I have eaten one muskie. Which was not intended to be food, but the fish could not be relived after many attempts. It was quite strong, fishy tasting a lot more than pike. But it was a large sized fish and I have not eaten a pike of similar size, so not a great comparison.
Another species I love is freshwater smelt!!!Yum, Yum!! Just cut the head off rip out guts, dust in flour and fry!!! I wish they were more plentiful.
JimW
Species that you would or would not eat?
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Moosebunk
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Cold water pike is a favorite. Also like "small" specks from time to time. Perch are great, haven't had crappie. Whitefish... Mmmmm. Halibut and salmonoids and arctic char are all awesome too. Rainbows and splake... yep. Bass, sure why not. Catfish, slurpy yum. Lakers from the far north are awesome, down here... not su much. Grayling are superb. Walleye is OK.
I'll eat pretty much any fish. Doesn't mean I'll target any fish for consumption though.
I'll eat pretty much any fish. Doesn't mean I'll target any fish for consumption though.
!!
A great place to catch smelt, is Lake Simcoe. Rainbow smelt were native to the Ottawa River, and its tributaries. However, through human activities they invaded Simcoe.JimW wrote:I have eaten one muskie. Which was not intended to be food, but the fish could not be relived after many attempts. It was quite strong, fishy tasting a lot more than pike. But it was a large sized fish and I have not eaten a pike of similar size, so not a great comparison.
Another species I love is freshwater smelt!!!Yum, Yum!! Just cut the head off rip out guts, dust in flour and fry!!! I wish they were more plentiful.
JimW
But every spring, in a few weeks (early April), they run up the small creeks that flow into the lake. Hundreds of people with dip nets, turn out and catch thousands of smelt!!
I remember going one night with my uncle, we missed the massive runs..as it seems to be hit or miss. The night we went, we caught 40 or so...really a small number, considering that on a good night you can catch over two-hundred!!
We took them home, and prepared them, the same way you mentioned...tasty little snacks!!
talking about Rainbow smelt
those are good in the deap fry.mmmmmmmmmmm and great to fish lakers to and other trout.
use to get them every year on a lake here in the region..we have a few lakes here that have a lot off them.
usely they spawn for here around the 12-15 may..same time as wild garlic and black flys.
.
eat them like sardine just clean the inside and cut the head and eat every thing bones and all. crunshy and good.
joco
those are good in the deap fry.mmmmmmmmmmm and great to fish lakers to and other trout.
use to get them every year on a lake here in the region..we have a few lakes here that have a lot off them.
usely they spawn for here around the 12-15 may..same time as wild garlic and black flys.
.eat them like sardine just clean the inside and cut the head and eat every thing bones and all. crunshy and good.
joco
Re: !!
I usually fish for smelt on Lake Erie mid-April we use a 30 foot seine net wade out from the beach up to our chest...stretch out the net and walk towards shore. I was down there last year Easter weekend, but was a bit early. I'm hoping to head down to visit my buddies and try my luck later in April. The store bought smelt just don't compare.Canmoore wrote: A great place to catch smelt, is Lake Simcoe. Rainbow smelt were native to the Ottawa River, and its tributaries. However, through human activities they invaded Simcoe.
But every spring, in a few weeks (early April), they run up the small creeks that flow into the lake. Hundreds of people with dip nets, turn out and catch thousands of smelt!!
I remember going one night with my uncle, we missed the massive runs..as it seems to be hit or miss. The night we went, we caught 40 or so...really a small number, considering that on a good night you can catch over two-hundred!!
We took them home, and prepared them, the same way you mentioned...tasty little snacks!!
JimW
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Spence Scout
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Well theres no wrong way to answer this question! I love the taste of fish but dont eat it a lot! When I do I eat them in the colder months. However I probably have 3-4 fish dinners a year! Thats nothing..... When I do its walleye or black crappie. Through Ice only!!!
However this years eye fishing wasnt good for me on ice! Crappie was the menu twice!
But Im a strong believer that most fish we target are way to precious & beautiful to destroy over a simple platter! I caught some gorgeous rainbows and specs this year and Cant understand how someone could cut up such a gorgeous species?! So beautiful and unique. I got tons of meat in my freezer and would much rather watch a fish like that swim away. So myself or a kid could catch it another day! But because we are human we feel we can take what is rightly ours even though it may not be needed! Thats life!
