Choosing Right Rod

[masone]

I was wanting a rod that a I could be able to use for topwater, such as frogs, buzzbaits, and poppers. What rod would be ideal for these lures? Would a 6'6" medium heavy with an extra fast taper do the job?

 

Thanks

[Darren.]

First, welcome to the forums!

 

While I don't throw a lot of topwater, I tend to use

M/F and M/XF for the ones I do. However, I think 

your choice would serve you well.

[Long Mike]

You would get a bit more distance with a seven-footer, but you have the right idea.

[ABW]

For frogs, I like a longer rod to bomb them, and it also helps with hook sets.

But like the others said, it should work. As long as the cover isn't too thick for the frogs.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

What do you have in your arsenal already? I'd fish the buzzbait on whatever you throw spinnerbaits with and the frogs on a heavy jig / worm rod. A Med / X fast with a soft tip works well for poppers, small walking baits and jerk baits.

[WRB]

Xfast doesn't mean soft tip, it means fast tip. Fast action means about 1/3 of the top bends faster then the lower 2/3 rds. Xfast means 1/4 of the top bends faster then the lower 3/4.

The thing to think about is power based on lure weight. For example a Pop R type popper is a light weight surface lure weighs less than 1/2 oz, full size spook weighs more than 3/4 oz. Lunker Punker weighs more than 2 oz, all these lures need a different rod power with similar action; moderate fast that bends similar to fast, slightly more upper rod flex.

Frogs are usually fished on top of cover, you need a higher power rod, not as strong as the Plunker, similar to the full size spook that weighs 3/4oz and enough strength to control bass in cover.

No standards, general guild lines; 3 power= medium, 4 power = medium heavy, 5 power = heavy.

Tom

[Angry John]

I would look at a rod 7ish feet in a fast for the frog and buzz bait.  This will depend on cover if the cover is heavy then you may need a heavy rod.  Poppers vary with size but most of the time i am throwing them on a medium.  The frog takes a lot of power to drive in the hooks if your using a hollow body like a spro or snag proof.  Most poppers are trebble baits and i use a slower taper rods on those hooks.  On the positive side you could also fish small swim baits and jigs on the MHF rod and a second moderate taper would be best for the poppers and crankbaits.  JMO

[Bluebasser86]

IMO, you're wanting to fish with one rod what you really need 3 rods for. You could get away with a 7' MH/F for frogs and buzzbaits provided you're fishing sparse cover with the frog, but I wouldn't fish frogs without braid and I hate fishing buzzbaits on braid. That rod will also be very heavy to fish a popper on very well unless you're just chugging larger sized poppers. If I absolutely had to make one rod work it would probably be a 6' 6" MH/F rod with 30-40 pound braid on my reel. 

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

 

I would recommend a 7' Medium Heavy Power/ Moderate Action rod for treble hooks and

MHF for single hooks.

 

 

 

[WIGuide]

As others have said, usually you'd be fishing those baits on a few different rods. I think you might be able to do it with that rod given your frog fishing isn't in too thick of cover, and your rod has a soft enough tip to get some distance with a light popper. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Xfast doesn't mean soft tip, it means fast tip. Fast action means about 1/3 of the top bends faster then the lower 2/3 rds. Xfast means 1/4 of the top bends faster then the lower 3/4.

The thing to think about is power based on lure weight. For example a Pop R type popper is a light weight surface lure weighs less than 1/2 oz, full size spook weighs more than 3/4 oz. Lunker Punker weighs more than 2 oz, all these lures need a different rod power with similar action; moderate fast that bends similar to fast, slightly more upper rod flex.

Frogs are usually fished on top of cover, you need a higher power rod, not as strong as the Plunker, similar to the full size spook that weighs 3/4oz and enough strength to control bass in cover.

No standards, general guild lines; 3 power= medium, 4 power = medium heavy, 5 power = heavy.

Tom

As a rod builder, I better know what rod action means. lol  An X-Fast tip can still be comparatively soft model for model, that is what I was recommending. Lure weight rating is important as well. That's part of the reason  for discouraging using one rod for all three of these techniques.  A moderate-fast action is another way to go, especially if you're fishing the top water quickly like a sppok. I find a little faster tip easier to use making short jerks with long pauses on the popping baits. 

[smalljaw67]

As a rod builder, I better know what rod action means. lol  An X-Fast tip can still be comparatively soft model for model, that is what I was recommending. Lure weight rating is important as well. That's part of the reason  for discouraging using one rod for all three of these techniques.  A moderate-fast action is another way to go, especially if you're fishing the top water quickly like a sppok. I find a little faster tip easier to use making short jerks with long pauses on the popping baits. 

 

I have a couple of rods with an extra fast tip, one is my pitching rod which is super stiff and full of backbone, the other is an old jerkbait rod, that has a lot of backbone but the tip portion is very soft, it will flex rather deep and look like the handle of a cane. I retired that rod as it was hard to work jerkbaits because the tip was too soft for my liking but both rods with the same extra fast action yet both very different.

[WRB]

Custom rod builders like DVL can choose the proper blank for the application, depending what the anglers prefers, not a off the shelf label,big advantage and not that costly. When you buy a specific brand the power to action ratings are very general and differ from brand to brand or price point within a brand.

Here is a early New Years resolution to make for yourself; get a custom rod made for yourself!

Tom

PS, consider spiral (Roberts) wrapped guides on your custom rod.