A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.

Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?

Lou

"Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
...

<Snip>

> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
> Lou

Maybe.

I think my grandfather taught me how to clean/scale/fillet fish from the
Long Island Sound & Atlantic when I was 7 or 8.

One of the best fish meals came on an all day boat out of Oxnard Ca. One of
the fishermen an elder Japanese man had caught more than his limit and on
the way back to the harbor - asked the Captain if he could borrow/use the
grill.

He filleted several rock cod & cut them into chunks. He then stir-fried the
fish with some green onions & some soy & some other stuff.

My goodness - I don't remember having fish that good.

Dimitri

Lou Decruss wrote:
> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>
> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
> Lou
No, I have friends in their forties and fifties who have never cleaned
fish or any kind of animal before. It sometimes is a shock to those who
have never done it but it becomes easier the more you do it.

I've been a fisherman practically since birth, both fresh and sal****er.
My Dad taught me to fillet fish when I was barely seven years old. In
our youth my DW and our kids went fishing whenever possible and then
filleted the fish for freezer storage. Kids were taught the same as I
was but wife resisted learning. Kids can still do it (they're in their
late forties now)but wife still resists doing the work.

There's nothing like fresh caught fish Lou. Straight from the water to
the frying pan, right on the creek or riverbank. Good for you.

On Sep 2, 2:52*pm, Lou Decruss > wrote:
> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> fish. *He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. ....[snip]
>*The first two weren't too
> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. *...[snip]
>. *I guess some fish are a bit different
> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more.

Flat fish anatomy/structure is a little different. You'll want
someone to show you the way to tackle them the first time.

> *I see lots of fresh fish in the near future. *

Lucky.

> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?

Just depends on how and where you were raised. I first went fishing
at 8 or 9; by the time I was allowed to clean and fillet them by
myself I was 11 and anxious to have the chance. -aem

> Lou

On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:05:36 -0700, "Dimitri" >
wrote:

>
>"Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
.. .
>
><Snip>
>
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>
>> Lou
>
>Maybe.
>
>I think my grandfather taught me how to clean/scale/fillet fish from the
>Long Island Sound & Atlantic when I was 7 or 8.
>
>One of the best fish meals came on an all day boat out of Oxnard Ca. One of
>the fishermen an elder Japanese man had caught more than his limit and on
>the way back to the harbor - asked the Captain if he could borrow/use the
>grill.
>
>He filleted several rock cod & cut them into chunks. He then stir-fried the
>fish with some green onions & some soy & some other stuff.
>
>My goodness - I don't remember having fish that good.

I was on a boat in the gulf a few years ago and the people fishing
caught a bunch of whiting. We had them that night and I remember them
being great but didn't pay much attention to cleaning them. I guess
it's catch up time now. Midwest fishing is obviously nothing like
ocean fishing, but it's all we have.

Lou

On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:08:02 -0500, George Shirley
> wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
>> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
>> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
>> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
>> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
>> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
>> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
>> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
>> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
>> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
>> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
>> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
>> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
>> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
>> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>>
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>
>> Lou
>No, I have friends in their forties and fifties who have never cleaned
>fish or any kind of animal before.

I'm in my 50's. I don't know anyone in real life that does it until
now. I've got a few friends who are avid fishermen but they catch and
release.

>It sometimes is a shock to those who
>have never done it but it becomes easier the more you do it.

This didn't seem that hard but it's just one kind of little fish. I'm
sure I've just scratched the surface.

>I've been a fisherman practically since birth, both fresh and sal****er.
>My Dad taught me to fillet fish when I was barely seven years old. In
>our youth my DW and our kids went fishing whenever possible and then
>filleted the fish for freezer storage. Kids were taught the same as I
>was but wife resisted learning. Kids can still do it (they're in their
>late forties now)but wife still resists doing the work.
>
>There's nothing like fresh caught fish Lou. Straight from the water to
>the frying pan, right on the creek or riverbank. Good for you.

