Z bone frog rod
Z bone frog rod
Z bone is 30% off which is pretty tempting.
Considering the 73H or the 76MH for frogs. Does anyone have experience with these models? The max lure rating on the 76MH is only 3/4 ounce, whereas the 73H is 1 1/2 ounce. Does anyone have experience with these models?
Considering the 73H or the 76MH for frogs. Does anyone have experience with these models? The max lure rating on the 76MH is only 3/4 ounce, whereas the 73H is 1 1/2 ounce. Does anyone have experience with these models?
Re: Z bone frog rod
Kistler helium 7’3 h is great and is my frog rod. Don’t think zbone could be any better
-
- Elite Angler
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2013 9:56 am
Re: Z bone frog rod
i have owned both those z bone models and i personally would not throw frogs on the 4 power z bone the 7'6 mh reminded me of the nrx 893 somewhat which isnt a bad thing i just wouldnt use it for frogging. makes a great 3/8 oz ish texas rig and jig rod . the 7,3 h is another story that rod is a power house and i did use it quite often for frogging as well as heavy duty pitching the rod will for sure handle baits over 1 oz without feeling taxed. Also as david mentioned i actually liked the 7'3 helium better for frogs it doesnt feel as powerful as the hvy z bone which i liked it was a good balance of power and the ability to throw some smaller frogs with it. with the z bone or helium you cant go wrong both of those are great froggers.
Re: Z bone frog rod
I use the 7-6 Hvy H3 for frogs. The Z-Bones will frog but I like them for bottom contact. The 7-6 mh Z-bone is kinda underpowered for frogs. If you're going to frog in the morning and worm later, and want 1 rod, then for sure the 7-3 hvy Z-Bone will fill the bill.
Re: Z bone frog rod
I’m sure the 7’3 h zbone is a nice rod. I have a 7’10’h model
Re: Z bone frog rod
Take a look at this rod for frogging. It can do just about everything.
2019 Helium 3 Heavy 7' 10" MOD Moderate Fishing Rod
SKU HE3H710MOD
2019 Helium 3 Heavy 7' 10" MOD Moderate Fishing Rod
SKU HE3H710MOD
Re: Z bone frog rod
I have the 7' HXF Helium3 and while it is a powerful rod, we get some thick weeds here in the summer, and the rod has a little too much flex when you're trying to drag a 3 pounder with 3 pounds of weeds. It could be a little stiffer. So I just bought an Expride 7'3" XH. I considered the 7' MOD Heavy Zbone because of this sale, but Trey confirmed it is a more moderate action that is great for flipping, but doesn't have as crisp a tip as I would like, to make walking a frog easy. He said soft tips have a lot of benefits, but you can't have all good traits in every rod. It seems like the MOD rods are definitely more for flipping. If they made a faster action rod with a heavier power, up to a 2oz rating I think, it could be ideal for my frogging. But today it seems like if you're gonna be dragging fish through junk, Kistler doesn't have a stiff enough rod to offer. All that being said, I do enjoy the H3 for frogging, it's just sometimes a little too light for the environment I fish.
Re: Z bone frog rod
The new zbone 76h is a straight up broomstickbwjay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:02 pmI have the 7' HXF Helium3 and while it is a powerful rod, we get some thick weeds here in the summer, and the rod has a little too much flex when you're trying to drag a 3 pounder with 3 pounds of weeds. It could be a little stiffer. So I just bought an Expride 7'3" XH. I considered the 7' MOD Heavy Zbone because of this sale, but Trey confirmed it is a more moderate action that is great for flipping, but doesn't have as crisp a tip as I would like, to make walking a frog easy. He said soft tips have a lot of benefits, but you can't have all good traits in every rod. It seems like the MOD rods are definitely more for flipping. If they made a faster action rod with a heavier power, up to a 2oz rating I think, it could be ideal for my frogging. But today it seems like if you're gonna be dragging fish through junk, Kistler doesn't have a stiff enough rod to offer. All that being said, I do enjoy the H3 for frogging, it's just sometimes a little too light for the environment I fish.
IMO. The MOD action is wonderful for flip/punch. I take it to unsprayed bodies water in FL that are not meant for trolling motors. You could lift submerged boulders out of the lake. I also use it for heavy top water baits over matted weeds and the action really works for me. I can work a 3/4 oz bait and keep it on top and rip it when it gets tripped up. It flexes; but you need a 2-3 lbs fish for it to really start flexing. If I set the hook with a little excitement on a small fish, those sometimes come flying out of the water. The rod is wicked sensitive too. My only complaint is the pedestrian build. I got it during one of their sales.
