March 21, 2018
By Ned Kehde
Midwest finesse tactics are devoid of topwater presentations. But this phenomenon might be on the verge of changing.
At the 2017 International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades show in Orlando, Florida, on July 12, Z-Man Fishing Products introduced its Finesse FrogZ to the angling world.
It is a diminutive rendition of Z-Man's Hard Leg FrogZ.
The black/blue Finesse Frogz affixed to a extra-wide-gap worm hook.
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Its head and torso are 1 3/4 inches long. The widest part of its head and torso is an half of an inch. The circumference of the biggest portion of its head and torso is 1 11/16 of an inch, and the circumference of the smallest area of its head and torso in 1 9/16 of an inch.
Its belly and the bottom of its head are flat. Its head is somewhat bullet-shaped; some might describe it as a nose cone. The top of the head is embellished with two eyes.
Its back or dorsal has a hook slot that is 1 3/16 of an inch long. Its belly has a hook slot that is 15/16 of an inch long.
A bowed leg radiates of the sides of the bottom portion of its torso. Each leg is adorned with a boot, which some anglers describe as a paddle. The leg and boot is 1 5/8 inches long. The leg is about 3/16 of an inch wide. As the Finesse FrogZ is being retrieved along the surface, its two paddle feet create a wake.
Anglers can wield it on a spinning outfit that is spooled with braided line. The folks at Z-Man say that it should be  affix to a 2/0 extra-wide-gap hook. (See endnote No. 2)
It is available in six colors: Black/Blue, Green Pumpkin, Mud Minnow, Redbone, Watermelon/Chartreuse, and White.
It is made from a substance that Z-Man calls ElaZtech, which is buoyant, flexible, and amazingly durable.
A package of four costs $4.49.
Endnotes
(1) Here is a link to Z-Man's website: https://zmanfishing.com/store/categories/elaztech/finesse_frogz .
(2) Besides rigging it on a weightless 2/0 extra-wide-gap hook and using it as a topwater lure, anglers can use it as a trailer on a skirted jig or a buzzbait. Midwest finesse anglers can also affix it to either a 1/10-ounce or 1/15-ounce Z-Man's Finesse ShroomZ jig and employ it with all six of the standard Midwest finesse retrieves. (See the first photograph below. )  Some Midwest finesse anglers will use it as a swimbait, and they might try rigging it on a jig sideways. (See the second photograph below.)  To read more about the six Midwest finesse retrieves, see the Midwest finesse column at this link: http://www.in-fisherman.com/midwest-finesse/six-midwest-finesse-retrieves/ .
This redbone-hue Finesse FrogZ is affixed to a green-pumpkin 1/10-ounce Z-Man's Finesse ShroomZ jig.
A white Finesse FrogZ affixed sideways to a chartreuse 1/10-ounce Z-Man's Finesse ShroomZ jig.