Thanks George. There's a lake within walking distance from our
cottage. This should be fun.

Lou

"Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:05:36 -0700, "Dimitri" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
. ..
>>
>><Snip>
>>
>>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>>
>>> Lou
>>
>>Maybe.
>>
>>I think my grandfather taught me how to clean/scale/fillet fish from the
>>Long Island Sound & Atlantic when I was 7 or 8.
>>
>>One of the best fish meals came on an all day boat out of Oxnard Ca. One
>>of
>>the fishermen an elder Japanese man had caught more than his limit and on
>>the way back to the harbor - asked the Captain if he could borrow/use the
>>grill.
>>
>>He filleted several rock cod & cut them into chunks. He then stir-fried
>>the
>>fish with some green onions & some soy & some other stuff.
>>
>>My goodness - I don't remember having fish that good.
>
> I was on a boat in the gulf a few years ago and the people fishing
> caught a bunch of whiting. We had them that night and I remember them
> being great but didn't pay much attention to cleaning them. I guess
> it's catch up time now. Midwest fishing is obviously nothing like
> ocean fishing, but it's all we have.
>
> Lou

IMHO

Fresh is fresh and there's nothing like Fresh Trout or Big Mouth Bass - Lake
and river fishing is just as great. Enjoy your new discovery.

The only problem I see for the future is you'll get spoiled very spoiled and
fish sticks buried in Tartar sauce will never be the same.

:-)

Dimitri

On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:47:08 -0700 (PDT), aem >
wrote:

>On Sep 2, 2:52*pm, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
>> fish. *He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. ....[snip]
>>*The first two weren't too
>> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. *...[snip]
>>. *I guess some fish are a bit different
>> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more.
>
>Flat fish anatomy/structure is a little different. You'll want
>someone to show you the way to tackle them the first time.

Thanks for the tip. I've been told walleye have another row of bones
are a bit tricky too.
>
> > *I see lots of fresh fish in the near future. *
>
>Lucky.

I'm lucky to have a partner who it more excited than me about it.
>
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
>Just depends on how and where you were raised. I first went fishing
>at 8 or 9; by the time I was allowed to clean and fillet them by
>myself I was 11 and anxious to have the chance. -aem

I spent time of farms as a kid but grew up in Chicago. There wasn't
much opportunity for me to learn and I never took much interest until
now.

Lou

Lou Decruss wrote:
> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>
> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
> Lou

My father owned a fishing camp in Big Pine Key, Florida and I spent my
summer vacations from 14 till I was 16 cleaning tourist fish. I haven't
cleaned a fish nor fished since I turned 16 and now I'm 61 so that is a long
time. I will tell you though it is a learned skill that will stay with you
the rest of your life. I can still hear him telling me how to do it
properly.

--

Joe Cilinceon

Lou Decruss wrote:

> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a fish.
> He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes almost
> daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing home.
> Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night before
> and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too good but by
> the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me all the
> fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy sandwiches that
> were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different to filet but I'm no
> longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish that's fresh out of the
> water is so much better than store bought stuff. What a treat. Louise
> loves to fish but it's something we've never done together. I don't
> mind it as long as there's a cooler of beer and friends around. When I
> came home with the fish she asked if I now know how to do it. Her
> immediate response was "lets go get licenses." I see lots of fresh fish
> in the near future.
>
> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?

I have never cleaned a fish before. Well, except for when I take a
shower.


--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
Need a new news feed? http://blinkynet.net/comp/newfeed.html

Blinky the Shark
>
> I have never cleaned a fish before. �

Well, sharks don't have boners.

