Frogs vs Poppers

[BrianMDTX]

So I just finished reading the Frog Fishing thread, and I didn’t want to hijack it in a different direction, so I thought I’d ask my question here. 
 

It looks like every single person that responded in that thread is spooled with braid (most using 50 lb.). Which I assume is due to throwing frogs in slop. Most of the waters I fish do not have much vegetation on top. There are plenty of subsurface weeds and in summer duckweed is prevalent, but nothing that poses a threat to adding serious weight to a bass when reeling it in. So in waters that don’t have an issue with topwater vegetation, do you still normally spool with braid? If not, do you use mono, hybrid or FC?
 

And in those waters, what is actually a better choice, a frog or a popper? 

Needless to say, I would not be using my Fenwick HMX76H-FC for poppers. But if poppers are a better choice, I may need to call the Monkey. 

[new2BC4bass]

No need to call the Monkey.  He is sitting on your shoulder.    I wouldn't use braid in your situation.  My preference?  Mono or Co-Polymer.  As to which is the better lure, I couldn't say.

[QED]

I've used frogs and frog poppers with equal success.  For still water, I use the plain frog and in choppier water, I use the popper.

[Deleted account]

Frogs, popping and otherwise braid regardless of cover, poppers, like a Pop-R, 12-16 lb mono, and a completely different setup. I seldom throw a frog in open water, but there are times when it's the right thing to do, to me it's giving up hookup ratio for size, there is a fine line, (pun intended).

[Pogues2300]

I use 30lb braid for frogs and have never been broken off. If I wanted to throw a popper on the same rod I may tie on a mono leader size of choice.

[the reel ess]

I always have 50# braid on my frog combo. But I do fish treble topwaters and I would expect them to produce better in open water. I don't catch many bass in open water with a frog. It only seems to produce in or near weeds. Sure, you'll get the occasional blowup on it.

 

Another thing I consider is fishing a treble lure near shallow weeds is that the fish will use the weeds as leverage to spit the hook. I've hooked some big gals that go straight for the lilies or wallow in the bottom weeds. 

 

I've been back and forth on the line for trebles. I use 30# braid sometimes. I've used braid with a mono leader. And now I'm back to straight 15# mono, at least for my topwaters. When I do use braid and trebles, the drag is set pretty loose and I'll just use the thumb as necessary.

[BassinCNY]

I only throw a frog if I have to do to surface vegetation or for skipping. I prefer 30-50 pound braid but I've used 12 pound mono with no problems when the conditions were favorable and I didn't have a better set up with me.

[Bankbeater]

Most of the time when I fish a frog I'm using mono.  The reason is that most of the time when I'm fishing thick coontail, regardless of the bait, the bass will pick up a ton of vegetation while I'm reeling it in and get stuck.  I don't try to drag the bass out, I go in and get it.

[DitchPanda]

Poppers for me go on a medium fast or extra fast rod with 10-12lb mono. Frogs always on at least a medhvy if not a heavy with no less than 50lb braid...even when I'm not fishing vegetation I'm often times throwing into trees or skipping under them and I want some horsepower to get em out.

[Junger]

I use a Lews 6’8 Custom Plus top water rod, it has a smaller grip, almost like a pistol grip. I use 12lb mono with it and have dragged 8lb snakehead covered in hydrilla. I think poppers call the fish better, and would rather use it over a frog. But when I’m around pads or really heavy slop that trebles won’t rip through, I use the frog.
 

[soflabasser]

I use 30-50 pound test braid when frog fishing regardless of how much aquatic vegetation is in the place I am fishing. 

[JS8588]

Your situation calls for mono & poppers or spooks.

[cyclops2]

I go into the heavy stuff for the fish or snag. Saves line knots breaking apart. Fish dying down there .

[BrianMDTX]

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

No need to call the Monkey.  He is siting on your shoulder.    I wouldn't use braid in your situation.  My preference?  Mono or Co-Polymer.  As to which is the better lure, I couldn't say.

I just spooled the reel with 12 lb. YZH a week ago. It’s an H2O Ethos HD  baitcaster that I got for Fishmas. 6.6:1 ratio and practice casting it did a great job with a frog. 

[WRB]

Braid cuts through the slop, mono/Copolymer/FC doesn’t.

If you are casting any lure into or onto the slop use braid.

Frogs vs Poopers, frogs are weedless, poppers have treble hooks that snag everything. 

I use Major Craft Iovino Splash-It 6’8” MF casting rod designed for poppers and several other top water lures 1/4 to 1/2oz and  11 lb Armillo mono.

Irod IRG 754F casting 7’5” HF rod designed for frogs and good utility rod for lures 1/2 to 2 oz.

Tom

[Lead Head]

Braid with frogs regardless of cover for better hookups. 

[Bluebasser86]

I use braid for almost all topwaters except buzzbaits and propbaits with a front prop. My popper rod has straight 20lb braid, no leader. The whole "You need a leader to prevent tangling on the front treble", thing is way overblown and just 1 more knot to fail. Braid on treble hooked topwaters is great because you don't have to set the hook, just reel and lean into them. That way if they miss you don't pull the bait away from them either. I lose way fewer topwater fish since going to straight braid than when I used mono. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

Braid if I'm throwing into vegetation or using baits with heavy gauge hooks like hollow body frogs. Copoly for trebles and light wire hooks in more open water. Works great for me. 

[Deephaven]

The less the cover the noisier the lure.  For super slop, I use a H with 50lb braid, for slightly less a MH with 30lb braid and for nearly no cover a MXF with 30lb braid.  The occasional foiled cast from looping a treble is worth it to me for the control and weed cutting capability.

[Dwight Hottle]

Have you tried a popping frog like the spro? I always use popping frogs because they do double duty when fishing the slop or vegetation. Long distance hooksets are a lot easier using braid & like Tom said braid is the only choice for cutting thru vegetation.