FISH NOT BITING? TRY FROG GIGGING
As the sun settled down behind the horizon, not far from the DesPlaines River, we heard our first “Barooomp, baroomp” echoing across the lilypad laden backwaters. Before jumping out of the truck I ran through my checklist— bug spray, cooler, knife, flashlight, and gig. Gig? Yep, a long wooden pole with barbed spear forming a trident-like tool known as a frog gig. We weren’t out for night fishing, but bullfrog hunting.
I met up with my buddies Cody Kowalczyk and Nico Soave to put some of these tasty critters in the freezer. With the hot weather and
slow fishing, what better way to still enjoy an evening in the outdoors. Our method was fairly simple. “We’re gonna ease into the water and work these banks,” explains Cody. Hmmm, simple enough, I thought. As we fire up the flashlights and get in the murky soup, Nico chimes in, “If you feel something bite your legs, it will only hurt for a little while.” Huh? Great. As we moved along through the lily pads, we spot a big set of gold eyes staring at us down the shoreline. “There’s one,” whispers Cody, “Go get him.” I eased my way up to the frog while Cody and Nico kept the light in his eyes. With a quick stab into the mud, I had my first bully of the season.
Bullfrogs usually sit tight along the waters edge, or work their way through the lily pads and downed timber. Which makes backwaters of rivers and creeks perfect places to hunt frogs. Rivers and creeks also hold frogs, but they prefer very slow current or better yet no current. Ponds are also fantastic frog hunting spots. When hunting frogs, the best method is to come at them from the water to get a clear shot without spooking them. In our case, we were able to wade most of the shoreline in about one to three feet of water. If hunting ponds or lakes with a shoreline that drops offs steeply, the best bet is to use a boat to cruise the shoreline looking for frogs. With either method, one key to success is to approach slowly, especially if the frog is in the water. A fast approach will cause ripples in the water and spook the frog, which can sense the vibrations. Another tip is to always keep the light in their eyes.
Downed underwater trees, logs, slime-covered rocks, biting insects and backwater muck all made this a little more than a stroll along the bank. In about two and a half hours, we had 19 frogs on the stringer. The legal limit is 8 frogs per person per night. And anyone who has tasted frog legs might agree that all this is worth it. Frog legs area a common delicacy in many fine restaurants.
So if you’re not afraid of trudging through the swamps at night, getting bitten on the legs by unseen creatures, and getting extremely muddy and nasty, then frog gigging is for you. But before you go, be prepared. Frog gigging season is recognized by the State of Illinois DNR, so you need a valid fishing license. Also, make sure you have permission before entering the land or waterway. It’s also a good idea to go with a buddy or two. If something were to happen, you have some backup. And most importantly, be prepared. Bring bug spray, waders or old shoes, a stringer, and a good flashlight. I also like to float a small cooler behind me in the water so I can ice down the bullies right after the catch. My Crawler Can from Frabill came in really handy. I filled the cannister with ice and put my flog legs in right after the catch. It also floats, so I tied it to a cord and tied that around my waist.
Bullfrog hunting or “gigging” season in Illinois runs from June 15 through August 31.
