I really only need this rod for small ponds. I am just a new angler who does his work from the bank. I want a topwater setup and it doesn't need to be the best, it just needs to catch fish in a pond. I was thinking about doing the ugly stik 7'3'' Medium Heavy carbon baitcasting combo (or just getting the rod and buying a $40-$60 reel) and using the 50 lbs braid I already have for catfishing, as well as 15 lbs mono leaders as needed. This will cost me about $150 dollars in all. What are yall's thoughts. I want to be able to pull a bass out of cover obviously but listen, at the end of the day, I am not an elite angler and I'm not rich. I've already spent too much on gear and I just want something that'll get er done in the pond. If ya'll have a better rod reel combo that is $150 dollars (or less preferably!) please let me know. But my main question is will a setup like this get it done with frogs, whopper ploppers, poppers, walking baits, etc. 

You kinda have to prioritize between frogs or treble hook topwater.  You'll be able to do anything, but a softer rod set up is best for keeping bass pinned on trebles and a more powerful rod is useful for setting a frog hook at distance.  A rod for both, will slightly compromise on one of these truths.  Since you're comfortable with braid and leader, I'd lean toward a combo that's a MH/F graphite blank in the $100 range and a 150 sized reel.  Then when it's frog time, remove the leader and really concentrate on reeling into your hookset with the no stretch braid.  

  Unfortunately, I don't have any recent experience with combos in that price point, but I'm sure you'll get good recs from others on here.  This is an option, especially the rod, I've seen people here like, 150-165 plus tax for the combo.  I'd personally stay away from prepackaged rod/reel combos, I think there's much value to be had in mixing/matching.

 

scott

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Tatula_XT_Casting_Rods/descpage-DXC.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Abu_Garcia_Max_STX_Casting_Reel/descpage-AGMS.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_American_Hero_Speed_Spool_Casting_Reel/descpage-MHMH.html

You're on the right path for what you're talking.  50# braid is great for frogs and will work for the other topwaters with a mono leader (some don't even bother with that).  You'll want a little softness in the rod itself for braid and treble hook topwaters so I wouldn't go crazy with a heavy/fast.  Either a MH/Fast or a Heavy/MF.  I'd go MH/F myself in that regard.

 

I don't know that ugly stick combo so can't comment there.  But for a servicable inexpensive baitcaster, the abu black max isn't the worst choice.  And Amazon has the black max combo with the 7' MH for $85.  You already have the braid, so money to spare for a couple lures or gas.  

5 hours ago, softwateronly said:

You kinda have to prioritize between frogs or treble hook topwater. 

^ agree with this. You could get a nice frog / flipping and pitching setup or a nice treble hook setup but probably not both with one rod. Ponds can be tough for trebles if there's a lot of grass around but if your normal fishing spots don't have a lot of grass then a treble hook rod might be a better pick if you prefer to do that. One thing about a frog rod is you can get something like a 7'4 heavy fast and also use that for swimbaits and spinnerbaits, but you might want to swap out the line or get another reel. In my case I did that for a while and had one reel with 50lb braid and another with 15lb fluorocarbon.

its been a minute since i hiked a bank.  but i do know i wanted distance.   distance in casting.  

 

what do you have now?  you're already fishing right?  what is your current rod.  when i first started i did everything with one setup.  was it ideal?, nope.  but it was fun and i got it done.  

Don't use FC line or leader because it sinks, and screws up the action of walking lures, pulling them under on slow retrieves.  You also don't want a sinking braid, same logic.  I would go straight mono of substantial strength, 16-20 pound test or thereabouts.  It will cast better than braid or FC, cost less, adds a little stretch to the system, and has neutral bouyancy so the lures will perform  better.

One other thing I'll mention is it looks like DSG has the new Dobyns Frenzy line on sale for $63 ea. They actually have a 7'3 mag heavy model that would do ok for frogs and a 7' crankbait model that would work for topwater so if you decide on one or the other and want something around that price point those look like a pretty good option.

I was bombing a popper yesterday with a Okuma hakai reel and Cerros rod. The reel casts like a dream without much adjusting, even though several adjustments are available 

 

 

11 hours ago, Cael B said:

I've already spent too much on gear and I just want something that'll get er done in the pond.

Are there tweaks that I will make for fishing topwater?  Yes   
Do they make that much difference in my success?  No

 

I worry much more about the weight of the lure I'm throwing than if it runs on top or not.  I'd be willing to bet that you already have a set up that will "get er done".  Don't get sucked into the notion that you need specialize equipment for every technique.  That's a very expensive notion that doesn't provide very much return on investment.

 

 

15 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

its been a minute since i hiked a bank.  but i do know i wanted distance.   distance in casting.  

 

what do you have now?  you're already fishing right?  what is your current rod.  when i first started i did everything with one setup.  was it ideal?, nope.  but it was fun and i got it done.  

I use a Medium 6'6 Ugly Stik spinning combo. I know it's not the greatest. but I am able to catch bass on it out of ponds using inline spinners, Texas rig senkos, crankbaits, and jerkbaits so far. I got some new lures to try as well. I just really want a MH I can put braid (and mono leaders as needed) for poppers, walking baits, frogs, and whopper ploppers. 

 

personally, I would go down a level in power.  for me topwater is not an all day bite.  around here, I just seem to get topwater love in the wee hours of the morning --> mid morning and it switches off.    a lighter rig will let you tie on something else and keep using it.  

 

just me.  

I have the 7’ Med Cerros that is labeled as their “Jerkbait, Top water, Underspin and Light Texas-rig” rod also with Okuma’s Hakai reel. 
 

It’s darn near perfect for those as long as you stay within or close to its max lure rating of 5/8. 
The 1/8 oz rating on the low end shouldn’t be a problem with any of those you would throw. 
 

Sunday I threw a Pop R, a standard sized Speed Worm on top and a 4” Shadow Rap and it handled all very well. 
(I was kind of surprised that it threw the Speed Worm as well as it did because those things don’t weigh anything)

 

As I’ve posted before about using this mag only brake reel, the Hakai continues to surprise me. (It’s the only one I own)

I don’t normally use braid for jerk baits as it’s spooled with 30# Smackdown, but I didn’t want to change it out.
And again even in the lower end of what I like to use, it casts as smooth as anything else I own regardless of what I threw. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike