With frog only tournaments beginning in a few weeks I thought it would be beneficial to help other anglers select the perfect frog rod. Every angler has different preferences but there are some general rules of thumb that can help you catch more and bigger fish.
Frog fishing can be some of the most exciting bass fishing and angler will ever partake in. Heavy line, stout rods, and explosive op water bites could be considered a drug for some. However, if you can’t present the frog properly or are unable to land the fish it can be some of the most frustrating.
If I were to only own one frog rod, I would choose a 7’3″ to a 7’6″ heavy fast action rod with a light tip. My personal choice is a Dobyns Rods Champion XP 736c. This rod is a 7’3″ 6 power (heavy action) rod with a light enough tip to walk any frog. I choose to use a slightly shorter rod which allows the angler to make more accurate casts.
Making an accurate cast is vital especially fishing shallow cover like we tend to do here in Northern California. When working your frog around shallow timber, grass or other types of vegetation/cover you must be nearly perfect when casting. A good or bad cast and presentation can make or break your day. I like to land my bait so softly that it would not even make a ripple. If you have to ask yourself “was that quiet enough?” then it probably wasn’t. A cast that is only a few inches off line can be the difference in a heart stopping bite and just working out your wrist all day. Make sure you focus on placing your frog exactly where you want it and execute. That is why I choose to do a majority of my frogging with a Dobyns Champion XP 736c.
If you choose to fish vast grass mats like the large “cheese” fields found on the California Delta you might want to choose a longer rod. The longer rod will allow for longer casts and more leverage on the fish but it will sacrifice casting accuracy. Being that you don’t need to make the perfect cast all the time on the large grass fields you may benefit by have the longer for to be able to haul the fish out. I would recommend a Dobyns Rods Sierra 766c (7’6″ 6 power), Champion Extreme HP 746c (7’4″ 6 power), or Champion XP 736c.
For the fisherman looking for a great frog rod at an extremely affordable price I would lead you towards the Dobyns Rods Fury 735c (7’3″ 5 power). The Fury line is a remarkable line of rods at an extreme value. The Fury line of rods has a faster action than most of the other lines of rods therefore the Fury 735c will feel similar to the Champion 736c just slightly heavier in weight.
As always, I will provide a link to the rods I have mentioned throughout the article as well as some other options. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact me via e-mail. Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully this helps you catch more fish!
– Ryan Hall
@ryanhallfishing
ryanhallfishing@gmail.com
Dobyns Rods Champion XP 736c – https://www.outdoorproshop.com/Dobyns-Rods-Champion-XP-Casting-p/dobyns-champxpcst.htm
Dobyns Rods Fury 735c- https://www.outdoorproshop.com/Dobyns-Rods-Fury-p/dobyns-fury.htm
Dobyns Sierra 766c – http://dobynsrods.com/rods/sierra/
Dobyns Champion Extreme HP 746c – https://www.outdoorproshop.com/Dobyns-Rods-Champion-Extreme-HP-Casting-p/dobyns-exhpcst.htm
Dobyns Champion Extreme HP 795 flip – https://www.outdoorproshop.com/Dobyns-Rods-Champion-Extreme-HP-Casting-p/dobyns-exhpcst.htm