Best lightweight frog rod between $150-250?

[bwjay]

In Minnesota we have some real thick vegetation in the summer. As a bank fisherman at the moment (no boat or kayak), I am stuck fishing moving water with very sparse fish, or areas with lots of weeds. I caught my first two frog fish ever today and had a blast, but my Bantam+7ft MHF St Croix Premier combo is leaving my hand very tired and sore after two hours. The Premier is an alright rod, but I do feel like it is tip heavy, and it takes a lot of torque to twitch it. Funny enough, I caught my first one using my 6ft MF Premier which struggled a little pulling the fish through the weeds, but I managed!

 

I know you don't need sensitivity for a frog rod, so I'm not looking to spend $200 on it because of that. However, I do want a lightweight rod that won't ruin my hands after only 1-2 hours, and you gotta pay for that weight savings. I was thinking possibly a 7ft HF Dobyns Champion XP (704 SH XP) but it is a little spendy if it is JUST a frog rod. I could use it for heavier jigs but my lures with trailer rarely exceed 1/2oz (with some 3/4oz topwater) so I don't really need a rod to handle heavy lures.

 

My thinking is this. If I have to spend $150-250 to get nice light rod, I might as well try to make it somewhat cross-functional with other techniques. So, knowing I can pull fish through weeds using M-MH power... would it be acceptable to get something like a 6'9" MHXF Kistler H3 which would be used for jigs and spinnerbaits in addition to frogs? I would like to keep length to 7ft or slightly below, as since I am bank fishing, my clearance to the water is limited, I am sometimes surrounded by brush, and cast accuracy is important.

 

I would pair the frog rod with my SLX to start since it is a lightweight reel, but I may step up the reel eventually.

 

Thoughts and recommendations? Thanks!

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Okuma Helios 3.5oz for the 7' MH/F usually under $120 at walmart but sold out right now. I have this rod and it will do fine for frog use & multi purpose rod. Balances well too with 7oz reels. Very good sensitivity for jig use.

 

I just got home from using my Helios along side my Kistler H3 7'3" LMH/F  Helios lacks very little compared to the $300 H3. In fact Helios shines over the H3 in ergonomics. Very noticeable going from H3 to the Helios.

 

If wanting more power Helios Heavy/Fast 3.9oz only $106 at walmart

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Okuma-Helios-Mini-Guide-Casting-Rod/34742966

[Khoa Vu]

I just bought a Falcon Expert EC-7-1611 for frogging and punching. msrp is 199. It weighs 3.8oz for a 6'11 Heavy/Fast with lure range of 3/8oz to 2oz. 

 

[fishwizzard]

If you can deal with the length, the iRod “Fred’s Magic Stick” is a great, powerful frog rod.  I think they offer it in ateast two of their lines. I have the Genesis model and it feels incredibly light in hand for such a long rod. 

[Bassin_Harrison]

Okuma TCS Scott Martin Signature Rod, 7’3 H/F. That rod does everything and it frogs very well.... I’ve used it for 3/8-3/4 oz jigs, a 168 S Waver, paddle tail swimbaits, whopper ploppers, spinner baits, the list goes on. You can find it for $100 on Amazon. It’s an absolute steal. I have mine paired with a Lew’s custom Inshore SLP. 

[freelancer27]

On 6/29/2019 at 7:43 AM, BigBass'n_Harrison said:

Okuma TCS Scott Martin Signature Rod, 7’3 H/F. That rod does everything and it frogs very well.... I’ve used it for 3/8-3/4 oz jigs, a 168 S Waver, paddle tail swimbaits, whopper ploppers, spinner baits, the list goes on. You can find it for $100 on Amazon. It’s an absolute steal. I have mine paired with a Lew’s custom Inshore SLP. 

+1

[Junger]

I just picked up the 7'4 Ish Monroe Tatula Elite AGS frog rod, it's lightweight. I only wish it was 1-2" shorter.

