D Stetz

That's a beautiful setup, and box of frogs.

Honestly, and I admit I haven’t used them yet, but just frog handling the New Bobby’s Perfect Frog from Snagproof, I know that it’s going to replace my Scum Frog Trophy series for thick slop frog, I’d grab 4-6, 2 each in; New Bullfrog - Bluegill - Midnight. For more sparse duckweed, etc. 6 Launch Frogs by Scum Frog - 2 each; Leopard, Shad, Pitch. with those 2 frogs, in those colors, you’ll have every weather condition covered. Assuming you’ve done your research about cloud cover, etc effecting color choice?

This makes absolute sense, and the timing thing is spot on. People ask me how I rarely miss when they miss all the time, and my answer is on par with what you wrote, you just develop the timing based on countless hours throwing’em.

I derailed a thread about frog fishing gear earlier, and figured there might as well just be a dedicated thread to anything and everything frog fishing related. That being said, let's talk about it. What reel do you use? gear ratio? line type and size? what frogs are you throwing? and on what rod? and how often do you actually throw a frog? Personally; Lew's BB1 Pro 7.1.1 on a Phenix Maxim 7'3" HXF with 65# Power Pro v2 super slick braid, and recently it's always got either a Scum Frog Launch Frog, or a Trophy Series frog tied on it, and if the water temp is over 55 I'm throwing it 50% of the time.

Yeah, that's too thin a diameter. With the drag locked, pulling a 3+ lb fish out of thick stuff you're gonna get line dig. I watched a few of your vids...you oughta carry a scale...just sayin' lol Dude I'm pretty sure you've gotten about 20 suggested reels to look at. It ain't that complicated really - Just grab a 7.1.1 - 8 speed reel with an aluminum frame.

As long as you're spooled up with 50-65 pound braid I suppose it doesn't matter too much what gear ratio you're using.

As far as who uses what reel ratio, the guys that win the money and have their own line of frogs use the high gear ratio reels. That's just a fact. Three of the absolute best; Ish Monroe, Bobby Barrack, Dean Rojas, will all say the same thing. It ain't about emulating anyone, it's about using the right and proven gear for the application. As far as you catching bigger fish than my PB....well duh, you live in Louisiana and I live in NY, our bass have to suffer through almost 6 months of below-50 water temps, so they obviously don't grow as fast or big. I couldn't care less about your "train," or how many 7+ lb fish you've caught on video, I'll still out fish you with a frog. (I'm mostly just busting your balls BTW lol You have a youtube or something? I actually would like to watch some new channels.)

I do enough that I'd probably out fish you with one on your own lakes. That must be why all the top pro frog guys use those low gear ratio reels for throwing frogs, right? lol I don't give them a chance to dive for the thick stuff...because my reel picks up the line fast enough that they can't even try for it...hah "Smaller lures, light weight, and bottom contact. Fast or slow is up to you and the fish. I'm a finesse fisherman 95% of the time. In fact, the only power fishing lures I use are a devil horse, a chatterbait, frogs , and swimbaits...and I only rarely use them." ^^^ Is this you? Thought you did "Lots." of frog fishing?

the lower the gear ratio, the slower you’re picking up line though. I’ve never in my years of froggin heard of anyone using anything that low. Do you do much frogging?

I like the Trophy Series as a smaller profile frog in a bit thicker stuff than I’ll throw the Launch Frog. It’s a bit lower profile with a flatter bottom for pulling across thicker duck weed. BUT the New Bobby’s Perfect I think is gonna take its place. Still, for 6$ or so the Trophy Series is worth having in your box.

First and foremost what you gotta do is go take every frog you have in your box out, and replace them with the Scum Frog Trophy Series and Launch Frog, and Snag Proof's New Bobby's Perfect Frog. And those saying frog fishing is a 50/50 deal, must not be very good at it, because I guarantee I catch at least 85% of the fish that blow up on my frog. It's all about learning the timing. I might miss 1 or 2 early on, but once I figure out HOW they're hitting it, I make adjustments; are they exploding d**n near out the water? are they just sucking it under? are they nosing it to pop it out of the water to stun it? All of those are variables you need to figure out quick, and adjust; slower cadence, smaller frog, different color, quick up or slow down my hookset what change do I need to make to get them to actually take that frog completely.

I know you said Lew's is tougher to get, but I'd highly recommend the 7.1.1 BB1 Pro. I absolutely love mine, and I put it through hell from Spring right up until d**n near the beginning of Winter here in NY frogging. I'm no expert either lol but I catch a couple hundred or so on the frog per year. Sidenote: Not sure what frogs you're using, but I also HIGHLY recommend the ScumFrog Trophy Series, and Launch Frogs, as well as the Snag Proof New Bobby's Perfect Frog. They've all quickly become the only frogs I tie on anymore.