Rod Selection

[Bruce11]

Looking to get a rod ($100-$150) for Whopper Ploppers, Buzz baits, and Frogs. I will be using baits in a variety of sizes and braided line. Any suggestions? 

[CroakHunter]

Lews tp-1 7'3 heavy

Dobyns fury 735

Daiwa fuego 7' heavy

[Bruce11]

7 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

Lews tp-1 7'3 heavy

Dobyns fury 735

Daiwa fuego 7' heavy

So a fast action rod would be better to use with a bait like a whopper plopper with treble hooks? Rather than a mod-fast action? 

[MassYak85]

43 minutes ago, Bruce11 said:

So a fast action rod would be better to use with a bait like a whopper plopper with treble hooks? Rather than a mod-fast action? 

The issue is going to be fishing frogs on the same rod as a whopper plopper. Ideally no, you don't want a fast action rod for whopper ploppers....I found that out the hard way losing multiple PB smallmouths to headshakes that completely unloaded my Heavy Fast rod. But, if you want to fish frogs you are going to need a beefier and stiffer rod. I think the middle ground might be that 735 Fury, I haven't fished one but I've heard Dobyns rods tend to run a little slower than their ratings say. 

[fishnkamp]

Actually the Fury and Champion XP series rods are their faster action rods. The Sierra series would be a better all around rod since the blanks are a tad slower in taper.  You need the heavier rod to handle the weight and wind resistance of the baits you are intending to fish.

 

They run $179 so a little over budget but worth it. I would call Dobyns and get their opinion.

 

 

[burrows]

St croix bass x

[MassYak85]

17 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Actually the Fury and Champion XP series rods are their faster action rods. The Sierra series would be a better all around rod since the blanks are a tad slower in taper.  You need the heavier rod to handle the weight and wind resistance of the baits you are intending to fish.

 

They run $179 so a little over budget but worth it. I would call Dobyns and get their opinion.

 

 

Yea that's correct I phrased my other comment wrong. They are labeled as fast but compared to other brands Dobyns tends to run a bit slower I think. My two Dobyns Fury's I would describe more as a mod fast but that's also the swimbait blank and a medium spinning blank so it may have a slightly different action than the standard catsing blanks. 

[WRB]

A little long at 7'5" is Irod IRG754F Freds Magic rod $149.

Tom

[5by3]

I think you’re going to find lots of rods for 2 of those baits but not the 3rd, the odd one out being the frog imo. I like to have a bit of tip for the buzzbait and plopper to let the fish eat the bait and help keep them pinned (with braid), but my frog rod is quite a bit more powerful and stout.

 

For what it’s worth, I throw the buzzbait and plopper on a dobyns champ 734 and frogs on a 735/6.

 

The iRod above might be your best bet for handling all 3 baits prettt well.