Frog Rod Help

[MichaelJ7]

I am looking to purchase a new frog rod. Last year I had great success with it but used my 7’9 heavy punch rod. I am buying a rod in the Abu Garcia Veritas lineup. I am not looking for other rod manufacturer suggestions. I have narrowed it down to 3 rods in the Veritas lineup. 7’3H, 7’6MH, or 7’6 MH frog model. It looks like the obvious choice would be the frog model, but I fish very heavy cover mats and I am worried about this rod not having enough backbone. The regular 7’6MH has a faster tip but I have the same concerns with the backbone of a MH rod in thick slop. However, the 7’3H rod worries me being that short in a heavy action, and sacrificing a lot of casting distance. Or only being 7’3 being too stiff at the tip compared to the 7’9 I used last season. I have 15 Veritas Rods already and know they run heavier than rated. I’m sorry for the long post, but any suggestions would be appreciated. The reel for this rod will be a gen4 Revo STX 7.3:1 with 65# braid. 

[Dtrombly]

For what it's worth i frogged alot last year with a 7'3" MH/F Veritas 2.0 and it was plenty powerful enough for the cover I fished, which was usually "cheese" mats and pads. As I'm sure you know the Veritas MH fishes like most other brands H rods. 

[MichaelJ7]

I don’t get to fish many pads. Just very thick weed mats, milfoil with algae on top, coon tail, and cat tail edges. But when I say thick mats I mean thick with a lot of undergrowth. 

[Robert Riley]

I would say the 7'3" MH. A Veritas runs like an extra step heavier than your average rod. You do want a shorter rod for fishing frogs usually, 7'3 is a great length. You can get a strong hookset and good casts with a longer rod, but you also want something shorter and lighter so it's easier to actually fish and make pinpoint casts. 

[the reel ess]

After re-readng the OP, I'm editing my response. I have the Cabela's Tournament ZX Frog model rod. It's 7-3 and H-Fast. It's just right for the technique. I wouldn't want a lighter rod for this. I fish a lot of pads and some grass. You have to consider that the longer the rod, the less leverage you have on the bass. The shorter it is, the more you're dragging bass through the pads and not up, out of them. More bend in the end of the rod means a shorter lever when the rod is loaded up. This 7-3 Hvy rod seems a good balance.

[CroakHunter]

I'd say 7'3. Lighter and easier to walk a frog with. I actually fish a frog in a 7' that I cut 2 inches of the top off. Should still be able to whip a frog 45 yards on a 7'3. That's plenty far

[Poolshark]

 I used the 76 Veritas For a couple of years for frogs and it worked well. It doubles as a nice light flipping rod as well. You'd have no problem winching bass out of the thick stuff. The 7'3 Veritas works well too, but it doesn't load as nicely on the cast. 

[eyedabassman]

You don’t need a big dollar rod for frog fishing! Just a 7 to 71/2 mh to h action . Go buy a Ulgy Stick or something comparable. Stick the money in a good reel!

[Jaderose]

1 hour ago, eyedabassman said:

You don’t need a big dollar rod for frog fishing! Just a 7 to 71/2 mh to h action . Go buy a Ulgy Stick or something comparable. Stick the money in a good reel!

I respectfully disagree with this.  My Frog Rod is my highest dollar rod and also my longest and heaviest with the most back bone.  I throw a frog deep into some pretty gnarly areas and a lot of times I'm "steering* those bass outta there.  I want a darn good rod with darn fast reel.

[Dens228]

I have the Abu Garcia Vendetta, 7-03, Heavy/Fast that I bought for frogs.  I also use it for heavier swimbaits, and bigger spinners.  I love it.  I had a different brand, same figures that broke so I used a MH/Fast the rest of the day for frogs and couldn't stand it even though I used it prior to getting the H/Fast.  

 

I fish some very thick slop though. 

[CTBassin860]

11 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

I respectfully disagree with this.  My Frog Rod is my highest dollar rod and also my longest and heaviest with the most back bone.  I throw a frog deep into some pretty gnarly areas and a lot of times I'm "steering* those bass outta there.  I want a darn good rod with darn fast reel.

Same here. My frog/pitching rod is my favorite and most expensive setup. I run a 7'4 HF setup. If the OP wants to stay with Abu, I would recommend the 7'3" MHF Veritas.

[th365thli]

Another vote for 7'3" MHF Veritas. Normally I would suggest a heavy but those Veritas are pretty stiff. I wouldn't worry about casting distance. 

[Mike L]

13 hours ago, eyedabassman said:

You don’t need a big dollar rod for frog fishing! Just a 7 to 71/2 mh to h action . Go buy a Ulgy Stick or something comparable. Stick the money in a good reel!

Ditto

 

 

 

 

Mike

[the reel ess]

11 hours ago, Jaderose said:

I respectfully disagree with this.  My Frog Rod is my highest dollar rod and also my longest and heaviest with the most back bone.  I throw a frog deep into some pretty gnarly areas and a lot of times I'm "steering* those bass outta there.  I want a darn good rod with darn fast reel.

