Frog rod under $150

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

Im looking to get a rod i can use for frogs, swim jigs in super heavy cover, and maybe punching occasionally. I was looking at the st croix bass x 7’4 heavy fast, and the Daiwa tatula 7’4 heavy fast or 7’1 heavy fast. It’s about a $40 difference in price, so how much am I going to get for that extra 40 bucks, and if I go with the bass x will I always be wishing I had spent a little more? Are there any other rods around that price point that I should be looking at? I don’t think I’ll spend above $170

[Jar11591]

Dobyns FR735. I believe it still retails for under $150, and if not it can definitely be found on sale under that. It makes a great frog rod, and a decent punching rod. Mine is on full time frog duty and it really excels. 

[Catt]

I have a Daiwa Tatula TTU731MHFB, I throw frogs, swimjigs, spinnerbaits, & light punching (5/8-3/4).

[Pat Brown]

I'm in this same boat and ones I'm considering are :

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=20&searchtext=Bb+rod (7'2 )

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fitzgerald_Fishing_Bryan_Thrift_Series_Casting_Rods/descpage-FBTCR.html (7'2 MHMF 'Frog')

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Falcon_Lowrider_Casting_Rods/descpage-FLC.html (HF 7'2)

 

Leaning towards the Fitzgerald but I may go Falcon because my last frog rod lasted 3 years and was a falcon.

 

 

[ThatFishingGuy]

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

Dobyns FR735. I believe it still retails for under $150, and if not it can definitely be found on sale under that. It makes a great frog rod, and a decent punching rod. Mine is on full time frog duty and it really excels. 

This is the right answer IMO

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

I have a Daiwa Tatula TTU731MHFB, I throw frogs, swimjigs, spinnerbaits, & light punching (5/8-3/4).

The MH is good for frogs even in thick vegetation? I was thinking about picking up that exact rod, but to run with 30 or 40 pound braid to a leader, and have it be my t-rig and jig rod around grass.

[Catt]

21 minutes ago, August said:

The MH is good for frogs even in thick vegetation?

 

I watched some videos by this guy, I think his name is Rojas, heard he's pretty good with a frog, he throws a Medium heavy.

 

For Texas Rig/Jig-n-Craw rod I would suggest a Daiwa Tatula TTU711MHXB, 7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

6 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

I watched some videos by this guy, I think his name is Rojas, heard he's pretty good with a frog, he throws a Medium heavy.

 

For Texas Rig/Jig-n-Craw rod I would suggest a Daiwa Tatula TTU711MHXB, 7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast.

I definitely wouldn’t mind using a MH for frogs because I could use it for lots of other stuff also, and it would probably be easier on my arm after a long day. Would 40lb Braid be a good choice for that setup? I’ve hear some guys use lighter braid because it cuts through pads better

[JJP]

2 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Dobyns FR735. I believe it still retails for under $150, and if not it can definitely be found on sale under that. It makes a great frog rod, and a decent punching rod. Mine is on full time frog duty and it really excels. 

X2 great rod

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

Is a frog rod something I might want to spend a little less on because I wouldn’t need as much sensitivity as a bottom contact rod?

[casts_by_fly]

On 6/1/2024 at 6:06 AM, Pat Brown said:

I'm in this same boat and ones I'm considering are :

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=20&searchtext=Bb+rod (7'2 )

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fitzgerald_Fishing_Bryan_Thrift_Series_Casting_Rods/descpage-FBTCR.html (7'2 MHMF 'Frog')

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Falcon_Lowrider_Casting_Rods/descpage-FLC.html (HF 7'2)

 

Leaning towards the Fitzgerald but I may go Falcon because my last frog rod lasted 3 years and was a falcon.

 

 

I don’t know the 7’2” pitching stick so I’d have to do some research on that one, but the 7’3” with the same specs is the amistad which is one of falcons three best blank designs (head turner and swim jig are the others). I have the amistad in the Cara and used to have the expert. Mine was bought for this same purpose- heavy pitching and light punching, frogs, and other heavier duty things. If you like that length of rod then it’s great for those things. 
 

I’ve found I prefer a shorter rod for frogs and have moved to the eye crosser. I got mine in the used bin from tackle warehouse for $175. ALF gets them at times around the same price.  It’s a phenomenal frog rod and does double duty for 6” swim baits, bigger poppers, 3/4 oz spinnerbaits, etc. The expert Bayou would be the same purpose and is cheaper. 
 