[Mikeltee]

I use a Dobyns Champion 736c. It is an amazing frog rod. The 6 power can pull the big ones out of the nastiest slop and the tip is light enough to work the frog perfectly. It can also handle big topwaters. It has fantastic sensitivity if you need it for something other than visual bites such as pitching, flipping, and lighter punching. Don't let the 6 power scare you as I feel like I could throw a weightless senko with it. 

 

I can vouch for the above AGS guides. I have the tatula elite finesse ags and it is one hell of a rod. The sensitivity is remarkable for a sub $300 rod. I cant believe they didn't put them on a spinning ML rod.

[FishingGeekTX]

Good question, I'm in the same boat.  Hard to find rod weight data!

 

My Dobyn's Fury Mag Heavy is  6.2oz and is very difficult to walk with.

My Fury Heavy is 6.1oz, making them basically the same.

 

So they don't appear to be light.

 

Some of the reasons given for why a stout rod is needed is because of those big, double hooks that both have to penetrate in some cases...x2 difficulty...large hooks makes it harder..often a long cast and sometimes buried in weeds...there is a lot working against a frog hookset (not to mention the need to use heavy line and winching out of cover).  Some frogs have thinner wire hooks, and you could rig a single hook lighter wire frog soft plastic..just some ideas if that was the issue.

 

I'd be interested to hear how people who have fished both MH and Heavy+ report on fishing heavy frogs in slop.

 

 

 

[waymont]

Dobyns Fury 704 would hook you up.

I use it in Illinois where there aren't crazy thick matts and it works great.

Do you have thick stuff like down south?

[Cgrinder]

Shimano Zodias 7'2" Heavy. Lots of rod for $200. Consider not only rod weight, but balance.

[MassYak85]

11 hours ago, Junger said:

I just picked up the 7'4 Ish Monroe Tatula Elite AGS frog rod, it's lightweight. I only wish it was 1-2" shorter.

I've got the original Tatula 7'4" Heavy and it's great. Very lightweight, I don't get tired out walking a frog and it's got plenty of power to really crack them with the hookset. I like the length but I'm also a tall guy. 

[FishingGeekTX]

I took BigBass'nHarrison's advice and checked out Okuma at walmart.  You can actually get an Okuma Helios Heavy (or X heavy), and it's supposedly 3.9 ounces.  I ordered one last night.  It's 7', and was around $120.   At that price I figured what the heck. 

 

[ChrisD46]

Dobyns Sierra 735 is what I decided on - also doubles for flipping / pitching for most applications .

[Mikeltee]

Dobyns Furys are broomsticks imo. I have the 795sb and 734C. I don't use them nor recommend them for people looking for a tip. They do balance fine though and the craftsmanship is on point. I do however love my 4 Champions and suggest upgrading to this line for a proper tip. I learned to walk the dog in 5 minutes with my Champ 736. I will own more Dobyns rods in my future... just not the Furys. I too am a bank fisherman and the size is fine. Id go 736 over 735 for thick vegetation for sure. Sportsman Outfitters has 20% off now. Just picked up a Champion 765cb for $208. Ordered it Sunday night and received it today. Free 2day shipping dropshipped from Dobyns. use the code freedom

[OnthePotomac]

I have a diamond in the rough for a frog rod, but did not purchase it for that purpose when I picked it out on sale for $80 at BPS about 12 years ago.  It is a 4.2oz, KVD 7' MH, 1/4-1.5oz, 10-25 line rating.  He calls it a worm rod, but it sure works well as a frog rod with 50lb Sufix 832 braid.

[BassThumb]

Dobyns Champion 736 over the 735. The 735 is much more versatile for jigs/T-rigs, pitching, swim jigs, big paddletails, Whopper Ploppers, etc., but for just frogs in Minnesota weeds, the 736 can't be beat.

 

You can get them for about $210 or so on Amazon or by using Fourth of July sales right now.

[Catt]

Lew’s TP-1 Black Speed Stick 7' 4" heavy fast, lure weight: 3/16 - 1 1/2 oz

 

Winn grips are a plus ?