QuietJourney Forums - What to do with my catch?

Jun 1^st, 2026 at 10:27pm (UTC)

QuietJourney Forums › Boundary Waters / Quetico Discussion Forums › Fishing Tips for the BWCA and Quetico › What to do with my catch?

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What to do with my catch? (Read 7846 times)

paddlemaker Voyageur Inukshuk Offline Posts: 391 Location: Appleton, WI Joined: Sep 27^th, 2002	Re: What to do with my catch? Reply #10 - Jul 14^th, 2010 at 4:26am	Quote Print Post
	Kingfisher & I caught walleyes early in the day in the Falls Chain. We cleaned them and put them in a plastic bag and dropped them in a canvas bag. When we got to Louisa later in the afternoon, the fish were cool and smelled just fine. Most importantly, they tasted great. I didn't keep track of the time, but that was 18 miles and 14 (I think?) portages. Fishing for us was SLOW and we knew we were going to be traveling that day after we caught the fish. Note: The plastic bag the fish were in had a hole in it to let water drain. No sense in cooling water in the bag. KF was carrying the fish and I know he kept the bag wet. I think he hand carried the fish while portaging.


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db Web-lackey Inukshuk Voyageur Offline Posts: 5460 Location: Just off the beaten path. Joined: Sep 14^th, 2002	Re: What to do with my catch? Reply #11 - Jul 14^th, 2010 at 6:29am	Quote Print Post
	Wow! All these responses for something so simple. And all good answers too! Last year I overnighted a breakfast walleye on cord 'n stringer for morning but got up and found it was a better day to travel. What to do with the fish is what I wondered while packing up. Letting it go would be cruel and illegal. I ended up filleting and bagged it with just enough water to keep it wet and kept it cooled in with the cheese and sausage. This was after a week in august so the cheese was rather oily by then. The water aspect was simply what I was taught. That fish was fine 12 hours later and on Jesse no less. I don't usually paddle that far in a day but being a day ahead I poked around not having any real plan and eventually wondered how I'd dispose of it if my nose said no way. Jesse was empty but I took the last viable site so I was tired and hungry. Setting up I wondered ... I didn't really trust it. My nose said it smelled like water. I wasn't a believer. It didn't wiggle as I breaded it. My mouth said MMMMM, buttered crunches, different texture ... tummy was silent beyond thanks. I don't remember any fish meals after that one but none were better and I was kinda worried about that one. My mouth is watering now - damnit. I've never considered traveling type legalities within the park. I'd assume any fish kept wouldn't exceed the possession limit on any one species anyway but I personally wouldn't take any fish out of Pickerel and put it in another lake anymore. I don't even know what Spiny Water Fleas do but I know their presence has been confirmed in Pickerel.


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The Gimp of 01 Inukshuk Offline Posts: 313 Location: 53098 Joined: May 1^st, 2003	Re: What to do with my catch? Reply #12 - Jul 14^th, 2010 at 10:33am	Quote Print Post
	My vote is split between D and E. In this case choice E being clean what you would care to eat and fix a quick shore lunch. Who says meals need to be at predetermined times anyhow? Travel plans for the day might not allow this as an option though. One of those decisions you cannot really make ahead of time.


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jimmar Inukshuk Offline Posts: 860 Location: SE Michigan Joined: Feb 1^st, 2006	Re: What to do with my catch? Reply #13 - Jul 14^th, 2010 at 7:19pm	Quote Print Post
	I vote for D, throw it back, especially if you are going to Jesse, plenty of meat holes there.


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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8107 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: What to do with my catch? Reply #14 - Jul 15^th, 2010 at 9:52pm	Quote Print Post
	I'd go with the catch or release, but wouldn't hesitate to use the method OS described, if the mood hit me. I took take a be-headed/gutted Laker from Jean to the East end of Sturgeon on a high 80 degree day with zero loss of flavor. I kept it under my seat and just re-wet as needed. The canvas bag worked wonders. I don't throw back an eater size Laker unless I'm damn sure of catching another before the day is over I wouldn't put the fish in a pack, but would Bungee Bob under a seat in canoe.


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Old Salt Inukshuk Offline Posts: 4871 Location: Crossville, TN Joined: Jun 17^th, 2004	Re: What to do with my catch? Reply #15 - Jul 16^th, 2010 at 4:19am	Quote Print Post
	I think I misspoke. We actually tie or carabiner the fish-laden canvas bag to the top or outside of the pack. We have also hand-carried it. Since the fish is actually sealed inside a zip bag, there is little chance of the pack becoming contaminated. While salt would also work, we don't do it (have never tried it, actually) because of what it would do to the fish and my low salt diet.


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FishTale Lucky Member Offline Posts: 31 Location: Wisconsin Joined: Jun 9^th, 2006	Re: What to do with my catch? Reply #16 - Jul 16^th, 2010 at 2:05pm	Quote Print Post
	My vote 1. stopping for a shore lunch of fresh fish 2.just letting them go and fishing closer to camp (wait... was eating the fish on the lake you caught them an option?)


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