Id never eat/reason why:
CARP (bottom feeders)
CATFISH (bottom feeders)
GAR (gorgeous looking)
PIKE (not interested)
MUSKIE (living dinosaurs)
BASS (Ive seen them come out of some pretty gross crap! Literally)
ANY TROUT (too beautiful)
SALMON (dislike the taste)
However this years eye fishing wasnt good for me on ice! Crappie was the menu twice!
But Im a strong believer that most fish we target are way to precious & beautiful to destroy over a simple platter! I caught some gorgeous rainbows and specs this year and Cant understand how someone could cut up such a gorgeous species?! So beautiful and unique. I got tons of meat in my freezer and would much rather watch a fish like that swim away. So myself or a kid could catch it another day! But because we are human we feel we can take what is rightly ours even though it may not be needed! Thats life!
Id never eat/reason why:
CARP (bottom feeders)
CATFISH (bottom feeders)
GAR (gorgeous looking)
PIKE (not interested)
MUSKIE (living dinosaurs)
BASS (Ive seen them come out of some pretty gross crap! Literally)
ANY TROUT (too beautiful)
SALMON (dislike the taste)
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bucketmouth
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- Contact:
Good post Spence,
Not trying to start anything but just because someone eats fish they catch doesn't mean they cannot appreciate the beauty and fight of the fish.
"humans we feel we can take what is rightly ours even though it may not be needed! Thats life!"
Yes that is life we as humans are part of the food chain. I eat quite a bit of fish and game and I feel a lot more respectful and appreciate a meal I eat if the meat is something I caught or shot, compared to picking up a styrofoam tray in a grocery store.
A lot more precious fish and wildlife are destroyed due to farming and habitat loss than keeping some fish to eat.
Plus unless you were fishing out West those rainbows were put they to be caught and eaten, not native species, disrupts native food chain.
Anyways again nothing personally, just my thoughts on the subject. I always support selective harvest and eating of fish.
If everyone only practiced 100% catch and release it would give the "anti-fishing" people more reasons to push to ban fishing, since all we are doing is sticking a sharp hook in an animals mouth, hauling it out of its live supporting environment, and torchering the poor fish just for fun!!
Just my two cents.
JimW
Not trying to start anything but just because someone eats fish they catch doesn't mean they cannot appreciate the beauty and fight of the fish.
"humans we feel we can take what is rightly ours even though it may not be needed! Thats life!"
Yes that is life we as humans are part of the food chain. I eat quite a bit of fish and game and I feel a lot more respectful and appreciate a meal I eat if the meat is something I caught or shot, compared to picking up a styrofoam tray in a grocery store.
A lot more precious fish and wildlife are destroyed due to farming and habitat loss than keeping some fish to eat.
Plus unless you were fishing out West those rainbows were put they to be caught and eaten, not native species, disrupts native food chain.
Anyways again nothing personally, just my thoughts on the subject. I always support selective harvest and eating of fish.
If everyone only practiced 100% catch and release it would give the "anti-fishing" people more reasons to push to ban fishing, since all we are doing is sticking a sharp hook in an animals mouth, hauling it out of its live supporting environment, and torchering the poor fish just for fun!!
Just my two cents.
JimW
Spence Scout wrote:Well theres no wrong way to answer this question! I love the taste of fish but dont eat it a lot! When I do I eat them in the colder months. However I probably have 3-4 fish dinners a year! Thats nothing..... When I do its walleye or black crappie. Through Ice only!!!
However this years eye fishing wasnt good for me on ice! Crappie was the menu twice!
But Im a strong believer that most fish we target are way to precious & beautiful to destroy over a simple platter! I caught some gorgeous rainbows and specs this year and Cant understand how someone could cut up such a gorgeous species?! So beautiful and unique. I got tons of meat in my freezer and would much rather watch a fish like that swim away. So myself or a kid could catch it another day! But because we are human we feel we can take what is rightly ours even though it may not be needed! Thats life!
Id never eat/reason why:
CARP (bottom feeders)
CATFISH (bottom feeders)
GAR (gorgeous looking)
PIKE (not interested)
MUSKIE (living dinosaurs)
BASS (Ive seen them come out of some pretty gross crap! Literally)
ANY TROUT (too beautiful)
SALMON (dislike the taste)
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Spence Scout
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- Location: Kitchener
Well JimW Im glad you took interest in my response and this thread! Its a very good thread indeed! Im happy to see my response made someone feel or relate in some way or another on the topic.