On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 19:37:09 -0400, "Joe Cilinceon" >
wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
>> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
>> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
>> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
>> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
>> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
>> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
>> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
>> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
>> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
>> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
>> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
>> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
>> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
>> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>>
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>
>> Lou
>
>My father owned a fishing camp in Big Pine Key, Florida and I spent my
>summer vacations from 14 till I was 16 cleaning tourist fish. I haven't
>cleaned a fish nor fished since I turned 16 and now I'm 61 so that is a long
>time. I will tell you though it is a learned skill that will stay with you
>the rest of your life. I can still hear him telling me how to do it
>properly.

I'm sure I'll need to have this old guy work with me again. He's a
new neighbor and I've only known him a few months. He's alone and
likes people. I adore older people. So much to learn from them.
Louise wants to go fishing with him.

Lou

On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:44:05 -0700, Blinky the Shark
> wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>
>> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a fish.
>> He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes almost
>> daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing home.
>> Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night before
>> and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too good but by
>> the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me all the
>> fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy sandwiches that
>> were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different to filet but I'm no
>> longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish that's fresh out of the
>> water is so much better than store bought stuff. What a treat. Louise
>> loves to fish but it's something we've never done together. I don't
>> mind it as long as there's a cooler of beer and friends around. When I
>> came home with the fish she asked if I now know how to do it. Her
>> immediate response was "lets go get licenses." I see lots of fresh fish
>> in the near future.
>>
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
>I have never cleaned a fish before. Well, except for when I take a
>shower.

LOL. After I posted I knew you'd be swimming around these waters.

Lou

On Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:08:50 -0500, Kathleen
> wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
>> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
>> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
>> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
>> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
>> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
>> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
>> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
>> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
>> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
>> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
>> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
>> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
>> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
>> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>>
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
>I learned when I was 9 or 10 when we were visiting some friends of may
>parents' down at Lake of the Ozarks. Bluegill, crappie, bass.

Sounds fun. I'd like to try some fresh perch.

>I balked at the catfish, though. They gave me a major case of the heebie jeebies.

I'd love to try some fresh catfish. All I've ever had has been
frozen.

Lou

Lou Decruss wrote:

> On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:44:05 -0700, Blinky the Shark
> > wrote:
>
>>Lou Decruss wrote:
>>
>>> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a fish.
>>> He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes almost
>>> daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing home.
>>> Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night before
>>> and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too good but by
>>> the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me all the
>>> fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy sandwiches that
>>> were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different to filet but I'm no
>>> longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish that's fresh out of the
>>> water is so much better than store bought stuff. What a treat. Louise
>>> loves to fish but it's something we've never done together. I don't
>>> mind it as long as there's a cooler of beer and friends around. When I
>>> came home with the fish she asked if I now know how to do it. Her
>>> immediate response was "lets go get licenses." I see lots of fresh fish
>>> in the near future.
>>>
>>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>
>>I have never cleaned a fish before. Well, except for when I take a
>>shower.
>
> LOL. After I posted I knew you'd be swimming around these waters.

I smelled blood.


--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
Need a new news feed? http://blinkynet.net/comp/newfeed.html

Lou Decruss wrote:
> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>
> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
> Lou


I've cleaned plenty of fish, but when I go out in the Gulf or the Laguna
Madre the guy who owns the charter boat does it for tips. It's so much
more pleasant to watch the gulls feast on the leavings than to stink up
my place.



--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life

Lou Decruss wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:05:36 -0700, "Dimitri" >
> wrote:
>
>> "Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>> <Snip>
>>
>>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>>
>>> Lou
>> Maybe.
>>
>> I think my grandfather taught me how to clean/scale/fillet fish from the
>> Long Island Sound & Atlantic when I was 7 or 8.
>>
>> One of the best fish meals came on an all day boat out of Oxnard Ca. One of
>> the fishermen an elder Japanese man had caught more than his limit and on
>> the way back to the harbor - asked the Captain if he could borrow/use the
>> grill.
>>
>> He filleted several rock cod & cut them into chunks. He then stir-fried the
>> fish with some green onions & some soy & some other stuff.
>>
>> My goodness - I don't remember having fish that good.
>
> I was on a boat in the gulf a few years ago and the people fishing
> caught a bunch of whiting. We had them that night and I remember them
> being great but didn't pay much attention to cleaning them. I guess
> it's catch up time now. Midwest fishing is obviously nothing like
> ocean fishing, but it's all we have.
>
> Lou
last time I caught a bunch of whiting, I smoked them using pecan chunks.
They were awesome!

