Best Baitcasting Reel For Frog Fishing: Top 5

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There is actually a lot of decent baitcasting reels out there but when it comes down to a reel specifically for frog fishing you want something that is fairly light weight, with a high gear ratio, some drag and brakes to deal with backlash.

We have narrowed it down these particular 5 that we personally feel are the main contenders for the title of best baitcasting reel for frog fishing (the Daiwa Fuego CT is our top pick).

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Our Top Pick
Daiwa Fuego Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Lew's Speed Spool LFS 5.6:1 Right Hand Baitcast Reel
Product
Daiwa Fuego Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Lew's Speed Spool LFS 5.6:1 Right Hand Baitcast Reel
Price
$114.99
$99.95
Our Top Pick
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Daiwa Fuego Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Product
Daiwa Fuego Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Price
$114.99
Image
Lew's Speed Spool LFS 5.6:1 Right Hand Baitcast Reel
Product
Lew's Speed Spool LFS 5.6:1 Right Hand Baitcast Reel
Price
$99.95

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

We have covered our favorite 5 frog rods on this article.

Baitcasting reels

Contents

5 Essentials For A Frog Fishing Baitcasting Reel

Before you go out and buy a new reel, there are some important considerations that you should keep in mind;

1. Gear Ratio

Frog fishing is all about fast paced action and finessing. Therefore, you need to be able to retrieve the frog fast, so a high gear ratio and fast retrieval rate is much needed.

2. Brakes

A good frog fishing reel needs a good brake system in order to deal with backlash and to allow for accurate casting.

3. Drag

A frog fishing baitcasting reel should have at least 12 pounds of drag, at the very least. Frog fishing reels don’t need too much drag, but a decent drag system is always a must have.

4. Bearings

The reel in question should have sealed bearings just in case you are worried about corrosion.

5. Weight

Generally speaking, you want a frog fishing reel to be very lightweight. The lighter it is the better off you are.


Top 5 Frog Fishing Baitcasting Reels

Let’s take a look at what we think are 5 of the best options at the moment for Frog Fishing;

1. Daiwa Fuego CT

Daiwa Fuego Baitcasting Fishing Reel
  • Ultimate Tournament Carbon Drag UTD with 13.2 lbs. of drag
  • Magforce-Z cast control
  • Large, 90mm swept power handle with cutouts for reduced weight
  • 5BB + 1RB, 6.3:1 Ratio
  • Line Capacity (Lb. Test / Yards)-MONO: 14/125, 16/110, J-BRAID: 30/140, 40/110

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

When it comes to frog fishing, the Daiwa Fuego CT is hands down one of our favorite options to go with.

This is a really small and lightweight baitcasting reel, one that stops fatigue in its tracks and is great for small time fishing needs, such as shallow water frog fishing.

The aluminum frame and composite side plates make this thing very durable, while also remaining lightweight. It comes in at just under 8 ounces, which is super light.

Casting & Retrieval

First off, the Fuego CT comes with the MagForce Z casting system, which helps to provide super smooth casting and retrieval. It allows the spool to spin faster and longer with minimal effort.

This also helps to reduce backlash, while also controlling the breaking system for super accurate casting with your frog.

This reel comes with 5 ball bearings, as well as 1 roller bearing in the handle. They are not sealed, so it should not be used with saltwater, but the bearings to make casting and retrieval very smooth.

The Daiwa Fuego CT comes with an 8.1:1 gear ratio, which is very high. It’s meant for fast action and finesse fishing, which is exactly what frog fishing is.

This reel can pull in a whopping 33.9 inches of line with each turn of the handle, which should be more than fast enough for most frog fishing applications.

Drag System

This reel comes with a pretty nice drag system. Now, the drag here is not very high, as the maximum drag is just over 13 pounds.

While this is not very high, it should be more than good enough for frog fishing. Besides that, the drag system here is of a very high quality. It is reliable, just not very heavy.

Line Capacity

Now, this baitcasting reel does not have a super high line capacity, but it should be fine for most frog fishing applications.

It can handle up to 120 yards of 14 pound monofilament line or 100 yards of 16 pound monofilament line. This reel is not ideal for braided line (you can see our top 5 line picks here).

Pros

  • Very lightweight and durable.
  • Very smooth and fast retrievals.
  • Very accurate for casting.
  • High quality drag system.