However not once in my post did I state or mention that anglers or fisherman who catch and keep dont appreciate the species they target! Id also say this day and age its more like we control the food chain more often then not! Rather then being part of it!
I mean honestly whens the last time you saw your neighbor get eaten??
Also its a rather opinionated statement to say that fish are put in a lake to be caught and eaten. I fish a lot of private lakes and stocked lakes. And not once do I feel I need to keep the fish I catch. Sure theyre stocked there for our entertainment or consumption. But thats the beauty of it, we decide! There's no right or wrong, unless you cross the regulations put forth in front of us on those recycled pages we abide by from our local sporting goods store!
In regards to those "Anti fishing" folks you speak of! The ones who went for a climb on Parliament and exposed our security to our own dangers! You go on to sound like one in that exact sentence!
But your right I feel much better when I catch a fish released into a lake (a new environment to the fish) and give him a realistic glimpse of natural survival for a short period of time, only to take it from him because its our given right. Because its a catch & keep fishery! Now you tell me whats torture!
Good thing those fish we love to catch and speak of have short memory loss according to most marine biologists. Otherwise the statement you made on torture regarding fishing would be fact!
Regardless Its what keeps me waking up at 4am on a rainy or windy cold morning. Its what drives me to drive hours or delay needed erans. Fishing for me is beyond a passion. Its a lifestyle. For you providing your family or yourself with food makes you passionate or proud. Which is fine! For me its taking a pretty picture to share for years to come. And seeing a fish swim away. that's what gives me the same feeling.
Goodluck to the fish! Theyre gunna need it!!!
However not once in my post did I state or mention that anglers or fisherman who catch and keep dont appreciate the species they target! Id also say this day and age its more like we control the food chain more often then not! Rather then being part of it!
I mean honestly whens the last time you saw your neighbor get eaten??
Also its a rather opinionated statement to say that fish are put in a lake to be caught and eaten. I fish a lot of private lakes and stocked lakes. And not once do I feel I need to keep the fish I catch. Sure theyre stocked there for our entertainment or consumption. But thats the beauty of it, we decide! There's no right or wrong, unless you cross the regulations put forth in front of us on those recycled pages we abide by from our local sporting goods store!
In regards to those "Anti fishing" folks you speak of! The ones who went for a climb on Parliament and exposed our security to our own dangers! You go on to sound like one in that exact sentence!
But your right I feel much better when I catch a fish released into a lake (a new environment to the fish) and give him a realistic glimpse of natural survival for a short period of time, only to take it from him because its our given right. Because its a catch & keep fishery! Now you tell me whats torture!
Good thing those fish we love to catch and speak of have short memory loss according to most marine biologists. Otherwise the statement you made on torture regarding fishing would be fact!
Regardless Its what keeps me waking up at 4am on a rainy or windy cold morning. Its what drives me to drive hours or delay needed erans. Fishing for me is beyond a passion. Its a lifestyle. For you providing your family or yourself with food makes you passionate or proud. Which is fine! For me its taking a pretty picture to share for years to come. And seeing a fish swim away. that's what gives me the same feeling.
Goodluck to the fish! Theyre gunna need it!!!
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Bass Addict
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Spence Scout wrote: But because we are human we feel we can take what is rightly ours even though it may not be needed!
even though it may not be needed
= Bingo right there !!!!!!!Thats how most Speckled Trout and Walleye Lakes ended up '' FISH OUT ''........
There will be an influx of Great Grey Owls in the winter of 2017
The topic is what you would or would not eat and the reason why is a natural trailer.
We all have our own opinions about the why part and that's only subjective to what we happen to subscribe to for whatever reason.
As hunters and gatherers we as part of the food chain can be selective in our thoughts regarding whether we harvest for the table or not.
Some of us fish for the pure pleasure of catching and fighting a fish, others will bring the catch home to feed the family.
Neither choice is wrong but there are histories that dictate our opinions or reasons for doing anything.
I've lived long enough to have been exposed to many ideas and applied methods that have changed some of my habits and of course others that make me chuckle relative to the why part of the question.
Pleasure fishing is a small part of equation, tournament fishing is another, commercial fishing stills exists and folks bringing home a meal are the majority.
Here are a few of my observations gleaned over the years:
Commercial fishing has taken a toll on the fisheries due to over licensing and that has been somewhat turned around when it comes to our freshwater fishery by better government stewardship and control, saltwater is another story though simply because of the lack of jurisdiction on the oceans and the demand for certain specie.
