SPRO® Bronzeye Jr. Frog

The Bronzeye Jr. by SPRO is a downsized version (3/8 oz.) of its bigger brother, the original Bronzeye 5/8 oz. Developed in conjunction with top-water maestro, bass pro Dean Rojas, the Bronzeye Jr. allows more of a finesse presentation which is extreme advantageous in pressured water. As evidenced by the success and popularity of its old brother, both SPRO Bronzeye versions are available in a growing number of colors. For our review we chose three: Rainforest Black, Leopard, and Neon Glow.

First Impressions

Nine bucks! That'll catch your attention right away! However, the overall quality of construction and balance will soon begin to erase any doubts about the initial sticker shock. The Bronzeye body is soft, hollow, and quite pliable. The color and body shape are incredibly detailed and the whole lure is counter-balanced with a small disc-shaped weight in what would be the groin of the frog. A full strand skirt exits the body off the hips, creating the legs that look incredibly lifelike on the pause. Equipped with a 2nd generation Gamakastu dual-pronged hook, it looks big, but feels incredibly balanced.

Fishing the Lure

We took a bit of a trip into the back country to test this soft bait. A well-known, but infrequently visited area called the Winnewana Impoundment in the Waterloo Recreation area north of Chelsea, MI was our destination. It's not very far off the path, but with the numerous lakes and fisheries in the area, Winnewana gets limited pressure. What makes it perfect for the SPRO Bronzeye is that Winnewana is very flat, the shores are crowded with lilly pads, and the lake (despite the large surface area) rarely gets deeper than 4-5 ft. -  an environment perfect for top water frog fishing.

What makes fishing skinny water so much fun is that you can often track your target as it quietly brushes the vegetation below the surface, causing Lilly pads to quiver. It can be very subtle, but once you know what to look for, you're basically sight fishing in obscured water. Adding to the fun is that once you get your bait in the strike zone, summer bass love to play with it, slamming it and throwing it around. Hook sets are not as consistent as with other lures like crankbaits, but since you get to see all the action right in front of you, even the misses are fun.

It only took the third cast and it was on! Winnewana isn't exactly known as a trophy bass lake, but the Bronzeye Jr. was hit numerous times and landed a few largemouth in the 2+ pound range, but most bordering the limit of 14". One of my fleeting hopes in targeting this lake, however, was to drag out a trophy Northern Pike. Unfortunately I didn't. However, I did catch something I've never seen before: a bowfin (a.k.a. freshwater dogfish). The strike was awe inspiring - literally! He came at the Leopard colored Bronzeye Jr. from underneath and behind, creating a bulging wake similar to the way a killer whale charges when attacking prey on a beach. It looked like a scene from Jaws. It was so dramatic and unfamiliar, it didn't even dawn on me it was a fish strike until the line was hooked and he started rolling. Weighing in at an estimated 5+ pounds, he bit through the line before I was able to land him and get pictures — which also meant $9 lost and a lesson learned: wire leaders from now on.

Review Summary

Once you learn how to play amongst the weeds, nothing is more fun than fishing with frog-style baits. Bass will smash them all day and Northern Pike will join in at night. The SPRO Bronzeye is easily the most balanced and weedless frog I've ever used and this bait is a must have in skinny water. It casts long and lands true. On the retrieve — it does NOT roll. This frog can access areas choked with weeds that no other lure, jig or rigging can effectively penetrate. Since it is a top water lure, water depth and temperatures are a consideration as far as overall versatility. But, when you find your favorite spot choked with weeds by July, no other bait will give you more access to those lethargic lunkers than the SPRO Bronzeye Jr. — just remember wire leaders if you have toothy fish in your area.