supposed to take the boys out frog gigging this weekend in citrus county. thinking of trying the withlacoochee, are there some frogs out there. I have never gone before, so any help would be great. I plan on using the 4 spotlights with a generator, plus a battery operated headlamp.. do you just idle down the banks looking for the eyes? thanks for any help you can give , or if there is a better place to go gigging in citrus county than the withlacoochee and you dont mind sharing, I would appreciate it...
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frog giggin for newbie
- Thread starter flboy
- Start date
froggigger1
Well-known member
we generally hunt with a head light and run the boat too.
cowboy
Moderator
I don't know about the frog poulation up there, so just go out and see.
Most of the time I just see the frogs, rarely their eyes shining.
If you've got a good 12v light to spot them with, it should be fine. 50 to 100 watts works best, but any hand held light will work. Most folks have a light that they can wear on their head wile frogging.
You don't have to go very fast with the boat, just idle along. Spot the frog, and get it next to your gunnel under your gig. Wait till you get the gig head a few inches from the frog, and punch it. Many people have a frog chute, with a sack to catch the frogs. You can hand load them into a bucket with a cover, bait bucket or cooler. It needs to be covered, or those frogs are going back home.
If the frogs don't stay still under your gig long enough to poke them, try to keep the spot off of them till just before you gig them. Some say that a really bright light will spook them into jumping away early.
Main thing is that you need to go for it! A beautiful night in the marsh with family or friends?
You just can't loose. Frogs or no frogs.
Have fun, and be careful.
Most of the time I just see the frogs, rarely their eyes shining.
If you've got a good 12v light to spot them with, it should be fine. 50 to 100 watts works best, but any hand held light will work. Most folks have a light that they can wear on their head wile frogging.
You don't have to go very fast with the boat, just idle along. Spot the frog, and get it next to your gunnel under your gig. Wait till you get the gig head a few inches from the frog, and punch it. Many people have a frog chute, with a sack to catch the frogs. You can hand load them into a bucket with a cover, bait bucket or cooler. It needs to be covered, or those frogs are going back home.
If the frogs don't stay still under your gig long enough to poke them, try to keep the spot off of them till just before you gig them. Some say that a really bright light will spook them into jumping away early.
Main thing is that you need to go for it! A beautiful night in the marsh with family or friends?
You just can't loose. Frogs or no frogs.
Have fun, and be careful.
swampjet
Well-known member
Hey flboy, I don't know about the river, but in Lake Hernando there are frogs, at least when they want to showup. As in anything else, it's hunting. Use a headllamp, look for bright golden-yellow eyes NOT RED EYES, those are gators. Don't be surprised by all the GREEN eyes, those are just spiders. Get back in the coves and have fun.
Bob
Bob
4 spotlights seems a little overkill, too many lights going at one time will be a pain for everyone especially the driver. I always use one headlight even if three people are gigging. Look for little white eyes, or if the frogs are big enough you can see the yellow of their chin, but I have noticed alot of frogs will only sit with their eyes out of the water. As mentioned before dont leave the light on them too long they will spook on certain nights. A frog chute is real easy to make out of 6 or 8" PVC and just use a laundry bag, but tie it off tight, those frogs will escape. It takes some getting used to, but its alot of fun if you find the frogs if not you can still have a good ride.
Buck Thruster
Well-known member
I put a dimmer rheostat on my 100 watt headlight. Sometimes a little dimmer light is better for spotting the shine of the frogs eyes. I have also found the frogs to be less spooked on a dark night opposed to a night with a bright moon. Spray some Pam cooking lube on the inside of your frog chute too. This will keep the frogs from crawling back out of your bag. Lastly make sure your gig prongs are good and sharp. I use a fish hook sharpening stone on my gig tips the same way you would sharpen a fish hook.
Don't let me forget the most important part. Getting your wife or girlfriend checked out on the frog cleaning process. :lol:
Don't let me forget the most important part. Getting your wife or girlfriend checked out on the frog cleaning process. :lol:
Cajun
Well-known member
THAT IS A BIG HELP IF YOUR BETTER HALF CAN CLEAN YOUR CATCH. MY WIFE JUST GOT THRU FILLETING SOME BASS, AND SHE CAN CLEAN A GATOR, QUAIL,FISH,HOG,AND JERK THE BRITCH'S OFF OF FROG LEGS.NORMALLY WE WOULD GET HOME ABOUT 11-12 AT NIGHT FROM GETTING FROGS, WHILE I SHOWER SHE GETS THEM READY AND WE HAVE US A CHOW DOWN ABOUT 1:00 A.M. NOW THATS GETTING THEM FRESH. SO HAVE FUN DOING IT AND ENJOY THE REWARDS IF YOU CONNECT. LATER CAJUN