Frog Gigging

Let’s be clear from the start, Frog Gigging is not an electronic game… 

Did you ever go gigging?  Gigging is defined in part as, “the practice of hunting fish or small game with a gig or similar multi-pronged spear”.  My experience at frog gigging was at about age 15.  I wasn’t old enough to drive but a friend was, so several of us decided to go gigging.  The gigs we had were three pronged and each prong had a barb on the end so the frog could not easily get off if you speared him. We had two gigs, each had a 6 or 8 foot handles on them and one had a heavy string in the handle so it could be thrown several feet and pulled back without wading in deep water.

Other necessary equipment was boots, (the taller the better) a flash light for walking and one for spotting. The walking light just had to be good enough to see where you were walking so you did not trip over anything as you walked through a field to get to a pond (tank in Texas). The spotting light needed to be bright and powerful so you could hopefully see the frogs.

Try to envision 4 teenage boys in an old 49 Chevy going down the road at night holding the two gigs out the window of the car. We knew where several ponds were but we had not asked permission of any of the owners.  We never got into trouble, possibly due to no one knowing we were there.

This is the process as I remember it. Drive down a country road to get as close as possible to the first pond. Since we had not gotten permission we attempted to climb the fences and walk through the fields to the pond without using the flash light. We knew where the ponds were because one or more of us had worked for these farmers hauling hay and that type work. When we arrived at the pond we would wade into the water staying several feet away from the bank. The theory behind this was, the frogs would be on the bank and we would have a better view of the bank (which had brush and tall weeds) from the water.

It should be understood that knee boots did not help much because we were often in waist deep water. The fact that there is always 6 to 8 inches of mud on the bottom of the pond and mud was an obstacle. 

Another part of my frog gigging experience was the fact that we waded into and walked through places that we would not have considered being in during daylight hours. The fact that you can’t see everything around you made it easy for us to “go where no man has gone before”. That statement sounds familiar…

For the entire evening of hunting we harvested (notice how I did not say killed, harvested is more politically correct and everyone knows I like to be politically correct) 4 frogs and none were that big. I don’t remember who took the frogs but I did not want to try and clean them and cook them.  I understand the frog legs will at times attempt to jump when placed in a hot pan.  I still have never had frog legs. 

 

As stated earlier “Frog Gigging” is not yet an electronic game although it could easily be made in to one.

ü  It could be advertised as a hand/eye coordination tool for the young hunter.

ü  Not actually harvesting a frog would allow the young hunter to be politically correct while enjoying the thrill of the hunt.

ü  Using gigs and not guns would allow the government to offer a grant to help develop the game.

ü  The young hunter would stay dry and germ free, no actual wading the ponds.

ü  No exercise will increase the kids desire to have the game.

ü  At the end of the game the player would need to count the frogs harvested, so it could be considered a learning experience.

I would be happy to consult with the developer of the “Frog Gigging Game” for a small percentage. 

 

From the always hopping mind of        Don Ford

 

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