When you think of rubber boots, do you think of bass fishing? Probably not, but you should. Way back in the early 1950s, Harry Ehlers knew boots. He was an executive for rubber-rainboot manufacturer Totes.

He also knew a lot about bass fishing. He fished farm ponds and wanted a way to fish the slop, so he combined his boot knowledge with lure design to make the first-ever rubber frog. At that moment, Snag Proof was born.

The evolution of the frog has gained significant momentum in recent years, and Snag Proof continues to elevate its designs as well. A few years back, the company introduced Bobby's Perfect Frog, designed by California Delta frog legend Bobby Barrack.

The newest Snag Proof frog – the Bleedin' Frog – will be available soon. It's built with a custom-made red Owner wide-gap hook that perfectly fits the profile of the frog.

When tested, we found this frog stood up to the Snag Proof standard – perfect when fished over moss and vegetation, but equally deadly in open water.

The tapered design of the Bleedin' Frog helped casting and hookups – it cut down on wind resistance, and didn't hang up when a fish engulfed it. The large bulging eyes and a larger-than-average tail section allowed the bait to walk side-to-side with minimal effort. No customization needed.

And it's rear-weighted, which makes it easy to throw accurate casts into a stiff breeze, even for the beginning frogger.

We especially liked the way the legs are properly sized right out of the package. They won't pull loose, and all the colors had a strand or two of red mixed in.

The line-tie is more rigid in the nose, so the bait won't bunch up on hooksets. Another characteristic we liked was the minimal play from side to side in the line-tie, which keeps the bait running true, even after several bass.

In our tests we also found that the bottom of the frog seemed very tough, which is a good thing, but the top was very pliable, so it collapsed on the hookset to expose the hook-points for better penetration.

All the frogs we tested came equipped with rattles, which were easily removed through the hook cavity if desired.

The Bleedin' Frog comes in six colors: black, pearl, mossback, watermelon, chartreuse and chicklet. These are all common frog colors, and we hope to see some more blended colors in future offerings. Retail price is $8.00.

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> Click here to visit www.SnagProof.com.