J-rod

A good piece of advice that I've kept over years is that if the fish is running right, set left. If it's running left, set right. That tiny bit of line take-up can make all the difference in driving a hook in hard or losing the fish. It takes time and patience to turn it into a reflex, just like reeling down before you set. My hookup ratio seemed to go way up after I started paying attention to the direction of the set. It's a small piece of advice that could pay off big.

I don't think any reel is "bad" for a beginner. As long as it's from a reputable company, it should do the job. Every brand has its own "special" braking system. None of them are perfect. I prefer all of my braking controls to be external, which threw me into the Daiwa Tatula camp. That being said, there is nothing wrong with the Shimano SLX line. I know people who only fish Shimano reels. Just go with what is comfortable in your hand and has the bells and whistles that you want. And remember that your thumb is just as important as the rest of the system.

The common answer would be a 7-footish MH/F rod, which I probably use most often, but I'm going to play the odd man out on this one. If I could only have one combo I would probably go with my 6'9" Tatula Elite Skipping Jig rod and Tatula 100 7-ratio reel. The rod can handle lures from 1/4oz to 1.5oz, so it covers 90% of what I throw. I can throw anything from senkos to jigs and frogs on it. The 6'9" length let's me get into tight spots, yet it still gets a lot of distance when you just want to chuck a lure out there. Not ideal for crankbaits, but that's not my wheelhouse anyway. The reel can can handle anything you can throw on it. 7-ratio because I don't have any issues with slowing down my retrieve and it's fast enough to burn if I need to.

How did your combo hold up?

Is it just springing off the spool or is it just twisting? What type and size line are you using?

Throwing different plastics (senko, beaver-tail, craw, paddle-tail, etc.) on a texas-rig is a good way to feel out a small pond. It's versatile enough to fish it anywhere in the water column and keeps it simple. Once you find out where they are depth-wise, then it's easier to choose you're alternate setups. If I only had one setup, a texas-rig setup would be it, though I'm guilty of having too many. If it's mucky, throw a frog and drag it. Sometimes, if the fish are shut down pretty good, just swallow your pride and throw a nightcrawler on a hook and hover it. Even if you don't hook the pond monster, it might fend off the skunk.

I've been using the Tatula Elite 6'9" all year for frogs and skipping. The handle is a bit shorter, so the business end has plenty of length. I have it paired with a Tatula 100 SV TW. Awesome combo.

4.728 ounces.

You've landed in the right place!

That was my first baitcaster. No issues at all. 12 lb McCoy copolymer or 20-30lb Power Pro Braid is my line of choice on it.

I have been tossing a frog on this rod all summer! Haven't had any issues pulling pigs out of the pads and slop. I wanted a shorter frog rod and this worked perfect.

Daiwa has treated me good for the past few years. Tatula 100 for baitcasting, Legalis for spinning. Lew's has never done me wrong for spinning reels. Abu Garcia's Black Max is good on a budget. Was not impressed with Quantum. Only reel I have had that failed in less than a season. That's just my personal experience... I know people who love them.

The water is pretty warm in Wisconsin as well. Definitely not catching a whole lot but I have been having my best luck pulling a frog over grass, pads, and slop in shallow water. Texas rig with a beaver tail has been working in the clearer water. Not much luck with anything else at the moment.

My go-to MH is a 7'1" Jason Mitchell Elite. No matter what else I use, I keep going back to it. Not sure about the availability in your neck of the woods but don't overlook it if you can get a deal on one. I have been using a 6'9" H (skipping jig) Daiwa Tatula Elite for my frogging and have had no problems. You really can't go wrong with anything in the Tatula line. Never used Dobyns, but have heard nothing but good about them. I have heard that the actions feel a bit lighter than stated. St. Croix feels a little heavier.

It always has a frog on it and it's usually the first rod I grab. Plenty of power. Hook-up ratio is excellent.