Rod or reel more important for frog setup.

[flywall99]

What part of a frog setup should i focus more on? I have a cheap setup that im currently using (7’ heavy berkley lightning stick and piscifun torrent 7.1:1) and it does the job but the reel kind of struggles when i have a 3lb or bigger bass or snakehead on and the rod is kind of heavy to keep working back. so i want to slowly start updating the setup. Ive been looking at the *** *** 8.1:1 but that would leave me with around $80 for a rod. I would like to stay around $200 total. 

 

[MrFrost]

The rod will help more with the hook set.  A nice, stiff Heavy rod and braid on the reel you have will definitely help set the hook.  Cabela's has a nice 7'3'' frog rod in your price range, the Tournament ZX Bass rod...

 

Frog Rod

[Finnz922]

Rod. But a reel with a we weak drag and low torque can make getting those fish out a pain in the arse.

[flywall99]

25 minutes ago, Finnz922 said:

Rod. But a reel with a we weak drag and low torque can make getting those fish out a pain in the arse.

Thats how i feel now using the piscifun. I got it cuz it was cheap and i just learning how to use a baitcaster but now that im more comfortable with them, i think its time to upgrade. 

33 minutes ago, MrFrost said:

The rod will help more with the hook set.  A nice, stiff Heavy rod and braid on the reel you have will definitely help set the hook.  Cabela's has a nice 7'3'' frog rod in your price range, the Tournament ZX Bass rod...

 

Frog Rod

Thanks ill check it out. Yeah im using braid now (65lb). For a cheap setup its not bad but i do think its time for an upgrade and i live in south florida so fishing in heavy cover or grass is like in our blood. 

[MrFrost]

I use that exact rod, and 65lb braid, and the combination almost ensure a good hook set as long as the fish is able to get the frog in it's mouth.  Nothing will guarantee a hookup, but the right setup makes it easier.  

[flywall99]

55 minutes ago, MrFrost said:

I use that exact rod, and 65lb braid, and the combination almost ensure a good hook set as long as the fish is able to get the frog in it's mouth.  Nothing will guarantee a hookup, but the right setup makes it easier.  

Yeah i get to impatient somtimes on the hookset and rip the frog from the fish. Its so tough sometimes cuz of the excitement when you see the bass come up and crush the frog lol

[MrFrost]

5 minutes ago, flywall99 said:

Yeah i get to impatient somtimes on the hookset and rip the frog from the fish. Its so tough sometimes cuz of the excitement when you see the bass come up and crush the frog lol

I am the same exact way, but with a good Heavy rod, and braid, there is almost no give and on several occasions, the fish simply taking the bait underwater set the hook if there was no slack in my line!

[J Francho]

Any reel with a solid metal frame and strong drag will work.  For a rod, I like a light weight, heavy/fast rod, around 7-7-3.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Tossing some ideas out at you

Walmart has 3.9ounce Okuma Helios 7' Heavy rod for $104 or the 4.2ounce Helios 7'6" Heavy for $115. Grab a Daiwa Tatula  or CT off ebay for $80ish during coupon events.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Okuma-Helios-7-6-Heavy-Cast-Rod/34742967

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Okuma-Helios-7-Heavy-Cast-Rod/34742966

 

I have a couple Helios rods that have performed excellently for me.

[fishnkamp]

Its your lucky day. I have a connection where you can get a Daiwa Tatula CT or Fuego CT deeply discounted. You could get a Fuego CT 8-1 reel shipped for $60. You can get a Tatula CT for just $20 bucks more. 

Now with your budget you can afford a really nice rod. Consider an Irod Genesis II IRG 754C. That is called a Fred's Magic Stick. I know a few members on another boasrd who fish them and love them for jigs, frogs etc.  To me a goos setup for these techniques requires both a quality reel and a quality rod.

 

If interested send me an email at fishnkamp@comcast,net and I will explain how to get that reel at that discount.

[Beetlebz]

My frogging rod is also my flipping rig, 7'6" favorite defender heavy fast with the 8.1:1 fuego ct. If you can get the fuego for $60 that's a $160 combo. The tatula ct is a great choice too, and would still be in budget. 

