Do You Really Need Braid For Frogs? 2025
Weld's Largemouth reply :
Hey all,
I've always used 20 lb braid and tied direct for all of my lures. Im thinking about switching to 16lb Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon because i feel the braid sometimes deters the bass from biting. The question is, can i still frog fish with this fluorocarbon? I see no reason why I can't....or is it better to stick with the braid?
Thanks, Welds
note *i am not considering getting a second rod and reel just for frogging
gulfcaptain reply :
The short answer to your question of really needing braid to fish frogs.....YES. FC sinks and the dia you would need to really pull the fish out of the grass on longer casts would probably be unmanageable on most baitcasters. Could use mono, but then you're back to fishing 25+lb line to be able to pull the fish out of the grass. If you choose to fish a frog on 10yrd casts then you may get away with either FC or Mono on 20lb. But much easier to stick with braid where 30lb has the dia of 8lb mono/FC.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 3:33 AM, gulfcaptain said:The short answer to your question of really needing braid to fish frogs.....YES. FC sinks and the dia you would need to really pull the fish out of the grass on longer casts would probably be unmanageable on most baitcasters. Could use mono, but then you're back to fishing 25+lb line to be able to pull the fish out of the grass. If you choose to fish a frog on 10yrd casts then you may get away with either FC or Mono on 20lb. But much easier to stick with braid where 30lb has the dia of 8lb mono/FC.
Ok, the only allure for me to fluorocarbon is how it is clear... I hate how my braid is visible to the fish, i feel like it can in some cases prevent a bite..
also, i use spinning gear so i can go low on # test
gulfcaptain reply :
When the fish are on the frog bite, they are commited to destroying the bait. Have caught 4 up to 5 1/2lbs in the last couple days fishing the frog, and everyone has had the frog down their throat and inhaled the bait. I don't think they were worried about the 30lb braid it was attached to when they come up through the scattered grass to hit it. And I have had some that have hit the bait the minute it hit the water like they were watching it fly through the air and waiting....or I hit them on the head. Heavy line would make it tough to get them to walk as well I believe where braid has such low memory and limpness it lends itself to walking these baits nicely.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 3:39 AM, gulfcaptain said:When the fish are on the frog bite, they are commited to destroying the bait. Have caught 4 up to 5 1/2lbs in the last couple days fishing the frog, and everyone has had the frog down their throat and inhaled the bait. I don't think they were worried about the 30lb braid it was attached to when they come up through the scattered grass to hit it. And I have had some that have hit the bait the minute it hit the water like they were watching it fly through the air and waiting....or I hit them on the head. Heavy line would make it tough to get them to walk as well I believe where braid has such low memory and limpness it lends itself to walking these baits nicely.
When talking about how braids visibility affects the bite, i am refering to baits other than frogs, i.e. t rigs, swimbaits, cranks, etc.
ColdSVT reply :
No you dont...i did it with 20lb flouro and 20lb braid for years. Then i started using braid. My hook ups are now more consitant and it is 10 fold easier rippin those fish out the pads and weeds.
So yeah it can be done without braid but man it is way easier and less problematic with braid
Make the switch and dont look back
If this is a multi purpose rod then tie on a FC leader when you arent froggin
gulfcaptain reply :
I have braid on all my rods, if needed, I'll put a 3-6ft topshot of fc or mono depending on what I'm fishing. Use 10lb pp to fish trout on UL tackle with 3lb fc leader....why....because it's easier to keep that 2-3ft leader in good shape and nick free instead of worrying about 30yrs of 3lb mono. Fished a dropshot for years with a fc leader tied to a swivel attached to braid. Thinking of actually trying the Hi Vis yellow next year for my flipping/punching needs as so it's easier to watch the line then moss green.
BassinLou reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 3:17 AM, Weld said:Hey all,
I've always used 20 lb braid and tied direct for all of my lures. Im thinking about switching to 16lb Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon because i feel the braid sometimes deters the bass from biting. The question is, can i still frog fish with this fluorocarbon? I see no reason why I can't....or is it better to stick with the braid?
Thanks, Welds
note *i am not considering getting a second rod and reel just for frogging
Weld's you stay down here in FL a few weeks out of the year don't you? I have seen the pics from where you have landed some of those nice bigger bass. Would you be 100% comfortable frog fishing in some of that nasty stuff that bass love to call home without braid? If your answer is yes, then by all means use the heavier FC, but if your answer is no. Then throw at least 40-50lb braid and you don't run the risk of having your heart broken when frog fishing. Just saying. 
ABW reply :
I don't think the fish really care about the line... they are focused on the frog.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 4:13 AM, BassinLou said:Weld's you stay down here in FL a few weeks out of the year don't you? I have seen the pics from where you have landed some of those nice bigger bass. Would you be 100% comfortable frog fishing in some of that nasty stuff that bass love to call home without braid? If your answer is yes, then by all means use the heavier FC, but if your answer is no. Then throw at least 40-50lb braid and you don't run the risk of having your heart broken when frog fishing. Just saying.
Lol yea i do. Ive gotten some 5lbers out of terrible muck, 20 lb braid is enough though, 40-50 is overkill
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 4:16 AM, asianboywonder said:I don't think the fish really care about the line... they are focused on the frog.
