[Papa Smurf]

I'm planning on trying the Rocky River near Cleveland for some steelhead this week. I've never caught or eaten a steely before. There seems to be quite a diversity of opinion on whether they're good to eat or not although it seems to be universally accepted that the larger ones aren't so tasty.

For those of you that do eat them:

1. What are your favorite means of preparing them?

2. Anything special that I need to know about cleaning them?

3. Will they taste bad if I don't skin them?

4. Do the stocked strains in the Ohio streams taste any different than native Michigan steelies?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Lunker]

Theyre great. take skin off and any dark meat thats the fishy flavored fat.Skin em like a catfish if you can.

 

[Kevin]

filet or steak cut, on the grill on a piece of tinfoil with a little lemon squeezed from time to time

 

[Ruler]

I've only eaten one steelie - an 11 pounder caught by my dad out of the AuSable. After filleting, I skinned it and removed all the dark meat under the skin. It was then pan fried with a pat of butter after being dredged in flour. It honestly tasted identical to a rainbow trout. (Which makes sense, as that's basically what they are- a big 'bow.)