Updated 2/13/2024
Frog fishing for bass is an absolute blast. Nothing quite beats the adrenaline rush of seeing, hearing, and feeling a big bass rocket out of the thick slop and smash your bait. It’s no wonder many bass anglers are frog fishing with increased frequency.
Understanding the best frog rod options will have you equipped and ready to comfortably cast and retrieve bass frogs for hours. Bring the right tools for the job.
We’ve done the hours of testing and research on the best frog fishing rods available assessing strength, value for the price, material quality, fishing comfort and much more so you don’t have to. Read on to see our top picks.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
Our Top Picks
- Best Budget: KastKing Royale Select Casting Rod
- Best Premium: St. Croix Victory Casting Rod
- Best Under $100: KastKing Perigee II Casting Rod
- Best for the Money: St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod
- Best Spinning: Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod
The Best Frog Rods
Frog rods are used to target bass in the thickest, nastiest cover. This specialized technique requires heavy-duty rods to allow for comfortable casting and the ability to rip big bass out of the weeds.
Read on to see our recommendations for the best frog rods by category including best value, best budget, best for beginners, and more.
1. KastKing Royale Select
- Length: 6’6″ to 7’6″
- Rod Material: Carbon
- Guides: Fuji O-Ring
- Grip: Split EVA Foam
- Warranty: Lifetime manufacturing defects only for handling fee. Lifetime accidental damage for 1/2 rod price plus handling fee.
Pros:
- Serious backbone for budget price
Our choice for best budget frog rod is the KastKing Royale Select Fishing Rod. For frog rods we recommend a 7′ to 7’6″ rod with heavy power and Fast to Extra-Fast action making the KastKing Royale Select 7’3″ Heavy, Extra-Fast a perfect choice.
Bass anglers casting frogs are usually targeting the thickest, nastiest cover seeking lunker bass. This means bass rods need enough backbone to pull the fish OUT of that thick cover.
The rod features KastKing’s Toray 24-carbon matrix KastFlex technology blanks, Fuji guides, and a split EVA foam handle. Not many frills, but a perfect setup to pull lunkers out of thick cover.
This rod is a budget option, but we think that is perfect for a frog fishing rod and why we put it first on this list. Frog rods don’t need the sensitivity of expensive, high-end rods. When a bass slams a frog swimming through the lily pads you’ll see it, hear it, and feel it. What’s most important is having a heavy rod backbone plus a fast tip to move the frog bait naturally.
If looking for a slightly more comfortable fishing experience, jump to some of the other options on this list. They are more expensive, but with the added cost comes lower weight for the strength, increased sensitivity, and peripheral perks like better warranty.
2. St. Croix Victory Casting Rod
- Length: 6’8″ to 7’11”
- Rod Material: SCIII+ Carbon
- Guides: Fuji Concept O guides with deep press inserts
- Grip: Split premium cork grip
- Warranty: 15 Year Transferrable
Pros:
- Premium rod at manageable price
- Excellent Warranty
A great premium option frog rod is the St. Croix Victory Casting Rod. We particularly like the 7’4″, heavy power, fast action variant for frog fishing.
St. Croix has crafted one of the lightest, strongest, most sensitive frog rods available on the market.
The rod features four of St. Croix’s innovative technologies.
Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) eliminates all transitional points in the rod blanks for smoother actions, increased strength, and greater sensitivity.
Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART) is an exotic carbon fiber material that adds a magnitude (10x) of strength with virtually no increase in rod blank diameter or weight and significantly improves the hoop strength of the blank by preventing it from deforming under severe loads (like the donkey bass you pull out of the slop)!
The Taper Enhancement (TET) blank design provides curved patterns for improved action and sensitivity.
And last but not least, rods manufactured with the Fortified Resin System (FRS) advanced manufacturing protocol consistently test 33% stronger than those built with standard resins and curing methods.
Also, St. Croix manufactures their high-end rod lines in Wisconsin for United States based anglers looking to support local manufacturing.