The line they may care about if its a t rig, crankbait, or swimbait etc.
gulfcaptain reply :
I fish straight 30lb when I'm pitching or punching grass....no issues, biffle head dragged across the bottom....no issues, fished cranks....issues only with pulling the hook because I was new to fishing braid....learned to back the drag off. YOU have to have confidence in your presentation, otherwise you have taken yourself out of the game doubting your presentation and causing you to loose focus and end up frustrated. 20lb braid is = to 6lb. If you're worried about them seeing it....color 12 inch sections black with 12 inches inbetween. Now you have broken up outline of the braid.
BassinLou reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 5:01 AM, Weld said:Lol yea i do. Ive gotten some 5lbers out of terrible muck, 20 lb braid is enough though, 40-50 is overkill
That may be so, next time you come down to FL see if you can take trip down to fish the glades, you will look at your 20lb braid and remember this conversation. 
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 5:08 AM, gulfcaptain said:I fish straight 30lb when I'm pitching or punching grass....no issues, biffle head dragged across the bottom....no issues, fished cranks....issues only with pulling the hook because I was new to fishing braid....learned to back the drag off. YOU have to have confidence in your presentation, otherwise you have taken yourself out of the game doubting your presentation and causing you to loose focus and end up frustrated. 20lb braid is = to 6lb. If you're worried about them seeing it....color 12 inch sections black with 12 inches inbetween. Now you have broken up outline of the braid.
great idea!!
MarkH024 reply :
Let em learn Lou. Once the $10 frogs start disappearing it'll be a different story. We will keep using overkill and yanking in swamp donkeys.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 5:23 AM, BassinLou said:That may be so, next time you come down to FL see if you can take trip down to fish the glades, you will look at your 20lb braid and remember this conversation.
Thats different haha!!
Catch and Grease reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 5:02 AM, Weld said:The line they may care about if its a t rig, crankbait, or swimbait etc.
Learn to tie a leader when needed/wanted
BassinLou reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 6:35 AM, Weld said:Thats different haha!!
ABW reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 5:02 AM, Weld said:The line they may care about if its a t rig, crankbait, or swimbait etc.
For crankbaits I wouldn't use braid. But for the others you can tie a leader.
BasshunterJGH reply :
I've used 16 lb mono before with toads and lighter frogs. Didn't experience any break-offs fishing in fairly heavy cover. Then again, the biggest fish I caught that day was only 3 lbs... I wouldn't recommend fluoro because it sinks, but u could definitely get away with 20+ lb mono IMO. Just use a stout rod because of the stretch. I used a 6 ft 6 in extra hvy rated 3/8-2 oz lures.
BasshunterJGH reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 7:20 AM, asianboywonder said:For crankbaits I wouldn't use braid. But for the others you can tie a leader.
You guys should check out Matt Allen's video on braid, he uses it for everything, including cranks. Just adds a leader as needed for jigs, worms etc. I 'm thinking about switching to that system myself, it would be nice to only have to switch your line out once or twice a year!
Catch and Grease reply :
Off topic, but I use braid for crankbaits without a leader.
BasshunterJGH reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 8:30 AM, Catch and Grease said:Off topic, but I use braid for crankbaits without a leader.
I don't see why it wouldn't work, especially with reaction baits like cranks. Just remember to use a softer rod and beefier hooks! I might try 50 lb braid for my squarebill/topwater combo...
ABW reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 9:31 AM, BasshunterJGH said:I don't see why it wouldn't work, especially with reaction baits like cranks. Just remember to use a softer rod and beefier hooks! I might try 50 lb braid for my squarebill/topwater combo...
I've tried braid with crankbaits before... but made the transition unsucessfully. I always want to horse the fish straight in, which usually ends up with the bass shaking the trebles out of its mouth. I don't like playing with fish lol.
OntarioFishingGuy reply :
On a side note, 16 lb fluorocarbon would not handle well on a spinning reel. Tie a leader when needed, and you will cover pretty much all the bases. I use cranks on braid with a leader, and don't have any issues.
greentrout reply :
I can remember getting my Bass Master magazine years ago with articles about how to catch bass with frogs. That was way before braid and only mono was used. Not my strongest suit, but I have caught some bass with frogs and only mono. Have used Snag Proof frogs with success but I really like the Superior Frog for more of an open water presentation in stumps and the like.
Mono all the way for me...
Old school basser...
A-Jay reply :
You know this guy really loves anglers that don't use braid while frog fishing the slop.
A-Jay
wisconsin heat reply :
I have tried using FC once because I was lazy and didn't want to grab a different rod, my frog sunk. I have used mono around shore when I was making short casts and it works. But the further you are from the strike, the harder it will be to set the hook with mono. It is better just to stick with the braid, as you won't want to lessen your hooking percentage or limit yourself to shorter casts. You can always tie a Flouro leader to your braid when using a jig, mine sometimes come undone though 
gulfcaptain reply :
Let em learn Lou. Once the $10 frogs start disappearing it'll be a different story. We will keep using overkill and yanking in swamp donkeys.
I fish 30lb all the time for punching and froging....... I can water ski 4lb fish just fine with 30lb braid and have pulled 6+ out of the weed mats punching. Technique and proper tackle will always trump straight brute force. If the only difference is line weight between same set-ups over powering the tackle will lead to it's failure way before the 30lb will break. You hook a 8lb fish or bigger and have to pull it out of the weeds, once you have it's head burried in the grass and coming they don't fight, just dead weight which can be slowly pulled in with constant pressure. If he has gotten some good fish out of 20lb, he has the technique and patience to be succesful with it. And some of the Deps frogs are $19 not $10.......lol j/k
Jon G reply :
Some people use 17-20lb mono for frogs but they do not fish slop mainly
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