What do I do with a fish after I hook it?

[Speedysbigred]

You are right about spots all over the place in your location: cold water to the west, including within the Rocky Mountain National Park; warm water to the east out on the plains - excellent bass fishing in Bonny Lake. I suggest getting a subscription to Colorado Outdoors, the publication for the Colorado Department of Wildlife. A world of information in each issue on where to fish within the state.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

When I was little my grandpa told me that if I wanted to go fishing I had to clean whatever I caught. He taught us to clean a bullhead when we were 4 or 5. He helped with the knife at first...

I skin or filet everything...why mess with scales That's like plucking a wild turkey...not me!

Cindy

 

[ThisOldCabin]

I can't wait to go fishing again!

I know you asked about when to dispatch your catch.

We do have limits on our gamefish.I try to keep my catches alive and try to replace smaller with bigger.Bring home the nicest eatin' size.I use a clip-type stringer and a basket too.

Filleting is not that hard to do.I like a electric fillet knife.The bigger the fish the easier it is.But once you learn how even smaller fish are easy.

 

[lorihadams]

We fished for striped bass all the time and we fileted them. You lay the fish down and make a straight cut just behind the gills. Then you turn the blade horizontally and run it down the length of the fish along the backbone. Stop just short of the tail and then flip the newly cut piece over so the meat is exposed. Then turn the blade horizontally again and cut just along the skin to leave you with a beautiful filet. Turn the fish over and do the other side.

Now, take the guts and left over bits and cut them up and put them in a bait trap and catch some crawdads!!!

 

[MsPony]

The easiest way to gut, ever, is stick your finger or hand down the throat as far as you can, then pull up and away from the body.

I have a handy thing that I stick the fish backside down into, then do it.

Easy peasy!

 

[colowyo0809]

As my dear old Pappy used to say, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day".

Trade beer for Livewire and probably

 

[Myhouseisazoo2]

Geez, you guys clean fish way differently than I learned. We always cut the head off, and yank the guts out all w/one cut.

Woah! I've never heard of this method before... Is this method easier and is there a tutorial I could find somewhere about how to properly do this?

 

[Denim Deb]

I don't know. I've never cleaned fish any other way. And I also haven't done this in years. I haven't had the time to go fishing for several years.

 

[Myhouseisazoo2]

I haven't had the time to go fishing for several years.

I know how that is, last year I fished a little bit but it was in a lake by a library, and since people dump their red ear sliders there we caught way more of those than fish!

 

[sumi]

I used to fish lots when I was a child, but then I lost interest. My son is mad about fishing though

Last year we moved to the coast and while at the beach one day we spotted a huge (for a rock pool) fish. I of course went after it. It took me about 5 minutes and getting completely soaked (this was in the middle of winter!), but I got it!! Nice, big fish it was and oh it tasted heavenly too.

DH teased me something awful about it for ages afterwards, my going "hand fishing" like that, so I quipped back that I caught a bigger fish with my bare HANDS than he did with a rod