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life

George Shirley wrote:
> Lou Decruss wrote:
>> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
>> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
>> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
>> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
>> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
>> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
>> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
>> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
>> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
>> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
>> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
>> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
>> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
>> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
>> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>
>> Lou
> No, I have friends in their forties and fifties who have never cleaned
> fish or any kind of animal before. It sometimes is a shock to those who
> have never done it but it becomes easier the more you do it.
>
> I've been a fisherman practically since birth, both fresh and sal****er.
> My Dad taught me to fillet fish when I was barely seven years old. In
> our youth my DW and our kids went fishing whenever possible and then
> filleted the fish for freezer storage. Kids were taught the same as I
> was but wife resisted learning. Kids can still do it (they're in their
> late forties now)but wife still resists doing the work.
>
> There's nothing like fresh caught fish Lou. Straight from the water to
> the frying pan, right on the creek or riverbank. Good for you.

I knew I was missing out on something! I've gutted any number of trout
I've caught, but since I didn't live near any warm-water lakes where
perch, bass, sunfish, and crappie lived, I never got to fillet anything.

In article >,
Lou Decruss > wrote:

> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>
> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
> Lou

No. <g>

I've scaled and gutted a fresh fish for frying whole, but I've still
never fillet'ed one, even tho' someone sent me a cool video.

It's just that I've not been fishing in years...

I may fix that this fall when the weather cools down.

Glad you learned! The video shows fillet techniques for 3 different
types of fish.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
George Shirley > wrote:

> Lou Decruss wrote:
> > A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> > fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> > almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> > home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> > before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> > good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> > all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> > sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> > to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> > that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> > stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> > never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> > beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> > I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> > licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
> >
> > Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
> >
> > Lou
> No, I have friends in their forties and fifties who have never cleaned
> fish or any kind of animal before. It sometimes is a shock to those who
> have never done it but it becomes easier the more you do it.
>
> I've been a fisherman practically since birth, both fresh and sal****er.
> My Dad taught me to fillet fish when I was barely seven years old. In
> our youth my DW and our kids went fishing whenever possible and then
> filleted the fish for freezer storage. Kids were taught the same as I
> was but wife resisted learning. Kids can still do it (they're in their
> late forties now)but wife still resists doing the work.
>
> There's nothing like fresh caught fish Lou. Straight from the water to
> the frying pan, right on the creek or riverbank. Good for you.

Ah yes...

When I was little, mom and dad used to take us camping in Colorado.
They'd find a road and drive until they found water. (Usually logging
roads). Mom and dad hated campgrounds. Some a-hole always had to "share"
their music with everyone!

Anyhoo, mom would get up, drop a baited line in the water for trout,
then go start the campfire to make coffee and bacon and stuff. She'd
check the line periodically and pull in a trout, and put it on a gill
stringer.

By the time the bacon and coffee were done, she'd have enough trout for
breakfast! She'd clean them and fry them in the bacon fat, and follow
that with eggs.

Bacon and eggs with fresh trout for breakfast.

Ah the memories...
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
"Dimitri" > wrote:

> IMHO
>
> Fresh is fresh and there's nothing like Fresh Trout or Big Mouth Bass - Lake
> and river fishing is just as great. Enjoy your new discovery.
>
> The only problem I see for the future is you'll get spoiled very spoiled and
> fish sticks buried in Tartar sauce will never be the same.
>
> :-)
>
> Dimitri

Indeed. <g>
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
Kathleen > wrote:

> Lou Decruss wrote:
> > A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> > fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> > almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> > home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> > before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> > good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> > all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> > sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> > to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> > that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> > stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> > never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> > beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> > I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> > licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
> >
> > Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
> I learned when I was 9 or 10 when we were visiting some friends of may
> parents' down at Lake of the Ozarks. Bluegill, crappie, bass. I balked
> at the catfish, though. They gave me a major case of the heebie jeebies.

<lol>

To me, catfish are best gutted and skinned, then fried whole!
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
Lou Decruss > wrote:

> On Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:08:50 -0500, Kathleen
> > wrote:
>
> >Lou Decruss wrote:
> >> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> >> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> >> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> >> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> >> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> >> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> >> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> >> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> >> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> >> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> >> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> >> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> >> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> >> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> >> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
> >>
> >> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
> >
> >I learned when I was 9 or 10 when we were visiting some friends of may
> >parents' down at Lake of the Ozarks. Bluegill, crappie, bass.
>
> Sounds fun. I'd like to try some fresh perch.
>
> >I balked at the catfish, though. They gave me a major case of the heebie
> >jeebies.
>
> I'd love to try some fresh catfish. All I've ever had has been
> frozen.
>
> Lou

Meh, there is a reason I prefer farm raised catfish...

As for perch, there is nothing more wonderful than a pan full of those!

Except maybe trout. ;-d
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
Janet Wilder > wrote:

> Lou Decruss wrote:
> > A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> > fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> > almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> > home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> > before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> > good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> > all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> > sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> > to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> > that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> > stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> > never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> > beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> > I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> > licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
> >
> > Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
> >
> > Lou
>
>
> I've cleaned plenty of fish, but when I go out in the Gulf or the Laguna
> Madre the guy who owns the charter boat does it for tips. It's so much
> more pleasant to watch the gulls feast on the leavings than to stink up
> my place.

You don't make fish stock?
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
Janet Wilder > wrote:

> last time I caught a bunch of whiting, I smoked them using pecan chunks.
> They were awesome!

Hm, I may have to try that. Whiting is dirt cheap at the store.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

Lou Decruss wrote:
>
> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?

Cleaned one or two fish myself years and years ago - quickly decided to
make it SEP (somebody else's problem)...
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

There is no such thing as a little garlic. ~A. Baer

In article >,
ChattyCathy > wrote:

> Lou Decruss wrote:
> >
> > Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
> Cleaned one or two fish myself years and years ago - quickly decided to
> make it SEP (somebody else's problem)...

<lol>

Grossery store???
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

Omelet wrote:

> In article >,
> ChattyCathy > wrote:
>
>> Lou Decruss wrote:
>> >
>> > Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>
>> Cleaned one or two fish myself years and years ago - quickly decided
>> to make it SEP (somebody else's problem)...
>
> <lol>
>
> Grossery store???

<grin>
Something like that. I even passed on buying some sole today (which I
love), but the Fresh Fish section of the supermarket where I was
shopping is busy doing renovations so they had it just sitting (whole)
in a fridge somewhere - and there were no staff around that I could ask
to clean it for me. My bad, I know.

I don't suppose I could con you into coming over to do it for me, could
I? <veg>.
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

There is no such thing as a little garlic. ~A. Baer

On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 16:11:44 -0700, "Dimitri" >
wrote:


>Fresh is fresh and there's nothing like Fresh Trout or Big Mouth Bass - Lake
>and river fishing is just as great. Enjoy your new discovery.

Thanks.

>The only problem I see for the future is you'll get spoiled very spoiled and
>fish sticks buried in Tartar sauce will never be the same.

LOL. Never liked that much.

Lou

On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:38:34 -0500, Janet Wilder
> wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>> On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:05:36 -0700, "Dimitri" >
>> wrote:

>> I was on a boat in the gulf a few years ago and the people fishing
>> caught a bunch of whiting. We had them that night and I remember them
>> being great but didn't pay much attention to cleaning them. I guess
>> it's catch up time now. Midwest fishing is obviously nothing like
>> ocean fishing, but it's all we have.
>>
>> Lou
>last time I caught a bunch of whiting, I smoked them using pecan chunks.
>They were awesome!

