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Backpacker Magazine – May 2008

Next Level: Prep a Fish for Dinner

Add fresh-caught trout to the menu with these 6 easy steps.

by: Kelly Bastone

A flat rock makes an ideal surface for filleting fish. Photo by Tyler Stableford

If you didn't learn how to clean a fish at grandpa's knee or in Scouts, chances are you never did. Don't be embarrassed–and don't let it keep you from having fresh trout for dinner. Pack a pocketknife or multitool with a blade at least three inches long, and check out "Fish Feast" for some sizzling recipes.

Rinse the dead fish in stream water, vigorously rubbing its skin with your fingers to remove the natural slime layer. Don't bother removing the scales; once cooked, the skin will slip easily from the flesh.

Small trout (less than 12 inches) are best gutted and cooked whole. Grasp the head with one hand, and then cut open the fish's belly from the vent (anus) to the throat, piercing only the skin and leaving the entrails intact.

Hold the fish belly-up, and make a second cut just below the lower jaw and perpendicular to the backbone. Grasp the entrails at the intersection of the two cuts and remove them by pulling toward the tail. Use your knife to scrape out the bloodline that runs along the backbone.

Large fish (12-plus inches) can be filleted as shown below: (1) Hold the knife parallel to the gill, and slice down to (not through) the backbone. (2) Pivot the blade so it faces the tail and cut along the backbone. Leave the fillet attached to the tail, turn the fish over, and fillet the other side. (3) Cut off the tail and remove any small bones in the fillets.

Where bears are a concern, carry entrails and bones at least a half-mile from camp and bury them in a cat hole. Wash your hands thoroughly and change out of your cooking clothes, which should join food in bear-proof storage. In a bruin-free zone: Play by the LNT book and double-bag fish waste to pack it out.

Keep dead fish fresh by placing them in a lake or stream. For the best taste, cook trout within two hours of catching and killing them.

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READERS COMMENTS

KayakBill was just telling his method of fishing, which is illegal due to the methodology. When fishing in Parks, make sure you read the rules and regulations for fishing, as they differ from place to place. His method could cost you your gear, your car, and up to about $5000 fine, that's why he said make sure you are in a remote area
Posted: Aug 17, 2008 Jay

Trout fishing is perfectly legal in most parts of the country and in many National Parks. For instance, Yosemite NP requires that you hold a valid CA fishing license. That's it!
Posted: Aug 14, 2008 Eugene

I'm new to the hiking thing and was just reading around. What is it about this that is illegal? Is it merely catching the trout or catching the trout in a National Park... Just some additional information would be helpful to those of us that are not as familiar with backpacking and the laws... Thanks, Doug.
Posted: Jul 31, 2008 Doug.

If it's not legal, why do you think it's okay for you to do it?
Posted: Jul 28, 2008 Anonymous

for safe hook removal for yourself??? i personally have tried the jerk it out method (which i don't recommend) and tried the push it thru and clip the barb method which leaves you with less chance of needing stitches and minimizes chance of infection by decreasing the size of the wound and ALWAYS use some alcohol based hand sanitizer... it stings but not near as bad as the pain you'll have with a swollen, infected hand or finger! all you need is a multi tool with a wire cutter/needle nose pliers and a band aid!
Posted: Jul 20, 2008 jack

I just carry one of those cheap, wad-up net hammocks you can get about anywhere for under 10 bucks. I have some floats ('bobbers') attached along one edge, and weights ('sinkers') along the other.

I string it across a stream and stake it as I'm setting up camp, and, lmost always, by the time I'm thru setting up there's more than enough trout hung-up in the thing. I take what I need, release the rest, and enjoy my meal.

Everyone needs to understand that this is NOT legal anywhere in the U.S., so I suggest you only use this method of catching dinner in remote areas where it's very unlikely a forest ranger will happpen by.
Posted: Jul 10, 2008 KayakBill

Keep your fingers whole and always remember to cut away from yourself.

Also curious about tactics for safe and efficient hook removal.

Posted: Jul 08, 2008 Micah