I've been using a 6'6" MH trigger rod for fishing grass frogs and while my success has been decent, I'm not sure that I have the most efficient set-up right now. I've noticed that a lot of manufacturers (e.g., Lamiglas, St. Croix, BPS, Dobyns) have frog-specific rods and that most of those are longer than 7', with a lot in the 7'2" - 7'4" range.

I have two questions. First, why are the rods longer than 7'? Second, I know a lot of you probably throw frogs and have frog rods, so I'm curious about what you like or don't like about the rods that are currently available. I want to get a new rod for the upcoming season, but seeing as every lake around here that has bass also has at least 6" of ice on it, I've got some time.

Thanks!

FishDr
"Prescribing alternating doses of frogs and swimbaits to the local fishes"

The reason for the extra length in frog rods is the extra leverage. That few inches can make a whole lot of difference. The other aspect of a frog rod that you need is TIP. It won't matter in the slop but if you are trying to walk a frog in the open some tip give will help you get it walking. I use two frog rods...
In the slop I use a Dobyns 736 so that I have the added power to get them out of the trash without a problem.
In the open water I turn to the Dobyns 735. Its a little lighter rod and its got some tip. It makes it easy to walk the frog but has plenty of backbone to sink the hooks and get them moving.

www.dobynsrods.com
www.dirtyjigstackle.com

I haven't tried the Dobyn's Frog Rods, but from everything I've heard I'm sure they are excellent rods.

I throw a lot of frogs and it's one of my favorite ways to target big largemouth. I like the Lamiglas XC725 "Tournament Frog Rod" for hollow bodied frogs in slop. It is 7'2" and has a lot of power to extract them from the junk, but not much tip, as Supermat referred to.

For walking a hollow bodied frog and for throwing soft plastic frogs I like the G.Loomis FGR863X. It has a nice soft tip but still possesses a lot of power for solid hooksets and hauling them in.

http://www.calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/JIG-N-PIG/

I like the bigger rods for tossing frogs. I use the lamiglass 806, it is just a great rod in my opinion and gives you a lot of leverage on a big fish with a frog stuck to its grill. Some people dont like walking frogs with the 8 footers but I think it makes it easier and you get a great hookset.

cz

cz,

I agree, the Lamiglas 806 is a great rod. I use it for flipping and punching with braid. This rod does have a nice tip on it, which is why I like it so much for braid applications. I can see how it would make a sweet frog rod as well.

You never know what you'll catch frogging... I caught this bass and frog on back to back casts. The frog ate my Spro and got both hooks in the roof of its mouth. It was pretty funny.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/6522-tagfrog.JPG

http://www.calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/JIG-N-PIG/

Attachment #1, (.JPG file)

Of course there is always the Bobby Barrack approach ... the Lamiglas XFT797 Magnum Grass rod. It took me a little while to get used to the stiffness but this rod worked great in MN to pull bass out of milfoil and dense pads.

Love the bass/frog pic, that's awesome!

www.dobynsrods.com
www.dirtyjigstackle.com

I have been fishing frogs for the past 21 years. I have tried just about every rod out there. Some years ago in a tournament I drew one of the best California Delta fishermen around. This person actually gave me what has become my favorite Frog rod...a Lamiglas XFT 766. I like to make long casts and fish in the really heavy stuff. With this rod I have the power to set the hook, get the fish on top of the weeds and to the boat. I have tried Lamiglas' Frog Rod XC 725. I did not like this rod at all. I own several of the XFT 806 rods but the wieght of the rod becomes a factor after a long day on the water, my wrist just cant take it anymore. I use the 806 for big jigs...cant beat it.

Great post, GGR. I am on Lamiglas' Pro Staff so I like to hear all feedback, both positive and negative. I agree that the XC725 Tournament Frog Rod can still use some tweaking. Just out of curiosity, what aspects did you not care for on the XC725? I appreciate your input.

The XFT766 makes a killer frog rod. Just as you experienced with the XFT806, I found the XC725 to be a little less fatiguing on my wrist for throwing and working a frog all day. I like that the XC725 is actually more like a 6 Power. However, if I were down at the Delta and had the potential for a 12 lb. fish on any given cast, I would likely opt for the XFT766 or XFT806 for additional leverage.

Now I'm getting pumped for frogging and it's 30 degrees outside....

http://www.calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/JIG-N-PIG/

JIG-N-PIG, the XC-725 was just to light of a rod for my taste. On a fairly long cast I could not get the fish's head up and comming towards me as well as with the XFT-766. I have a friend who loves the XC-725 but he looses a lot of fish bringing them to the boat. I believe this is do to, 1) not getting a good hook set to begin with because of the lighter tip, then 2) not having the power to burn a good size fish over the weeds and to the boat. With the 766 if I get a hook set I rarely loose a fish. I aso like the extra 4 inches on the 766. The person who originally gave me my 766 is still one of the best Delta sticks out there and has become my best friend. He is still using the same rod for frogs, 766. I use the XFT-806 for large jigs, 3/4 to 1 ounce. I have had some problems with the reel seats this last year. We were sticking a lot of large fish and the reel seats would spin on us. I have never had this problem before and I have fished this rod for years. It was to my understanding that it was do to a glue problem at the factory. Randy at Escalon Bait and Tackle would always exchange these rods right out for me but ten or so 5 plus pound fish latter same thing would happen. I currently have 3 brand new 806's and I absolutely love these rods, I just hope this problem has been solved. Hope some of this information will be of some help to you. Thanks

Doh ... I was browsing through The Bass Angler's Guide magazine (Vol 17 Issue One) last night and saw that Bobby Barrack has now designed two new frog rods for Falcon.

I had e-mailed him a few years ago and it was my understanding that he had been using the Lamiglas XFT797 and I swear that he is pictured in the current Lamiglas catalog.

Thanks for the feedback, GGR. Please let me know if you have any problems with the reel seats on your new XFT806 rods. I'm working another Sportsman's show for Lamiglas in a couple weeks so I will talk to the factory rep about this issue.

http://www.calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/JIG-N-PIG/

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. I too am keen for the frog bite to start, but there's still too much ice on my lakes. It seems like the rod to buy will either be one of the Lamiglas models, or a Dobyns. Anyone had any experience with the Quantum frog rod or the Falcon frog rod? How about the rods BPS is selling as frog rods?

- Prescribing a steady diet of steel to the local fishes -

I like the Powell 735 for skip casting and a Loomis 844 for open water followed by a Powell 805 for the Slop