Toad setup

[Cbump]

What’s your toad setup? Rod/reel/line? 
 

Anyone not using braid? 

[optimator]

I've been using a Dobyns Fury 735. Daiwa Fuego 8:1 with 50 lb braid. I did just get a ALX Toadface. I imagine I'll be dumping the Fury. 

[casts_by_fly]

I went back and forth across my rods last year trying to find just the right combo of a light tip but plenty of backbone to drive that big hook through a heavy chunk of plastic. I’ve settled on the falcon cara eye crosser. 6’11” 1/2-1.5 and falcon 7-power. Light enough tip that a half ounce is no problem at all (might even do 3/8) but lots of backbone. I’ve got 17 mono on it right now but that’s because it’s my big spinner/chatterbait rod early season. It will get 50 braid in a month. 

[msgf91]

7'4 LTB H F 

Bantam 6.2

FC 

I started with a inshore lite spinning rod and Lew's G2

 

I fish horny toads a little different. I cast at banks where the bass are waiting for frogs to get scared and jump in and retrieve like a swimbait.  I use FC because they hit like a freight train 

 

 

 

[Cbump]

I don’t throw toads often but have a lot of them so trying to see which of my current setups would work best. 
 

I have a Falcon Head Turner 6’10” HF with 6.2 reel and 17lb Armilo Defier. 
 

Dobyns 734c with 7.2 reel and 17lb defier. 
 

Falcon Bayou 6’11” XHF with 8.1 reel and 20lb fc. Also have a 8.1 reel with 65lb braid to put on this one for frogs. 
 

Falcon All Around 7’ MHMF with 6.2 reel and 16lb fc. 
 

Falcon Amistad 7’3” HF with 7.3 reel and 65lb braid. 

 

That’s about It that might work for them. 

[casts_by_fly]

The bayou is the right answer. I used the head turner for them and it can work with braid but I think you need just a little more backbone. The HT has a great tip for accurate casting and has plenty of backbone for a frog but not quite enough for me to drive a 7/0 or 8/0 home. The amistad does and if you’re making long overhead casts it’s not a bad option, but the amistad is too big and heavy for shorter and closer side arm casting. The eye crosser is right between the two.  The bayou should be similar. 

[Cbump]

You think throw them on the 20lb fc? 

 

4 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

bayou

 

[NorthernBasser]

I have a few I use but my favorite is the 734 Sierra with 40# braid.

[Cbump]

I was kind of thinking the 65lb braid would be too much. I have some 40 but just really don’t want to respool my frog rod. The 40 is .013” and the 65 is .016”. 
 

I’m sure the 65lb braid reel thrown on the bayou or 734c when I want to throw toads will work fine. 

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, Cbump said:

You think throw them on the 20lb fc? 

 

 

braid ideally (with the reel swap you noted) but if you also need that rod with fluoro for the day I wouldn’t worry about it. Both will be just fine. 

[Cbump]

5 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

braid ideally (with the reel swap you noted) but if you also need that rod with fluoro for the day I wouldn’t worry about it. Both will be just fine. 

I bet if I needed the bayou that day with fc I could do the reel swap on the head Turner or 734 and get by. 
 

 

Thanks all. 

[Cbump]

I have a Loomis GLX 844c MBR that could probably work too in a pinch. 

[Junger]

ALX Toadface, Bantam MGL, 50lb Suffix 832 camo.

 

I really like the ALX, it has a shorter handle which makes it easier for me to work a frog, and a MH tip on a Heavy backbone rod.

[Cbump]

9 minutes ago, Junger said:

ALX Toadface, Bantam MGL, 50lb Suffix 832 camo.

 

I really like the ALX, it has a shorter handle which makes it easier for me to work a frog, and a MH tip on a Heavy backbone rod.

Frog and toad are a little different. 

[Junger]

Just now, Cbump said:

Frog and toad are a little different. 

 

Yep, misread. But my toad setup is a Daiwa Elite AGS 7’4, Curado DC XG, 50lb Suffix 832 camo. On the Potomac, long casts are needed because of how clear the water gets in the hydrilla and spatterdock. So that’s why I have the 7’4, and it’s really light so I can throw it all day with no issues.

[WRB]

Cut a hook slot in the belly of the toad and us 5/0 CPS hooks.

Tom

[LogFinder]

On 4/22/2023 at 10:27 AM, Cbump said:

I don’t throw toads often but have a lot of them so trying to see which of my current setups would work best. 
 

I have a Falcon Head Turner 6’10” HF with 6.2 reel and 17lb Armilo Defier. 
 

Dobyns 734c with 7.2 reel and 17lb defier. 
 

Falcon Bayou 6’11” XHF with 8.1 reel and 20lb fc. Also have a 8.1 reel with 65lb braid to put on this one for frogs. 
 

Falcon All Around 7’ MHMF with 6.2 reel and 16lb fc. 
 

Falcon Amistad 7’3” HF with 7.3 reel and 65lb braid. 

 

That’s about It that might work for them. 

I’ve used the Amistad, HeadTurner and the 734 for toads in the past. Personally of those three I would go with the 734. That rod with braid will skip a toad better than the other two in my hands. It has a soft enough tip to let them really get it but enough juice to bury the hook. Now if you are fishing in the thicker grass you may want the Amistads Horsepower to get them out. 

[djhands]

Megabass tequila baccarat.  With a zillion hd Berkely x9 65 braid

[softwateronly]

2 hours ago, djhands said:

Megabass tequila baccarat.  With a zillion hd Berkely x9 65 braid

I have that same rod/reel combo and have never really thrown toads. Nice to see there’s yet another technique that this crazy flexible combo can do well. It’s the most I ever spent on a combo but keeps delivering in unexpected ways. 
 

scott