Baitcasting combo for frogs

[David 7]

I’ve never fished with a baitcating reel before. All the pros are adamant that you should not throw a frog on a spinning reel according to a video I saw on Tylersreelfishing on YouTube. I’m pretty set in my ways but his video was rather convincing.

 

I don’t know where to begin. Anyone have any advice on what combo to get for frogs? I’d prefer it to be a 7ft MH and be under $100 if possible. I know I’ll have to use braid but this pole will be strictly for frogs only. ? 

[PBBrandon]

100 bucks is a little tight for a baitcast combo but if that’s your max then the Lews’ Xfinity combo from Walmart is actually surprisingly good. The rod has Winn Grips too which is nice

[David 7]

1 minute ago, PBBrandon said:

100 bucks is a little tight for a baitcast combo but if that’s your max then the Lews’ Xfinity combo from Walmart is actually surprisingly good. The rod has Winn Grips too which is nice

I could go over a bit but want to stay in that ballpark. If it’s worth it, faster tip or higher gear ratio etc. But I don’t want to spen a lot more just for comfort. 

[PBBrandon]

Well Scheels is selling the old gen Abu Veritas rods for half off. Usually 100 bucks but now they are 50. They have 7ft med heavy ones too. I have a couple and they are nice rods. Light and balanced. They do run a bit stiffer though which is good if you are gonna do frogging with it. Probably want something closer to a heavy power. The med heavy Veritas will probably be a little closer to a heavy anyway and you could do more with it. For the reel you wanna get something that’s easier to cast if you’ve never used a baitcaster before, which unfortunately, is hard to find until you get to 100 bucks. So your best bet there is to either get a Daiwa Fuego CT, Shimano SLX, or Lews LFS on sale. If there aren’t any on sale, the Lews Xfinity reel is still pretty good, my friend who never used a baitcaster before can throw lures pretty far on it. Good luck with whatever you get ?

[the reel ess]

I can't speak to the reliability of the reel. But I have a Kast King rod that I really like.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/kastking-resolute-7-ft-3-in-h-freshwater-casting-combo-?sku=7-3-right-heavy-fast-6-6-1

[David 7]

Is this a good option? The gear ration is 6.2.1 not sure if that is fast enough. I’m not familiar with the brand but I like that it’s a combo and the rod length I want.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-7-ft-frog-rod-and-reel-combo

[the reel ess]

17 minutes ago, David 7 said:

Is this a good option? The gear ration is 6.2.1 not sure if that is fast enough. I’m not familiar with the brand but I like that it’s a combo and the rod length I want.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-7-ft-frog-rod-and-reel-combo

I've owned one Academy Reel, the TAC-40. It was pretty good but I wore it out over a few seasons. I was rough on it because it was my jig rod. That reel cost $100. I know you aren't looking for this bit of advice, but you really should spend a little more if you want to enjoy using it for some time to come. As rods go, sensitivity takes a back seat for frog fishing. I'd look for a cheaper Hvy-Fast rod and spend a little more on the reel. There's a Berkley Lightning rod that will do the job for $40. For me I'd look for a reel in the $70 range with a solid aluminum frame.

[scaleface]

My frog combo only cost a little over 100 dollars . A 7 foot Epixor rod and a Kast King Assassin . I've caught some toads with it and it worked flawlessly .

[the reel ess]

This is the cheapest solid framed reel I know of and it's available in 7.3:1 retrieve. It has good reviews.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-mettle-m3-baitcast-reel?sku=right-7-3-1-100

[David 7]

All of the baitcasting reels I’m seeing have the handle on the right side, are people supposed to hold the rod with their weak hand and reel with their strong hand? 

[MN Fisher]

14 minutes ago, David 7 said:

All of the baitcasting reels I’m seeing have the handle on the right side, are people supposed to hold the rod with their weak hand and reel with their strong hand? 

I'm a rightie - but my left arm is the stronger one (mild bursitis in the right shoulder), so a right-hand retrieve reel fits me perfectly...I even swapped all my spinning reels to be right-retrieve.

[roadwarrior]

Stick with what ever you have, spinning will be fine. There is no advantage for the 

purchase of a $100 baitcasting combo.

 

 

[Brett's_daddy]

1 hour ago, David 7 said:

I’ve never fished with a baitcating reel before. All the pros are adamant that you should not throw a frog on a spinning reel according to a video I saw on Tylersreelfishing on YouTube. I’m pretty set in my ways but his video was rather convincing.

 

I don’t know where to begin. Anyone have any advice on what combo to get for frogs? I’d prefer it to be a 7ft MH and be under $100 if possible. I know I’ll have to use braid but this pole will be strictly for frogs only. ? 

Go to Americanfishinglegacy.com and get yourself a Shimano SLX combo, rod & reel for $140 shipped. Get the 7.2:1 gear ratio casting reel and the 7'2" Heavy casting rod and you'll be golden!!!

