When the Bullfrogs Started Biting: An East Texas River Story Worth Telling

For many East Texans, the sounds of spring mean one thing — bullfrogs beginning to bellow along the riverbanks.

For Kit Hardy, that sound brings back a memory from years ago on the Angelina River that still makes him laugh.

Hardy recently shared a photo from a frog-hunting trip with his nephew, showing off a table full of bullfrogs and two hefty ones held proudly in his hands. The picture stirred up an old story from his younger days — one that perfectly captures the spirit of East Texas fishing culture.

According to Hardy, the memory dates back to early March when white perch — better known today as crappie — were beginning their annual spawn along the Angelina River near the Dam B area. At the same time, bullfrogs were starting to bellow across the water as they searched for mates.

“I love bullfrog legs as much as I do white perch,” Hardy said.

So one night around 2 a.m., Hardy headed out on the water with a plan: catch frogs during the night and start fishing for perch once daylight arrived.

The night turned out to be productive. Hardy caught about a dozen bullfrogs and placed them on a fish stringer beside his boat to keep them fresh in the water.

When daylight arrived, he switched gears and began fishing for perch.

Unfortunately, the fish weren’t cooperating.

“I only caught six or eight white perch,” Hardy said. “I fished pretty hard, but they just weren’t having it.”

After several hours and an early start to the day, Hardy began packing up to head back to the boat ramp. Just as he was getting ready to leave, he heard a voice nearby.

“Ya catchin’ anything?”

Hardy turned to see two elderly fishermen paddling up beside his boat in an old wooden V-bottom boat. The pair, who Hardy described as “old timers,” were wearing floppy hats and fishing with cane poles and corks using minnows for bait.

Their simple setup stood in stark contrast to Hardy’s welded boat equipped with a 20-horsepower Mercury motor, trolling motor and modern fishing gear.

The two men eyed Hardy’s fly rod with curiosity, especially the bright green jig tied on the end.

Hardy couldn’t resist having a little fun.

“Well, I was catching fish pretty good for about an hour,” he told them. “Then the dang bullfrogs started biting.”

To prove his point, Hardy pulled up his stringer loaded with both perch and frogs.

The reaction was priceless.

“One old man jerked his head back so hard his floppy hat fell off,” Hardy recalled. “The other adjusted his glasses and both their eyes bugged out.”

The fishermen stared in disbelief.

“You caught them frogs on that thing?” one asked, pointing at the small jig.

Hardy told them he did.

Before he could leave, the pair asked if he would give them a couple of the jigs so they could try it themselves.

As Hardy pulled away in his boat, he heard one of the men say something that still makes him smile today.

“I hope he didn’t catch all the frogs,” the man said. “They are my favorite thing to eat.”

Hardy looked back one last time and saw the two men cutting the hooks off their cane poles and trying to tie the tiny jigs onto their lines.

“It was a good day,” Hardy said.

For Hardy, the story — and the frogs — are a reminder of the simple outdoor traditions that have long been part of life in East Texas.

And judging by the photo he recently shared, it’s a tradition he’s still enjoying today.