I’ve written endless paeans to the Senko, spilling ink, then pixels glorifying its simplicity and effectiveness. Indeed, part of what makes it great is that any old outdoor writer can thread one on a hook and experience the occasional moment of glory. I’ve caught bass on Senkos all over the country and frankly I cannot begin to estimate how many more bass I would have caught throughout my life if I’d adopted it earlier.
But we are not here to celebrate the Senko, nor to bury it. There will be plenty of time to write about some of my other favorites, like the Flappin’ Hog, too.
Right now I want to talk about another bait, one that gets little love, despite being one of the most shorts-soiling manners to catch fish anywhere: the Yama Frog.
I know that there are plenty of toad-style baits on the market, and I know that this page is owned by Yamamoto, so you might think I’m a shill, but in a dozen years of blogging here I’ve never been pressured to speak about particular products. I have been encouraged to talk about just about everything under the sun, as long as I do it honestly – and I truly believe there’s something about the Yama Frog design and sound pattern that makes it different and better in many circumstances. You can use them on an unweighted hook or on a lightly-weighted hook. If you don’t strap one of these on the back of your favorite buzzbaits, however, you are missing out on a life-changing experience (be sure to add a drop of Super Glue or the experience will be dampened slightly). Try the laminates, especially the green pumpkin and white version.
I was hesitant to write this piece because I don’t need everyone on my local waters slinging the same baits as me – remember, I’m a writer, not a pro – but in 25 years of fishing seriously, I’ve learned that good stuff inexplicably goes away. If enough people don’t buy these frogs, I may have trouble getting them in the future, so this is a public service announcement with an ulterior motive. In the meantime, I’m stocking up.
