Frog gigging?
 

Does anybody do it? What are some strategies? how do i find where the frogs are? i could use any advise. thanks

RE: Frog gigging?
 

seth07,

The way we do it is just start going to ponds we have permission to gig in and listen for the bulls. If we hear them we gig two different ways, if it's a clean bank we walk the bank, best with a friend, one does the gigging and the other shines the light. We use handheld flashlights and the type you can wear on your head.

The best way, is to gig from a jon boat or canoe. If we are using a jon boat we sometimes us a trolling motor. If canoe, we just paddle and move quiet without bumping the canoe with the paddle.

We have the best luck giging from a boat/canoe. What we have learned is, when walking the bank, the frogs siting on the bank can feel the vibrations or hear us, a lot jump in the water. I believe when doing it from some type of boat, they hold tight longer. Probably because they know the danger is in the water and sit tight longer.

As for as checking ponds at night, we listen for frogs croaking at night and drive in that direction til we fiqure out where they are at. You'll be surprised at how far away you can hear the frogs if it's a still and quiet night. If we have never giged that pond, we go back the next day and ask for permission. Never had much problem geting permission to do it.

We use 3 and 4 prong gigs on telescoping poles. Have used homemade poles over the years, but the metal telescoping ones are lighter and easier to store when not in use.

One other thing we take with us, is a fish basket, the type with a spring loaded top to put the frogs in. If we're walking a bank, we use a fish stringer, the type with a ring on one end and a sharp metal point on the other end. We just push the sharp end thru the frogs bottom jaw and thru the ring and carry them like you would a string of fish. Carry plenty of mosquito repellant, and watch for snakes.

It's a blast, particularly when you have a couple of buddies along.

Hope this helped some.

dog1

RE: Frog gigging?
 

we do the same.we walk the ponds,except I walk in the water and shine to the bank. the frogs set looking toward the water and you can see there whith belly shinning.
in the river we use the boat and one guy runs the boat the other does the sticking.
we use an ice chest with a hole cut in the lid.( you take a large can and cut a hole in the lid that just fits the can.cut the bottom of the can like a slice of pie.)
don't cut the slices off,just push the points down a little,then when you push a frog into the hole the points will open a little but the frog can't get back out.works real well.

good luck,let us know what time supper wiil be when you get them skinned.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

I always shoot them with my bow. But, when i do gig i just walk the bank with a light and a friend.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

Man,

I probably haven't gigged in 2 or 3 years. I oughtta get back out and do it again.

Me and a friend usually go to public lakes and water down by the river. We try to find the "snakiest" looking water. If there ain't 3 feet of algea on the top of the water we usually pass it up. Believe it or not, some alligators are around there too...and we've gigged our share of cottonmouths. If you don't like snakes, you probably shouldn't go.

We use head-mounted flashlights, usually the kind you'd buy from raccoon hunting places on our heads. We'd hop in a canoe with the poles(10, 12, 14 ft) and gigs (homemade usually, 4 or 5 prong) and patrol the bank. The frogs eyes glow a green when you spot them, usually right on the edge in the water or on logs and stuff. Once you have them in your light, keep the light on them. It blinds them and you can usually get pretty close to them before you gig em. You have to be in stealth mode though or they'll take off.

The closer you can get that gig, the better your chances, so the lights really help.

Now you've made me wanna get out and go frog-gigging again. Thanks. Good luck at em.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

I'm lazy, I usually use a bow or .22. You can get em during the day too:)

RE: Frog gigging?
 

froman thats an awesome picture where is that?

RE: Frog gigging?
 

I alway use a pellet gun.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

Haven't done any froggin since I moved to Arkansas, but when I lived in Louisiana we used to go all the time. Gigging isn't legal in Louisiana. You have to use a spring loaded grab on the end of a long stick, which by the way doesn't work very well.

We would use a flat bottom boat with a trolling motor, the brightest headlights we could find (the kind you wear on your head), and believe it or not a skulling paddle. You know, the short ones about 2 - 2 1/2 ft long. The flat bottom boat allows you to sit way up front and you can nose it right up to the bank (unlike a canoe). When we found one, we would blind them with the headlight and head the boat straight into the bank at a fairly brisk pace. As soon as you get within range you just swat em a good and hard with that skulling paddle. Flattens em out & knocks them out. We would then put them in a fish basket or a potato sack & tie up the end. After about ten minutes or so, they would come back to as smacking them with the paddle doesn't kill them or damage them in any way....just knocks them out for a while. That way, if you're out all night you don't have to worry about them spoiling.

