Memorial Day Weekend is, first and foremost, a time to honor those that have served and sacrificed for the benefit of us all.  The holiday weekend also marked the unofficial beginning of summer, and I found myself searching for something to do outside.  As the mercury pushed above 90 and most headed for the nearest body of water, or watering hole, I waited on the sun to go down.  I too went in search of water, but not the large lakes and rivers that attracted the masses.  No, my destination was a small pond, much too small for a boat and lined with trees, making access difficult.  There were no beaches around the bank of this water body, but rather a thick mud that that tried to hold onto you by your boots with each step.  Luckily I was able to round up a partner, as this endeavor was best attempted with backup.  The clock approached 11:00 pm as we neared the water’s edge.  Once we saw the water, we stopped and listened.  It wouldn’t take long to know what kind of night we were going to have.  Thankfully, we were greeted by one of the sweetest sounds of summer…the unmistakable croak of the bullfrog (click link to listen).

Courtesy Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

That’s right, its time to go gigging.  One of the sweetest delicacies known to the human palate is a plate full of freshly fried frog legs.  The first step in eating frog legs happens far away from the kitchen.  Bullfrogs can be found all throughout the commonwealth.  Farm ponds like the one described above are obvious hot spots, but they can also be found along the banks of creeks, rivers and larger lakes.  Night is the preferred time for chasing frogs, as a strong light will aid in both locating and capturing them. 

Much like the variety of locations one can find bullfrogs, there are a number of ways to attempt to take them.  The most basic, yet perhaps most challenging way is to grab them by hand.  This technique requires either a hunting OR fishing license.  If attempting to take them with a firearm, a hunting license is required.  A .22 short-hollow point seems to be a particularly popular round among veteran frog hunters.  A line and hook may also be used, in which case a fishing license is required.  Small profiled worm baits are popular, as is apparently using a small piece of red fabric or cloth (though I can not personally vouch for this method).  The last technique, and my personal favorite, is to take them with a gig.  Gigging can also be done with either a hunting or fishing license.  Gigs can be found in all shapes and sizes, with personal preference playing the largest part in final selection.  My gig was loaned to me by my grandfather and is older than I am.  The cane handle measures ten feet in length and has a three pronged gig on the top of it.  On a recent trip to the local Wal-Mart I was somewhat surprised to find gigs for sale in the Sporting Goods section.

The partner mentioned earlier had never been gigging.  When I approached him about the possibility of spending a few hours out in the middle of nowhere, stomping around a pond in the dark he seemed surprisingly eager to accompany me.  We loaded up on caffeine & flashlights and headed out.  Once arriving at the pond I found the first one in a matter of seconds.  After shining him with my headlamp, creeping within inches of where he sat in the mud and stabbing mightily with the ancient gig, I pulled it back out of the mud to find absolutely nothing on the end.  Figures.  Things soon picked up though.  We started on a hot streak, bagging 5 frogs in roughly 10 minutes.  Unfortunately, the garbage bag I had supplied us to keep the frogs in started to tear (a rookie mistake on my part, having been taught better) and we regrouped back at the vehicle to find a new sack.  We spent another hour or so sloshing around the edges of the pond that we could reach.  There was one particularly loud croaker that sat across the pond, but seeing as how neither of us cared much to go for a swim he still resides there and not in my refrigerator.  We each missed a few, and we scared a few more off not paying close enough attention.  That’s OK though, it simply means there will be plenty more the next time we return to that particular pond.

All in all it was a great night and I was pleased to see that he enjoyed himself.  When asked about going again he readily agreed.  Frog Gigging is an easy, inexpensive way to spend some quality time outdoors even during the dog days of summer.

Get ready for some Adventure After Dark-

P.S.  I had it in my mind to show a picture of the frog legs after they had been fried.  The problem was that they did not last long enough for any photographic evidence.  Maybe next time…