Transporting your fish in?

[Hooliganz]

I was curious to hear what most people use to transport there fish home in? Bucket, designated fish cooler, gunny sack etc...

Also if its a weekend trip and you want to bring home a meal do you freeze them there outside and then re- thaw and cut up when you get home?

[john.wells]

Pretty much yes to everything.

[riverrat56]

I try to not let them freeze, makes for a horrible time cleaning them, usually a bucket full of water while fishing and on the way home ill drain the bucket and throw snow on top, but not this year as there is no snow. Then I leave the water in and throw a cover on.

If im going to eat a meal right when I get home then the fish are ready to clean.

[RK]

Hiya -

Do everything you can to keep the fish from freezing on the ice. Freezing them then thawing to clean them really affects the quality of the fish I think. They just get mushy.

If I'm going to keep fish I bleed the fish immediately (stick a filet knife between the pectoral fins and cut forwards toward the nose until blood flows...you'll know when you hit the major arteries). Bleeding them really does make the quality better... I then pack them in snow and wrap them in an old towel if I can, or put them in a small cooler wrapped in a wet towel if there's no snow... The main thing though is not just tossing them on the ice or in the sled so they slowly freeze.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Guest]

I usually get my minnows in an air bag to keep them from spilling before I get to fishing... that bag works great for most fish transport also.

As for letting the fish freeze on the ice.. thats usually what I do. It doesnt take them long to thaw enough in the sink at home, or if I am really tired I will leave them outdoors overnight(below freezing) and clean them in the morning.. it really doesnt make much difference when the things are as hard as a rock when you get home(especially panfish). Larger fish like walleye generally take longer to freeze up like a brick and they are usually cleanable when I get home, or shortly after. I dont mind them partially frozen for cleaning.. less of a mess with the slime.

[pathogen]

I like to put them in a pail with snow/slush/ice chips covering them. Snow is best, but scarce this year. I try to keep them from freezing if at all possible. If I can't clean them immediately when I get home, I try to put them somewhere where they won't freeze--but where all the snow/slush won't melt. When I do clean them the next morning, most of them are still alive and wiggling.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Bought an Ice House fish creel bag for in the hut. Store the fish in it and take them home in it. If it is warm in the hut, I will put snow in it to keep the fish cool.

[fishinrush]

I agree with not letting the fish freeze. You can't beat a fresh, never frozen fillet.

I have used everything from a plastic Wal Mart bag to a 5 gallon pail to transport fish. However, usually will use either a styrofoam minnow bucket or a 3 gallon pail (for panfish). I have an older fish trap and both of these options will fit under the sliding bench in the fish trap.

I have talked to guys that say if you keep fish in water, until you fillet them, it will actually cut down on the amount of slime on the cutting board. I have not tested the theory, but plan on it. Any thoughts on that one?

[CrappieAttitude]

I hear ya fishinrush!! There is nothing worse than trying to fillet panfish that are frozen and as you are seperating the skin, it cracks. Not only is it that much harder, but not being able to slide the knife through where you want tends to lead to a little more waste than a guy would want.

Fresh, Floppin and not Frozen is the only way to clean fish!!

Never tried the water thing, but knowing me it would all spill while transporting and I would have a frozen mess in the otter. I would be interested to see whether others have tried this as well.

[The Crumpler]

Quote:

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I have talked to guys that say if you keep fish in water, until you fillet them, it will actually cut down on the amount of slime on the cutting board. I have not tested the theory, but plan on it. Any thoughts on that one?

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If you are having a slime problem, put some vinegar in the bucket with your fish when you get ready to clean them. The acetic acid coagulates the slime which can then be rinsed off easily.

[fishinrush]

Sounds like you know what your talking about. I have spilt a few beers in the bucket and maybe a captain morgan or two, but I have never tried the good old vinegar.

[tonyjor]

Not to rain on everyone's parade, but isn't it illegal to drive away from the lake while the fish are still alive. I like RK's method, what do you bleed them out onto? The ice? A bucket? I usually just poke through the top of their heads right behind the eyes with the blade parallel to the eyes. This cuts their brain/spinal cord for an instant death. They flop a little afterwards but like my Dad always said, "It's just the nerves."

[fishinrush]

I haven't ever heard of not transporting the fish alive. Throwing 'em back down the hole, dead, that's another story.

[candiru]

I believe that a new law is coming this spring that says that live fish cannot be transported from a lake in water. Should be in the new regs when they come out. I use a cooler and also use that for a seat. It sure is a pain when fish are thrown on the ice and allowed to freeze.