Old timers like my father fished for them for food not sport and stored them in snowdrifts through the winter behind the house. Tomcod was also known as frost fish. Recently caught tommies can be thrown on the ice, freeze and then brought back to life when you put them in a bucket of water. They did not use frog spears back then instead used spring steel from an old umbrella. Using one rod and shaping a hook in one end and fastening the other end to a pole. Instead of pushing a fork into the back they would come up and under the fish hooking the under belly. Tommies make good chowder and can be pan fried. White meat.