On 6/1/2024 at 5:47 AM, August said:

Im looking to get a rod i can use for frogs, swim jigs in super heavy cover, and maybe punching occasionally. I was looking at the st croix bass x 7’4 heavy fast, and the Daiwa tatula 7’4 heavy fast or 7’1 heavy fast. It’s about a $40 difference in price, so how much am I going to get for that extra 40 bucks, and if I go with the bass x will I always be wishing I had spent a little more? Are there any other rods around that price point that I should be looking at? I don’t think I’ll spend above $170

I like falcons and at $129 you have your pick of the low riders. The amistad is a great rod if you like a longer frog rod. I don’t. The head turner with braid is a pretty good frog rod. It lists as heavy but is like a lot of companies medium heavy. I’ll use mine around medium and lighter cover for frogs. It’s also a great pitching rod. Mine is one of my two swim jig rods. 
 

22 hours ago, August said:

Is a frog rod something I might want to spend a little less on because I wouldn’t need as much sensitivity as a bottom contact rod?

you need zero sensitivity for fishing frogs. You need a soft tip for casting and working one plus a hefty backbone to winch them out. If you throw punching and swim jigs into the mix then that answer changes. 

[WRB]

How about using the rod Jordan Lee used to win Heavy Hitters $100K using a frog for under $50! On sale at TW.

Tom

[PhishLI]

35 minutes ago, WRB said:

How about using the rod Jordan Lee used to win Heavy Hitters

Did you catch his interview afterward where he slipped up and mentioned that he lost 4 guide inserts in the process? I fish hella choked out junk and have never lost an insert on any rod.

[JN94]

SLX A 7'2" H. Rated 0.5-1.5oz. $99. Super light and comfortable to fish for a $99 heavy

[JackstrawIII]

I have the 7'1 Tatula Heavy and it's good... my only gripe is that I wish the handle was a bit longer. 

[Big Swimbait]

iRod 754C $149 and a great frog rod!

[WRB]

I believe the gen 3 is IRG754F Magic Stick.
This rod is a excellent lite rod but it’s main purpose is a frog rod.

Tom

PS, TW 20% off sale now

[r83srock]

I am really liking the Falcon EVO 7’3” Heavy fast. Best frog rod I have owned. It works great for flipping also. I was throwing a buzzbait on it the other day and it worked great. It won’t be as lightweight as most $200-$300 rods but it does balance nicely with a Curado dc on it . Fuji reel seat and guides, it’s just hard to beat for $80.

[nso123]

14 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Dobyns FR735. I believe it still retails for under $150, and if not it can definitely be found on sale under that. It makes a great frog rod, and a decent punching rod. Mine is on full time frog duty and it really excels. 

I just bought one of these about a week ago. It’s a great rod that I have set up specifically for frogs. 

[Bandersnatch]

Daiwa Tatula 74 heavy 

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

So you think I should save $40 and go with the dobyns? What would I gain by getting that tatula? 

[Bird]

I don't pay for frog rods , it's all visual, no sensitivity involved....... ugly stick and Kastking, heavy.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

26 minutes ago, Bird said:

I don't pay for frog rods , it's all visual, no sensitivity involved....... ugly stick and Kastking, heavy.

Yeah I would probably go with like a $60 rod if it wasn’t for the fact that I might flip an punch with it

[MN Fisher]

23 minutes ago, Bird said:

I don't pay for frog rods , it's all visual, no sensitivity involved....... ugly stick and Kastking, heavy.

Man after my own heart - my frog rig is a Daiwa Fuego CT-XS on an Aird-X H/F - under $150 for the whole rig.

 

Just now, August said:

Yeah I would probably go with like a $60 rod if it wasn’t for the fact that I might flip an punch with it

Until I got my Fury 765FLIP - this was also my pitch/punch rig.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Man after my own heart - my frog rig is a Daiwa Fuego CT-XS on an Aird-X H/F - under $150 for the whole rig.

 

Until I got my Fury 765FLIP - this was also my pitch/punch rig.

So should I get a cheaper rod like an arid x and the buy a nicer reel like a daiwa ct, and see if I want to upgrade the rod later?