3. KastKing Perigee II
- Length: 4’6″ to 7’6″
- Rod Material: Carbon Fiber
- Guides: Fuji O-Ring
- Grip: Split EVA Foam
- Warranty: Lifetime manufacturing defects only for handling fee. Lifetime accidental damage for 1/2 rod price plus handling fee.
Pros:
- Budget friendly
Don’t let the low price fool you. KastKing’s Perigee II fishing rod line provides surprising quality at a budget price which makes it our choice for best frog rod under $100.
We recommend the 7’4″ heavy power and the 7’6″ medium-heavy power casting versions of this rod for awesome budget frog fishing rods.
This rod is a breath of fresh air in the budget fishing space. A full carbon fiber blank keeps weight low and sensitivity high.
As expected with budget rod options there is some give and take on features. The split EVA handle doesn’t feel as good as cork handles on some of the higher end rods in this list. Note the handle is a personal preference, many anglers like EVA foam for frog fishing because it is easier to grip when wet.
4. St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting
- Length: 6’8″ to 7’11”
- Rod Material: SCIII Carbon
- Guides: Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with Aluminum Oxide Rings
- Grip: Split premium cork grip
- Warranty: 5 Year
Pros:
- Great variety in available length, power, and action
- Premium rod at manageable price
- Excellent Warranty
Our top choice for the best frog fishing rod for the money is the St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod. We have found this rod line to be the perfect balance of quality components, versatility, and price point. The Mojo Bass rods are workhorses of the bass fishing world and I expect most bass boats have at least one of these rods onboard.
What sold us on this rod is how much value you get for the price. Other rods on this list may be slightly lighter or more sensitive, but generally their price point will be significantly higher. We’re suckers for a great deal and realistically would be happy if every bass pole in our collection was a St. Croix Mojo Bass.
The Mojo Bass Casting comes in the perfect spread of lengths, powers, and actions. The best choice for a frog rod is either the 7′ or 7’4″ heavy power fast action variant. Anglers could also get away with a medium-heavy variant for lighter frogs.
This rod line was updated in 2016. The rod blank is St. Croix’s proprietary SC III graphite fiber which is lightweight, durable, and sensitive with a higher strain rate than fibers commonly used by other rod manufacturers. It also includes St. Croix’s innovative IPC tooling technology that effectively eliminates transition points in the rod. The Mojo Bass rod line is on the lighter end of available bass rods with superior sensitivity without sacrificing strength.
5. Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod
- Length: 7′ to 8′
- Rod Material: SLC2 Carbon
- Guides: Fuji Alconite
- Handle: Premium Cork or Rubber Shrink Tube
- Warranty: 1 Year manufacturing defects only
Pros:
- Highly versatile for multiple fishing applications
- Premium rod features for reasonable price
Our top choice for best frog spinning rod is the Penn Battalion II Inshore Rod. This rod captures a great balance of value, price accessibility, and quality features.
It may seem like a strange choice to pick an inshore fishing rod for a bass technique. The challenge with frog fishing is that it requires long, sturdy, heavy power rods, and most freshwater spinning rigs don’t go above medium power.
We picked an inshore rod as our top spinning flipping and pitching rod because inshore rods are designed for bigger fish. This translates perfectly to the power required for ripping big bass out of heavy cover.
We recommend the 7’6″ medium-heavy power or the 7′ heavy power version for this application.
The SLC2 Carbon rod blank and Fuji Alconite guide material construction are considered mid-tier materials that should last plenty long with proper care. The full cork handle feels great for prolonged fishing trips. We do wish Penn offered a better warranty (like St. Croix), but it’s hard to complain at this price point.
If you must have a spinning frog rod, this is a great option. That said, we still recommend learning how to use a baitcaster setup for this fishing technique because it is easier to accurately cast compared to a spinning setup.
Check out our article on the best bass spinning rods for more choices.