Re: Z bone frog rod
Oh right, the longer rods have a heavier rating. Like you said though, I'd expect them to have a good amount of flex still. I do wish their cork was a bit nicer and that they'd use a straight handle so you can use chair leg caps to add some weight and balance them out.Polkfish1 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:55 pmThe new zbone 76h is a straight up broomstickbwjay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:02 pmI have the 7' HXF Helium3 and while it is a powerful rod, we get some thick weeds here in the summer, and the rod has a little too much flex when you're trying to drag a 3 pounder with 3 pounds of weeds. It could be a little stiffer. So I just bought an Expride 7'3" XH. I considered the 7' MOD Heavy Zbone because of this sale, but Trey confirmed it is a more moderate action that is great for flipping, but doesn't have as crisp a tip as I would like, to make walking a frog easy. He said soft tips have a lot of benefits, but you can't have all good traits in every rod. It seems like the MOD rods are definitely more for flipping. If they made a faster action rod with a heavier power, up to a 2oz rating I think, it could be ideal for my frogging. But today it seems like if you're gonna be dragging fish through junk, Kistler doesn't have a stiff enough rod to offer. All that being said, I do enjoy the H3 for frogging, it's just sometimes a little too light for the environment I fish.
IMO. The MOD action is wonderful for flip/punch. I take it to unsprayed bodies water in FL that are not meant for trolling motors. You could lift submerged boulders out of the lake. I also use it for heavy top water baits over matted weeds and the action really works for me. I can work a 3/4 oz bait and keep it on top and rip it when it gets tripped up. It flexes; but you need a 2-3 lbs fish for it to really start flexing. If I set the hook with a little excitement on a small fish, those sometimes come flying out of the water. The rod is wicked sensitive too. My only complaint is the pedestrian build. I got it during one of their sales.
Re: Z bone frog rod
I thought you could order kistlers with a balancing kit.bwjay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2019 1:02 pmOh right, the longer rods have a heavier rating. Like you said though, I'd expect them to have a good amount of flex still. I do wish their cork was a bit nicer and that they'd use a straight handle so you can use chair leg caps to add some weight and balance them out.Polkfish1 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:55 pmThe new zbone 76h is a straight up broomstickbwjay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:02 pmI have the 7' HXF Helium3 and while it is a powerful rod, we get some thick weeds here in the summer, and the rod has a little too much flex when you're trying to drag a 3 pounder with 3 pounds of weeds. It could be a little stiffer. So I just bought an Expride 7'3" XH. I considered the 7' MOD Heavy Zbone because of this sale, but Trey confirmed it is a more moderate action that is great for flipping, but doesn't have as crisp a tip as I would like, to make walking a frog easy. He said soft tips have a lot of benefits, but you can't have all good traits in every rod. It seems like the MOD rods are definitely more for flipping. If they made a faster action rod with a heavier power, up to a 2oz rating I think, it could be ideal for my frogging. But today it seems like if you're gonna be dragging fish through junk, Kistler doesn't have a stiff enough rod to offer. All that being said, I do enjoy the H3 for frogging, it's just sometimes a little too light for the environment I fish.
IMO. The MOD action is wonderful for flip/punch. I take it to unsprayed bodies water in FL that are not meant for trolling motors. You could lift submerged boulders out of the lake. I also use it for heavy top water baits over matted weeds and the action really works for me. I can work a 3/4 oz bait and keep it on top and rip it when it gets tripped up. It flexes; but you need a 2-3 lbs fish for it to really start flexing. If I set the hook with a little excitement on a small fish, those sometimes come flying out of the water. The rod is wicked sensitive too. My only complaint is the pedestrian build. I got it during one of their sales.
Re: Z bone frog rod
I have been using an old 13 fishing 76MH to frog, but last summer I finally started getting into some 4-5 ponders and it seemed underpowered for the job in the thicker weeds.
Do you guys think one of the Expride models(72H, 76H) would be a better option w/more tip to work the frog, but still a lot of backbone?
Do you guys think one of the Expride models(72H, 76H) would be a better option w/more tip to work the frog, but still a lot of backbone?
Re: Z bone frog rod
I think your question Russ gets at the meat of the matter. Most MH rods will work a frog great IMO. I used an old original Powell 703mh around Kentucky for years with good success then I started fishing Florida almost 100%. That MH was suddenly not powerful enough and some years later I would discover that longer rods are better around heavier grass. Even the difference from 7ft to 7'5 is significant. From there, I put my old Gloomis BCR 875 rod into frog duty. Both Power and length but working a frog was lost.
So at least 2 dilemmas. Putting the action on a frog vs. powerful rod. The second challenge is the ideal walking length rod is 7 to 7-3 yet a 7'10 clearly has far more leverage. Thus the reason most of these threads conclude you need 2 frog rods. One you fish most of the time, and the meat stick you pull out when you are on a clear pattern and the fish are in nasty stuff that I have only seen first hand on Lake Okeechobee or Guntersville certain years.
I've not fished a frog rod better then the Helium 7'3h. If I ever find that is not enough, I will pull my zbone 7'10H mod action and give that a try. If that one is not enough then fish was meant to be speared not landed
So at least 2 dilemmas. Putting the action on a frog vs. powerful rod. The second challenge is the ideal walking length rod is 7 to 7-3 yet a 7'10 clearly has far more leverage. Thus the reason most of these threads conclude you need 2 frog rods. One you fish most of the time, and the meat stick you pull out when you are on a clear pattern and the fish are in nasty stuff that I have only seen first hand on Lake Okeechobee or Guntersville certain years.
I've not fished a frog rod better then the Helium 7'3h. If I ever find that is not enough, I will pull my zbone 7'10H mod action and give that a try. If that one is not enough then fish was meant to be speared not landed