Freezing frogs for bait

[bigcatpike]

I have been wondering if frozen frogs work as bait for catfish and walleye. Right now I have a spot where I can catch as many frogs as I want. In spring and summer months, though, I struggle to find any. So I was wondering if anyone has a good way to freeze frogs.

 

[NDwalleyes]

Several years ago we were ice fishing and the walleyes were erping up whole frogs. We were fishing shallow in the evening. I figured they must be going after the frogs down in the mud, because they hibernate in the mud during the winter.

What I did was went to a biology supply website and bought little jars of 2-3" frogs that were preservative free in plain water. I used them with out success. Later I figured that in order for the frogs not to spoil in the jars, they must have "canned" them, so they were most likely cooked.

If I had to do it again, I would just catch them, pith their brain with a nail and vacuum seal them...or just vacuum seal them live and then freeze them. #froglivesmatter

 

[Kickemup]

I use to vacuum pack them alive 6 per bag then throw them in the freezer. Worked great for cats never tried them for eyes that way.

 

[dean nelson]

I have been wondering if frozen frogs work as bait for catfish and walleye. Right now I have a spot where I can catch as many frogs as I want. In spring and summer months, though, I struggle to find any. So I was wondering if anyone has a good way to freeze frogs.

Just watch out your only allowed to have 24 so don't get busted for being over the limit!

 

[NDwalleyes]

Just watch out your only allowed to have 24 so don't get busted for being over the limit!

No $hit?

 

[dean nelson]

Yep 24 frogs
24 salamanders
48 crayfish
150 fathead minnows.

Once they are dead I'm sure it all goes out the window. But we'll gathering them is where a guy could get pinched by a wadern if he was a jerk.

 

[MuskyManiac]

Yep 24 frogs
24 salamanders
48 crayfish
150 fathead minnows.

Once they are dead I'm sure it all goes out the window. But we'll gathering them is where a guy could get pinched by a wadern if he was a jerk.

Interesting. Never knew any of that.

 

[svnmag]

I'm not sure you can kill a frog by freezing...

 

[NDwalleyes]

Interesting. Never knew any of that.

They breathe through their eyelids like a ninja. If you vacuum seal them they will die.

 

[svnmag]

Of course, but could you not freeze them in worm bedding?...

 

[NDwalleyes]

Of course, but could you not freeze them in worm bedding?...

I see your point...good question.

 

[svnmag]

I would put them "asleep" in a vented zip lock then put them to "bed" in layers...

 

[deleted_account]

This makes me really want to try to hibernate frogs and then revive them months later. For no other reason than to just try it.

 

[svnmag]

I've done it with grasshoppers to feed aquarium LM bass in winter. They will become lively again!

 

[Brian Renville]

I've done it with grasshoppers to feed aquarium LM bass in winter. They will become lively again!

Really? Just tossing them in the freezer or do you have to flash freeze? I have bluegills and a couple bags of grasshoppers would be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying wax worms. Darn things will not deal with fish pellets. Actually I doubt they'd even care if the bugs were alive or not.

 

[svnmag]

I just put them in a container and put em in the freezer. Takes about a half hour to wake one up. That's strange about the pellets. The bass I kept would eat them fine.

 

[dean nelson]

Really? Just tossing them in the freezer or do you have to flash freeze? I have bluegills and a couple bags of grasshoppers would be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying wax worms. Darn things will not deal with fish pellets. Actually I doubt they'd even care if the bugs were alive or not.

Have you tried the dried out fresh water shrimp? I just put mine in warm water for a minute then dump them in and game on. I just wonder if the shrimp wouldn't make for a decent bait for perch at times.

 

[Brian Renville]

Have you tried the dried out fresh water shrimp? I just put mine in warm water for a minute then dump them in and game on. I just wonder if the shrimp wouldn't make for a decent bait for perch at times.

That's a good idea I bet they would get after that, even the krill would probably be ok.

 

[dean nelson]

I wonder if a guy could go to a slough around this time of year and net up a bucket load of shrimp and freeze them down in water in small containers for is fishing later on. Hell I know if I was in another state I might be inclined to start dropping good amounts down the hole to keep the school in the area longer. But I would never do that here do to our laws!;:;boozer would have to think some of these small lakes that could be effective. The frog idea I have little doubt it will work for pike and walleye probably.

 

[Ponyroper]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but how do you fish with frogs? Do you throw them out and retrieve them on top of the water or do you put them on some kind of weight like a bottom bouncer and drag them?