Rod Comparison Table
Check out our handy comparison table showing key specifications for our top rod choices.
| Rod Name | Length | Rod Material | Guides | Grip | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KastKing Royale Select | 6’6″ to 7’6″ | Carbon | Fuji O-Ring | Split EVA Foam | Lifetime manufacturing defects only for handling fee. Lifetime accidental damage for 1/2 rod price plus handling fee. |
| St. Croix Victory Casting Rod | 6’8″ to 7’11” | SCIII+ Carbon | Fuji Concept O guides with deep press inserts | Split premium cork grip | 15 Year Transferrable |
| KastKing Perigee II | 4’6″ to 7’6″ | Carbon Fiber | Fuji O-Ring | Split EVA Foam | Lifetime manufacturing defects only for handling fee. Lifetime accidental damage for 1/2 rod price plus handling fee. |
| St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting | 6’8″ to 7’11” | SCIII Carbon | Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with Aluminum Oxide Rings | Split premium cork grip | 5 Year |
| Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod | 7′ to 8′ | SLC2 Carbon | Fuji Alconite | Premium Cork or Rubber Shrink Tube | 1 Year manufacturing defects only |
Conclusion
Frog fishing for bass is a specialized technique that requires long, sturdy fishing rods for the best results. Options like the KastKing Royale Select and the St. Croix Victory Casting Rod are two significantly different price point rods that are great for the job in their own ways due to their fit-for-purpose designs, quality components, and comfort factors.
Check out our articles for great reels to pair with these rods:
- Best Baitcasting Reels
- Best Baitcasting Reels for Bass
- Best Saltwater Baitcasting Reels
- Best Bass Spinning Reels
- Best Saltwater Spinning Reels
Check out our related rod articles:
- Best Bass Fishing Rods
- Best Baitcasting Rods for Bass
- Best Bass Spinning Rods
- Best Musky Rods
- Best Walleye Rods
- Best Flipping and Pitching Fishing Rods
- Best Jig Rods for Bass
Check out our related rod and reel combo articles:
Read on to see our breakdown of important factors to consider when picking a frog fishing rod.
How to Choose The Best Frog Rod
The most important factors for selecting the best frog rod for you focus on rod length, rod power, and rod action.
For even more reading, check out our article on how to choose any fishing rod.
Length
Rod length is an important consideration for bass anglers. Frog fishing is best with rods from 7′ to 7’6″ to allow for a long, accurate casts and vertical reach to help get bass out of thick vegetation.
Power
Rod power is the fishing industry’s terminology for rod stiffness. Rod powers range from ultralight to extra-heavy.
Medium-heavy to heavy power rods are the bread and butter of the frog fishing world. Frog fishing is almost always into heavy cover, and the rod needs to be able to rip large bass out of the thickest, nastiest weeds. Lighter rods will struggle to handle these conditions
Action
Rod action refers to how far down the rod will bend when pressure is applied to the tip. Rod actions range from extra-fast (bends near tip) to slow (nearly the whole rod bends).
The faster the action, the more sensitive the rod will feel. The slower the action, the more casting distance you can get (the rod will feel like it whips more when you cast).
Frog fishing anglers lean towards fast or extra-fast actions because these actions translate powerful hooksets most quickly to the fish. This improves odds of successfully landing fish. Fast actions also are easiest to retrieve frogs with a walk the dog method or twitches designed to attract fish and entice bites.
Check out our article on fishing rod actions for even more information.
Handle Material
Rod handle feel is an important factor to consider when picking a bass fishing rod. Common handle types are full cork, partial cork, rubber shrink tube, cork tape, or EVA foam. Rubber shrink is usually considered a more budget option, whereas full cork feels better to grip and handle. Frog fishing can require forceful hooksets and EVA foam can be a better option because it is not slippery when wet.
Rod Guide Material
Rod guide material is important because lower quality materials are heavier and will rust quicker and could potentially fail.
