Finally got out after the gills.

[wyle_e_coyote]

Well, my hippy son and I finally made it out to the gill beds yesterday. The big ones didn't come out untill around 8"00ish, but when they did, boy was it fun. We only kept 14 but could have easily took home a 2 person limit...way too many for me to clean...:D !
Just about the time we ran out of wax worms, my son noticed the gills hitting the top, so he picked out a small top water bait. He then proceeded to catch 10"-11" gills by fishing a frog colored Zara Pooch. I just sat back, ate peanuts and watched him :) ! Oh yea, and he caught one nice bass, 16", 2.8lbs....on ultra light tackle with 4lb test...:yikes: . The kid knows how to fight a fish! Maybe I'll just spend the college fund on a bass boat for him...:lol: . Heres some pics!
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/medium/Bluegill_5-22-05_GrandMere.jpg (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=43373&size=big&cat=recent&limit=recent)

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/526/medium/Austins_15in_3lb_bass_grand-mere_5-23-06.jpg (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=43374&size=big&cat=recent&limit=recent)

If the rain holds off, we're going to take out the fly rods tonight. Now that's fun!!!

[GVSUKUSH]

Nice Gills Glenn!

(I hate you:rant: )

[mykass]

Nice catch indeed! Im sure there a few guys including myself that would be more than happy to throw a knife at some fish for ya for a GILL DINNER:D

[dtg]

When you clean gills or other panfish, do you just scale them, cut off the heads and fins or do you attempt to fillet them?

[GVSUKUSH]

When you clean gills or other panfish, do you just scale them, cut off the heads and fins or do you attempt to fillet them?

If you like bones and difficult eating, scale them, if you like nothing but meat, fillet them:)

IMHO, filleting is alot faster anyway once you get the hang of it.

[live2fishdjs]

Nothing wrong with mixing it up a bit Kush...every now and then I'll scale and filet (leaving the skin on)-especially w/ smaller gills. It gives a sweeter taste IMO and more "mass" to the filet. If you're really feeling ambitious leave the tail on and fry till crispy-like a potato chip:p

[gman]

when I was a kid we'd scale 'em, gut 'em and fry them in butter. the meat just falls off the bones. however I do like fillets better. just harder to fillet the shorter ones sometimes.

[birdshooter]

can you say more fish taco's

[dtg]

I was just seeing how many do one or the other. I scale them and cook the whole, the meat just fall right off the bones and there's absoplutely no wasted tender, scrumptious morsels.

I also cook small mouth the same way, only I leave the head on and tear out the gills.

[wyle_e_coyote]

when I was a kid we'd scale 'em, gut 'em and fry them in butter. the meat just falls off the bones. however I do like fillets better. just harder to fillet the shorter ones sometimes.

That's how grandpa always did it...but I like to fillet mine. I fillet and skin...scalling sucks!! Who likes scales in the face, hair and all over your clothes? :lol: . I know on smaller gills it's easier to gut and scale...so i don't keep the small ones.

Fillets in a plastic zip lock full of drakes, shake then fry....mmmmmmm!

[dtg]

That's how grandpa always did it...but I like to fillet mine. I fillet and skin...scalling sucks!! Who likes scales in the face, hair and all over your clothes? :lol: . I know on smaller gills it's easier to gut and scale...so i don't keep the small ones.

Fillets in a plastic zip lock full of drakes, shake then fry....mmmmmmm!
I've discovered a great tool that eliminates the flying scales that are so dang annoying. It's about 6" long, red plastic and has an indentation for your forefinger, the tip is shaped like a thick duckbill and has serrated sides and teh front part is just an edge. You simply start at the tail, pushing it gently against the lay of the scales and they just peel right off. No SHI*, man it's the best thing since the internal combustion engine....and it only costs about $2 at Meijers.

I hated those days of using the fillet knife turned sideways with scales flying all over the place and sticking to your face, clothes, etc. This tool will totally turn your attitude around towards de-scaling.

[RichP]

Anyone ever try one of these?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/01/82/48/i018248sq01.jpg

For the fisherman who is tired of scaling fish by hand after a good day of fishing, the "Tumble Drumm Fish Scaler" is an investment that will make that unpleasant chore of scaling fish fast easy and clean. Simply add 3 gallons of water to the sturdy polyethylene tub, load your catch into the stainless steel drum, turn on the motor, and this automatic fish scaler cleans up to 50 panfish in minutes. After the fish are scaled, simply lift out the drum, open the door, and pour the fish out. Fish come out de-scaled, clean and undamaged. No more scraping dried scales off your walls, floors and clothes. All parts are designed to be easily cleaned and odor-resistant. Use indoors or out. Portable. UL listed. Made in the USA.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0036293018248a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=scaler&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=scaler&noImage=0

[Steven Arend]

Come on Glenn you can take a better picture then that!!!!!!!!:mad:

Where's the landmarks in the background so I know what lake your on.:evil:

Steve

[wyle_e_coyote]

Come on Glenn you can take a better picture then that!!!!!!!!:mad:

Where's the landmarks in the background so I know what lake your on.:evil:

Steve

I'll give you a hint Steve...there's a Duck Blind right behind me....;) ...oh and if you go to my gallery and check the pic titles..it's right there...:lol: .

[Steven Arend]

I see it now!!!!!!:lol:

Looks like the east side shore line of the north one or the south shore line of the middle one. But if there is a Duck blind behind you then it's the north one.

Steve

[Splitshot]

Nice catch of gills in anyone's book. Great job and fun too.

[Oldgrandman]

Nice catch, going to try my inheireted fly rod on some this year. Hope to do as well myself.
Some of the old timers tell me leave the skin on and cook em with the bones in for the best flavor. Meat will fall off the skeleton when cooked. I usually do a complete filet job.

[waterfoul]

Hey DTG, I noticed the gills are on the beds on Wabasis... slabs too... couple times they picked up my Senko hard enough for me to set the hook! LOL!!

And there were a couple guys getting some SLAB crappie... while I drifted past them they both caught a crappie that had to go 12" or more. I thought they had bass on the line!!

[gonfishnou812]

To scale panfish I use a 1/2"-13 spiral tap in an old drill motor. If you keep the rpm's down the scales dont fly. I did a side by side taste test with perch fillets with the skin on are way better.