Frogging (Essay #2)

Frogging

The night air is cool and crisp, and the sky is clear with every star in attendance. We can hear the sounds of crickets, and frogs singing in the distance. I’m driving my truck with the windows down while my dad, and husband are in the bed of the truck. My husband is controlling the spotlight while my dad controls the gig. We roll along a rice field ditch in search of the perfect frog, and I hear my dad say, “Slow down Tess I think we got one.” I slow the truck to a stop, and I see the spot light slowly creep across the water filled ditch. Then two eyes reflect and illuminate the light just above the water, like two flares in the dark night. I see the long silver pole creep towards the frog’s head, and in a quick second my dad throws the gig. “Got ‘em!” My dad shouted from the back. I look in the rear view mirror, and see my husband holding the basket where my dad slides our latest catch into the basket. Frogging is the best activity because it’s fun, not to expensive and you don’t need to go far to catch them.

Frogging is where you hunt, and catch frogs. What could be more fun then that? Hunting frogs are always in season, and you don’t need a permit to catch them. The time to catch the most though is late summer to early fall. This time of year produces the largest frogs for eating. If you’re bored on a Saturday night, grab some friends, and drive into the country. The roads into the country are so peaceful, and full of life after 10 o’clock at night. You can roll down your windows, and listen to crickets, frogs, and the occasional owl hooting in the night sky. You have your friends with you so you can talk, and laugh all the way there. Then, when its time to get down to business at least two people need to hop in the bed of the truck, one to manage the spotlight and the other to manage the gig, while one person remains driving the truck. The fun comes when someone attempts to gig a frog. You lean over the truck bed with a 12 foot poll, and throw it towards the frog, while trying to keep your balance, and not fall over the side.

You don’t need tons of money, and supplies to go frogging. You need something to put the frogs in. Whatever it is, it can’t have big holes in it because you don’t want the frogs to escape. Things you can put frogs in that are lying around your house would be, a trash bag, a large pot with a lid, or even a pillowcase. (I don’t recommend using the pillow case for anything else after you put frogs in it.) You need a gig. A gig is a pole with sharp points at the end that resemble straight fish hooks called tines. If you don’t have a gig just make one. Take a broom handle, and duct tape a fork to the end of it. You may need to bring the duct tape with you to reattach the fork midway through your hunt. You need a spot light, but a simple flash light will do. You just need one bright enough to see the frogs eyes sticking up out of the water. However, the brighter the better because if the light shines brightly in their eyes they won’t see the gig coming. Lastly you need a mode of transportation. I recommend a truck but, I have seen this activity done in a car before. However, it didn’t turn out so well for the car. Virtually to this point you’ve spent no money because you’ve taken the pillowcase off your pillow to hold them, you duct taped a fork to the end of your broom, grabbed the flashlight off the night stand, and you’re on your way in whatever mode of transportation you’ve chosen. 

Frogs are everywhere. They’re in ditches, ponds, lakes, swaps, and even your backyard. The best ones are found in the ditches of rice fields. They have had plenty of bugs and grains to feed on. If your mode of transportation didn’t work out then just walk into your backyard, or to the nearest pond. You are bound to find frogs anywhere you look. You don’t have to travel far to catch them. The ones in your backyard might be easier to catch if you’re a beginner because they don’t have anywhere to run to. If you’re out in the country, they could hop into the darkness and disappear.

Frogging is the best activity. You can have loads of fun without spending a ton of money. I even have fun just preparing for the big hunt. To add to the fun you can paint your face with camouflage face paint and dress in camouflage clothing. The best part of the night though is sitting in my truck, looking at the rearview mirror, and seeing frogs sliding into the basket. I know the next day I’m going to get to skin them, cook them, and then eat them.