Real World Tests: It was quite opportune this stick arrived during a time when I was determined to get my boat updated and better equipped to handle the challenges presented by the California Delta, my favorite destination to fish a frog. I matched the B72H up with SPRO's new Jason Christie Elite MG in the 7.3:1 retrieve ratio. For line, of course, I had to use some of my remaining Sunline FX2 Braid in the blue/green coloration, in 80lb test in honor of Dean Rojas - this is his line of choice as he helped design it.

Matched with SPRO's new Jason Christie Elite MG reel and ready for action

Casting: I'm not normally an angler that buys into the last decade and a half to two decades trend of technique and bait specific rods. Instead I like to understand each stick's characteristics and decide for myself for which techniques it'd be best suited (reference Profiling Your Next Bass Rod). However, when it comes to a stick for frogging, there is one characteristic that's difficult to find in any general purpose stick - the tip.

Prototypical Frog fishing paradise

In order to fish a hollow bodied frog most effectively, not only do you need to have the ability to bomb cast it, but you need to be able and bomb cast it for accuracy. You also need the ability to do this underneath visible structure that's hanging over the water. This involves either the ability to skip your bait, or cast it on a trajectory that's merely inches above the water's surface - or both.

But also, frog fishing wonderland provided you can sling your bait under the overhangs, between the twigs and into the open water behind all that mess

Admittedly, I do not know how to skip a bait. It is something I'd like to learn, but never seem to have the luxury to practice very much. However, given the right stick, I can execute a roll cast and launch a frog inches above the surface of the water. What makes the right stick? For me, there are two factors. First, it normally involves a stick seven feet or under in length. The B72H ,as noted above is 7'-2". I was able to manage if standing at a spot on the boat with water to my right side (so as not to strike the tip of the stick on something, or someone, in the boat).

Smartly, the B72H comes with a closed loop hook hangar to avoid entanglements with braided line

Second, and most important, it requires a stick with a very limber tip because in order to execute this cast, I'm rolling my wrists and ending with a quick snap to launch the bait with force. This gives the bait enough momentum to stay in the air at the right trajectory (most of the time) to sail under any overhangs and hit my desired spot (less than half the time). Hey, I said I can do it, but I didn't claim to be super proficient at it.

The rod features name brand, SS/SiC guides by Fuji

All joking aside, while the B72H is a little longer than I prefer for these type of casts, its tip is spot on. It took me two trips to dial in the muscle memory, and once I did, I was firing my frog (and I really only fished one on this stick, the Bronzeye Frog 65), inches above the water without even thinking about it.

Simple, bare bones, but effective butt end

Next Section: Let's talk about rod sensitivity...