Do You Really Need Braid For Frogs?

[greentrout]

I can remember getting my Bass Master magazine years ago with articles about how to catch bass with frogs. That was way before braid and only mono was used. Not my strongest suit, but I have caught some bass with frogs and only mono. Have used Snag Proof frogs with success but I really like the Superior Frog for more of an open water presentation in stumps and the like.

 

Mono all the way for me...

 

Old school basser...

[A-Jay]

You know this guy really loves anglers that don't use braid while frog fishing the slop.

 

A-Jay

 

[wisconsin heat]

I have tried using FC once because I was lazy and didn't want to grab a different rod, my frog sunk. I have used mono around shore when I was making short casts and it works. But the further you are from the strike, the harder it will be to set the hook with mono. It is better just to stick with the braid, as you won't want to lessen your hooking percentage or limit yourself to shorter casts. You can always tie a Flouro leader to your braid when using a jig, mine sometimes come undone though 

[gulfcaptain]

Let em learn Lou. Once the $10 frogs start disappearing it'll be a different story. We will keep using overkill and yanking in swamp donkeys.

I fish 30lb all the time for punching and froging.......  I can water ski 4lb fish just fine with 30lb braid and have pulled 6+ out of the weed mats punching.  Technique and proper tackle will always trump straight brute force. If the only difference is line weight between same set-ups over powering the tackle will lead to it's failure way before the 30lb will break.  You hook a 8lb fish or bigger and have to pull it out of the weeds, once you have it's head burried in the grass and coming they don't fight, just dead weight which can be slowly pulled in with constant pressure. If he has gotten some good fish out of 20lb, he has the technique and patience to be succesful with it. And some of the Deps frogs are $19 not $10.......lol j/k 

[Jon G]

Some people use 17-20lb mono for frogs but they do not fish slop mainly open water. IMO Braid is the only acceptable line when fishing frogs. I have gone on periods where i use braid for everything and then i switch to fluro, I am back on braid again and this time for good. I made the switch from fly fishing for trout to serious bass fishing about 6 years ago and compared to a trout bass are not line shy (IMO). I do however always use a topshot of flourocarbon just because it makes me feel a little more comfortable but for frogs and all topwater it is just straight braid.

[hatrix]

Not using braid will only make what is probably the hardest lure to consistently hook fish on even harder. If it was me and I had to pick a line other then braid its hands down CXX.

[Raul]

Do you really need braid for frogs ? No.

[jcoffman55]

Why don't you stick with the braid and just use a leader. When you want to tie on a frog, cut off the leader and tie directly to braid. Back to finesse fishing, tie a short leader back on. Problem solved. That's how I do it. Much of my fishing is done with one or two rods at most so I have to be versatile. 

[DTack]

I'm sorry but I can't give an answer besides, yes it is needed.  I want to catch every fish that I can...  I'm not happy losing them and I don't throw a frog so I can talk about a 10 minute fight.  Everyone fishes for different reasons and I entirely respect that.  You definitely CAN fish a frog on light braid or on heavy mono but I see absolutely no reason to.  I am not much of a fan of the braid to leader but I would rather get caught fishing that then 20 lb mono or 20 lb braid with a frog, even in open water. 

[gulfcaptain]

its that 30lb braid gets damaged far more easily and much much more likely to fail under heavy cover conditions...i use 30 but not for frogs or punchin heavy cover, hell no..

If it's only grass and weeds what is going to damage the braid?  I know how hard to pull on fish and have no issues.  I'm sorry said it before, I can pull 40+lb amberjacks out of offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico fishing 50 and 65lb braid. There isn't a bass alive that will will put up the fight these fish do.  Lighter braid does mean you have to pay more attention to your line for wear....is that bad...I don't think so. Keeps me from loosing fish.  Come on out to S.Cal and fish these city park lakes and try and fish the heavier line in highly pressured fishing waters.  You have to get bit to catch fish, and I've seen people fish heavier line, they just don't seem to get the same amount of bites.  Would I fish 30lb on the delta next to the rip rap, no I wouldn't.  Would I fish 30lb flipping trees in Mexico....no I wouldn't.  Would I fish 30lb in straight grass in most places....yep.  As I said, technique will always win over brute force.  I fish swimbaits on 40lb braid with 25lb mono or fc topshot....sorry the 25 will break before the 30lb braid will but still  no issues pulling them out of the cover they hide in either.  Hmmmm, maybe it's technique....just saying.  Some people can finesse fish, others can't. Some know how hard they can pull on a fish and know the limits of their tackle, others over compensate.  Have yet to loose a fish to a break off on a frog and used to use 20lb on the smaller frogs.  People fish what they are comfortable fishing, some choose lighter and others choose heavier.  Did a poll and the vast majority fish 50lb due to the comfort of the dia which is what they are used to fishing.  I'm more comfortable with 6-10lb mono line sizes as that's what I grew up bass fishing with.  But honestly, there is a big difference on how a frog fishes from 30lb to 50 or 65lb braid.

[JeziHogg]

Just think about where you usually throw a frog, around green stuff, right? A fish won't know the difference between your braid or a piece of grass.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm going to assume this is about Florida, it's getting cold up there in New York.  I live minutes from the area Weld fishes, know the golf course ponds and the canals, you don't need heavy braid, not much vegetation.  In his community there is some thick stuff near the shorelines, my son in law lives there.  For the few times I fish over there I don't respool, I fish my heavy bass set up 15# braid on med spinning.  Personally in his places I think a fluke out fishes frogs there.

 

Heavier braid is needed more for the conditions in the water than the size of fish.  I do more saltwater fishing than bass, in open water I use 20# braid for tarpon, offshore it's 30# braid for aj's.

[2ckeehn]

My lake / pond in our subdivision has a little to much Alge and ?  I used my frog on top of this knotgrass .
I am using mono and yes I can see my line .  The hook set with the frog is a bit different.  You have to wait a bit before your hook ‘em up. Keep in mind there’s a lot of water , grass ,  Alge and of courses the bass.  It’s fun