[David 7]

Just now, roadwarrior said:

Stick with what ever you have, spinning will be fine. There is no advantage for the 

purchase of a $100 baitcasting combo.

 

 

You know the more I think about it, after watching videos of people using them, I’m not so sure I want one now. It just seems so alien to me. I probably will just stick with my Ugly Stick spinning combo. Also I don’t like braid I’m a mono guy anyway.

[Brett's_daddy]

1 minute ago, David 7 said:

You know the more I think about it, after watching videos of people using them, I’m not so sure I want one now. It just seems so alien to me. I probably will just stick with my Ugly Stick spinning combo. Also I don’t like braid I’m a mono guy anyway.

Once you learn a baitcaster you won't want to go back or at least you'll have twice as many casting setups as spinning setups. That's what happened to me anyways. I started out like you with strictly spinning setups until I finally got the nerve to buy my first casting setup and once I learned the basics I was hooked (pun intended). It's not as hard as it seems or as your own mind is telling you...lol. Good luck whichever way you decide to go!!!

[the reel ess]

1 hour ago, David 7 said:

All of the baitcasting reels I’m seeing have the handle on the right side, are people supposed to hold the rod with their weak hand and reel with their strong hand? 

Whatever works for you. But I have a hard time reeling left-handed. I cast with both hands, right on the reel spool, then crank with my right. If you find the other way better, by all means do so. You have to do what you're comfy with.

[ajschn06]

Daiwa AirD-X 7' Heavy - $49.99

Daiwa CC-80 HS- $49.99

[HookInMouth]

Grab an SLX combo for $140. I know it's a little bit more than you want to spend but IMHO not much more and it's well worth it. 

[Brett's_daddy]

1 hour ago, David 7 said:

All of the baitcasting reels I’m seeing have the handle on the right side, are people supposed to hold the rod with their weak hand and reel with their strong hand? 

I am just like you, right handed and have always reeled a spinning reel with my left hand and held the rod with my right. I tried the right handed casting reels and while I could do it when I switched to a left handed casting reel I was MUCH more comfortable...it just felt more natural to me. IMO it doesn't take a lot of effort to reel a reel so I want my dominant arm/hand to horse the rod when I set the hook.

40 minutes ago, HookInMouth said:

Grab an SLX combo for $140. I know it's a little bit more than you want to spend but IMHO not much more and it's well worth it. 

^^^This!!!

[Brett's_daddy]

1 hour ago, David 7 said:

Also I don’t like braid I’m a mono guy anyway.

You absolutely need braid for a frog rod IMO! Think about it, where are you fishing frogs??? Mats and pads generally, you want a line that's going to easily rip through that slop when you hook a giant and that's what braid does...mono just doesn't cut it (literally and figuratively). Get that SLX combo I mentioned above and spool it up with 50lb. Power Pro braid and you'll be good to go!

[David 7]

5 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

You absolutely need braid for a frog rod IMO! Think about it, where are you fishing frogs??? Mats and pads generally, you want a line that's going to easily rip through that slop when you hook a giant and that's what braid does...mono just doesn't cut it (literally and figuratively). Get that SLX combo I mentioned above and spool it up with 50lb. Power Pro braid and you'll be good to go!

There’s a pond that I fish that has a lot of cheese, and another has a a lot of wood. Mono is fine in heavy pond scum but admittedly it has its limitations. 

[BrianMDTX]

2 hours ago, David 7 said:

All of the baitcasting reels I’m seeing have the handle on the right side, are people supposed to hold the rod with their weak hand and reel with their strong hand? 

To be brutally honest, I have both LH and RH baitcasters and fish both equally well. 

[Brett's_daddy]

3 minutes ago, David 7 said:

There’s a pond that I fish that has a lot of cheese, and another has a a lot of wood. Mono is fine in heavy pond scum but admittedly it has its limitations. 

Don't fight the notion of braid for a frog rod man! It's like cutting steak with a butter knife, sure the butter knife will eventually get the job done but if you use a steak knife (the tool that was meant for the job) it'd be a lot easier. Mono is the butter knife in this scenario . As far as wood goes, frogs are top water so the amount of wood you'd be fishing it around would most likely be pretty limited.

[MIbassyaker]

2 hours ago, David 7 said:

All of the baitcasting reels I’m seeing have the handle on the right side, are people supposed to hold the rod with their weak hand and reel with their strong hand? 

 

Yup.  Just get a lefty if you are weirded out by this.

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, ajschn06 said:

Daiwa AirD-X 7' Heavy - $49.99

Daiwa CC-80 HS- $49.99

That's the rod I have for frogging

Reel? Sheels (Pflueger) Purist.

I've got a Fuego CT on my Aird-X H/F