Brook trout handling techniques

[Geezle]

I see a lot of people on the forum mishandling brook trout, so I figured I'd post a bit of a brookie handling tutorial, with step by step pictures to get everybody on the trolley :)

First off, of course you have to catch the brookie :)
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/GeezleHerps/20121102_120139.jpg

Then you bonk him! (sweet fish bonker courtesy of Ken07AOVette :cool:)
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/GeezleHerps/20121102_120257.jpg

Next you remove the guts and head. Don't forget the blood line along the spine!
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/GeezleHerps/20121102_120439.jpg

Put it in a bag with flour and your seasoning of choice and SHAKE IT UP!!! (in this case I used Mrs. Dash, lemon pepper, and a little black pepper) Make sure you get your seasoning/flour mix inside the 'chest' as well!
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/GeezleHerps/20121102_141706.jpg

Heat up a pan of oil, and add brookies.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/GeezleHerps/20121102_141913.jpg

Ahhh brook trout flip!
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/GeezleHerps/20121102_145148.jpg

Plate and serve (Om nom nom!)http://www.madcastgaming.com/forum/images/smilies/smilies3/yumyum.gif
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/GeezleHerps/20121102_145420.jpg


The end! :D
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/GeezleHerps/20121102_144315.jpg

[diamonddave]

Awsome Jay! I just new I wasn't doing it right, thanks for the correction. I appreciate the fact that there was no names mentioned or mud slinging about ethics of proper brook trout handleing in your post. Top shelf my friend:sHa_shakeshout:
Dave.

[Teamprotz]

Haven't done that in a long time , my mouth is watering !

[AppleJax]

I think I may have contributed to this thread a little bit through association. And yes just in case anybody is wandering, they were delicious!

[MoFugger21]

It's always good to remind people on the proper techniques when fishing brook trout!! And remember, practice makes perfect! :47b20s0: Well played sir!! :)

[Geezle]

I think I may have contributed to this thread a little bit through association. And yes just in case anybody is wandering, they were delicious!

Yep, those are your boots in the 4th picture! :lol:

Is wandering anything like wondering? :thinking-006: ;)

[AppleJax]

Yep, those are your boots in the 4th picture! :lol:

Is wandering anything like wondering? :thinking-006: ;)

Kinda like wandering in the view of your rod:sHa_sarcasticlol:

[fishermansfriend]

You should leave the head on! lots of good eats on a fish head, a filipino fella showed me this, might look gross but tastes good!:sHa_shakeshout:

[Geezle]

Kinda like wandering in the view of your rod:sHa_sarcasticlol:

I was going to say it, but decided not to! :lol:

[Geezle]

You should leave the head on! lots of good eats on a fish head, a filipino fella showed me this, might look gross but tastes good!:sHa_shakeshout:

I've heard this, but I've never really thought to give it a try. Maaaaaaaaybe next time :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKDtUzRIG6I

[Wild&Free]

Best fish handling guide I've read on here to date.

[greylynx]

Thanks for the post Geezle. That Ken really knows his way around a lathe.



The blood line down the back is the kidney. If you ever see lesions on one report it to the local fisheries biologist. It could be BKD (Bacterial Kidney Disease) which can be quiet fatal to a trout population

Thanks again for the pictures. I really enjoyed them.

[RavYak]

You should leave the head on! lots of good eats on a fish head, a filipino fella showed me this, might look gross but tastes good!:sHa_shakeshout:

I leave the head on as well in large part because it is easy to do and leaves a nice presentation. For frying up in a small pan like that it is probably easier to cut the head off though.

First I use the backside of my knife to remove the scales, although this isn't necessary I find that the skin seems to cook up better if you do and I love eating nice crispy skin. Then the rest of the steps can be seen in video below. I also found that this works with perch as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqYTcULE6oY

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Thanks for the post Geezle. That Ken really knows his way around a lathe.