[MisterDeadeye]

x5 or whatever the number is, for the Tat/Fuego CT. Check this out for a realistic look at the differences:

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/207969-the-tatula-ctfuego-ct-and-misconceptions/

 

EDIT: I got carried away with all of the reel recommendations. Yeah, line and rod are more important for sure. Your reel is not going to break before your line assuming you aren't using paracord as fishing line, and the rod needs to have enough rigidity to keep the pressure on the fish while you fight through the greenery. So get 50-65lb braid depending on just how thick your area is, and get a rod that can handle the load as well. Typically a heavy rod with a faster tip is what you're going to want, but there are recommendations above ^

[clh121787]

Rod and line are more important

[Deleted account]

On 8/1/2018 at 1:58 PM, Finnz922 said:

Rod. But a reel with a we weak drag and low torque can make getting those fish out a pain in the arse.

This ^.

[flywall99]

On 8/2/2018 at 1:56 PM, reason said:

This ^.

How is this reel in 8.1:1    https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/13_Fishing_Inception_Slide_Casting_Reels/descpage-13IS.html?from=basres Would that make for a good frog reel?

[Boomstick]

Definitely the rod. The line is also equally important. You want a nice stout rod with a fast tip so you can really get those fish out from heavy cover.

 

As far as the reel, the ratio doesn't really matter although a faster reel is nice to have. Most decent reels will have enough power as most have at least 10lbs drag these days. An aluminum framed reel is preferred by many, but I don't believe is an absolute must.

[flywall99]

Update: incase anyone reads this post later, i ended up getting a new reel so far. I went with the Daiwa Feugo CT. It is amazing. Super smooth and casts a mile. Highly recommend it to anyone in the $100 range. I got it in the 8.1:1 left handed. Next up will be getting a new rod for my frog set up. 

On 8/2/2018 at 4:56 AM, MisterDeadeye said:

x5 or whatever the number is, for the Tat/Fuego CT. Check this out for a realistic look at the differences:

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/207969-the-tatula-ctfuego-ct-and-misconceptions/

 

EDIT: I got carried away with all of the reel recommendations. Yeah, line and rod are more important for sure. Your reel is not going to break before your line assuming you aren't using paracord as fishing line, and the rod needs to have enough rigidity to keep the pressure on the fish while you fight through the greenery. So get 50-65lb braid depending on just how thick your area is, and get a rod that can handle the load as well. Typically a heavy rod with a faster tip is what you're going to want, but there are recommendations above ^

Amazing reccomemdation. Got the feugo ct in 8.1:1. Amazing reel for the price

[FishTank]

I have to agree the rod is more important in this case and some line that floats.

[Beetlebz]

15 hours ago, flywall99 said:

Update: incase anyone reads this post later, i ended up getting a new reel so far. I went with the Daiwa Feugo CT. It is amazing. Super smooth and casts a mile. Highly recommend it to anyone in the $100 range. I got it in the 8.1:1 left handed. Next up will be getting a new rod for my frog set up. 

Amazing reccomemdation. Got the feugo ct in 8.1:1. Amazing reel for the price

Itll serve you well. I've horsed some big girls out of some nasty rhubarb with my fuegos. Not my favorite reels, but for the money and for that application I wouldn't change a thing. 

[soflabasser]

The rod is more important than the reel when it comes to frog fishing, at least for me. All my frog rods are heavy action rods built for abuse and excel at dragging big bass out of heavy cover. As for the reel, any recent reel with 12-15 pounds of drag is enough for bass since they don't fight much compared to many other gamefish which are routinely caught with only 10-15 pounds of drag.

[Bankbeater]

For me it's the rod.  I like to turn the bass and keep it from getting buried in the slop as fast as possible.

[new2BC4bass]

I've read a lot of good things about Fred's Magic Stick.  The rod I bought for frogs was the Tatula 7'4" HF.  It will cast a 1/2 oz. frog, but not bomb it.  5/8 oz. is much better.  It will bomb that weight.  Low rating is 1/2 oz.  I have several Tatula rods and am a big fan of that line.

 

I'm surprised a Fury hasn't been recommended yet. 

 

I am also a Daiwa fan, so I think you did good on the reel selection even though my current frog reel is a Shimano Curado 201E7. 

[BassFisher22]

I guess I will be the first to suggest the Dobyns Fury. I use the 704 for frogging and I feel it has enough backbone for all the fish I catch but most people would prefer the 735. Although I do not do any flipping with this rod so that might make a difference. I have mine paired with a Lews Tournament MB which is a little out of your price range but is a great reel. However I have heard great things about the Diawa Tatula CT and they can be found for under 100 dollars easily.