Rank your order of preference

[GrumpyOldCrappie]

Are you an eater or catch and releaser?

I know a few fisherman that love the sport of catching fish but won't keep anything for food because they don't care for the taste of fish.

My preference for eating is:

Walleye, crappie, sun fish, perch

I don't like northern, not even pickeled, no bass, or any of the garbage fish.

[jwhjr]

I'm primarily a catch and release person, but when I do keep the occasional meal my order of preference is:

Walleye, crappie, northern.

[Marbleye'd]

Walleye, Crappie, Northern, sun fish, perch, Salmon, Small mouth bass,Pickled fish, then smoked.

[Bottle Fish]

Are you an eater or catch and releaser?

My preference for eating is:

Walleye, crappie, sun fish

I'll also eat bass.

Last year I was lazy and every fish I caught went back in the lake. I just never felt like cleaning them. Ive been kicking myself all winter for it because I really caught a lot of nice fish last year and could of had some really good meals. On the other side they should be even bigger this year and I'll be cleaning all that I keep and I do have standards on size. I used to keep northern's for my Grandma but sadly she is in a home now. I'll take a picture for her though.

I forgot smelt, the annual smelt fry at the Darwin Rod and Gun Club. Although I don't know if they are considered fish or bait but they are great to eat.

[Matt Breuer]

I think have odd taste buds when it comes to fish, but the following would be my order of preference...

Yellow bullheads cooked like mom used to.

Perch.

Eelpout backstraps dipped in sweet butter.

Crappies.

Walleyes.

Pike.

I do keep fish within my personal slot, but it's becoming a rare occurence...

[Eric Wettschreck]

I like to eat. Dead = fed.

Perch

Crappie

Walleye

Northern

[redbandit]

Eater, the whole family loves them.

Sunnies, Crappies, Walleyes, Perch, Northerns, Bass

[Dozer]

Crappies, or Walleyes only, I really dont eat anything else.

I usually eat at least 2 or 3 meals of fish a week! When we go to LOW we eat at least one fish meal a day! Its great!

[jigging-matt]

Just depends on the day. If I have a couple of meals at home then I am a catch and releaser, if not then I am an eater.

Walleye

Perch

Crappie

Sunnie

[WyoChris]

Walleyes, crappies, and the occasional perch.

I rarely eat northerns, bass, or trout

[blackdog1101]

In the winter I'm an eater. In the summer I C&R

Crappies, northerns, sunnies, walleyes. I do eat a meal or two of trout during the season, but only when we're camping and can cook the fish over a fire.

[TonkaBass]

I would say I am mostly catch and release, but when it comes to the summer at the cabin with my girlfriend... we keep a few for a shore lunch.

[thedeadsea]

Every trout or salmon reeled in gets eaten.

I only keep other fish for a fish fry about once a month in the summer so mostly C&R. I try to do a couple batches of pickled pike a year.

#1 Trout/Salmon over 5 lbs smoked, under grilled or fried.

Distant #2: Tie for Walleyes, bass from clear waters, and properly filleted northerns.

Haven't cat fished since my friend's parents sold their cabin on the river, would like to get back into that. Yum!

I dont normally keep panfish unless they are pretty big.

[Neighbor_guy]

I like smoked salmon and trout, I can also eat smoked carp, and pickled harring. The only "freash fish" I can eat (fish allergy) is eelpout backstraps. So I guess thats:

1. Smoked Salmon

2. Smoked Trout

3. Eelpout

4. Smoked Carp

5. Pickled Herring

My daughter LOVES sunfish and crappies, breaded in cornflakes and fried. So hers would be:

1. Sunfish

2. Crappies

The reality is most of my fishing is done in the C&R method. But once or twice a year, in the winter, I will keep enough pannies so that I can cook up some fish for her and her grandpa. Because homemade fishsticks are better than the ones from the box.

[river-rat4]

Ha, funny responses (No body in particular). I eat fish. I am not going to tell you that I CPR MOST OF THE TIME OR ONLY FOR A MEAL ONCE IN A WHILE. I like fish, I buy a license and abide by the regulations.

Hard bite vs good bite may determine my harvest. Judgment, if I keep fish that I have caught, I have earned it. I could go into the whole large Fish/Genes kept in the lake thing, but I am comfortable with myself and being legal.

I also don't spread the word on Hot spots, nor go day after day (same as tipping my hand on a good bite).

I am a proud fisherman and enjoy the right/privileges to do so.

Northern Pike, Yellow Pearch, Sunfish, Crappie, Walleye. Pout is great, but most won't understand.

river-rat4

[Phred52]

GOC, I am a meat fisherman..If it's within the specie 'slot'... whatever the specie, It gets fried!

(note from admin: please read forum policy before posting again, thanks)

[Shack]

Three species for me!

The first is yellow perch! I am true CPR guy, but yellow perch taste very good and I have allowed my self a meal or two during the ice season.

Second, crappie! If one swallows the hook deep and will not swim down the hole, I start to keep them after. I can most likely get a great meal. This only happens about once a year.

Third, channel cats! If you have ever been to the Cool Cats GT, you know what I mean

The reason I am a CPR type of guy is derived out of laziness I hate to get home and clean fish, but I sure do not turn down a freshly fried meal

[Rick Bass]

I eat them. But don't seem to find enough time to fish them. Northerns, Panfish, Bullheads, Walleye

[GrumpyOldCrappie]

With a last name like Bass, smallies should be at the top of your list Rick -lol I'm a little surprised Pike is your favorite.

I don't care for Northern myself. Too strong of a fish smell and taste for me.

Love a good eatin' Walleye any day of the week!

[WaveWacker]

Just curious for those that don't rank northerns as fish they eat if it's because of the taste or because they don't want to mess with/don't know how to clean out the "Y" bones. I've had some great meals of northern.

So mine would be for MN species...I'd have to say a tie between nice 15"-18" walleye and scaled skin on sunfish for #1, then crappie or northern. Don't get into all that many large perch.

All around species I have to put Halibut (which I have an ample amount in the freezer from the Alaska trip last year!!) up on the top along with Silver Salmon thrown in the mix.

[Itsa Pole Bender]

PERCH

Walleye

Steelhead

Crappie

Pike

[perchking]

Bluegill

Coho

Crappie

Perch

Walleye

Pike

[only ice]

Walleye Cpappie Sunnys And Only On ICE!!

[The Donk]

Like previous poster, if I have a meal in the freezer yet, C&R, but otherwise,

1. Walleye. You just cant beat that nice thick fillet

2. Sunfish. Just darn good eatin

3. Perch. Walleye cousin, just need more for the meal

4. Crappie/northern/catfish. Good enough to go in the belly

[charliepete2]

Perch by a mile, then Walleye, Blue Gill, Crappie, Small Mouth, then Northern. I'd eat more Northerns, but they are a pain to clean with the slime and the bones.