Take a Fish Break -- CRAPPIE TIME

[284winner]

I live just a few miles from Presque Isle. Some ice was still
in the lagoons. A plate or 2 of Crappie would go good about
now, but would favor the Perch first. Getting a bit tired of
Walleye as of late. Too much of a good thing so they say.
Stock of bacon grease is looking good, and will dig out that
Griswald cast iron pan.

What's your favorite.....Batter dip or an egg and dry rub ??
Last couple of years been using a "Shore Lunch" wetted
down with Ale.

Not sure what to say about the sick of walleye comment. Maybe " That's a good problem"!!! I don't know. Never had that problem. Specks are sure good eating especially from ice cold water. Perch are better and walleye, well, walleye are very tasty as well. Never found a fresh cold water walleye I didn't like. Getting low on my walleye fillets but personally I use Drake's and Fryin Magic mixed together with a few other preferred seasonings. Drop wet fillets in the dry mix and into the grease. Sometimes I egg/milk wash the fillets before the dry powder mix but only if I want real crispy fillets. They are just fine in the dry powder directly then into the oil.

 

[timeout]

they are trying to get on the bank here already

Miss my friend in Oklahoma. Passed away from cancer. We had a lot of fun and some of it was crappie fishing down there in early April.

 

[Cecil S.]

Man I miss crappie fishing and eatin.

 

[Handi204]

Water is still a little cool in WV a buddy and I went last Tuesday didn't get any .

 

[Joe Maisto]

We have been getting a lots of rain but the rivers are clearing up now. It was 83 today and has been in the 80s the last three days. Another one of my buddies tod me he caught over 100 fish yesterday Hw kept 20 and they were all over 12 inches. I am going as soon as I can shake lose.

12 " crappie is most respectable. Only place I have seen them bigger is in the Mississippi River. Need a net when they get like that. I have never freeze dried my fish, but I do freeze them in water.

 

[Joe Maisto]

Golden Dip beer batter, mixed to consistency of paint off the fork tines. 360 degree peanut oil, you only live once might as well enjoy it. 15-17" walleye, 10-12" crappie. Baked beans, fries or chips. Always bleed my fish in the live well, before cooler/ice. Bleeding reduces bacteria, makes wash up quicker.

It doesn't get much better than a 15-17- walleye . Ain't nothing wrong with a 9-10 " perch either ! Perch on the Mississippi are very dark green . Here on lake Michigan they are more on the silver side with some yellow . I like the "baked beans and fries" you spoke of !

 

[KMart]

.

What's your favorite.....Batter dip or an egg and dry rub ??
Last couple of years been using a "Shore Lunch" wetted
down with Ale.

 

[22turborimfire]

Cold water Silver's are purdy tasty. . My neighbor loved the smaller ones he would remove the head ,gut then fry and eat whole fish . Fried fish , cornbread , coleslaw. I remember the Mrs use House Autry with a little heat for breading.

 

[jpx2rk]

Baked with lemon pepper wrapped in foil is pretty darn good. Air fried is ok too. But you can’t substitute for plain old fried in hot grease.

Wife made up a "spicey" creole type seasoning we sprinkle/cover the fillets with, then just bake on a foil covered sheet for 20 min or so. We don't have a fryer in the house, we go to LJS's on occasion tho. LOL

 

[LarryDScott]

Back in the day before the Carp takeover on Barkley and Ky Lake. The tourists would show up in droves around April 15. That was considered prime time. I always had much better luck in March and didn't have to contend w/as much competition I have a new Lund 1875 Bass sitting in the garage, and I'm 5min from a ramp, and I cant get the initiative to go. LDS

 

[Ccrider]

Well. Time to enjoy.

 

[Coonman300]

Looks awesome! Crispy fried tails are good too!

 

[Bill Norris]

Well. Time to enjoy.
View attachment 1242364

WOW send me 2 or 3 of them bad boys on down here Bro.

 

[Ccrider]

Looks awesome! Crispy fried tails are good too!

Yep. A must. And the eggs are great too.

 

[Ccrider]

WOW send me 2 or 3 of them bad boys on down here Bro.

You pay shipping.

 

[Bill Norris]

You pay shipping.

YES SIR

 

[muleystalker]

Crappie are hard to beat. I am lucky to be able to fish all kinds of fish living on the west coast, from trout above 10,000', Big crappy, Stripped bass in the Ca. Delta and SF Bay, Black bass, Sturgeon, Salmon in the Delta and out the Golden Gate, Rock cod out the Gate along with Halibut, even Albacore, Yellowfin and Blue fin all off my own boats but I gotta say crappie is still one of the best eating fish there is.

Cc, I had two questions for you; first what is the piece of whit paper for in the vacuum packed fillets? Second why are you using that type of vacuum bag in your chamber vacuum sealer, those are for the cheaper style vacuum pump style sealers and are a lot more expensive and don't work as well.

The VP Vacmaster chamber sealer is the best purchase I ever made, I even us the gold colored foil bags and can tuna and other fish right in the bags, it cuts down the canning process by 2/3 the time.

I fillet my crappie but keep the belly portions and fry them up for appetizers when I have my buddy's over, I do the same with the rock cod bellies. And the Tuna and salmon bellies I smoke, they are the best!

 

[Joe Maisto]

Back in the day before the Carp takeover on Barkley and Ky Lake. The tourists would show up in droves around April 15. That was considered prime time. I always had much better luck in March and didn't have to contend w/as much competition I have a new Lund 1875 Bass sitting in the garage, and I'm 5min from a ramp, and I cant get the initiative to go. LDS

"I can't get the initiative to go"... Sounds kinda like the guy that lives just down the road from prime deer country but doesn't go cause it's so close to home... .

I do favors for a couple that live on a retention pond in their back yard with a walk on wood pier. They thank me by letting me take one of their lawn chairs to sit on while I fish for gills , crappie & bass. I return the bass. Best part is...there ain't nobody else fishing on the whole pond ! I only keep gills that are better than 6 "., usually like 7 or a tad better , but they are not my favorite to CLEAN !

 

[okie]

Miss my friend in Oklahoma. Passed away from cancer. We had a lot of fun and some of it was crappie fishing down there in early April.

yeah--my grandpa and I used to wear em out....he's gone now too, but he would be happy to know that my kids are picking up the slack. They are 10 and 13 and both caught a limit yesterday while their poor old dad was at work!!!

 

[okie]

For a quick version of this just add Tony Chacheres or Zatarains to your corn meal mix--tastes same to me...