The blood line down the back is the kidney. If you ever see lesions on one report it to the local fisheries biologist. It could be BKD (Bacterial Kidney Disease) which can be quiet fatal to a trout population

Thanks again for the pictures. I really enjoyed them.

Apparently fatal in this case. Well done fellas .

[Geezle]

Thanks for the post Geezle. That Ken really knows his way around a lathe.



The blood line down the back is the kidney. If you ever see lesions on one report it to the local fisheries biologist. It could be BKD (Bacterial Kidney Disease) which can be quiet fatal to a trout population

Thanks again for the pictures. I really enjoyed them.

Neat, despite my best efforts, I learned something today :)

[Alberta Bigbore]

Did u bread the skin? Did u eat the skin? Lol

[Geezle]

I leave the head on as well in large part because it is easy to do and leaves a nice presentation. For frying up in a small pan like that it is probably easier to cut the head off though.

First I use the backside of my knife to remove the scales, although this isn't necessary I find that the skin seems to cook up better if you do and I love eating nice crispy skin. Then the rest of the steps can be seen in video below. I also found that this works with perch as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqYTcULE6oY

I do mine pretty similarly to the video, except I obviously take the head off. I split it up the belly like he did, then cut just behind the pectoral fins, to meet the first cut down the belly, then I just cut down behind the head until I get through the spine, then the head and the guts all come out in one clump of slimy goodness :)


edit: and I'm entirely too lazy to scrape off the scales :lol:

[Geezle]

Did u bread the skin? Did u eat the skin? Lol

I don't know if you'd call it breading...just a coating of flour and random spices. And of course we ate the skin...that's some of the best stuff! Mmmmmm crunchy http://www.madcastgaming.com/forum/images/smilies/smilies3/yumyum.gif

[Gust]

I don't know if you'd call it breading...just a coating of flour and random spices. And of course we ate the skin...that's some of the best stuff! Mmmmmm crunchy http://www.madcastgaming.com/forum/images/smilies/smilies3/yumyum.gif

If there were a fish that was just skin, I'd never release a fish again. There's a chinese restaraunt in Vansewer where you can order fried fish skin, yummmm!

[YeeHaw]

How dare you post that while im working?? Now I suddenly feel a migrane coming on, and need the peace and quiet of a lake to cure it.:sign0176:

[Geezle]

How dare you post that while im working?? Now I suddenly feel a migrane coming on, and need the peace and quiet of a lake to cure it.:sign0176:

Sounds like something that may require some meditation out in nature :)

[RavYak]

If anyone goes out meditating tomorrow I better be invited lol. Itching to try this out before I go travelling, I guess I could just grab an axe and go do it but would probably be much better with company.

[tight line]

I hope no protective slime was removed! Ive been trying to tell people that for years... ITS EXTRA FLAVOUR!!! Lol, looks tasty!

[thorne]

Yes As mentioned befor....I cant figure out if I like you more then i hate you for constantly taunting me with those pics!! Well at least I have someone to live vicariouslly through....you keep my hopes and dream alive! BTW LOVE the frying fish on nothing but the ice surface.....hot iron and oil, but no flame anywhere.....I bow in your almighty presence!!

[Geezle]

Apparently fatal in this case. Well done fellas .

I don't think it was the BKD...I'm pretty sure it was the bonker...or the knife...or the hot oil...:D

[Geezle]

Yes As mentioned befor....I cant figure out if I like you more then i hate you for constantly taunting me with those pics!! Well at least I have someone to live vicariouslly through....you keep my hopes and dream alive! BTW LOVE the frying fish on nothing but the ice surface.....hot iron and oil, but no flame anywhere.....I bow in your almighty presence!!

I know, I'm good, right? ;)


Lemme know when you're free to come out sometime man!

