the reel ess

Easy fix: Just go buy yourself some cheap Berkley Big Game mono in 15#. If you have another reel that's empty or low on line (I use ABU 5000 reels because of their massive line capacity) reel the braid onto it. Then spool the reel with the cheap mono. This line is good enough to get you by a day and plenty strong. It's what I use for topwaters. Just check the line after each fish you catch. Retie as needed. If you don't, it will eventually cost you a good fish and your lure. We've all done it. Or you can just use a short leader of mono. I've tried this before but can't stand feeling the knot go thru the guides.

I know. That's why I said Fireline vs plain braid. Although I have serious doubts as to how "fused" it is. This is the end of it in the pic. You can separate the strands if you try. Fused means thermally bonded. I've had this discussion with another guy on here who basically told me I was wrong until I showed him the pic. Then he told me I got a bad batch or an old batch or something else entirely. It was brand new in a Cabela's that was just constructed. I like Fireline 17# for spinning and have it on 2 combos. I believe 17# was recently discontinued and that diameter is now 20#. That's why it says right on the package "for spinning". Lays better on a spinning spool. I've been using it since this calendar year started. No breaks, no twists and lots of good hooksets. Meanwhile, my buddy is fighting twists on mono every time we fish together and will dump you out of the boat with his hookset if you're not careful. But...to each his own. If you're uncomfortable with it, you'll have no confidence in it.

Yes. But I don't have a setup specifically geared for frogs either. I just rigged up a 7' MH Falcon rod with a Mod Fast tip that I bought from a friend used, half price. It's really a big crankbait rod and not the ideal setup. But with the braid, I feel it'll get the job done until I can get a Hvy/Fast. I've already been using this combo with 17# floro for T-rigs and it's had plenty of backbone for hooksets. It'll get me by for the rest of this frog season. Short of buying a rod made specifically for frogs, most people look for a flipping/pitching rod that's a little shorter and with a little bit more mod tip. I've walked the bank frogging at my friends' pond using a MH spinning combo with 17# Fireline. I landed exactly half the fish that bit that day. If you get another combo for frogs, you can reel the braid off the other rod onto the new one. For the topwaters, you can get by with cheaper mono line.

I use a 6'6" M, Moderate tip with 15# mono for topwaters with trebles. You don't need a 7' rod for this technique because you want to twitch the tip a lot. The reason they say you should loosen your drag is that line won't stretch. You can rip the trebles out of a fish when it strikes or while it's fighting with the braid. Mono would stretch some and be a little more forgiving. But the frog is a different story. A longer, heavier rod and braided line give a better hooksets.

You've had replacement windows (uninstalled) stacked in your living room for more than 2 years.

I caught a bass on a piece of cut bream (catfishing) in a local rock quarry where countless people had told me there were no bass. It was clear enough you could see down 20'. It took something real down maybe 50' to catch one. I've come to believe there are very few bodies of water, at least around here, with no bass in them. I guess in an urban area where anyone can get to them, it could be fished out. Or it could be so pressured they'll only bite live bait or eat at night.

Welcome. I have 15# Berkley Big Game as my backing for 17# Fireline and 50# PowerPro braid. That line is cheap enough for backing, but strong enough should I ever hook into anything that can take that much drag. I used a double uni knot same as you would for a leader. In fact, I use 15# Big Game for topwaters too.

I accidentally cut out the middle of my post. I didn't like it on BC tackle because it always dug into the spool whenever I tightened up the line. And I couldn't break it. Had to cut it off sometimes way short because I was fishing deeper in a lake. Now I usually fish shallow enough to go get a lure that's hung up. Part of the original post that I cutout was praising the virtues of Fireline vs plain braid. But I just bought some PowerPro to use for frogs, t-rigs and jigs. It looks a lot better than the old stuff I didn't like.

My dad has a 40 Force on a pontoon from the late 90s that really is a Mercury. Everything on it is made by Q'Silver and is interchangeable with a Merc 40. LORD, I'M CRAZY BOUT A MERCURY!

My favorite is a frog. Is it my best? No. It's the most fun to fish and get bites on.

Still black, but faded a bit.

It's still black, but a little faded looking.

Thanks guys. I also don't have a rod for casting larger than 1 oz, maybe 1.5 oz lures. That's why I'm kind of looking in the 4-6" minnow shape range.

give me some suggestions. Keep in mind I don't live in CA. And we don't have trout in bass waters.

Ouch! Where I fish is mostly weed-choked so I have not noticed abrasion. But have you guys tried Fireline? I've been using the same 17# line all this season. I only cut off a couple inches when i tie on another lure. It hasn't broken once and I've landed some good fish. The one failure with it was a snap that straightened out. I can tell you it's more resistant than 17# Vanish floro from my experience.

I tried braid years ago on BC equipment and didn't care for it because it casts light lures easier due to the thinner diameter while enjoying the benefits of a higher pound test line. It's extremely abrasion resistant, doesn't seem to twist and has virtually zero stretch. I know I've lost fewer fish because of it. But, as you say, to each his own.

I can't see the advantage to them.

Do any of you have experience with these? https://wlure.com/index.php?cPath=22_27&osCsid=60261a7dae2bf647b6d93d1732092277 They look to be of good quality for the price and have a lot of styles and colors. I have an Amazon gift card to burn.

I lost a big'un early this spring because a snap popped open. I try not to use anything between line and lure anymore. But if I had to it'd be a quality product.

I use mono on bigger, fast moving treble baits and topwaters. The mono I use is 15# Berkley Big Game. It's only on 2 baitcasters. I have 2 spin combos with Fireline and I just converted my T-rig, Pitching, Frog, etc. baitcasting combo to 50# PowerPro but I haven't used it yet. If I discover it needs a leader, I'll worry about that then.

Go to the boats board an you'll see people that fish from kayaks and canoes. I use a kayak most of the time although I own a fish/ski. I need to sell it.

No braid stretches. Those who say you need 50# braid min don't realize the 20# braid won't stretch. But a stiff rod will help. I broke down last night and bought a Pad Crasher in each size and some 50# Power Pro to go with it. I'm going to dedicate a rod to it.

I have heard advice all over the place with the trimming of the frog's legs. I've heard to cut them uneven so they'll walk. I've heard short, long, inside to out, outside to in. And from the pros. They all seem to have their different ideas. Dean Rojas and Ish Monroe are two of the premier frog experts. You can check out their tips.

Check this out: http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-ethos-7-m-freshwater-composite-crankbait-casting-rod/pid-148117?color=Blue&N=101394130+4294713062 I was in there earlier today and thought this was a pretty good feeling rod.

I'm using a 6'6" M Lightning Rod. It ain't the best tool for the job, IMO. But I bought two online, sight unseen. It's not really a mod tip. I use 15# mono on it to kind of make it more moderate. It also doubles as my topwater rod. The problem with graphite is that it's usually less moderate than glass or composite. You buy a Med glass rod, you almost can't help but get a mod tip. Buy graphite and it moves toward fast.