Fighting a largemouth bass can be exciting. After all, it is probably one of the main reasons you have gotten into this sport in the first place. However, what is even more exciting is seeing a huge bass come up and inhale your topwater frog.
Yes, there is no doubt about it fishing with topwater frogs can be tons of fun. With that being said, in order to be a successful topwater fisherman, you need to have the proper equipment.
For that reason, in this post, we are going to look at some good froggin’ rods that every bass angler should have when fishing topwater.
Let’s dig right in…
What is the best frog rod?
Here is a preview of the top 4 options on the market today that we will consider in this post.
- St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod
- Dobyns Champion Series
- Ardent Denny Brauer Frog Rod
- Berkley E-MOTION Punching Rod
- KastKing Speed Demon
Is a fishing rod specifically designed for topwater fishing really necessary?
The answer is yes, you should have a specific rod set aside just for fishing with frogs. Now you might be thinking that this is overkill or even unnecessary. However, I think it is important that every bass angler to have at least one rod specifically designed/rigged for topwater bass fishing for at least one reason and that is the power rating.
Oftentimes fishing with frogs means fishing around lily pads, heavy mats and thick vegetation. Sure you can fish these areas with any rod no problem, but when it comes time to horsing that fish back to the boat, a more powerful rod is going to make it that much easier (more on that later).
To emphasize that point a little bit further, think about this, how do you choose the right fishing line when fishing in heavy vegetation. Sure, you could fish heavy cover with fluorocarbon, but to avoid headaches and break-offs no doubt you are going to want to tie on braid. Why? Simply because it is going to increase your chances of landing more fish.
So, why have a technique specific rod for frog fishing? Simply because it is going to increase your chances of landing that trophy fish.
What to look for in a good froggin rod?
Before we look at some great froggin rods on the market today, let’ talk about what makes a good frog rod. In this next section, we want to answer 3 common questions: What power rating should I choose? What is the best action for a good rod? What length is right for me?
Power. Many fishermen associate the power rating with the size of fish that they are planning on catching. For example, the bigger the fish a more powerful fishing rod is needed. However, another important aspect that sometimes gets forgotten is the weight of the lure itself and the type of fishing line you will be using.
Typically when fishing topwater, especially frogs, you are going to be fishing in heavy cover. For that reason, a heavy braid is commonly used in these situations. The combination of fishing with a heavy braid in heavy cover calls for a powerful rod.
I would recommend the power rating of Medium-Heavy to Heavy. If you are going to be fishing in extreme cases of very heavy cover and you plan on catching a huge fish I would recommend a power rating of Extra Heavy to Extra Extra Heavy.
Action: One of the biggest challenges when fishing topwater, particularly when fishing with frogs, is the hookup. If you mess this up, you are going to be missing out on a lot of big fish and you aren’t going be enjoying fishing. To help with better hooksets and land more fish it is important to consider the best action for a frog rod.
To answer that, let’s think about the fish for a second. Once a big bass comes down on your frog what is the first thing they are going to do? They are headed for cover. Heavy cover. Because of this, we want to hook them up as quickly as possible and start bringing them back to the boat before they get all hung up.
A fast action to an extra fast action will do just that and generally, it would be best suited for this situation.
For those of us who like to walk the dog when fishing with a topwater frog, the flexible tip will also give you the ability to walk it across open water or between the lily pads.
Other fishermen prefer not to work the frog so much on the surface of the water, but would rather punch the frog through the cover. If you plan on punching the frog I would recommend using a moderate to moderate fast action.
The important thing to consider is to always adapt your fishing tackle to your fishing approach.
Length: Choosing a longer rod over a shorter rod is preferred when frogging. It is going to do two things for you. First, it is going to make hookups that much easier. Also, it is going to allow you to launch your lure.
Many times when fishing with frogs we want to cover as much area as possible. To do that you need a rocket launcher for a fishing rod.
I wouldn’t recommend fishing with anything short of 7 feet with fishing with a frog.
You might also enjoy reading: A Look At The Best Topwater Frogs For Bass Fishing
St. Croix Mojo
Let’s take a look at some fishing rods.
Power: Heavy
Action: Fast
Lure Size: 3/8 – 1 1/2 oz
Line: 14-25lb test
Length: 7’4″
One of the most popular and possibly one of the best frogging rods amongst our readers is the St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod. This rod is a very good all-around frog fishing machine. It is very light and very responsive.
The power rating is Heavy meaning you have that powerful backbone you want when fishing heavy cover to bring those fish out of the water and most likely the pile of weeds that come with them.