[thorne]

How about I just send pictures!!:)

Good news is looks like I am getting a breather from my recent time table and as such I should be able to once again journey to partake of the "ROYAL COUNCEL" on Wed! :happy0180:

One more thing....if anyone looking at this has never bothered to grab a small stove, pan and a few spices so you can take a fish and cook it up just minutes after you caught it....it seriously is one of the finer things you can eat. Especially on a cold day, getting a nice hot ohhhhh so yummy snack....its beyond words. Take a couple minutes, do a bit of planning, and it will easily become one of those thigs you will for ever wonder "WHY THE HECK HAVE I NOT DONE THIS BEFOR!!!"

[Geezle]

How about I just send pictures!!:)

Good news is looks like I am getting a breather from my recent time table and as such I should be able to once again journey to partake of the "ROYAL COUNCEL" on Wed! :happy0180:

Send pics...I'll find ya! ;)

As for Wednesday...we'll see ya there! http://www.madcastgaming.com/forum/images/smilies/beer.gif

[thorne]

you're there right now arn't you.....!! BASTARD!!

[Geezle]

you're there right now arn't you.....!! BASTARD!!

Nope...if I was there I wouldn't be posting right now :lol:


I wonder if mooseknuckle is done doing whatever he's gotta do today yet...I think it's almost beer o'clock http://www.madcastgaming.com/forum/images/smilies/beer.gif

[Alberta Bigbore]

cool. I have always taken the skin off one cooked.

[Geezle]

cool. I have always taken the skin off one cooked.

Taking the skin off defeats the purpose of flour/battering it...plus you lose out on all that crunchy goodness! Less work to leave it on too :)

[RavYak]

cool. I have always taken the skin off one cooked.

The skin is the best part!!!

Although as mentioned I find it cooks up better and has even better texture if you scale them.

The scales are tiny and edible but my theory is that they hold moisture in keeping the skin from crisping up really nice. I also find that batter/flour etc stick better to the skin once the scales are off as well.

Takes a little more work but imo after trying it a couple times it is worth it. Nice thing about trout is that the backside of a fillet knife slides the little scales off like butter, not near the pain of scaling a perch or walleye etc.

[coyotezh]

i never caught brookie although i fished a lots. really want to try. too bad no body wants to tell me which lake it is so far. anyone want to pm me the pond so that I could try?

one word: jealous.

[Geezle]

i never caught brookie although i fished a lots. really want to try. too bad no body wants to tell me which lake it is so far. anyone want to pm me the pond so that I could try?

one word: jealous.

Sorry, but I won't be sharing where I go until ice conditions are safe. Liability is a bitsch and I'd hate to have you go through the ice and then blame me for sending you out there :o

Wait for a couple weeks after the warm weather forecasted for next week is gone and there will be lots of ponds that are safely fishable. Right now it's a sketchy endeavor wherever you go.

[coyotezh]

Sorry, but I won't be sharing where I go until ice conditions are safe. Liability is a bitsch and I'd hate to have you go through the ice and then blame me for sending you out there :o

Wait for a couple weeks after the warm weather forecasted for next week is gone and there will be lots of ponds that are safely fishable. Right now it's a sketchy endeavor wherever you go.

:) Hi, Mister, you think too much. I am a old man and I know the risk of the ice... I just never caught brookie this year and have no clue where to chase them, all I caught are rainbows :sHa_shakeshout:

btw, I am busy to smoke the coyotes these days... lots of fun!:) and then whitetails in couple of days.....what a busy old man! :sHa_shakeshout:

[huntin'fool]

Those look yummy Jay!!!!

[Geezle]

:) Hi, Mister, you think too much. I am a old man and I know the risk of the ice... I just never caught brookie this year and have no clue where to chase them, all I caught are rainbows :sHa_shakeshout:

btw, I am busy to smoke the coyotes these days... lots of fun!:) and then whitetails in couple of days.....what a busy old man! :sHa_shakeshout:

I think that's one of the first times I've ever been accused of thinking *too much*! :lol:

[Fowl Life]

well I just got hungry!