Catching Frogs

I know its early but what are the best ways to catch frogs? Are there any type of traps you can use or is a net and flash light the best way?

8 year old with an incentive of 10 cents per frog Need to specify frog vs. toad though

I will throw in my .$02…first you have to find an area that holds them. An area I used to get them, I would use a BB gun or a gigging spear. I would then let them soak in anise oil for a day. Channel cats love them!

I’ve got a few nieces and a nephew that are effective. Come to think of it, my dog likes to chase them down, too

Isn’t catching bait half of the fun!

Frogs???? I have a ton of frogs I run over every Friday night up by my trailer near Ashby! I bet I see well over 100 each weekend. I would think a net would be the best way to catch these. In the early evening….

BB gun works best

Quote:

---

BB gun works best

---

BB gun is illegal in Iowa. The DNR classifies them as a rifle (air rifle) and you can not shoot a rifle into or over a body of water. I called the DNR HQ a couple seasons ago asking about this and they transferred me to a CO somewhere and he explained it all to me. A shotgun would be perfectly legal and he did tell me some guys use .410 with buckshot (3 pellet 00 buck) to shoot them. Just make sure you dont shoot them in city limits.

Frog gig is the best way, just shine them with a spotlight and they will freeze, then gig them in the back.

If you are doing it in the daylight, a baitcaster with 10lb line and a fly or #2 gold hook dangled in front of its nose works great.

If you are catching them for bait, a net would probably work best. Just make sure you know your frog ID, some are illegal to take.

yea my only worry is ill be in city limits last thing i need is someone calling the cops thinking im carring around a rifle

We always used a 10’ pole with a 3 prong frog gig on the end. Night time poling along in the lily’s and scum with a flash light produced many frog legs for us back in the day.
Man that bring back some good memories!

when I first read this I assumed you wanted live frogs for bait? seems like cats and other predators would rather chase down a live frog. if you’re going to fish with a dead one then you might as well use stink bait no?

Well, as long as you arent in a city park I would say a frog gig would be the best bet. 3 prong or 5 prong, your choice. Just need a spotlight in your left hand and the gig in your right. Shine them with the spotlight and gig them in the back. Dont aim for the head, aim for the spine.

Not sure if the PD would classify a gig as a weapon, so you might think twice before walking down the street with it. You could always call and ask I guess.

Quote:

---

when I first read this I assumed you wanted live frogs for bait? seems like cats and other predators would rather chase down a live frog. if you’re going to fish with a dead one then you might as well use stink bait no?

---

Stink bait and fresh flesh (cut bait, dead frogs etc) are two very different classes of bait.

I have done just as well, if not better with dead than live in regards to channel cats. Although I keep them live until right before they go on the hook. A quick knock in the head does the trick and they are not going to get off of the hook this way.

ill have to build a gig, ive got a nice swamp pretty close to me and im hoping there frogs in there

I do believe they also make some sort of net off the end of a 10’ pole that has a draw string or some sort of one way trap. Looks like that can be used if you are hunting frogs for live bait.

When I talk hunting frogs, they are going in the fryer

I do remember catching live frogs back in the day by hand and using them for bait. Best big Pike producer there was for us in late spring

We would find leopard frogs but the dozens along a spring that ran through an alfalfa field. Kept them alive in 5gal. buckets cover with mesh while keeping them in fresh water with a couple rocks above the surface stored out of the sun. Never store frogs in the sun

Man this has brought back some good times

Ever tell you about the time Mom thought she seen a rattler in the crawl space

This post makes me laugh! The best way to catch frogs in my opinion.

Window Wells. If you know anyone who has a frog problem, go check out their window wells once a week! I have a steady supply of frogs in my friends window well.

For those of you who do not have window wells, the bucket method works great to!

Find a source where you know there are frogs, like near a pond. Dig a hole deep enough so you can stick a 5 gallon bucket in the ground. Bury it flush to the ground. Frogs will hop a long and fall in. Best way to get frogs! little to know work!

I didnt know a bb gun was considered a rifle in iowa. Never even really thought to check it out. Would the same go for a bb pistol? Probably still considered a firearm i reckon.

can you use frogs as bait in wi?