ultimate froggin reel?

[rboat]

Looking for the best froggin reel. need to have the following qualifications.

1. Handle 65lb braid easily and smoothly.

2. Cast lightweight hollow frogs a country mile.

3. Have enough power to pull fish out of heavy cover.

4. Lightweight and fast retrieve

5. Cost reasonable for quality reel.

 

Any thoughts? Thanks

[Eric 26]

Daiwa Tatula CT in either 7 or 8 speed. Not exactly the lightest, smallest or sexiest reel but a proven workhorse available at a fair price and can usually be found relatively inexpensive if you’re patient in your shopping.

[MN Fisher]

20 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

Daiwa Tatula CT in either 7 or 8 speed

Or for a little less - the Fuego CT - they're basically the same reel...Tatula adds the T-Wing and bearings in the crank handles - but that's it...same frame, spool, main gears.

[T-Billy]

Lew's Super Duty. Small, comfortable to palm, long casting, good line capacity, tough as nails. 

[Mike L]

What you need to do is find the “best” compromise between line capacity, casting distance, torque for pulling power with high enough speed to get her in. 
 

There isn’t one specific reel that does it all 

As I said Its a compromise. 
Usually the higher the speed ratio the less overall torque it has and vice a versa. 
 

As long as you get a quality named brand  reel as was suggested and more, you’ll be good. 
 

Personally I sacrifice line capacity and casting distance for fairly high speed (6 something) which gives me enough power to get her up and out. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

[Eric 26]

24 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Or for a little less - the Fuego CT - they're basically the same reel...Tatula adds the T-Wing and bearings in the crank handles - but that's it...same frame, spool, main gears.

@MN Fisher Excellent point??

[softwateronly]

The '22 Bantam is my favorite.  The '18 is great, but enjoy the extra casting distance with lighter frogs on the new design.  Both are jdm models, right under $250 as of today, which isn't cheap but they seem like they'll last forever.

 

scott

[WRB]

The rod has more to do with successful hollow body frogging then the reel imo. Any aluminum from reel with the gear ratio and line capacity with .015D line from Daiwa, Lewis, Shimano should work within your budget. 

So....what rod do you plan to use?

Suggest Irod IRG 754F gen3 with Curado 200K

Tom

[Darth-Baiter]

SINCE this is a question about REELS..and not rods.

 

I am using a Tatula SV.  65lb braid.  it flings a frog with fury.  I chose this reel because it also pitches a bait easy.  my frog rod doubles as my light punch rig.  

[Tatulatard]

Steez a hlc would probably be the ultimate frog reel but they are expensive.  If you want value then maybe a tatula 150 or tranx 200.  I don't want plastic hande side plate when I am winching in a fish through the slop.  Jdm and usdm zillion hds as well as the bantam would be nice middle ground between high end and value priced.  

[dodgeguy]

Lew's bb1

[optimator]

I’ll second the Fuego. 

[casts_by_fly]

I really like my abu stx gen 4 for that purpose. Plenty of capacity, 28 lb of drag (not that you’ll use that much), good size.  Pick them up on sale for $150 or even better.

 

another good option is a used curado e200 (also the chronarch e200 is the same).  Tough reel, good reel. 

[JediAmoeba]

Tatula 150 or a Cabelas Daiwa Arachnid(basically the same thing). I use the Arachnid and it's a workhorse...

[AmmoGuy]

I toss HBFs quite a bit. 
These are my two favorite setups (although the Zillion is MUCH more refined) 

 

[Valvodinho]

Shimano Curado 200K or Shimano Tranx 200

 

(biggest difference I've noticed between the two is cosmetics, so pick whichever suits your fancy that way)

[webertime]

Fuego for sure.  I'm an idiot though and use a 9:1 Zillion

[ATA]

For me I use Curado 151 DC for my frogging as long as I remember, get the job done.

[ironbjorn]

I know a guy who has frogged with the same $100 Lew's LFS for, I want to say, 6-7 years?

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, ironbjorn said:

I know a guy who has frogged with the same $100 Lew's LFS for, I want to say, 6-7 years?

I'm on year 5 with my $79 Fuego CT...no plans on changing it out.

[Alex from GA]

I've been using an older Quantum Accucast 7:1.  Long casting and the drag locks down but it's heavy.

[BrianMDTX]

I have two Fuegos, so I must like them. 

[MiceNReets]

7 hours ago, AmmoGuy said:

I toss HBFs quite a bit. 
These are my two favorite setups (although the Zillion is MUCH more refined) 

 

I just picked up a zillion HD to try as my new frogging reel.   Pretty pumped to try it out.  What rod do you have it paired with and what line?

[AmmoGuy]

21 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

I just picked up a zillion HD to try as my new frogging reel.   Pretty pumped to try it out.  What rod do you have it paired with and what line?

7’1” Tatula H/F. 
832 55lb. 

[Columbia Craw]

Zillion HD on a Dobyns 736C....: