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12" thick ice on the lake good for ice fishing.

I think that just proves we are all very different duke, apart from the woodburner which I could sit in front of in my house, the thought of sitting fishing doesn’t do much for me I’m afraid. At a loss to understand that Fishing is Britain’s largest hobby.
Please don’t take my comments too seriously and I hope you catch something edible.
Ian
 
I think that just proves we are all very different duke, apart from the woodburner which I could sit in front of in my house, the thought of sitting fishing doesn’t do much for me I’m afraid. At a loss to understand that Fishing is Britain’s largest hobby.
Please don’t take my comments too seriously and I hope you catch something edible.
Ian
But Ian most huts are equipped with beds, t.v., stoves for cooking and plenty of booze.
A lot of people go out on the snowmobile for the day, drill a hole, catch the limit and get off the ice before dark.
 
We have tried ice fishing a couple of times in Finland. You cut a hole in the ice with a saw provided by your guide. You dangle some bait in the water with a little rod. And then you sit there with a startling blue sky overhead, dazzling pristine ice and snow as far as the eye can see. You start off optimistic, but it is minus 18C or something and you are sat there on a little camp seat staring at a hole in the ice. You know and your guide knows and in fact everyone knows that you will catch nothing. But you will get really, really cold. :cool:

I've got the T shirt. A T shirt is not enough for this job.
 
Years ago around Easter weekend we would have a family gathering then head out on the lake. One year there was a melt of snow and a smoth ice surface was created. Instead of ice fishing we laced the skates up and had a game of hockey. Enough of us for five aside and yes we were down to t shirts. No clouds to be seen and it was bliss😄
 
What are you hoping to catch? R.E. fishing being UK's biggest hobby most of that I'd guess would be angling in rivers or lakes and throwing it back. Why catch fish you can't eat?!
 
Pike. Only cooked it a couple of times and each time wished I hadn't. Bones, bones, bones, bones ..... :oops:
 
The key is in the filleting, I can do it so there are very few bones, You get very good and fast doing it especially when the flies are all around your head. We always prep the fish outdoors. In our youth my cousin and I could fillet 10 Pike in 5 mins.
 
I know you're right Duke. For me, and for my wife, and our customers, the acceptable number of bones is zero. It's very unusual to be given a pike (or close relative) to cook in the UK. I had a few when I was living in Budapest for a year or so, and of course you do see the pike/perch or zander as it's sometimes called, on restaurant menus in France occasionally. In the UK though you never see them on the fishmonger slabs as we don't currently seem to consume freshwater fish on this side of the salty pond. Chefs often say that Pike in particular have a muddy taste to the flesh. I've not eaten enough really to have an opinion.
 
I know you're right Duke. For me, and for my wife, and our customers, the acceptable number of bones is zero. It's very unusual to be given a pike (or close relative) to cook in the UK. I had a few when I was living in Budapest for a year or so, and of course you do see the pike/perch or zander as it's sometimes called, on restaurant menus in France occasionally. In the UK though you never see them on the fishmonger slabs as we don't currently seem to consume freshwater fish on this side of the salty pond. Chefs often say that Pike in particular have a muddy taste to the flesh. I've not eaten enough really to have an opinion.
I do see your point about the no bones issues with customers. A muddy taste, interesting hmm, never thought that. An acquired taste I guess.
For lunch yesterday I had venison sausage, which I would describe the taste as gamey. Also have eaten Moose, Deer and Black Bear. The bear had a strong intense flavour , I didn't like it, only eating meat from the supermarkets limits your food experience.
 
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I know you're right Duke. For me, and for my wife, and our customers, the acceptable number of bones is zero. It's very unusual to be given a pike (or close relative) to cook in the UK. I had a few when I was living in Budapest for a year or so, and of course you do see the pike/perch or zander as it's sometimes called, on restaurant menus in France occasionally. In the UK though you never see them on the fishmonger slabs as we don't currently seem to consume freshwater fish on this side of the salty pond. Chefs often say that Pike in particular have a muddy taste to the flesh. I've not eaten enough really to have an opinion.
Zander is a completely different fish to pike & perch, but is sometimes called the pikeperch, which is confusing.

I've tried pike, not nice IMO, and I frickin hate catching them (or did when I used to be a keen angler) because they flappy b*stards and their teeth are sharp as fook!
 
The way I cook Pike is mix salt and pepper into flour, not much flour then lightly batter each side then pan fry in butter or sometimes beer. Delicious
 
Zander is a completely different fish to pike & perch, but is sometimes called the pikeperch, which is confusing.

I've tried pike, not nice IMO, and I frickin hate catching them (or did when I used to be a keen angler) because they flappy b*stards and their teeth are sharp as fook!
Yes, it is confusing. Whenever I've seen pike/perch on a prep table, they just look like a big perch to me. However. I don't know much about angling as I only did a bit as a kid and since then have only really cooked salt water fish. I've never even seen a pike in the wild.
 
Oh, pikeperch/zander confused the bejesus out of me in Sweden when we first moved there. ‘Well tell me, what is it. Go on, tell me.’ (actually I am nowhere near that rude).

It’s a white fresh/brackish water fish. Tastes OK, if not spectacular.

Pike is a horrible muddy bony thing. In restaurants I have only ever had it as quenelles. For that reason.

Used to be popular in mediaeval monasteries. Ugly looking beggars, with the undershot jaw. The fish I mean.

And I am not a fisher. Neither of men or anything else. But I have, erm, occupied, bits of various prime fishing rivers. Owned a share of one for a while. Long story. Can’t cast a fly to save my life. But always got invited to add tone, and bestow persiflage. And I thought I looked good in rubber trousers and a hat. (Delusional I know).

Shall we move on to vendace?
 
OK, I will bite (see what I did there?). I've heard of dace, but not vendace. Is it like dace but with a diagram?
 
OK, I will bite (see what I did there?). I've heard of dace, but not vendace. Is it like dace but with a diagram?
I quite like the idea of a Venn diagram involving fish. What, I wonder, would be the intersections.

Anyway, vendace is a rather dull white fish, again brackish water to the north bit of the gulf of Bothnia sort of way. Coregonid. Used to exist in the Lake District and Scotland. Alas no more, although they have tried to reintroduce it

I know it for the roe. Kalix löjrom. Which is nice, but pricey.

I have been told in Sweden it is char. But I’m not sure that it is.
 
I know it for the roe. Kalix löjrom. Which is nice, but pricey.

I have been told in Sweden it is char. But I’m not sure that it is.
Ah, well there is the confusion. Char is a cleaning lady. :cool:
 
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