State fishing regulations permit hand-spearing of some fish and frog species as long as you have a license and follow the rules about which species, in which waters, in which season.

Forty years ago on the rock ribbed shores of Lake Huron we sat up talking as August evening turned to night, in the company of the Whippoorwill, anticipating ‘surprise’ visitors , human or otherwise, to my Aunt Anne and Uncle Al’s brick patio. Mr. Toad became a regular 11 p.m. ish dinner guest. He rested unmoving under a porch light until an unwary insect entered his invisible perimeter when he’d suddenly launch his rubber band tongue as far as a foot and glom onto his morsel providing us with quite a show. He’d feed on a few bugs over an hour’s time and then disappear back into the dark woods… prompting us to say our own goodnights in anticipation of another end of summer full day of play. It was the privilege of the ‘big kids’ to stay up late and share in this adult hour entertainment and learn many lessons of life. Thank for the memories.

Thanks for the great article Laura!