Cons

  • Cannot be used for heavy fish.
  • Not ideal for long distances.
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2. Lews Fishing MB Baitcast Reel

This is another baitcasting reel which is great for frog fishing, as it is also quite lightweight, coming in at around 9 ounces. While it is lightweight, the die cast aluminum frame is super durable and can actually handle quite a bit of weight.

This reel can be found in both left and right handed models for your convenience. The easily removable graphite side plate is pretty convenient as well.

Casting & Retrieval

In terms of casting and retrievals, this reel is a great option to go with thanks to the 10 high quality stainless steel ball bearings. The bearings here are super smooth and allow the spool to spin very freely.

Moreover, the bearings here are actually sealed, so if you want, you could use this thing for saltwater fishing. The zero-reverse one way clutch bearing definitely helps make life a bit easier as well.

Now, this particular baitcasting reel comes with a 7.5:1 gear ratio, which is pretty good for frog fishing. It has the ability to pull in over 30 inches of line with each turn of the handle. It’s a good option for fast action frog fishing, and really for all kinds of finesse fishing too.

We do also like the Lews Fishing MB  Reel because it comes with a multi-setting magnetic brake and centrifugal brake system. In other words, you can adjust the brakes here for super accurate casting.

Drag System

This reel does come with a pretty good drag system. It is a nice carbon fiber drag system that is very durable and made with high quality parts.

The drag can be easily adjusted here, which is nice of course. Moreover, the maximum drag on this thing is 20 pounds. This should be more than good enough for most frog fishing applications, as most bass won’t require that much drag anyway.

Line Capacity

Before we get into it here, what needs to be mentioned is that although the Lews Baitcast Reel can technically handle braided line, it really is not ideal for it.

You are best off using monofilament line here, in which case, this reel can hold up to 120 yards of 12 pound line. No, generally speaking this is not very impressive at all, but for the short range fishing of smaller fish, it should be fine.

Pros

  • Great for fast action fishing.
  • Can be used in saltwater.
  • Very fast and smooth retrieval.
  • Accurate casting.
  • High quality drag system.

Cons

  • Not the best reel in terms of backlash.
  • Excessive spool noise when the spool spins.
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3. Daiwa Tatula CT Type-R

The Daiwa Tatula weighs just over 7 ounces, making it one of the lightest options out there, something that is always convenient for casting and long fishing trips.

In terms of comfort, this thing also comes with a custom soft touch handle, which is really nice as far as we are concerned. We do also like the aircraft grade aluminum spool and frame, because they are very durable, as well as the overall durability and quality of the Daiwa Tatula as a whole.

Casting & Retrieval

Just like the other Daiwa reel we looked at above, this one also comes with the MagForce Z casting system. This is a really good addition because it helps to reduce and even eliminate backlash altogether, a problem which many baitcasting reels tend to suffer from, especially when doing something like frog fishing.

The advanced braking system can be easily adjusted here in order to provide you with the right level of tension you need to accurately cast the frog.

When it comes to bearings, the Tatula Type-R comes with 7 corrosion resistant stainless steel ball bearings, as well as one corrosion resistant stainless steel roller bearing in the handle. We do have to say that the quality of the bearings here is very high and quite impressive, and that they do allow for super smooth casting and retrieval.

In terms of retrieval, this reel is self-classified as being a hyper speed reel. It has a gear ratio of 8.1:1 and can haul in close to 34 of inches of line per handle turn, which is perfect for frog fishing.

Drag System

In terms of the drag system, this reel is also more than ideal for frog fishing. It comes with a so called ultimate tournament carbon drag system with oversized washers. In other words, the drag system here is built to be very durable and to last for a long time to come.

The maximum drag here is just over 13 pounds, which is not very high, but it should be fine for small time frog fishing. The drag can be easily adjusted, which is pretty standard, but useful none the less.

Line Capacity

As is the case with most of the baitcasting reels for frog fishing that we have looked at here today, the Daiwa Tatula cannot hold all that much line, although it should be more than enough for short range frog fishing.

Also, while it can technically hold braided line, it is definitely not built for it. In terms of monofilament line, this reel can hold up to 120 yards of 14 pound line or 100 yards of 16 pound line. You definitely won’t be doing long range fishing with this reel.

Pros

  • Really good bearings – high quality & corrosion resistant.
  • Super easy and accurate to cast with.
  • Great for controlling backlash.
  • Fast and smooth retrieval.
  • High quality drag system.

