Medium heavy / fast action rod for (almost) everything?

[hunterPRO1]

2 hours ago, AJ in PA said:

I'm curious what you use for frogging - I could definitely stand to increase my hookup ratio in that department.

I have a Dobyns Fury 735c with 50lb braid, really anything from 7' to 7'6 heavy with braided line 50lb+ is good to go. Some people say 7' isnt quite enough length, some say 7'6 is too long to walk the frog. I've used both with good success but 7'3 does seem to be most comfortable. Braided line is truly the most important part.

 

Your frog matters too, I love my booyah pad crashers because they're soft. I'll throw a spro bronzeye when i find them on sale.

[AJ in PA]

On 11/24/2024 at 8:57 PM, hunterPRO1 said:

Your frog matters too, I love my booyah pad crashers because they're soft.

Thanks for the input.  I have a Pad Crasher in black, but I had 5 strikes in under 10 minutes with a 0% hookup ratio.  It was crazy.  The first strike I probably set too early, but it was a reflex.  The 2nd-4th strikes I waited 2-4 seconds and set hard, but she kept spitting it out.  On the 5th I said "not this time" and waited until the fish went to the bottom - at least 10 seconds - then tried to cross her eyes.  Felt like I hooked a log because it didn't budge, but then she took off and spit it out again.  I was not happy lol.  Now I'm not sure it was a bass, because muskies hang out in that area too but that was one heavy fish I lost.  There were no cuts from teeth though so IDK.  That was on a Daiwa AIRX-701MHFB with 40lb braid.  I did bend the hooks out a bit since that day, but haven't really used it much after that because I get way better hookups on Strike King Super Toads or whatever ribbit frogs.  I'll give the adjusted Pad Crasher some more time come spring.  Also I picked up a Scum Frog Tropy Series to see if that design hooks up better for me.  I'm pretty much done for this year though.  I'm a relatively fair-weather fisherman lol.

[r83srock]

12 hours ago, AJ in PA said:

Thanks for the input.  I have a Pad Crasher in black, but I had 5 strikes in under 10 minutes with a 0% hookup ratio.  It was crazy.  The first strike I probably set too early, but it was a reflex.  The 2nd-4th strikes I waited 2-4 seconds and set hard, but she kept spitting it out.  On the 5th I said "not this time" and waited until the fish went to the bottom - at least 10 seconds - then tried to cross her eyes.  Felt like I hooked a log because it didn't budge, but then she took off and spit it out again.  I was not happy lol.  Now I'm not sure it was a bass, because muskies hang out in that area too but that was one heavy fish I lost.  There were no cuts from teeth though so IDK.  That was on a Daiwa AIRX-701MHFB with 40lb braid.  I did bend the hooks out a bit since that day, but haven't really used it much after that because I get way better hookups on Strike King Super Toads or whatever ribbit frogs.  I'll give the adjusted Pad Crasher some more time come spring.  Also I picked up a Scum Frog Tropy Series to see if that design hooks up better for me.  I'm pretty much done for this year though.  I'm a relatively fair-weather fisherman lol.

You are doing a lot of things right! The booyah frogs are soft but the trophy scum frogs are softer yet and have the correct hook angle out of the package.  I do use pad crashers but I’ve been using the trophy frogs for close to 20 years and keep coming back. 
 

That Aird x rod is nice, but it might be a bit soft for frog fishing in cover. A big bass can have a tough jaw to get a frog hook into.

[Bigbox99]

What MH is throwing a 1 3/8 oz plopper 130?  My Lightning Rod might but it's a H mod fast  pretending to be a MH fast.  

[AJ in PA]

On 11/27/2024 at 8:51 AM, Bigbox99 said:

What MH is throwing a 1 3/8 oz plopper 130?  My Lightning Rod might but it's a H mod fast  pretending to be a MH fast.  

Hehe I'm using a Daiwa AIRX-701MHFB.  It's a 1-piece fast action.  1 3/8 oz is definitely over its rating but it's been fine, I just don't swing the heck out of it.  That rod with that plopper dragged in a 40" muskie too so I'm pretty confident it'll hold up.  I do use a 7'6 heavy/fast when I target larger fish like that though.

[Boomstick]

I really see no reason to not buy something besides a MH/F rod if you have multiple rods personally. I mean I could probably find rods from different manufacturers and lines that are rated as MH/F to cover many applications, but then what's the point of MH/F?

 

Personally, I could see a M/F rod that runs a tad on the heavier side being as versatile as a MH/F unless you have weeds in your area, but I still want both.

 

There are people in warmer climates who have weeds everywhere, but I would imagine they would want some H/F and XH/F rods in the mix too.