I was wondering when to throw a poppin style frog vs a regular frog. The ponds I fish are very clear with little to no algea or water vegitation.

I always throw the booyah poppin pad crasher now. Can pop or walk it. No other frog gets the nod anymore. 

Unless I'm fishing a ridiculously thick mat where I'll just be dragging the frog, I fish a popping frog.  IMO they walk easier, and you can also change up the retrieve and pop it. 

My favorite frog is the Spro Popping frog, next in line is the Booyah padcrasher. I have tried the Poppin pad crasher once but haven't fished with it enough to form a solid enough opinion on it yet. 

Popping frogs are great for fishing targets or small areas. The regular frogs are good for covering more water or in really heavy vegetation that catches on the face of the poppers. I opt for the Popping Pad Crasher a majority of the time. 

the popping pad crasher in my number one frog. I also like the spro glide frogs.  they have a great wide walk action

If you have no vegetation, yes frogs can work but there are lots of other, likely better, topwaters. See the GoTo Topwater thread.

I find a popper frog can draw fish that are not close enough or noticing a regular style frog that moves less water. I use both. If they aren't on the regular style I'll try a popper and see if I can wake a few up. Sometimes it makes a difference.

I normally throw a popping frog (no real favorite) when it's windy and there is a mild chop on the water.  And a non popper (usually a Scum Frog) in relatively calm water, target casting or over heavy vegetation. 

 

Mike

13 hours ago, gardnerjigman said:

I always throw the booyah poppin pad crasher now. Can pop or walk it. No other frog gets the nod anymore.

I caught more fish on the Chug'n Spook and Chug Bug last summer but I got the occasional big smash on the regular Pad Crasher. I don't know why I didn't think to try the Poppin' PC. If I get back in that pattern this summer you can bet I'll have all three tied on. This was working for me in July/August in the evenings.

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

I caught more fish on the Chug'n Spook and Chug Bug last summer but I got the occasional big smash on the regular Pad Crasher. I don't know why I didn't think to try the Poppin' PC. If I get back in that pattern this summer you can bet I'll have all three tied on. This was working for me in July/August in the evenings.

It was solid for me and Bluebasser last year. Can't think of a single tournament we fished that the poppin pad crasher didn't contribute and/or carry it. 

i like regular frogs my lake is pretty calm most of the time so they work well enough and walking baits do well i also have poppin pad crashers though just in case 

I use a "regular" Booyah pad crasher about 90% of the time, the other 10% is split between three other frogs, the popping pad crasher, the "small" pad crasher, and a Stanley Ribbit.

9 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

I use a "regular" Booyah pad crasher about 90% of the time, the other 10% is split between three other frogs, the popping pad crasher, the "small" pad crasher, and a Stanley Ribbit.

How durable is the ribbit? They seem so thin backed that I always figured they wouldn't be too durable. Do you texas rig it or run it with a double frog hook? 

1 minute ago, gardnerjigman said:

How durable is the ribbit? They seem so thin backed that I always figured they wouldn't be too durable. Do you texas rig it or run it with a double frog hook? 

I run it with the Stanley 5/0 back weighted double hook. They last, on average, about 3 fish. Some a little longer, some as little as one and done. I found them to last longer with the double hook than a single hook. The Zoom Horny Toads I used to use beat the Ribbit in the durability department, but I catch more fish, and have better hook up % with the Ribbit. Another soft plastic frog that I forgot to mention that I really liked was the Sizmic Toad.............but, they are so light they are difficult to cast.

2 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

I run it with the Stanley 5/0 back weighted double hook. They last, on average, about 3 fish. Some a little longer, some as little as one and done. I found them to last longer with the double hook than a single hook. The Zoom Horny Toads I used to use beat the Ribbit in the durability department, but I catch more fish, and have better hook up % with the Ribbit. Another soft plastic frog that I forgot to mention that I really liked was the Sizmic Toad.............but, they are so light they are difficult to cast.

Ok. I may pick up a pack and give them a try. I am die hard horny toad user, but my curiosity is peaked.

I very rarely use a popper.  I just like the way I can choose to cover water or walk it in place, splash it or make it quitetly wiggle along all with the same bait... With a popper there isn't as much choice.  I find there is very little I can't do with a regular style frog, whereas the performance of the popper frogs tend to be a bit more one dimensional.  

 

I only bring ring out poppers on the most active if topwater days.  Every other time it's all about the regular style frogs and mice.  Just my personal style, I'm sure others will disagree.  

The regular frogs are good for open water and covering more water. The popping frog is good for gaps in between Lilly pads to make the most commotion in a small space. But even in open water I still just use a popping frog. Either Spro or Booyah, I'm not a fan of the strike king KVD frog. If you have some extra cash live target frogs are nice too. But yes I would just stick with a popping frog. If you really want a regular frog I would get like a ribbit or cane toad or any soft plastic frog (not a hollow body) and use it as a search bait in open water as it will make more noise then when you find the fish either stick with that or switch to a popping frog.... You could also just add a suction cup to a regular hollow frog an make it a popping frog that way you can switch back and forth for what ever the situation calls for