Pout

[caseymcq]

I am expecting that I will land an eelpout next Thursday while I am fishing the lake trout opener. I am going to bite the bullet and keep one to eat for the first time. I have heard that boiling them in water and then dipping them in garlic butter sauce is the typical way to prepare them.

Anyone have any other recipes for these ugly buggers?

[Papa Grump]

I always cooked them like any other fish, eggwash ,shore lunch and into the deep fryer. No matter how you do it, it's good stuff. Just fillet them from the dorsel fin to the tail ,otherwise you will end up with some nasty tasting fillets.

[89Bronco]

I've cut them into chunks and deep fried them in beer batter. Whatever you would do with cod, that's what you can do with 'pout.

[MNmikew]

I am expecting that I will land an eelpout next Thursday while I am fishing the lake trout opener. I am going to bite the bullet and keep one to eat for the first time. I have heard that boiling them in water and then dipping them in garlic butter sauce is the typical way to prepare them.

Anyone have any other recipes for these ugly buggers?

I've heard that boiling them in Mtn. Dew and dipping in garlic butter is just like lobster(almost). I hope to try my first 'pouter this year as well.

[LABS4ME]

Never get into the guts! Yuck! I leave eveverything over the ribs and belly on the fish. The backstraps come off though... and the tail fillet.

The backstraps (loins) I boil in 7-up and dip in garlic butter... darn good eating.

The tail fillet (from the rib cage to the tail) is shaped just like an Arthur Treachers fillet and breaded and fried or beer battered and deep fried is how I do those.

I've always found 'pout' to be much better table fare eaten fresh than frozen and thawed prior to eating. The flesh stays much firmer and very little 'fishy' flavor.

Good luck!

Ken

[iland99]

I do the exact same thing as Ken, except I boil the straps in Mountain Dew. 5-7 minutes and they should be done! And yes, always eat them fresh.

Also, keep a close eye on whatever you decide to boil the straps in. I once had a pot full of Mountain Dew boil over. That was a sticky mess!

[caseymcq]

This is just a question because you guys tweaked my curiosity. Why boil them in the pop instead of just water?

[hoggs222]

I'm think it sweetens the meat up a little bit

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

We do the poor man's lobster thing with Northern. I boil it in seasoned water with lemon juice, Old Bay, garlic, salt, pepper, whatever I have on hand, even some pepper flakes and then do the garlic butter dip. Closest thing to lobster without forking over big dough! LOL

Windy

[dirtking]

I cleaned a few around new years - Has any one smoked the backstraps?

[mrklean]

7 up or Mt Dew? I have always heard 7 up is the way to go

[irvingdog]

I don't know what "the way to go" is, but I've used 7Up with great results.

Pout rules.

[iland99]

I cleaned a few around new years - Has any one smoked the backstraps?

I've smoked the tails before, they turned out just fine. They looked kind of cool with the pout skin on the backside.

[Gary Crichton]

Just had some this weekend. They were cooked in butter and garlic and at the end a little Kuyenne (SP) pepper. Served in chucks with a toothpick. Not bad at all.

G.C.

[crothmeier]

put a couple Chicken Boullion (sp) cubes in the water then boil. adds a little flavor, then dip in garlic butter. mmm mmm

[buddha]

Treat them like poor man's lobster. Don't care what anyone else says they are excellent and as good as walleye/crappies you name it. They are ugly and I'm glad many don't want them, they are fun to catch and taste good, just wish I fished more lakes with a better population of them.

[Chef]

Poaching Pout:

1/2qt cold water

1 C. Dry White Wine

3-4 Bay Leaves

2- Crushed Garlic Cloves

1tsp. White Pepper

1.tsp. salt

Bring all this to a boil, reduce heat to LOW, add Pout fillets or Northern Fillets, cover and let stand for appx. 10 minutes per 1-inch thickness of fillet.

You can make Newburg or Hollandaise sauce to pour over the fish. Knorr makes packets of each kind that are simple to make and can be picked up at Cub, Rainbow, Lunds or Byerly's

[Ryan_V]

just cooked up my first pout in the shack this weekend. caught a big one, probably a good 4 lbs or more. brought it to the resort and used the "fish cleaning service" for $1 and had him clean it so I could see how it's done for next time. boiled it in sprite and dipped it in melted butter, it was AWESOME!! never throwing back another pout again!