Ditto that. I don't know how old the OP is, but I don't relish the idea of casting a heavier rod all day. I do understand that sensitivity is not necessary, but there will probably be times, especially in colder weather, you tie a jig on it.

[5by3]

iRod genesis II Fred’s Magic stick. Fairly affordable rod at $140 and can be used for pitching/flipping, light punching, frogs, and small to medium size hard swimbaits

[Finnz922]

2 hours ago, 5by3 said:

iRod genesis II Fred’s Magic stick. Fairly affordable rod at $140 and can be used for pitching/flipping, light punching, frogs, and small to medium size hard swimbaits

Winner winner chicken dinner! Was trying not to push a new rod on tge OP. Glad someone else beat me to it. 

 

@ OP - go with your gut. If you frog a lot and heavier cover, you will want the rod that feels the best in your hands. I myself would go with the heavy, but I don't fish Abu rods. Others have stated that the MH fishes like a H. If thats true, then is it an 80/20 bend? If so, i would go with it. You want to have confidence that it can turn the fish and keep her from burying you during the fight. Frogging is not a any rod any price technique unless you hate it or dont like doing it. Finding 1 or 2 folks that believe that is anecdotal at best. That being said you don't need a Megabass Power Versatile either. $100 to 300 will get you a bad a $$ stick.

 

Good luck

[CTBassin860]

6 hours ago, 5by3 said:

iRod genesis II Fred’s Magic stick. Fairly affordable rod at $140 and can be used for pitching/flipping, light punching, frogs, and small to medium size hard swimbaits

If you want to push a great frog rod try the Daiwa Tatula 7'4" HF. Rod will blow your mind

[MichaelJ7]

I made my decision and didn’t go with any that I listed. I went with the Ike signature series 7’4 MH. It’s the rod he designed for frogging. 80/20 bend and stout. Thanks for the input though. 

[Boomstick]

On 2/18/2018 at 7:38 PM, eyedabassman said:

You don’t need a big dollar rod for frog fishing! Just a 7 to 71/2 mh to h action . Go buy a Ulgy Stick or something comparable. Stick the money in a good reel!

I would not fish a frog with my Ugly Stik. The tip on that rod is like molasses. You're going to want something a bit faster so you can set the hook through a patch of lily pads and weeds and whatever else you're fishing in and still get the bass out.

[Angry John]

7 hours ago, Finnz922 said:

Winner winner chicken dinner! Was trying not to push a new rod on tge OP. Glad someone else beat me to it. 

 

@ OP - go with your gut. If you frog a lot and heavier cover, you will want the rod that feels the best in your hands. I myself would go with the heavy, but I don't fish Abu rods. Others have stated that the MH fishes like a H. If thats true, then is it an 80/20 bend? If so, i would go with it. You want to have confidence that it can turn the fish and keep her from burying you during the fight. Frogging is not a any rod any price technique unless you hate it or dont like doing it. Finding 1 or 2 folks that believe that is anecdotal at best. That being said you don't need a Megabass Power Versatile either. $100 to 300 will get you a bad a $$ stick.

 

Good luck

Best frog rod would be the xx perfect pitch but that't not what the OP was asking.  I fished the AV 73mhf and it was a decent frog rod i just hated the reel seat.  That rod was more powerful than what i expected from a MH it was my fishing partners at the time and it surprised  me.  

[teamhillbilly2012]

On 2/19/2018 at 7:42 PM, Boomstick said:

I would not fish a frog with my Ugly Stik. The tip on that rod is like molasses. You're going to want something a bit faster so you can set the hook through a patch of lily pads and weeds and whatever else you're fishing in and still get the bass out.

I have a older Ugle stik,that works for a frog,a little stiff but that's ?

[Fishin' Fool]

On 2/19/2018 at 5:12 PM, MassBassin508 said:

If you want to push a great frog rod try the Daiwa Tatula 7'4" HF. Rod will blow your mind

I'll second this choice. Can be found for just over $100 with some searching online.

[J Francho]

I've found that most rods labeled "Froggin'" are great at casting frogs, but not so great with getting fish out of slop.  Any H or XH flipping stick over 7' will do for me.  Spool up with some 50-65# braid, and you're off.

[eyedabassman]

On 2/22/2018 at 9:04 AM, J Francho said:

I've found that most rods labeled "Froggin'" are great at casting frogs, but not so great with getting fish out of slop.  Any H or XH flipping stick over 7' will do for me.  Spool up with some 50-65# braid, and you're off.

X 2

[Arlo Smithereen]

On 2/18/2018 at 6:38 PM, eyedabassman said:

You don’t need a big dollar rod for frog fishing! Just a 7 to 71/2 mh to h action . Go buy a Ulgy Stick or something comparable. Stick the money in a good reel!

Couldn't agree more. I've used everything from a Ugly Stik GX2 to a St Croix for frog fishing. I now use a 7' MH Ugly Stik Elite and it's my favorite of them all. I don't need sensitivity to see my frog disappear. And the tip is perfect for frogs. Acts like a shock absorber. And as far as toughness, lol it's an ugly stik. Try and break it.