I'll bet they were. These were just breaded and pan fried. But
delicious.

Lou

On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:52:36 -0500, Lou Decruss wrote:

> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.

good for you, lou.

>
> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
it's been a pretty long time, but i've cleaned a fish before.

your pal,
blake

In article >,
Kathleen > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> > In article >,
> > Kathleen > wrote:
>
> >>I learned when I was 9 or 10 when we were visiting some friends of may
> >>parents' down at Lake of the Ozarks. Bluegill, crappie, bass. I balked
> >>at the catfish, though. They gave me a major case of the heebie jeebies.
> >
> >
> > <lol>
> >
> > To me, catfish are best gutted and skinned, then fried whole!
>
> Somebody told my idiot uncle that it was easier to skin catfish while
> they were still alive. So he takes a big catfish, nails its head to a
> telephone pole and proceeds to try to skin the damned thing while it's
> still flopping around. Gave me nightmares for weeks.

Geezus... :-(

I once ran across a newbie to fishing trying to gut a live trout.
Needless to say, the fish was "struggling" <sigh>

I showed him how to kill it like mom and dad had taught me by bashing it
on the back of the head with the handle of the skinning knife, them
demonstrated how to gut it.

I left him with the parting remark: "How would YOU like to be gutted
alive. Fish are living animals".

I said it quietly. Tends to make more of a lasting impression.

People...... <shudders>
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
ChattyCathy > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > ChattyCathy > wrote:
> >
> >> Lou Decruss wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
> >>
> >> Cleaned one or two fish myself years and years ago - quickly decided
> >> to make it SEP (somebody else's problem)...
> >
> > <lol>
> >
> > Grossery store???
>
> <grin>
> Something like that. I even passed on buying some sole today (which I
> love), but the Fresh Fish section of the supermarket where I was
> shopping is busy doing renovations so they had it just sitting (whole)
> in a fridge somewhere - and there were no staff around that I could ask
> to clean it for me. My bad, I know.
>
> I don't suppose I could con you into coming over to do it for me, could
> I? <veg>.

<lol> With the right incentive, maybe. ;-)

Our local store has been carrying a lot of frozen fillets for good
prices lately in Shark, Cod, and some tilapia.

Oddly enough, catfish fillets are still expensive at $4.99.

But catfish "nuggets" are still running about $1.99.

I need to prep the deep fryer for those tho'.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >,
Lou Decruss > wrote:

> On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:38:34 -0500, Janet Wilder
> > wrote:
>
> >Lou Decruss wrote:
> >> On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:05:36 -0700, "Dimitri" >
> >> wrote:
>
> >> I was on a boat in the gulf a few years ago and the people fishing
> >> caught a bunch of whiting. We had them that night and I remember them
> >> being great but didn't pay much attention to cleaning them. I guess
> >> it's catch up time now. Midwest fishing is obviously nothing like
> >> ocean fishing, but it's all we have.
> >>
> >> Lou
> >last time I caught a bunch of whiting, I smoked them using pecan chunks.
> >They were awesome!
>
> I'll bet they were. These were just breaded and pan fried. But
> delicious.
>
> Lou

I tend to deep fry whiting with a spiced corn starch coating, or
arrowroot.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:37:07 -0500, Janet Wilder
> wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>> A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
>> fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
>> almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
>> home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
>> before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
>> good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
>> all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
>> sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
>> to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
>> that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
>> stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
>> never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
>> beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
>> I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
>> licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>>
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>>
>> Lou
>
>
>I've cleaned plenty of fish, but when I go out in the Gulf or the Laguna
>Madre the guy who owns the charter boat does it for tips. It's so much
>more pleasant to watch the gulls feast on the leavings than to stink up
>my place.