Tournament fishing in North America is very high profile and receives the most exposure. If you truly want to understand the reasoning behind catch & release you can credit Ray Scott for its development. In the early days of BASS the stringer shots of fishermen holding limits of bass caused a great deal of concern to local folk who envisioned the depletion of fish for the taking in their local waters. Like all development surrounding modern day angling live wells were invented which allowed for the release of captured fish back to the waters they came from. There was and still is concern for delayed mortality which is justified and supported by the data collected by biologists on the scene. Other products and handling methods have been developed to help decrease the mortality. Products such as chemical additives to help the fish recover from extended periods in live wells, oxygen systems, timers and recirculation systems all came to be because of the concern. In reality the handling of fish and prolonged periods of time in either inferior live wells and the compounding effect of holding a fish out of water while photos are taken still contribute to the problem to a lesser degree. The overall result though is an increased awareness of how fish should be treated if the intention is to release and that's a good thing.
Pleasure fishing and for me the label should be "sport fishing" can create similar mortality within a fishery if the angler doesn't take care when handling the fish.
The above mentioned concerns disappear when the objective is fishing for the table. Clearly an angler who wants to enjoy a meal is legislated to what quantity can be kept, in some areas size is dictated and areas to fish are indicated. The legislation that surrounds this part of the fishery is based on accumulated data by scientists and biologists within government ministries. The legislation addresses the environment, natural stocks, reproduction and sustainability. Clearly some bodies of water can't sustain the pressures from environmental changes brought on by human intervention or the proximity to large population centers that have ready access to the resource. Hence the introduction of Put/Take fish stocks, the label is quite clear; these programs are not in place to add to reproduction goals but to provide angling opportunities for everyone.
I hope that whether your passion for fishing regardless what category you may fit into or what your preferences may be isn't too one sided to impair your thinking regarding how others fit into the overall picture.
We all have our own opinions about the why part and that's only subjective to what we happen to subscribe to for whatever reason.
As hunters and gatherers we as part of the food chain can be selective in our thoughts regarding whether we harvest for the table or not.
Some of us fish for the pure pleasure of catching and fighting a fish, others will bring the catch home to feed the family.
Neither choice is wrong but there are histories that dictate our opinions or reasons for doing anything.
I've lived long enough to have been exposed to many ideas and applied methods that have changed some of my habits and of course others that make me chuckle relative to the why part of the question.
Pleasure fishing is a small part of equation, tournament fishing is another, commercial fishing stills exists and folks bringing home a meal are the majority.
Here are a few of my observations gleaned over the years:
Commercial fishing has taken a toll on the fisheries due to over licensing and that has been somewhat turned around when it comes to our freshwater fishery by better government stewardship and control, saltwater is another story though simply because of the lack of jurisdiction on the oceans and the demand for certain specie.
Tournament fishing in North America is very high profile and receives the most exposure. If you truly want to understand the reasoning behind catch & release you can credit Ray Scott for its development. In the early days of BASS the stringer shots of fishermen holding limits of bass caused a great deal of concern to local folk who envisioned the depletion of fish for the taking in their local waters. Like all development surrounding modern day angling live wells were invented which allowed for the release of captured fish back to the waters they came from. There was and still is concern for delayed mortality which is justified and supported by the data collected by biologists on the scene. Other products and handling methods have been developed to help decrease the mortality. Products such as chemical additives to help the fish recover from extended periods in live wells, oxygen systems, timers and recirculation systems all came to be because of the concern. In reality the handling of fish and prolonged periods of time in either inferior live wells and the compounding effect of holding a fish out of water while photos are taken still contribute to the problem to a lesser degree. The overall result though is an increased awareness of how fish should be treated if the intention is to release and that's a good thing.
Pleasure fishing and for me the label should be "sport fishing" can create similar mortality within a fishery if the angler doesn't take care when handling the fish.
The above mentioned concerns disappear when the objective is fishing for the table. Clearly an angler who wants to enjoy a meal is legislated to what quantity can be kept, in some areas size is dictated and areas to fish are indicated. The legislation that surrounds this part of the fishery is based on accumulated data by scientists and biologists within government ministries. The legislation addresses the environment, natural stocks, reproduction and sustainability. Clearly some bodies of water can't sustain the pressures from environmental changes brought on by human intervention or the proximity to large population centers that have ready access to the resource. Hence the introduction of Put/Take fish stocks, the label is quite clear; these programs are not in place to add to reproduction goals but to provide angling opportunities for everyone.