Cons

  • Not ideal for heavy fish.
  • Not ideal for long distance fishing.
  • Level wind system is not durable.
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4. Shimano Curado I

When it comes to frog fishing, the Shimano Curado I baitcasting reel is a really fine option to go with. This is another one of those super lightweight casting reels that comes in at just over 7 ounces. We do like lightweight options for frog fishing, as it does help make life a bit easier.

Moreover, the one piece aluminum frame and side plate on this thing is very well built and intended for long lasting durability. Even better is that everything about this reel is designed with saltwater fishing in mind, so it won’t corrode anytime soon.

Casting & Retrieval

Something that you might like about this reel is that it comes with the Shimano Stable Spool Design, which has a very low profile and works to minimize vibration for super accurate, quiet, and long distance casting.

The Curado also comes with something called SVS infinity technology, which uses adjustable brake weights to control internal friction, which also helps to increase casting accuracy, while simultaneously keeping backlash under control.

The so called Super Free Spool also does a pretty good job at eliminating friction for fast action fishing. This reel comes with 5 stainless steel ball bearings and 1 roller bearing, all of which are made to resist corrosion. These things are sealed off, which also helps to make this reel ideal for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.

This baitcasting reel features 26 inches of line retrieval per turn of the handle. This is decidedly less than with any of the other reels we have looked at, but still not too bad. It’s better used for slightly larger fish that take some time, muscle, and patience to reel in. It’s not exactly meant for super high speed retrievals.

Drag System

This reel comes with a Star Drag system. Now, this is quite the high quality drag system that is very easy to adjust and should never give out on you.

This reel comes with a maximum drag of 12 pounds. It is a bit light, but it should do fine for smaller frog fishing applications, but not for larger fish.

Line Capacity

In terms of line capacity, what we do like about this reel is that it can handle braided line, although not very heavy line. When it comes down to it, this thing is best for monofilament line.

It can handle up to 180 yards of 8 pound line or 110 yards of 14 pound line. In the grand scheme of things, the line capacity here is not great.

Pros

  • Durable build.
  • Lightweight.
  • Great for backlash and accurate casting.
  • Good for slower paced frog fishing.
  • Can handle braided line if need be.

Cons

  • Line capacity is not great.
  • Drag cannot handle large fish.
  • Retrieval rate might be too slow for some frog fishing applications.
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5. Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Reel

This reel is certainly very durable, which is in part thanks to the industrial durable-strength, climate-resistant Japanese Hami cut 3604 brass gears.

All in all, this seems to be one of the more durable baitcasting reels for frog fishing out there right now, and somehow it still manages to be very lightweight.

Casting & Retrieval

The Piscifun Torrent Reel features a 5 magnet magnetic braking system so you can adjust the tension to 10 different levels. This is great because it allows for super accurate casting, plus it helps control backlash as well.

On that same note, the design of this thing also allows for long distance casting. Now, in terms of the winding system, there is a double line winding shaft included here, which helps to prevent knotting when winding.

The 3 shielded stainless steel ball bearings included here are nice as well. They help to keep things running very smooth, plus being shielded and made of stainless steel makes them highly resistant to corrosion as well.

When it comes to fast retrievals, this reel is pretty good. It comes with a 7.1:1 gear ratio and can haul in 30 inches of line per turn of the handle. It’s a good option for fairly fast paced frog fishing.

Drag System

What you might also like about the Piscifun Torrent Reel is that it comes with a triple disc carbon drag system. It is very reliable and can be easily adjusted. The maximum drag on this reel is 18 pounds, which is pretty good for most frog fishing applications.

Line Capacity

What we do also like about this baitcasting reel is that it is made to handle both braided and monofilament line. Now, the line capacity on this thing is not huge, but the fact that can deal with braided line is pretty cool.

The Piscifun Torrent can handle up to 120 yards of 10 pound mono line or 120 yards of 30 pound braided line. It’s not for long distances.

Pros

  • High level of durability.
  • Very good for casting and retrieval.
  • Smooth, fast, and efficient.
  • Good drag system.
  • Can handle saltwater.

Cons

  • Not ideal for long distances of heavy fish.
  • Hard to break down and maintain.
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Conclusion

Our personal choice would either of the Daiwa reels, it’s hard to go wrong with them but all the picks are good choices for frog fishing in our opinion. It just really comes down to preference but we hope we have helped you out with our reviews.

Photo credit: Flickr: juanwei

Jason Downs

I created Fishtackly to share my 30 years of fishing experience and knowledge with others with the aim to help, and hopefully get more people involved and educated in this fantastic hobby that I love.