Summer top water action doesn't get much better than throwing frogs over deep cover. Choosing the right frog fishing setup means hooking more fish.
Choosing the wrong setup can be a disaster. Working a frog across matted grass or heavy lilies needs some beefier tackle than other topwater lures.
Casting these lures into the type of cover where a big bass might be waiting in ambush takes a lot of accuracy.
But so too does playing the fish once it is hooked. Bass will run straight into the cover as soon as they are hooked. This means big heavy weed beds or even large lily pads.
Your frog tackle needs to be able to handle this. A light weight setup that you may use for spinning or presenting a worm on a rig just won't cut it.
Frog Fishing Setup
The basic combination of rod, reel and line needs to be right. These are the foundation of any setup.
A good setup for frog fishing should have the power to handle dense weeds, but still have the finesse to enable super accurate casts.
You'll need to place that frog in the right area's often trying to avoid certain structures or larger heavier grass patches.
Rod
The best frog rod will tend to fall in the 7 to 8 foot range. Getting snagged in lots of weed will happen as so you will need a rod that has a lot of backbone. That means a heavy power rating.
If you end up with a big bass running through a heavy weed bed then there is no way a light or ultralight rod is going to be able to stand up to that sort of punishment.
In terms of sensitivity you will need a rod that has a fast action or even an extra fast action.
If you have ever done much pitching or flipping then you'll know that these types of setups sound familiar. In fact a lot of frog fishermen will use their pitching and flipping rods for frog fishing.
Reel
Without a doubt throwing frogs all day through heavy cover is hard work and to make life easier on yourself you really should use a baitcaster reel.
Although you could use a spinning reel having the ability to stop a lure mid cast with your thumb for pin-point accuracy using a baitcaster is a major advantage, the right kind of fishing reel that you choose does matter!
Most frog fishermen will use a baitcaster reel that has a very high gear ratio. Look for reels that have at least a 7.1:1 gear ratio. Having that extra power in your hands means you can get the bass once hooked away from the heavy cover as soon as possible.
A high quality reel is crucial. Cheaper reels will tend to seize under heavy loads.
Line
The type and strength of line that you choose is probably even more important the what rod or reel.
The only real answer here is braid.
And that braid needs to be heavy. Your line will need to be able to with stand not only a big bass running through heavy weed beds but it will also need to be able to cut through those weeds as much as possible.
Braid is the clear winner, Mono or Flouro just won't cut it. Both Flouro and Mono lines will not slice through weeds like braid will. At the same braking strain braid will usually be twice as thin.
It also is very low stretch which is super important for when you are setting the hook.
Braid will also float especially the heavier strength that is required for frog fishing.
You are going to need to spool your reel with at least 50 or 60 pound braid especially in very heavy weeds.
The Lures
Hollow body, crankbait and popper types are all available. Hollow body is probably the go to of choice.
These will generally float, however if you find that after a few casts it starts to lose it's buoyancy then you can give it a little squeeze to remove any water from the soft body.