Many times we would just grab them with one hand. You've got to be quick though, and at least in Louisiana, you got to keep a good eye out for the snakes. Don't want to be grabbing no cotton-mouth.....LOL

Wow....this thread has really brought back some good memories. I'm going to have to get out there and try some Arkansas frog smackin....LOL


firstshot

RE: Frog gigging?
 

Used to gig from the canoe with a 10 foot bamboo pole. One person paddling, one gigging. Also a great way to catch skate in shallow water.

But, then when the gig broke we just changed over to using a crab net on a pole and a burlap sack. No more bleeding frogs and you could usually get the net over them before they hopped.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

went last night....got 30......;)

RE: Frog gigging?
 

Haven't in an very long time but its on my to do list :D

RE: Frog gigging?
 

I like to catch bullfrogs like you catch fish.I save all my broken rubber worms and tear them into chunks about an inch and a half long and thread them onto a #4-6 hook weedless style with point in worm and a split shot on my line.I cast out to where the frogs are and twitch and jig the worm on top of the moss.The next thing you know the frogs are fighting over the worm.It is a lot of fun and you can do it in the daylight.I have caught several hundred frogs like this.If you try it, try not to laugh too hard and let me know how you did.

Elkshed

RE: Frog gigging?
 

we just doo it in a boat and drive around and shine for eyes then pick em up with our hands. just make sure you dont grab a small alligator. your be suprised how hard those things can bite and how easy they are to mistake for frogs

RE: Frog gigging?
 

you guys are gonna get a kick out of this but I know 2 different guys in central nc who own golf courses......me and my buddy just get a case of beer .....a golf cart , flashlight, and gigger and we are in buisness. you wouldnt believe the size these things grow to on golf course ponds

HA!
 

Well me and my dad use a really cheap bb gun, just shine the light, c the eyes, take aim, and shoot. if u plan to eat it, then u don't have to wory about lead poisnig from using pellets.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

Golf courses have huge frogs most of the time.
I love frog legs and always ate the fried until this year.
They are great grilled.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

Now I see you guys talking about not being able to walk and gig frogs. I find this true also but we use a 4wheeler and just drive around the ponds. Usually we get 80 or more frogs a night. Any one up to the hunt?

RE: Frog gigging?
 

If you're not eaten 'em , try this on for size...

near where I grew up there was an old livestock pond. Too shallow for fish. We'd go and shot clay pigeons off of the hill nearby.

Sometimes, we would go and walk along shore, we'd shoot them with our shotguns.

Probably should use steel shot, but if you shoot just under them you can take two shots... One when they're just sitting their, and one when they're about 15 feet in the air.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

i like gigging frogs and fish gigging
but another way to get those frogs is in day time scare them in the pond and when there heads pop up us a rod and reel with a top water lure and move it close to them they will jump it and it is all yours

RE: Frog gigging?
 

i used to like frog hunting, till i found out that the REALLY big bullfrogs could be over 20 years old. i felt bad and stopped killing them.

same with turtles. knowing that a big snapper could be 50-80-120 years old made me feel weird for killing it. not to mention the poor guys don't even get to breed till theyre over 15 years old (thats along time in turtle years );)

it weird, i'll hunt deer, ducks, turkeys , treerats, everything else, but something that can live a long time like a turtle or frog, i'm a softie.

go figure.

-moose

BUT, when we used to do it, a CB22 to the head was big medicine. and frog legs in garlic and butter? oh man

RE: Frog gigging?
 

whats up i'm down here in florida and i want to go out gigging i got the idea how to do it but how do i clean 'em thanks

RE: Frog gigging?
 

I just use a dip net with a 5 foot handle. Sometimes I break out the pellet gun though, lol. You'd be ammazed at what an RWS super hollow point can do to a frog's skull.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

how do you clean'em? just chop off there back legs?

RE: Frog gigging?
 

It's been a long time but yeah we would first stick a knife
in their head (I hate to dress-out a living animal, it's a personal
thing) then cut off the legs. I don't know if it is a nerve or
tendon but there will be a yellowish string that needs to be
pulled out of each leg. Old timers told me if this was'nt done
the legs would jump (convulse) right out of the hot grease when
frying.:eek: Then of course pull the skin off and cut off the feet.
If I'm mis-leading in some point someone please correct me.
Like I said, it's been a long time.

PKnTX
edited for spelling, hope I got 'em all.

RE: Frog gigging?
 

thanks alot i'll let you know how it turns out this weekend

RE: Frog gigging?
 

i used to shoot them out of my uncles pond with a .22