End Of Trout Season Tradition

[Driftless]

I fire up one last load of smoked fish. It typically takes me four outings to get enough to load the smoker.

Was fishing on Crawford Richland County line today and caught 20 trout in 3 hours.

The smallest of the three above was 13 inches. All caught on a size 9 gold panther martin.

Smoked Fish Recipe:

plastic 10 quarter container

1/2 full with water

1.5 pounds non-iodized salt

1 pound brown sugar

2 cups real lemon

10 tablespoons dill weed

8 tablespoons red pepper flakes

4 tablespoons garlic powder

4 tablespoons onion powder

3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Soak over night in brine...put cutting board on top of fish to hold them down in brine.

Use the brine for hydro part of smoking.

Sprinkle red pepper flakes and dill again all over and inside the chest cavity.

Smoke for 4 hours in my hydro electric smoker.

[redneckdan]

Nice.

I got the battle scooter loaded up. Just have to throw in the food stuffs on Saturday morning then I am off for a week of exploring the north shore. Load is a lot bigger than normal due to all the cold weather clothing I'm hauling versus a mid summer trip. Hope to maybe get into some pinks, maybe scout some water for next season and find a few brookies. That and crisp evenings by a small fire with a drink and a stogie.