Budget frogging setup 2021 season

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Mike L said:

Looks a lot like what we have down here, and that’s in Minn?

Ya - we might have a much shorter growing season here - but the cabbage makes up for it by growing FAST.

 

1 minute ago, Mike L said:

hanks for making my headache go away! ?

You're welcome - anytime, Mike.

[TcRoc]

I’m do East of ya.. love fishing this.

Ditto on what @MN Fisher said

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, TcRoc said:

love fishing this.

Ya - shot from my deck-cam this year showing part of that patch...end of the day for that trip, heading back to the launch.

[TcRoc]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - shot from my deck-cam this year showing part of that patch...end of the day for that trip, heading back to the launch.

 That’s awesome. That patch in total  I showed a part of is probably 1/4 of your satellite image I’m guessing. What’s even better never have to drop anchor in it if it’s windy ..  

[ww2farmer]

1 hour ago, Curt Bannworth said:

But if I fish up north in sparser cover can’t I really get away with a 4 power though ?

My primary frog rod is a Fury 704......BUT....that's for frogging around docks, pontoon boats, small patches of matted grass, laydowns, and other assorted stuff. And that's mostly done with Booyah Frogs, as they skip better, are softer, and are a tad lighter than Spro frogs.

 

When I am faced with vast "fields" of matted grass, thick pads, or stuff like that, I bump up to one of my Fury 735's and use Spro Frogs.

 

A good budget rod that falls between the two in power, one of which I used as a Frog rod for a couple seasons was a 7' Daiwa Aird-X heavy power

[MN Fisher]

Just now, ww2farmer said:

A good budget rod that falls between the two in power, one of which I used as a Frog rod for a couple seasons was a 7' Daiwa Aird-X heavy power

That's exactly what my current frog/flip rod is.

[Curt Bannworth]

Gosh you guys are making me lean towards the daiwa aird-x now 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Curt Bannworth said:

Gosh you guys are making me lean towards the daiwa aird-x now 

I've said it before - I've handled a Dobyns Colt and I think my Aird-X is a better rod than that despite being less expensive. I am planning to upgrade to a Fury 735 or maybe even a Sierra 705...but that's next year - I'm out of funds for this year already.

[zell_pop1]

St Croix MH 6'6" Triumph  $100 or Bass x $110 would work fine as friggin rods.

[Curt Bannworth]

Well I bought the aird-x 7ft heavy today from TW to pair with a lews speed spool lfs.  Hope I made the right choice lololol.  this will become my frogging/flipping rod.  I overthink this stuff way too much cause I hate spending money ?

[PhishLI]

16 minutes ago, Curt Bannworth said:

Well I bought the aird-x 7ft heavy today from TW to pair with a lews speed spool lfs.  Hope I made the right choice lololol.  this will become my frogging/flipping rod.  I overthink this stuff way too much cause I hate spending money ?

You'll be fine. I have that rod in the 7'MH 2pc that's always in the truck. I've dragged 5 pounders through '100 feet of pads and heavy grass with it. They're tough sticks. Your new LFS will cast a frog quite far if you need to. Enjoy

 

P.S. The 7'H was my brother's first frogging rod. He did fine with it.

[Curt Bannworth]

Awesome dude good to know.

[Curt Bannworth]

What do all recommend for braid for this setup ? Brand/color/#test

[MN Fisher]

On my frogging rig - which is an Aird-X H/F with a Fuego CT - I run 50# Power Pro original in lo-vis green. I like the 4-carrier braid for that because it seems to cut through lily-pad stems better than an 8-carrier like Sufix 832.

[ironbjorn]

On 11/22/2020 at 6:11 PM, MN Fisher said:

Problem is, the 664 isn't what I call a 'true' heavy...it's lure rating is what most others call a MH - only goes to 1oz max lure. Ya, frogs are lighter than that, but I want that extra 'oomph' to pull the bass out of the cabbage. Would be great for short-rod fans if Gary made a 5 power in 6'6" lengths.

 

Closest I can find is a Diawa Fuego - 6'9" H/F (1/4 to 1-1/2oz)

That's moreso true for their 7'+ rods. I have a 664 Fury that I thought would be similar to the 704 Fury, which I like for bigger traps and some other moving baits, as well as some jigs and t-rigs. The 664 is a lot different. It's very fast and very stiff. It shares little in common with its taller brothers. I think it would make a fine frog rod with heavy braid and a fast reel.