I hope that whether your passion for fishing regardless what category you may fit into or what your preferences may be isn't too one sided to impair your thinking regarding how others fit into the overall picture.
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Spence Scout
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wolfe
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Even though I rarely eat fish, this is still an interesting topic and it's really GREAT to see it has stayed on an even keel with lots of different opinions without blow ups. 
As mentioned, I don't usually eat fish and almost never order it out, with the rare exception of catfish. However, I tried a bite or two of my mom's order of spicy/blackened type tilapia once and I thought it was really good.
Then I happened to see Mike Rowe feature tilapia in those scuzzy waste tanks on an episode of Dirty Jobs, and that completely ruined any chances of me caring to eat that fish ever again.
Although I'm talking shellfish here, and not the other fish meant in this topic, I do really love some quality scallops broiled or panfried....and also crab cakes. I won't eat clams, but love clam chowder. Yum...
I really get what Spence Scout is saying. Catching the fish is always exciting, but I also get a really great feeling when I release that fish and watch it swim away. That's just like icing on the cake for me, and who doesn't like icing?
If a fish isn't looking like it's going to survive if released, we keep it and it will be consumed. It's something I don't like to see happen, because I'm not fishing with the goal to catch fish for the table, but I think it's the ethical thing to do in that situation.
Fun thread.
W.
As mentioned, I don't usually eat fish and almost never order it out, with the rare exception of catfish. However, I tried a bite or two of my mom's order of spicy/blackened type tilapia once and I thought it was really good.
Then I happened to see Mike Rowe feature tilapia in those scuzzy waste tanks on an episode of Dirty Jobs, and that completely ruined any chances of me caring to eat that fish ever again.
Although I'm talking shellfish here, and not the other fish meant in this topic, I do really love some quality scallops broiled or panfried....and also crab cakes. I won't eat clams, but love clam chowder. Yum...
I really get what Spence Scout is saying. Catching the fish is always exciting, but I also get a really great feeling when I release that fish and watch it swim away. That's just like icing on the cake for me, and who doesn't like icing?
If a fish isn't looking like it's going to survive if released, we keep it and it will be consumed. It's something I don't like to see happen, because I'm not fishing with the goal to catch fish for the table, but I think it's the ethical thing to do in that situation.
Fun thread.
W.
Yup, all good points. I love to eat fish, but the majority of the fish I catch go back into the water. I keep the odd Walleye, when I feel like it. I remember last season opener, I caught well over 10 walleye. They all went back into the lake!
However, some species I am inclined to keep alot. Such as Crappie, they are so tasty and abundant, why not!!
What I really like, is when I am fishing, and a young boy or girl, or even an older person, who happens to be fishing near by. Sees me catching nice fish, they all come over and are like woah!! Then when I release the fish, they freak out.
It feels good to explain to them the merits of catch and release, and troper release methods. The majority of people did not even understand the concept of catch and release, but when I explained it to them, they were really happy.
It feels good to think, that you are contributing to helping a lake retain a healthy population of fish.
But getting back on topic, I nearly forgot. One fish I have tried, and really did not like. Was fallfish, basically an ovesized silvery minnow, they can get up to 2-3pounds..but there meat is mushy.
However, some species I am inclined to keep alot. Such as Crappie, they are so tasty and abundant, why not!!
What I really like, is when I am fishing, and a young boy or girl, or even an older person, who happens to be fishing near by. Sees me catching nice fish, they all come over and are like woah!! Then when I release the fish, they freak out.
It feels good to explain to them the merits of catch and release, and troper release methods. The majority of people did not even understand the concept of catch and release, but when I explained it to them, they were really happy.
It feels good to think, that you are contributing to helping a lake retain a healthy population of fish.
But getting back on topic, I nearly forgot. One fish I have tried, and really did not like. Was fallfish, basically an ovesized silvery minnow, they can get up to 2-3pounds..but there meat is mushy.
could not agree more...Moosebunk wrote:Cold water pike is a favorite. Grayling are superb.
.
I dont know how far you have to go in Ontario or the belle province but if you go North of say 55N in the prairie provinces.... you got to try eating a pike up there... THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY AWESOME ... the grayling is also a favorite if you get a chance.... Ive also had a shore lunch of Char at 68 32.756N 81 13.946W ... that was spectacular!