Another thing I like about it is the fast action. This fast action makes hooksets easier and it gives you the option to walk the dog with ease.
When froggin’ you can’t get much better than a 7’4″ rod. This is a good all-around size when topwater frog fishing.
Dobyns Champion Series
Power: Heavy
Action: Fast
Lure Size: 3/8 – 2 ounces
Line: 15-30lb test
Length: 7’3″
Another fishing rod to add to our list of the best frogging rod is the Dobyns Champion Series(736 model). This rod is going to separate the amateurs from the professional. This isn’t a rod for backyard pond fishing. This is the real deal.
Dobyns is known to for their quality rods and this rod is no different. Made with quality materials it is both lightweight and sensitive.
This fishing rod is a powerhouse with a heavy backbone and yet that fast action. This is perfect not just for a good froggin rod, but it works great for general flipping and pitching as well.
It comes in at a good length as well of 7 feet 3 inches.
It also is a good option for those of us who like to give the frog action by twitching it or walking it across the water. A very long rod can be difficult to do that, but this comes in a good length of just over 7 feet. Couple that with the micro guides and you have yourself a fishing rod that will launch your frog a mile.
Ardent Denny Brauer Froggin Rod
Power: Medium – Heavy
Action: Fast
Length: 7’2″
Let’s face it buying a fishing rod for every fishing technique can get expensive and you will slowly find yourself looking for more space to store all these fishing poles. So what I like to do when shopping for a new fishing pole, is find one that I can combine with another technique.
One such rod is the Ardent Denny Brauer Frog Rod. The reason I like this one is because it has a good all-around power rating that can be used with a variety of different techniques.
No, it isn’t designed for heavy cover, but the truth is I am not always fishing in heavy cover. Most of the time when fishing with a frog, I am just fishing a few lily pads. So I want something I can quickly change to a different lure with no problems.
This is exactly what this rod provides. Don’t think of this rod as your frog rod, think of it as your go-to topwater fishing rod. The medium heavy backbone coupled with a fast action really makes it quite versatile. I especially find it very effective when fishing buzzbaits.
With this particular rod, not only will you have yourself the best froggin rod, but the best buzzbait rod as well.
Two fishing rods for the price of one!
Learn more about these rods from Denny Brauer himself in the following video:
Berkley E-Motion Punching Rod
Power: Xtra Heavy
Action: Fast
Lure Size: 1-4 oz
Line: 15-30lb test
Length: 7’6″
Before we conclude our list of some of the best frog rods on the market, I just wanted to highlight one more. The reason is that as we mentioned earlier some fishermen like to punch their frog through heavy cover.
The perfect fishing rod for the job is the Berkley E-MOTION Punching Rod. All I can say is this rod is a beast. If you are planning on fishing in heavy cover and catching big bass this is the rod to do it with.
It is a 7 foot 6 inches, extra heavy, fast action bass fishing machine designed for fishing heavy cover.
If you find yourself keeping losing fish because of the hookset you may want to give this rod a try. The length of the rod will help you to set the hook and really drive it into their jaw. No more losing fish with the rod!
To learn more about this rod, check out the following video:
KastKing Speed Demon Pro
Power: Heavy
Action: Fast
Line Weight: 12 – 25 lbs
Lure Weight: 3/8 ounces – 1 1/4 ounces
Weight: 5.01
Length: 7’2″
To conclude our search, we want to take a look at the KastKing Speed Demon. This is a 7 foot 2-inch heavy fast action rod that has everything that you would want in a good rod so that you focus less on the equipment and more on your technique.
There are a few features that I want to point out that really make this option stand out from the rest.
The first feature is that the Speed Demons is made with carbon blanks but additionally they have used nano resin technology in the construction on this rod. Basically what that means is that you have a powerful rod, but it isn’t going to be heavy. In fact, this option only weighs 5.01 ounces.
Lastly, let’s talk briefly about the line and lure rating. As we mentioned earlier it is critical to use a good braid fishing line when froggin, especially around heavy cover. Well, you will be pleased to note that the Speed Demon has a line rating of 12-25 pound test. In addition, it has a lure rating of 3/8 – 1 1/4 ounces, perfect for throwing some of the best frogs.
You will have no problems fishing that sloppy stuff with this rod.
Final thoughts…
So, which one is my favorite? I really like what the St. Croix Mojo Bass option has to offer. It is at a good all around length. It has that important heavy power and fast action combination. Best of all, it doesn’t have to be limited to using a frog.
What is your favorite frog rod?
Share with us your thoughts in the comments below.
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