I've seen them cleaned on the gulf and the feeding frenzy the birds
make is pretty funny.

Lou

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:52:36 -0500, Lou Decruss wrote:
>
> > A few weeks ago I told my 78 yr. old neighbor I'd never cleaned a
> > fish. He said he'd be glad to teach me but we had no fish. He fishes
> > almost daily but he broke his leg and just got out of the nursing
> > home. Saturday he came over and said he had 9 crappies from the night
> > before and would be willing to teach me. The first two weren't too
> > good but by the time I was done I had it down pretty good. He gave me
> > all the fillets to take home. I blackened them and made po-boy
> > sandwiches that were awesome. I guess some fish are a bit different
> > to filet but I'm no longer intimidated to try to learn more. Fish
> > that's fresh out of the water is so much better than store bought
> > stuff. What a treat. Louise loves to fish but it's something we've
> > never done together. I don't mind it as long as there's a cooler of
> > beer and friends around. When I came home with the fish she asked if
> > I now know how to do it. Her immediate response was "lets go get
> > licenses." I see lots of fresh fish in the near future.
>
> good for you, lou.
>
> >
> > Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
> >
> it's been a pretty long time, but i've cleaned a fish before.
>
> your pal,
> blake

I can clean a fish, but still have not filleted!
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

On Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:25:18 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:


>No. <g>
>
>I've scaled and gutted a fresh fish for frying whole, but I've still
>never fillet'ed one, even tho' someone sent me a cool video.
>
>It's just that I've not been fishing in years...
>
>I may fix that this fall when the weather cools down.
>
>Glad you learned! The video shows fillet techniques for 3 different
>types of fish.

Hey OM. Thanks! Glad to see you back. I saw you quoted so I'll try
taking gmail out of the filters and see how it goes. I was missing
Wayne too.

Lou

On Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:11:40 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

>Lou Decruss wrote:
>>
>> Am I the only one who never cleaned a fish before?
>
>Cleaned one or two fish myself years and years ago - quickly decided to
>make it SEP (somebody else's problem)...

LOL.. I guess that was my thought too till I saw it's not that hard
and the results are so much better.

Lou

In article >,
Lou Decruss > wrote:

> On Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:25:18 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
>
> >No. <g>
> >
> >I've scaled and gutted a fresh fish for frying whole, but I've still
> >never fillet'ed one, even tho' someone sent me a cool video.
> >
> >It's just that I've not been fishing in years...
> >
> >I may fix that this fall when the weather cools down.
> >
> >Glad you learned! The video shows fillet techniques for 3 different
> >types of fish.
>
> Hey OM. Thanks! Glad to see you back. I saw you quoted so I'll try
> taking gmail out of the filters and see how it goes. I was missing
> Wayne too.
>
> Lou

I tweak my filters a little tighter. Too many cool people use gmail. :-)

And, thanks!
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

On Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:40:02 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:

>In article >,
> Lou Decruss > wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:38:34 -0500, Janet Wilder
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >Lou Decruss wrote:
>> >> On Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:05:36 -0700, "Dimitri" >
>> >> wrote:
>>
>> >> I was on a boat in the gulf a few years ago and the people fishing
>> >> caught a bunch of whiting. We had them that night and I remember them
>> >> being great but didn't pay much attention to cleaning them. I guess
>> >> it's catch up time now. Midwest fishing is obviously nothing like
>> >> ocean fishing, but it's all we have.
>> >>
>> >> Lou
>> >last time I caught a bunch of whiting, I smoked them using pecan chunks.
>> >They were awesome!
>>
>> I'll bet they were. These were just breaded and pan fried. But
>> delicious.
>>
>> Lou
>
>I tend to deep fry whiting with a spiced corn starch coating, or
>arrowroot.

I love deep fried fish. I'll have to try corn starch sometime.

Lou