[Teal]

2 hours ago, Curt Bannworth said:

What do all recommend for braid for this setup ? Brand/color/#test

I really dont think you have to be super fancy with the braid selection.  Just a good quality braid.  I use daiwa j braid/green/ 65#  I have used 50 and it's fine too.  I would use at least 50#.   Since you can see your frog and the blow ups, no need to get hi via.  I like green.

 

If you wana get top of the line, smackdown is awesome.   

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Curt Bannworth said:

What do all recommend for braid for this setup ? Brand/color/#test

Plenty of choices.  One of mine is 60# Fins Original PRT in Hi-Vis yellow.  Some people use heavier.  This is what I use on the reel I take to Florida.   Another I tried locally last year is 45# Fins 40G in blue.  I'm sure others have tried lighter.  I don't see color or brand making a difference.  I've only just started tossing a frog so I don't know if one type carrier is better than another.  Pick a line/color/#test that interests you.

[Hammer 4]

I mostly use 50lb smackdown in stealth gray for most conditions. If I'm fishing really heavy stuff, I'll bump up to 65 lb. 

[PhishLI]

Many of my local spots are choked with Spatterdock Lily pad fields and Water Chestnut. Add dense grass everywhere in between that's glued together with filamentous algae just for fun. I've never, not once, been broken off using 50lb J-Braid J8 while throwing any type of lure, including frogs, while pulling in fish up to 8lbs. 65lb braid may be necessary somewhere, but not here. Also, it hurts casting distance enough to matter to me. 

 

[new2BC4bass]

30 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Many of my local spots are choked with Spatterdock Lily pad fields and Water Chestnut. Add dense grass everywhere in between that's glued together with filamentous algae just for fun. I've never, not once, been broken off using 50lb J-Braid J8 while throwing any type of lure, including frogs, while pulling in fish up to 8lbs. 65lb braid may be necessary somewhere, but not here. Also, it hurts casting distance enough to matter to me. 

 

Which is why I plan on dropping down to 50# once the 60# has to be changed.

[DitchPanda]

I'm using a Daiwa Aird x 7ft heavy with a Lews lfs speed spool and 50lb power pro. Total cost of the combo was $130 after discounts.

[Kdizzle]

I'm not a big believer in spending money on rods for movement and reaction baits.  If no sensitivity is required then might as well go for budget.  That's why I use Kastking Royale Legend rods and Abu Garcia Pro Max reels for both.  6'6" medium for crankbaits, spooks, and other small topwater, and a 7'3" Heavy for my froggin.

[Fishes in trees]

I didn't frog fish a whole lot this year.   I do have a dedicated frog fishing rig.    I have an old All Star 6'10" telescopic super jig rod - paired with a Calcutta reel and 50 or 65 lb braid.   I find it a little heavy, but it is balanced more or less and can throw a frog as far as I need to.

What makes it a "budget" rig is that it is old enough I've forgotten what I paid for it, so it fits into my current fishing budget   perfectly.   It is ready to go for next year, probably won't even have to replace the line.

[ChrisD46]

I have a 7' H/F Veritas bait basting rod (a true H action , last year's previous model - short for a frog rod as most are 7'3" ~ 7'4") for $79 ... I use it for bank fishing frogs as well as it doubles as my Biffle Bug rod set up - I don't think it's a problem (i.e. 7' length) to maneuver with or use from the shore . *I'm afraid a shorter H/F rod than 7' will be a shorter broom stick with less tip , harder to work the frog and ultimately you may end up not liking the rod .

[the reel ess]

If I may make a suggestion, get at least a 7' rod if you can find one. Mine is 7'3" XH/XF. It's a technique specific FROG model that Cabela's used to sell. That line was discontinued when they merged. You need all the leverage you can get when they bury in the mat. And they will. You don't need to break the bank for sensitivity. Durable backbone is what's most important unless you want to use this rod for other techniques. In cooler water, I'll put a T rig for flipping on my frog rod. I ahve a different combo for jigs. The frog rod is not ideal for casting or pitching accurately because the tip is so stiff. But for classic "flipping" cast, it's decent because it's the longest rod I have. But once the water warms again, the frog gets tied back on and stays.