Best Frog Rod/Reel Combo

[Jeffrey Walker]

if money wasn’t an issue, what would be the best Frog Combo?

[Columbia Craw]

Champion 736C with a Zillion and Suffix 131 braid.  

[scbassin]

These are what I am using. Dobyns Champion XP DC 736 FH Rod & a Shimano 22 Bantam XG This is a awesome combination.  I am not a big fan of braid so I am using  Gamma Polyflex  Copolymer 25 lb breaking strength of 42 lbs. They also have 30 & 40 lb with breaking strengths of 51 & 62 lbs.  When the bass blows up on my frog my reflex tends have me set the hook way to soon. I have found that I am getting  more hook ups than I was. I am thinking that little bit of stretch off sets my reflex some. Anyway I am getting more fish in the boat.

[MontclairDave]

Personally, if I’m gonna spend big bucks on my best combo it’s not going to be for frogging. I’ll spend that on techniques that require sensitivity like jigging, t-rigs, etc. Frog fishing is a power thing…for me the trick is to have a rod with enough give in the tip to walk a frog but enough backbone to yank em

out of the slop. You can find that without breaking the bank.

 

I actually am in the market for a new frog setup and probably will get the new Daiwa revamped Tatula: they have a dedicated 7’ 4” frog rod. For $99 seems like a great deal. Maybe pair it with a Shimano SLX XT for $130.

 

sorry it ain’t your big-ticket OP request but for me that’s the max I’d spend on a frog setup. 
 

Especially since the Bait Monkey tells me I need a new jerkbait setup. Now THAT is gonna hurt my wallet ?

[casts_by_fly]

8 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

Personally, if I’m gonna spend big bucks on my best combo it’s not going to be for frogging. I’ll spend that on techniques that require sensitivity like jigging, t-rigs, etc. Frog fishing is a power thing…for me the trick is to have a rod with enough give in the tip to walk a frog but enough backbone to yank em

out of the slop. You can find that without breaking the bank.

 

I actually am in the market for a new frog setup and probably will get the new Daiwa revamped Tatula: they have a dedicated 7’ 4” frog rod. For $99 seems like a great deal. Maybe pair it with a Shimano SLX XT for $130.

 

sorry it ain’t your big-ticket OP request but for me that’s the max I’d spend on a frog setup. 
 

Especially since the Bait Monkey tells me I need a new jerkbait setup. Now THAT is gonna hurt my wallet ?

 

This.  You don't need any type of sensitivity.  You need a light enough tip to cast accurately and walk a frog with enough backbone under it to haul one out of a mat (assuming you're using the rod for both open water walking and skimming over heavy mats).  The reel doesn't have to be special, it just needs to hold enough heavy line and be durable enough.  Frogs are typically a half ounce so more than enough weight for any reel to throw.

 

If i were to build a dedicated frog rod right now (I have considered it) I'd look at the Falcon Expert Bayou.  I use the Amistad for heavier frogging right now and the Bayou is a 4" shorter version designed for this exact purpose by Jason Christie.  There is a Cara version as well, but for a frog rod I would save the $50 and put it elsewhere.  My expert amistad is a great rod for frogs in heavier stuff and will bomb with the best of them.  Its a bit long for walking and a bit heavy if I'm only fishing lighter cover.  I throw the 6'10" pitching stick for lighter stuff and its a great rod for light cover frogs and walking.  The Bayou would be the perfect combination.

 

For a reel, the worlds your oyster and personal preference dictates brand and feel.  I'd probably go a Bantam since I like Shimano and the deeper spool would let me run heavy mono if I wanted (I prefer braid).  The extra weight of the bantam wouldn't be noticed on this heavy of a rod and I fish a similar weight reel on my amistad now, a revo SX gen4)

[Mike L]

I use the least expensive rods I own for frogs and most top water baits within thier limits based on where I throw each the most. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Jrob78]

I am currently using a Kistler Helium 2 7'3" H for frogs but only because I wasn't using the rod for anything else and it is an awesome frog rod. I tend to agree with Mike, you don't need an expensive rod for frogs and when I need this rod for something else I will get a new frog rod.

[Jeffrey Walker]

So looks like Dobyns 736 is it.  Thanks!

 

What reel to go with it.  below are my options and what gear ratio?

zillion SV,

Zillion HD,

Steez A

Steez SV

Steez CT SV

metanium DC

[casts_by_fly]

I’d probably go the zillion hd.  I don’t prefer dc reels and the zillion sv would be a little light on capacity if you want to fish mono. 
 

i prefer a faster retrieve for frogs, so 8.X:1.

[Jeffrey Walker]

How about the Steez A.  It’s my understanding from reading that the A is larger than the Steez SV?

[Jeffrey Walker]

So Zillion SV or Zillion HD or the Zillion 10.0 for the Dobyns 736c for frogging?

[NorthernBasser]

If you wanna get all matchy matchy...

 

[CrashVector]

My frog setup is a 7'3" H/F Abu Garcia Veritas tournament rod paired with a Revo-SX high speed spoiled up with 8 strand Hercules no fade braid in black.  45lb test.

[inferiorfisherman]

Zillion HD on ALX toadface

or

Zilllion HD on Steez AGS power pitch

[MontclairDave]

On 9/19/2022 at 1:06 PM, casts_by_fly said:

 

This.  You don't need any type of sensitivity.  You need a light enough tip to cast accurately and walk a frog with enough backbone under it to haul one out of a mat (assuming you're using the rod for both open water walking and skimming over heavy mats).  The reel doesn't have to be special, it just needs to hold enough heavy line and be durable enough.  Frogs are typically a half ounce so more than enough weight for any reel to throw.