The highest end rods have titanium or silicone carbide (SiC) rod guides whereas middle end or budget rods will have some variation of aluminum oxide or stainless steel.
Higher end rod guides are made with lighter materials with lower friction that will either rust slower or not at all. Less expensive rod guides are heavier and will succumb to the elements more quickly.
For additional information on rod guide considerations, check out our article that explains fishing rod guides in detail.
Rod Material
Rod blank material affects rod strength and how the fishing rod deforms during casting or reeling in a fish. Common rod materials are graphite, fiberglass, and composite. Check out our deep dive on rod blanks for more information.
Graphite
Graphite rods have incredible sensitivity in lightweight packages. They are great for detecting subtle fish strikes. Graphite rod disadvantages are that the rods can be a little weaker than the other options and more susceptible to breakage, especially around nicks or scratches.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is strong, durable and flexible but weighs more than graphite. They are less sensitive than the other types of rod materials.
Composite
Composite rod materials are a mix of graphite and fiberglass that seek to have the light weight and sensitivity of graphite rods with the strength of fiberglass rods.
Reel Seat
Reel seats are the component where the fishing reel is secured onto the fishing rod by tightening a locking nut. The basic parts of a reel seat are the body, hood, locking nut, and barrel threads. Common reel seat materials are either graphite or aluminum which are both lightweight, corrosion resistant materials. Reel seats are sized to match the power of the rod. For example, a reel seat on an ultralight fishing rod won’t fit a massive 10000 size spinning reel.
Most freshwater applications utilize fully graphite reel seats due to graphite’s light weight. For heavier duty saltwater applications, reel seats are commonly upgraded to machine-grade aluminum for increased strength. For targeting the largest fish on the planet, the complete rod butt and reel seat can be aluminum for maximum strength.
Maintenance and Care
Maintaining your fishing rod ensures its longevity and performance. After each use, rinse it with fresh water to remove dirt and debris, especially if you’ve been fishing in saltwater. Dry it thoroughly before storage to prevent rust and corrosion. Occasionally check for any signs of wear or damage. Store your rod vertically or horizontally on a rack, avoiding extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.
Explore our ultimate guide on fishing rod maintenance and care for comprehensive insights into maintaining your frog bass fishing rod, avoiding common causes of damage, and mastering preventative strategies to ensure your gear remains in prime condition.
Frog Rod Frequently Asked Questions
What type of rod is best for frog fishing?
Casting rods between 7′ and 7’6″ with heavy power and fast action are best for frog fishing. The longer rod and heavy power allow for long casts with enough rod backbone to pull big fish out of thick cover. The rod needs enough strength to perform a robust hookset then pull the bass up above the weeds before it has a chance to tangle your line around logs, rocks, or vegetation.
What reel to pair with a frog rod?
Frog rods are best paired with baitcaster reels. Baitcasting reels are comfortable to repeatedly cast on a long day of fishing and are more accurate than spinning setups. Spinning reels can be used for frog fishing, but are tougher to accurately cast with this technique. Check out our article on the best baitcasting reels for our top recommendations.
What line for frog fishing?
For frog fishing, 30-65 pound test braided line allows anglers to retrieve fish through the thickest cover. Fishing line for frog fishing needs to be strong enough to cut through lily pad stems and other thick vegetation. Lighter lines may break in these circumstances and cause lost fish.
Is a medium-heavy power rod good for frog fishing?
A medium-heavy power rod can be good for frog fishing with lighter frogs. Most anglers prefer heavy power rods due to the extra backbone these rods give to pull bass out of thick cover.
Written By: Andrew Juran
Andrew is a seasoned angler with over 25 years of experience fishing across the United States. He has caught hundreds of bass using various techniques and mentored many in the art of fishing. An advocate for sustainable fishing, Andrew is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, an organization committed to marine conservation.
For frequent fishing tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and real-time catches, connect with Andrew on Instagram
