Frog on a pedestal

[Jeff]

Yesterday Cedar and I were driving by the pond and saw something interesting. I have a very pointy rock that juts up out of the pond that I use to tell water level. I know by looking at it how full the pond is in relationship to the overflow drain. 

Sitting on the point of it was a frog hunting dragonflies. Of course I didn't have my phone or camera, but we took off for the cabin to get it, knowing full well I had blown a chance to catch the frog catching a dragonfly, and I had. Just as I approached I saw him snag one. I did get a short video of him not catching one and a really great photo of him perched up there with a bit of bug hanging out of his mouth.

[doc henderson]

Wow, the photography is really good.  love the detail and quality.   is that from a go pro style camera?  I can almost hear him croaking and keeping my wife up at night.   

[Jeff]

Just my android phone.

[doc henderson]

How close did you get?  It looks good enough to imagine a 25-inch lens on a good camera.

[Jeff]

Probably 4ft. My boots leak.

[WV Sawmiller]

   Looks like a male bullfrog based on that yellow throat. 

   They will eat anything they can swallow and they can open their mouth 180 degrees. They are cannibals and will even eat each other. They will eat small snakes, turtles bluegills and possibly small minks if they get the chance.   

    My next door neighbor had to rescue one of his ducklings from one that had it in his throat. He said the frog made a long jump and landed right on top of the duckling with it's mouth open.

     Nice picture. I love to hear them shaking the ground during mating season with their calls.

[Jeff]

We have hundreds and hundreds, he is about a medium. Maybe frog legs should become a consideration eh? 

[WV Sawmiller]

If you can't beat them, eat them.

[Jeff]

I'm wanting to plant channel cats instead of bluegills. As well as the bullheads do in here it may be a better choice. There is an unbeleivable amout of tadpoles of all sizes as well as minnows in here I bet they could get huge on.

[WV Sawmiller]

   I used to think channel cats just ate plant matter, crawfish and dead fish in the lakes or rivers where they lived until I started fishing for Flathead catfish and started using live bream for bait and kept catching channel cats on them. Then I realized how much of a predator fish they are. If I see a spot where I would normally fish for bluegills or crappie I put a catfish line or two there and I keep catching channel cats there too.

   If you do stock your pond with channel cats they will sure clean up those tadpoles and they will work on any bluegills the mink left. That old bullfrog better find him a taller pedestal too or you won't be the only one eating frogs legs!