 

If i were to build a dedicated frog rod right now (I have considered it) I'd look at the Falcon Expert Bayou.  I use the Amistad for heavier frogging right now and the Bayou is a 4" shorter version designed for this exact purpose by Jason Christie.  There is a Cara version as well, but for a frog rod I would save the $50 and put it elsewhere.  My expert amistad is a great rod for frogs in heavier stuff and will bomb with the best of them.  Its a bit long for walking and a bit heavy if I'm only fishing lighter cover.  I throw the 6'10" pitching stick for lighter stuff and its a great rod for light cover frogs and walking.  The Bayou would be the perfect combination.

 

For a reel, the worlds your oyster and personal preference dictates brand and feel.  I'd probably go a Bantam since I like Shimano and the deeper spool would let me run heavy mono if I wanted (I prefer braid).  The extra weight of the bantam wouldn't be noticed on this heavy of a rod and I fish a similar weight reel on my amistad now, a revo SX gen4)

I forgot about the Falcon Bayou! That indeed is a great choice, especially for kayakers and bank anglers who like shorter rods. I have the Falcon Expert Head Turner and it’s my fav rod for most single hook presentations. A tad light for heavy frogging but great for moderate cover to open water frogging. Love Falcon rods!! (I have their $69 HD in a medium for light stuff and it’s amazing rod the the $)

[Tatulatard]

On 9/19/2022 at 8:49 PM, Jeffrey Walker said:

How about the Steez A.  It’s my understanding from reading that the A is larger than the Steez SV?

Same size.

[KP Duty]

Poison Glorious 7'4"XH would be an ultimate frog rod...and it is the ultimate time to buy one.  

[Jrob78]

1 hour ago, KP Duty said:

Poison Glorious 7'4"XH would be an ultimate frog rod...and it is the ultimate time to buy one.  

They are in stock right now too.....

 

Green Eyes gon miss ya

[Derek1]

On 9/19/2022 at 1:06 PM, casts_by_fly said:

 

This.  You don't need any type of sensitivity.  You need a light enough tip to cast accurately and walk a frog with enough backbone under it to haul one out of a mat (assuming you're using the rod for both open water walking and skimming over heavy mats).  The reel doesn't have to be special, it just needs to hold enough heavy line and be durable enough.  Frogs are typically a half ounce so more than enough weight for any reel to throw.

 

If i were to build a dedicated frog rod right now (I have considered it) I'd look at the Falcon Expert Bayou.  I use the Amistad for heavier frogging right now and the Bayou is a 4" shorter version designed for this exact purpose by Jason Christie.  There is a Cara version as well, but for a frog rod I would save the $50 and put it elsewhere.  My expert amistad is a great rod for frogs in heavier stuff and will bomb with the best of them.  Its a bit long for walking and a bit heavy if I'm only fishing lighter cover.  I throw the 6'10" pitching stick for lighter stuff and its a great rod for light cover frogs and walking.  The Bayou would be the perfect combination.

 

For a reel, the worlds your oyster and personal preference dictates brand and feel.  I'd probably go a Bantam since I like Shimano and the deeper spool would let me run heavy mono if I wanted (I prefer braid).  The extra weight of the bantam wouldn't be noticed on this heavy of a rod and I fish a similar weight reel on my amistad now, a revo SX gen4)

The bayou is not the same as the eye crosser 

Just now, Derek1 said:

The bayou is not the same as the eye crosser 

It’s a bit heavier and stiffer. 
 

[casts_by_fly]

16 hours ago, Derek1 said:

The bayou is not the same as the eye crosser 

It’s a bit heavier and stiffer. 
 

do you have the amistad to compare it with?  Everyone I’ve talked to says they feel the same, aside from the extra length on the amistad. If that’s the case then the bayou would be perfect for a frog. 

[Derek1]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

do you have the amistad to compare it with?  Everyone I’ve talked to says they feel the same, aside from the extra length on the amistad. If that’s the case then the bayou would be perfect for a frog. 

No I don’t, I have the eye crosser. I called falcon a couple of times before I bought it. The gentleman there said the bayou is much stiffer. He did say it would be a great frog rod. But the two rods are a little different. I believe the website says it’s the eye crosser that’s the shorter version of the amistad. 
anyone interested in either rod should give falcon a call. Then are fantastic to talk to. 
definitely not trying to argue. That’s just the impression I’m under after talking to them. 

[casts_by_fly]

33 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

No I don’t, I have the eye crosser. I called falcon a couple of times before I bought it. The gentleman there said the bayou is much stiffer. He did say it would be a great frog rod. But the two rods are a little different. I believe the website says it’s the eye crosser that’s the shorter version of the amistad. 
anyone interested in either rod should give falcon a call. Then are fantastic to talk to. 
definitely not trying to argue. That’s just the impression I’m under after talking to them. 

no worries.  I’ve emailed with them a couple times and they have been right on for me. I think the expert amistad is a touch stiffer than the cara also so that would correlate between them. I only have one cara (7’4” heavy cover jig) but I have a bunch of experts and they suit me well. 

[Jeffrey Walker]

Sounds like a Dobyns 736c and a zillion HD is the ticket. 

[Derek1]

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

no worries.  I’ve emailed with them a couple times and they have been right on for me. I think the expert amistad is a touch stiffer than the cara also so that would correlate between them. I only have one cara (7’4” heavy cover jig) but I have a bunch of experts and they suit me well. 

Oh, right I didn’t think of the difference between the two lines. 
I agree info from them has been on point.