Hey Guys,
I’m just looking for some ideas on keeping fish fresh while in the backcountry. Typically I hike in a few miles or more to where I’m fishing and just wondering what everyone else does to keep their fish cool after catching them and continuing fishing and then hiking out.
Thanks,
-Pemi
Way back in the day of wicker creels one could line it with fresh grass and wet it occasionally. Air flow through them also kept heat from building up as in a closed container. My dad and his buddies used to do it that way. They’d dip a hand in the water and sprinkle it into the basket from time to time. Haven’t seen a wicker on the stream in quite a while though.
The wicker creel also works well for keeping beverages cold. I have an old one that was my grandfathers, I still take it in the truck just in case I need a cold one streamside. Be sure to keep the cane well spar varnished, wet equals mold. The leather needs saddle soap and neetsfoot oil. The creel is worth preserving.
I learn more about the world while talking to myself when fishing alone
[This message has been edited by Jonezee (edited 26 May 2006).]
…and my fish won’t spoil all day? Do you clean and gut them before putting them in, or just knockem’ out and toss them in? I was curious as to whether people clean them right away or do that at home, I wasn’t sure if it made a difference in keeping the fish fresh while out?
Always been told that any game should be “cleaned” as soon as possible after harvesting to reduce heat retention and spoilage. If keeping a few trout to eat, per spouses orders usually,I bleed and gut them and,if close enough, take them back to the vehicle and ice them down right away.
If you want to keep fish, NEVER put them in a plastic bag. Instead, take along a brown paper bag, put them in it and wet the bag from time to time. You put that in your vest or creel. Something about plastic bags that depart a bad taste and enhance spoiling.
I just usually throw some mossy vegatation in the creel.
Works really well, moss really retains moisture well.
Mike
Where do you dispose of the “leftovers” after cleaning them if you stay out? Do you bury them, or do you bag it and pack it out with you? I know this seems like a stupid question, but I’ve always cleaned them at home, but if they’d stay fresher from doing it while out, I’d rather do that.
Keep them on a stringer in the water until your ready to hike out. Clean them ASAP. IMHO the guts should go back into the water and be recycled naturally. Check the regs though because some places it’s not legal. I’ve used those canvas polar creels and they work OK for a short time. Soak the canvas.
Hi Folks,
I keep fish several times a season for
a fish fry which I much enjoy. I like to
cut or rip the gills on keepers and let them
bleed out. I also like to remove entrals
soon after death. I have a live well in my
boat so I can often bleed/clean my fish
after coming home. If it is necessary to
clean fish for table fare while still on the
water, be aware of your states regulations
as to disposal of entrals. Also, some
states may require leaving head and tail
attached to permit measurement/ID of your
fish. Warm regards, Jim
If a trout is invited to dinner, that’s the only mission for the outing. As soon as enough of our finny friends have joined me, they get a ride home in the cooler on a comfy bed of ice.
Meanwhile they’re in a canvas creel that I can dunk periodically. They get gutted and gilled ASAP. They would come from a stream that needs to lose a handful of the pan sized ones on a regular basis.
If I’m truly in the back country, I don’t like to carry around dead fish on my person. I might consider building a fire where legal and roasting up a shore lunch.
Most often though, I like to fish for as long as possible without worrying about preparing fish, so a burger and fries are more likely to be dinner.
In alberta we though the guts into the water, first the fish and other things fish can eat will eat them (circle of life). And so the bears are not attracted to them. I would not be wondering around with a dead fish in alberta for very long.
Where do you dispose of the “leftovers” after cleaning them if you stay out? Do you bury them, or do you bag it and pack it out with you?
If, as I suspect, you are planning to do this in the Pemi wilderness, you are required to follow the LNT (leave no trace) guide lines.
I for one would not care to carry around a bag of fish guts and would dig a cat hole as you would for human waste.
nick0danger: Pretty much the same here in MT. I very rarely keep fish, but it is better to dispose of entrails and whatnot in the water than on shore.
Pemi-Man: If it is legal in NH to dispose of entrails in the water then that is what I would do and use the wicker creel as suggested by others above. As far as burying the guts in the ground…I wouldnt sionce animals will dig them up…and last time I was up in the Whites, I know there are a few bears around. Better to not give the bears anything to dig up as they might start looking for more easy handouts.
If I keep a fish for a meal, then it is likely to be on a cool spring or fall day when the aior temp is fairly low…say 40 or so and is overcast.
Take care everyone and cya around. Mark
I agree that letting the entrails flow down river is probably the best way to go and would be my choice on rivers, but do you also do the same when fishing ponds? I just don’t want to leave a rather unsightly scene for someone if the remains float back to shore for whatever reason.
Thanks for all the responses, everybody has been really helpful with all of my beginner questions and I totally appreciate it.
-Pemi