Frog rods: long or short?

[jbassdan]

It’s time I need to buy myself a dedicated frog set up, but I’m debating whether to get a 6’6 or a 7’6 heavy rod, what’s the advantages or disadvantages to them? 

[bagofdonuts]

I use a 6’10” heavy action rod. For me its a good compromise between long enough to pick up lots of line on a hook set and not being too long for working a walking action. 

[PaFrogThrower9]

I'm anywhere between 7' and 7'6". Prefer a 7'-7'2" though.

[Smokinal]

Some factors would be where you find yourself throwing a frog the most.

If you like to beat the banks, throw to laydowns, skip under branches, shoreline cover etc... a shorter rod will give you better accuracy and be easier to walk a bait.

If you find yourself always in fields of grass and pads, I'd go with a longer rod to take up slack faster on a long cast. In fields like that, accuracy usually isn't required as you are typically fan casting anyway.

[Glaucus]

6'6" for almost everything, 6'8", 6'9", 6'10" and 7' when I have to. Typically throw a frog on a 6'6". I don't like to walk anything on a longer rod. Others will say you need the longer rod. Comes down to what feels good in your hands and what you can best work with. It's all preference.

[BoatSquirrel]

7 foot, heavy action seems to be a good length for being able to cast accurately and still haul a fatty out of the slop.

[GreenPig]

7'6" to 8' for my frogging. I fish big swimbaits on my 8' rods alot so I'm accustomed to the longer rods.

[Junger]

Walking a frog with a long rod can be cumbersome and can wear you out. I use a 7'3 MagH rod for my frogging (walking and popping), but my next one will be 7'.

[Boomstick]

I have used a 6'10" rod for the past two years, and that was about perfect. I would think 6'8 - 6'10" is the happy medium range depending on the height of the person using it. I would imagine most people aren't making their longest casts when fishing a frog as well, so the only downside of the shorter rod is you'll have to work harder to pull a big fish out of the weeds.

 

I purchased a 7'1" H/F rod for jigs and frogs for this year, but haven't got to use it yet -- the water's too cold.

[Bobby Stahl]

I use a 7' but it's what I'm comfortable with that matters. 

[Matt_3479]

Unfortunately I think it all depends on the user, and the ponds/lakes you fish. Everyone has a preference. I use to fish frog on a shorter rod and worked fine. I now use a 7’4” rod and prefer it. I spend a decent penny on it so the balance is good, weight hasn’t been an issue and I can bomb a frog twice as far as I use to be able too, hook sets are stronger, land ratio has been better! You can really move the fish with a longer rod. 

[Deleted account]

I've settled on a 7' for frogging. A 6'10" or 7'2" would work well too. 

[Ksam1234]

On 4/18/2019 at 5:40 PM, jbassdan said:

It’s time I need to buy myself a dedicated frog set up, but I’m debating whether to get a 6’6 or a 7’6 heavy rod, what’s the advantages or disadvantages to them? 

I would go with the longer rod. I would look at the IROD GENESIS 2, I was hesitant at first bc I always worry the rod won’t be what I want. But I promise that thing is a beast! I hauled a 7 pounder out with like10 pounds of slop no problem. It is also very light and won’t wear you out. I have fished it for 2-5 hours with jsut frogging  

[johnD.]

One of each , I use a 7'3 heavy for long cast , and a 6'11 heavy for close quarters.

Kinda been eyeballing that 6'5 heavy muse rod , also.

[GeekOutdoors]

I just replaced my Quantum Team KVD 6'10" HF for a Shimano SLX 7'2" HF. We'll see if that 4" of lenght will actually make that much of a difference

[zell_pop1]

6'10" H St Croix Premier for me. 

[NathanDLTH]

7-7’4 HF, that is my preference. It’s what I’m comfortable with as I’m a bank angler and taller at 6’4. However I don’t like rods longer than 7’6. They feel awkward to me. 

[clemsondds]

Any other thoughts on this? I fish in NC and the lakes I fish on don’t have a great deal of grass/Lily pad fields...so it’s more docks and cover work. That’s why I’m thinking a 6’6 heavy rod. Thoughts? 

[LionHeart]

A longer rod will be heavier at the tip which will wear you flat out while walking a frog.  I use a 7'4" Zolo Dragger which I had built as a jig rod.  As such, the extra handle length is cumbersome to work around, and the over all length of the rod just makes the experience take more effort and resolve than I'd prefer.  

 

To me, a 7 footer would be just right. 

[Tizi]

For several years I used a Shimano Exage 7’2” Heavy/Fast.  In 2020 I’m going with a 7’4” Daiwa Tatula Frog rod.  I like the longer rod for distance, hook sets, and leverage.  It’s got a nice tip for walking.

[A-Jay]

Don't do a ton of 'frogging' but when I do  . . . 

For close in target casting work - I like a 6'9" Heavy dock skipping rod.

For fields of slop, where I want to reach out and touch someone - 7'6" H.

A-Jay

btw - the op lasted 3 whole days . . 

 

[Bird]

I use a 7'3 HF, but you need to pair it with a high speed reel in pads and cattails. IMO

[MN Fisher]

My frogging rod is the same one I use for flipping/pitching - 7'0" H/F.

Like @Birdsaid - if you're tossing in the cabbage, a high-speed reel is almost a must.

[scbassin]

A longer will give you better control of the fish after hook up. I am now using a Dobyns Champion XP DC 736C F/H with a Bantam MGL on it. This is the best Frog set up I have ever used.

[Hammer 4]

I fish from shore a lot, vs from a boat, I also use 7'4" rod. What all of us use really isn't important, it's what You are comfy using. Distance, go long, you want pinpoint accuracy go shorter..