OT: WHAT ARE THE 3 BEST TASTING FRESHWATER FISH?

[TedH]

Fish in an oven just ain't right.

+1

[gunsmither]

Bluegills

Nortons

Channel Cats

All deep fried in beer batter. Yu--mmmmm--y!!!!!!!!!

[Mike D.]

Here in North CA we have Big Gills, Crappie and Channel cats.

[Griff]

Trout, Walleye & catfish, inthat order. If you cnsider Salmon a freshwater fish (I don't) then they go in @ #2.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

BTW, another southern thing is that "Bream" are "all" of the panfish family. We only speak the official language - Bluegill, Red Belly, Specks (crappie), Warmouth etc.. if we are trying to brag.

Yeah, I meant Crappie when I said Specks. I didn't mean to confuse any of the yankees that frequent the board.

[AJMD429]

AJMD429,

For bream (bluegill etc..), scale them with a dull knife or large spoon, cut off the head right behind the front fin (on the side) and gut them. Wash - Salt/pepper and cover with corn meal/flour mixture (1 part meal to 2 parts flour) and deep fry. In the old south, we put the meal/flour mixture in a paper bag and drop in a few prepped fish and shake the bag to get a good coverage. When they are done, break off the tail about an inch from the rear. Then pull out the fin on the fish's back. (Pull from the rear of the fin - kinda up and forward from the rear to the front at the same time). You will then be able to pull the meat off the with your fingers w/o any bones coming out. I start with the little bit of meat on the tail section we just broke off then work from the back to front on each side. You should get a pretty good chunk of meat off of each side with very little effort. I do catfish the same way except they are skinned.

As a side note, I know plenty of old timers who will eat the whole fish, bones and all if it is a "little" bream. They just cook it well. There are still places where you can get a bream sandwich, which is eaten that way.

All this has me now wanting to go fishing. I live within eye sight of the great Suwannee River, which has some of the best tasting catfish.

BTW, another southern thing is that "Bream" are "all" of the panfish family. We only speak the official language - Bluegill, Red Belly, Specks (crappie), Warmouth etc.. if we are trying to brag.

I'm going to print that up and save it for the next fishing outing. Unfortunately our pond is only about 100x250 feet, and silted in to the point that in summer it is about 18" deep, so I'm not sure what the future is for bluegill - it USED to have bass AND bluegill though, before the flash floods and silting. Thanks...!

[Scott Young]

this is in no specific order.

1. i love fish caught in rivers, streams and creeks.
2. i love fish caught in lakes.
3. i love fish caught in ponds.

[flatnose]

I much prefer ocean fish, but of the freshwater fish I like ,
Pike
Largemouth bass
Zander.

[Bogie35]

Okay. Now the leaders are:

Catfish 18
Crappie 17
Bream 16
Trout 16
Walleye 10

Some answers have merged two or more species, so I've done my best to filter through it. From what I've heard Walleye is fantastic, but I have never had an opportunity to try it.

But Catfish, Crappie, Bream, and Trout sound about right!

bogie

[buckeyeshooter]

walleye
pike
trout

[Bullard4075]

#1 Angelfish
#2 Black Molly
#3 Neons

But then I am on a diet.

[Bogie35]

#1 Angelfish
#2 Black Molly
#3 Neons

But then I am on a diet.

[Blaine]

An honorable mention goes to Peacock Bass, but I don't think you can find them in the States. While stationed in Panama, I could go on the canal and fish for them. Excellent, firm white meat and would be my favorite if only they had them around here........ While fishing in Panama, it is truly a great idea to stay in the boat at all times

[Boreman]

Based on my taste,in order, as follows:
1. Walleye
2. Walleye
3. Walleye

[Bruce]

Rimfire, I know what you mean about our northern neighbors. They keep bringing up fish that can't be from fresh water. You know - Bigeyes and Neon Pikes. I'll bet they are catfish and bream in disguise.

Blaine, you are in luck. There are Peacock Bass in Florida. Some enterprising individual thought it would be nice to introduce them to our tropical waters. Come get all you want. You can take some Walking Catfish, False Pirahna and a truck load of other exotics also - if you wish.

Even though I make fun of the exotics, there is one that I will not complain about to much. Tilapia. Not to bad at all. The only problem is that they do not take to being caught by a line and hook. Cast netting or bow fishing are about the only way to get them. Thankfully, none of the exotic fish can survive from about Ocala north due to cold water in the winter. Neither can the Anacondas, Boas, monkeys, lizzards, frogs, birds and other things that got released by well meaning short term residents and movie crews.

[BAGTIC]

Beam (bluegill) and crappie are definitely on my list.

I prefer bullheads to channel catfish. Flathead catfish is good too. The best catfish is the stuff imported from Vietnam, Thailand, etc. and now sold under the name Basa in the US because our own catfish farmers were afraid they could not stand the competition once people learned what good catfish tastes like.

[BAGTIC]

AJMD429,

For bream (bluegill etc..), scale them with a dull knife or large spoon, cut off the head right behind the front fin (on the side) and gut them. Wash - Salt/pepper and cover with corn meal/flour mixture (1 part meal to 2 parts flour) and deep fry. In the old south, we put the meal/flour mixture in a paper bag and drop in a few prepped fish and shake the bag to get a good coverage. When they are done, break off the tail about an inch from the rear. Then pull out the fin on the fish's back. (Pull from the rear of the fin - kinda up and forward from the rear to the front at the same time). You will then be able to pull the meat off the with your fingers w/o any bones coming out. I start with the little bit of meat on the tail section we just broke off then work from the back to front on each side. You should get a pretty good chunk of meat off of each side with very little effort. I do catfish the same way except they are skinned.

