Topwater vs. Frog Rods

[TV_bassin32]

I've been trying to expand my arsenal with a frog/topwater rod, and is there a difference between a topwater rod and a frogging stick? Such as length, action and taper?

[Mr Swim Jig]

Yes there is a BIG differnce between those 2 rods.  Typically a top water rod is about 6' 6" and M/F to M/XF and a frog rod is typically 7' 4" or so and is typically H/F to XH/F...

[The Patriot]

^ aaannnd /thread.  

[IndianaFinesse]

2 hours ago, Mr Swim Jig said:

Yes there is a BIG differnce between those 2 rods.  Typically a top water rod is about 6' 6" and M/F to M/XF and a frog rod is typically 7' 4" or so and is typically H/F to XH/F...

Nothing left to say.

[Molay1292]

In my use they are different rods, my frog rods are heavy power / fast action and my top water rods are MH / F and XF.    I work all of these baits tip down, I don't like a rod any longer than I can work without hitting the water or side of the boat, I am about 6' and the rods I choose are a little less than 7'.  I also like rods that have a shorter but end to keep it from getting tangled in jackets and other cold weather gear.   

[byram bassturd]

Depends. What types of topwater baits do you intend to use? A 1oz plus lure can absolutely be used on the same rod with frogs. 

[MassYak85]

5 hours ago, Mr Swim Jig said:

Yes there is a BIG differnce between those 2 rods.  Typically a top water rod is about 6' 6" and M/F to M/XF and a frog rod is typically 7' 4" or so and is typically H/F to XH/F...

Nailed it.

 

I would say the one exception is if you wanted to use larger/heavier topwaters like a 130 Whopper plopper you might be able to get away with using the frog rod to fish them. I use a 7'2" tatula for the WP130 and I would also feel comfortable throwing frogs on it. But generally topwaters will have treble hooks and many will tell you that a softer rod is preferred to keep the fish pinned, and avoid bending out hooks. Frogs have huge beefy hooks and you need to not only drive them into the tough roof of the fish's mouth, but haul them out of cover. Frog rods need to accomplish both and effectively, a 10lber in heavy vegetation is a real possibility for some parts of the country. This is why a longer and beefier rod is preferred. Whereas the baits typically used on "topwater rods", things like spooks and poppers with smaller trebles, a softer rod is preferred and generally the cover is much lighter, and maybe even non existent if you fish them in open water. I generally like longer rods and don't use anything under 7', but the shorter lengths of many topwater rods are for twitching and working the lure on top, imagine standing on the deck of a boat (or even on shore) with your rod tip pointed down walking the dog on a spook, you would be smashing the rod tip into the ground with a long rod. 

[soflabasser]

Everyone has their own style of fishing so you are going to get many different answers.With that said I prefer a Medium Action rod for small/medium sized topwater lures and a Heavy Action rod for big topwaters/ frog fishing.

6 hours ago, FishingFreak55 said:

I've been trying to expand my arsenal with a frog/topwater rod, and is there a difference between a topwater rod and a frogging stick? Such as length, action and taper?

 

[TV_bassin32]

3 hours ago, byram bassturd said:

Depends. What types of topwater baits do you intend to use? A 1oz plus lure can absolutely be used on the same rod with frogs. 

Buzzbaits, Spooks (1/2-1oz),  whopper ploppers 

[IndianaFinesse]

Good point with the larger top waters, I hadn't thought of that.  I still prefer a medium heavy with a soft tip for 130 size whopper ploppers and spro rats though, but they could be thrown on a heavy.

[Robert Riley]

I'll just restate what everyone else is saying. For frog rods, you usually want a heavier rod (MH to H depending on the cover) with an extra fast action to get a strong hookset. For topwaters, you still want a faster rod, but not too fast, you want enough to work the bait and set the hook, but slow enough that the fish takes the bait. And you usually want a medium to medium heavy, again depending on the cover and lure selection.