Waters and Woods

Anyone catch it this morning? Johnny was catching flatties on the Winnebago chain jigging blade baits (zip lure) next to bridge pilings. They caught quite a few.
He kept raving about how good they were to eat, especially the bigger ones.
They demonstrated how to clean them and made sure to emphasize how the belly meat was by far the best.
At first I thought it was tongue in cheek. But after watching the knife go through the 15lber, I knew they weren’t kidding.

I know, big deal, they didn’t break any laws, and yes they do taste good (so I’ve heard).

I’m just wondering how the Muksy and Bass guys would feel watching this promotion of their beloved fish being encouraged on a fishing show to be taken for the table

I saw it.

They were over estimating the weight of those flatheads.

I am going to meet up with Larry Smith in a few weeks, I’ll preach a little catfish conservation to him. Although I don’t think he’d ever consider keeping one over 20 pounds.

One thing it showed me is that you get a ton of meat from a 10 pounder.

I won’t be going out to fill the freezer with cats, but it was interesting to see one cleaned. I had no idea how to even start with one, but I may just give it a try. We catch alot of them on the Wisconsin by Nekoosa. I will stick with the smaller ones down there to limit the old mercury intake. I would have never thought you would catch them on a Zip Lure though. Found this episode to be kinda interesting. John could definately lighten up on the coffee any day now though.

Bernie

I didn’t think it was that bad, just beacause they weren’t keeping the biggest ones that were being caught. It sounded like he had a max size limit that he would keep. I do the same thing with my pike most days. Although I do like the days like I had last week where I come home with no eaters, because they are all over my “edible” size limit.

Plus I think for people who are thinking about getting into Catting and want to take some home, it was a inforative segent . I personally wouldn’t have known about the belly meat myself.

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I personally wouldn’t have known about the belly meat myself.

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Didn’t see it…just wondering if they said anything about the belly meat is where the best chemicals, compounds and heavy metals are stored?

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I personally wouldn’t have known about the belly meat myself.

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Didn’t see it…just wondering if they said anything about the belly meat is where the best chemicals, compounds and heavy metals are stored?

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I bet it saves them money on the glow in the dark ca-nidrums Did I say that

yeah, I guess it was the promotion thing that irked me a bit, not so much keeping a couple. The guy would probably be forced off the air if he put the knife to a 43″ musky and then promoted it.

Great point Brian.

I wouldn’t like seeing a muskie filleted, heck even hearing about it bugs me but like you said, it’s not breaking the law and it is a persons right. I wouldn’t knock anyone for making that choice. Thing is, I’ve heard they are a very oily fish (because they typically eat rough fish, or so I’ve been told). Just my two cents for two cents.

Chris

I hope this relates. Fishing this weekend, I tried a river in town when I dropped the kids off at the pool….literally. My daughter, her friend, nephew and another kid. Anyways, I caught a nice bass on a sucker (not much of a fight on a cat rod) and released it. On my way back to the car, 3 groups of people asked if I caught anything. I said a nice bass on a sucker. Each one had the exact same reply, “DID YOU KEEP IT?” Each one seemed very disappointed that I let it go, I believe they even thought I was crazy. That may be true, but at least I don’t harvest the best genes in the pool. It got me to thinking that it was a greater Minnesota thing, but then again, the same thing happens here in the city, especially when you fish from shore.

So what’s the point of my post? Don’t eat Flatheads.