Filleting channels

[harvey lee]

I caught some channels which I filleted out. they were smaller ones from 15-20 inches. Do I need to take out the bones in the latteral line? Only a small amount of red in the line. The meat is all white with no yellow or dark meat. Can I keep the fillet whole or is there more I should do?

Thanks for the help.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I always cut the mudline out. I generally cut my channels into "fishsticks" because I think the smaller chunks fry up better.

[hanson]

There shouldn't be any bones along the lateral line.

The only bones to worry about are the ribcage bones and I usually fillet over the top of the ribcage.

I would go ahead and cut that red meat out that is found behind the lateral line. That will make your fillet taste a little fishy.

Other than that, I would cut your fillets into smaller "catfish fingers" before cooking.

Batter them up, toss them in hot, hot, hot oil, and let them cook each side for a couple minutes. Trick to deep frying cat is hot and fast. If you let them cook awhile, they'll get real mushy and greasy.

[sparcebag]

No bones there.thats how I generally do it Fillet, not skin then cut.Wiggums got a good idea there! strips to cook better!

[harvey lee]

Thanks guys. Supper should be goood tonight.

[DTro]

Tom I ate some excellent channels last night that Hooper cooked up. The secret was that he cut into bite size chunks and then soaked the chunks in whole milk for 24 hours. Then he lightly breaded and fried. Very, very good.

[sparcebag]

UMMM! We settled for sunnies & crapie last night,got some leftover for fish burritos UMMM.

[Scott K]

I clean them and cook them just like I do a walleye, except I will always cut the mudline out. I think small flatheads taste alot better then a channel. The fact that channels are garbage eaters and flatheads prefer live bait is another reason I prefer a flat. With that saying its hard to tell the difference between eating a flat fillet, and a walleye fillet.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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soak the chunks in whole milk for 24 hours.

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I do that with all my fish not for 24 hours usually but at least a couple hours, it sure seems to help!

[ec30_06]

Just be glad they don't taste as bad as our bait smelled

[harvey lee]

I could never get quite that hungry as to eat that stink bait.

[Gordie]

I learned from an old river rat in henderson that and I know its an extra step but its well worth it cut into bite size chunks (the catfish not the stinkbait) and boil until before it flakes apart then rinse off then deep fry with favorite batter it really makes a differecne.