from nose to vent.

I can match the present scheme if anyone makes that, but I'd prefer to match them as they are when they are the size of a 1/4 oz hollow frog, which requires some biology research.

Thanks everyone, mystery solved! The other mystery though - how does a big frog get snagged in the foot by a spinnerbait? They are relatively snag free in normal use! In fact, I don't think I've ever snagged any aquatic creature using a spinnerbait - just the usual fish hits (largemouth, stripers, crappie, bluegills, catfish, and more).

Thanks, could be a bullfrog - those are common in NorCal. But this color scheme is not typical. They are usually more green and less brown and not as prominently speckled, but most of the ones I've seen have been in the San Joaquin County delta system and not up here.

Updating with latest catches. The tiny bass was caught on a 4" senko which was bigger than the fish! Caught the frog this morning. Unfortunately, the lake is suffering from toxic algae bloom and "natural" fish die-off, so the fishing is going to suck going forward.

Caught (snagged apparently) this frog this morning on a spinnerbait (how does that happen?). I don't recognize the color scheme, but since it is native to my nearby lake, I'd like to know what it is so that I can "match-the-hatch" with an appropriate hollow frog bait. Thanks in advance for your help.

Good camera lenses are VERY spendy but worth it - just like good rifle scopes. Clarity, brightness, minimal distortion from edge to edge all cost extra. But in the case of camera lenses, if you stick with the same brand, they tend to have standardized mounts such that the same lens can be used with different bodies, both current and future (usually). Makes fishing seem comparatively inexpensive!

I'm pretty sure I can avoid the Bait Monkey until just after next year's ICAST trade show. After that, all bets are off...

That's one of my favorite dock fishing techniques for spooky bass. Use a light/UL, weedless bait so as not to harm the dock (wacky senko with a weedless hook works well) - toss it onto the dock and gently drop it into the shady side...

Here at my local mountain lake (NorCal), the weeds were thick during the summer, but have mostly died off now. But we are having a toxic algae bloom and a "natural" fish die-off so conditions are different but not better.

It was shown at Icast and is available for pre-order at tackle warehouse so should be available USDM. Net cost for pre-order with shipping and tax was almost $800. I’ll report back when I get it, but at that price point it won’t be flying off the shelves.

UL Casting: Shimano GR-01451 UL Graphite Casting Rod Daiwa Steez CT SV TW, 6 lb mono UL Spinning: Fenwick Golden Wing 49UL Graphite Spinning Rod Shimano Soare CI4+ 500S, 4 lb mono The heavy vegetation that was common at my local lake during the summer is mostly gone now, so UL works great for the fall.

I can't tell if your remark is [admittedly funny] deadpan humor or in earnest. But either way, I agree.

Don’t try to rationalize a vendor error. Keep it if you would have elected it on its own merits. Otherwise, it’s a utilitarian error to keep it.

Skin on - definitely. When I was in Paris, the French restaurants had special tools to separate the skin from the fillet. I love French food but they definitely got this one wrong.