As a side note, I know plenty of old timers who will eat the whole fish, bones and all if it is a "little" bream. They just cook it well. There are still places where you can get a bream sandwich, which is eaten that way.

All this has me now wanting to go fishing. I live within eye sight of the great Suwannee River, which has some of the best tasting catfish.

BTW, another southern thing is that "Bream" are "all" of the panfish family. We only speak the official language - Bluegill, Red Belly, Specks (crappie), Warmouth etc.. if we are trying to brag.

Heresy!. That fried tail fin makes a tasty crunchy 'chip'.

On the small ones I scale them and remove the heads. Eat them like corn on the cob, top (back) side first. Bite down till you feel the bones and pull the meat off. Turn over and do the bottom side the same way from the body cavity to the tail. On the little ones there isn't enough meat on the ribs to much worry about and it is often overcooked and dry because it is so thin..

Spring sucker caught from cold water also have a good flavor once you get around the bones. I only mention it because some one mentioned pike/pickerel which is about the same situation.

[Mokwaw]

Bullhead cats
Blue gill
Sturgeon

[piller]

Bream or panfish (Bluegill, Warmouth, Redear, et.c.)
Crappie
Catfish, no wait, Walleye, no wait, Catfish, no wait, Walleye, ahh, the heck with it, most all fish is good to me.

[AkRay]

1. sheefish
2. red salmon
3. arctic grayling

[Bruce]

Bagtic, I know what you mean about the tail being crunchy - and good. But only on the small ones. Seeing you mention suckers brings up another interesting Florida thing. Florida has a special few day event in the Panhandle that is curious. When the weather is cold, we allow suckers to be netted (illegal otherwise) out of a few designated small streams. The locals there go crazy over the event. They fry them up and eat them whole. I tried it once and all I can say is - mouth full of little bones.

[BGunn]

Walleye



Walleye



Perch





Trout = to big, like cardboard, we 'em throw back...

[Scott Young]

well after giving this some more thought i like bass, razorback buffalo, and 3 finger bream.

[rangerider7]

Channel Cat
Bream
White Bass

[505stevec]

1 free (invited over to a fisherman friends house)
2. cheap
3. fried

Man I need to git some fish to fry Yum!

I have never caught a fish in my life! I have even bought books on the subject of freshwater fishing. I have sat, stood between two guys catching fish and narry a bite. So I resigned myself to buying or recieving gifts from fishermen friends that dont eat fish

[Bogie35]

The leader board:

BREAM 21
CATFISH 21
CRAPPIE 19
TROUT 17
WALLEYE 16

The next closest competitor is PERCH with only 8. Sounds like those will be the top 5. I say throw 'em all in a stew and enjoy the best of five worlds!!

bogie

[Bruce]

Bogie35,

If you say that word "stew" in relation to fish again - we are going to take your hunting and fishing rights away for a whole month. Shame on you. On a public board with children viewing non the less - Shame, Shame.

505stevec,

That just is not right. My invitation to you. Come to north Florida and the fishing trip is on me. Unless of course you stew or bake them - in that case - it serves you right.

Next thing you know our members will be baking deer meat and roasting peanuts. Wild game/fish was meant to be fried and peanuts must be boiled. I have heard rumors of cooking game meat over wood and I guess that is OK. I have smoked some and grilled some, but that must remain a secret on the method.

Websters - Stew - something that is covered up with vegetables and over cooked to cover up problems. Does not include wild meat or fish.

[pharmseller]

1. Ribeye
2. T bone
3. Ribeye


Oh...you mean fish...

1. searun cutthroat but only if caught in salt water
2. walleye
3. black sea bass


P

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Next thing you know our members will be baking deer meat and roasting peanuts. Wild game/fish was meant to be fried and peanuts must be boiled.

Now we know you're a hard core Floridian. Love them hot boiled peanuts.

[AmBraCol]

In no particular order:

Tilapia (deep fried)
Shovelnose catfish
Piranha (fried to a crisp so the bones are crunchy)

[Bogie35]

"If you say that word "stew" in relation to fish again - we are going to take your hunting and fishing rights away for a whole month. Shame on you. On a public board with children viewing non the less - Shame, Shame."

I admit it. I slipped. Maybe it was a relapse.

I was just trying to think of a way to get each fish in the same dish. At least I didn't say "casserole"!

bogie

[tman]

perch, walleye,burbot. distant 4th is smelt

[Rimfire McNutjob]

At least I didn't say "casserole"!

I just flashed back to the days of the hot tuna noodle casserole my mother would occassionally make. I nearly passed out at the thought of having to take even a single bite. I probably won't be able to eat fish for a month now.

[Travis Morgan]

Beef and pork can both swim, so they count. They're followed by fishsticks.

[scr83jp]

The Brown,Brook & Rainbow trout I caught after hiking in 13 miles to an alpine lake in the Klamath NF of northern calif

[Travis Morgan]

At least I didn't say "casserole"!

I just flashed back to the days of the hot tuna noodle casserole my mother would occassionally make. I nearly passed out at the thought of having to take even a single bite. I probably won't be able to eat fish for a month now.

Tuna casserole MUST have peas in it!