FISH FOR THE TABLE
By Bob Jensen

Going fishing means different things to different people. Some folks just want to spend time outdoors and others enjoy attempting to get a fish to bite on their line. Regardless of why a person may go fishing, most people who fish like to keep some of their catch to eat. That's great! That's one of the things that fish are for. Fish are good to eat, and the doctor tells us that, when prepared properly, fish are good for us.

This time of year is a very good time to get a few fish for the table. The key is to take the right ones. Generally it's best to take the smaller to medium-sized ones. They are the most abundant in most bodies of water, and they are also better table fare. Following are some ideas for taking fish for the table.

Most anglers in the Midwest think of walleyes when they think of eating fish, and for good reason. A fifteen or sixteen inch walleye is great on the table. But there are plenty of other choices as well. Perch, crappies, yellow bass, and bluegills will rival a walleye on the table any day. In fact, most people won't be able to tell the difference between those fish when prepared the same way.

One of the keys to really tasty fish is to prepare them fresh. Don't freeze them if you don't need to. If they can be served the same day they're caught, they will be the tastiest.

Another key is to learn to clean fish the right way. Learn to clean them so there are no bones. Bones in fish will ruin the meal for many folks. It just isn't much fun to have to be careful of bones as you're eating. Take your time, and inspect each filet carefully to insure that all the bones have been removed.

Don't drag fish around on a stringer all day before cleaning them. If you're boat doesn't have a livewell, get a small cooler and fill it with ice. Put the fish you intend to keep in there. Keep the fish cool and get them cleaned as soon as you can.

Don't keep more fish than you can eat at one meal. Usually a couple of perch or crappies are all you will need for one person; usually one walleye per person is all you'll need. Too many anglers fill their freezer with fish only to throw them away a year later. In other instances, the fish get freezer-burned and are no good when it's time to prepare them. Again, fresh fish is the best fish.

The other reason for keeping no more fish than you can eat for one meal is that now you have an excuse(if you need one) to go fishing again. Usually, the promise of fresh fish is all it takes to justify another trip to the lake.