Super Fishing

There is a federal correctional facility near Sheridan Oregon.  There is also a hidden gem of a pond there that stocks many, many large trout.  You see, what happens at the end of the year is that often there are a bunch of fish that got big the year before, but which the department of fish and wildlife never got around to stocking into the various and sundry lakes and ponds.

So they choose a few of these ponds each year to get the giants that got left behind.  Sheridan pond is one of these little gems.  It is easy to find.  Just drive to Sheridan and go across the steel bridge.  You’ll make a left turn (follow the signs to fishing) and there you are.

This is a great spot for a picnic and sometime enjoying the out of doors.  No camping here, but room for the kids and dog to get out and run around.  And the fishing really is pretty good.  The odds of catching a trophy trout are better than you’ll find elsewhere.

admin Oregon, Places lunker, pond, rainbow trout, sheridan pond, trout

Deep fried catfish may be the best possible edible on the planet.  This is one of those summer (or anytime) treats that really should never be passed up.

There are a couple of tricks to making this delicious dish happen properly, however.

First, always use the freshest possible fish.  That is to say, cook it the same day you catch it if at all possible.  Second best would be to freeze it quickly and then don’t store it for too long.

Okay now when you filet the catfish (which is exactly what you need to do here), make sure to trim away all of the fat near the skin.  This is quite important because if you don’t the fish may end up tasting “fishy” which is generally a bad thing for most people.  If you don’t know how to filet a fish, well, that is an article for  another day and one which will take some doing as it will require some photos.

Now you should have several lean, boneless filets.  You can cut them down to finger size pieces if you choose, or leave them large.  The truth is it doesn’t matter.

Now, get yourself some buttermilk.  No exceptions here.  Toss in some red pepper, a touch of parsley (dried works okay), and a pinch of dill (use fresh or don’t use it at all).  Mix the spices in the buttermilk.  Put the fish in the buttermilk.  You can let it sit for a while or you can fry it up right away - it won’t really matter, though I like to let mine soak in the flavor for 20 minutes or so in the fridge.

Now, get yourself some flour.  Plain old white all-purpose flour will do just fine, but you can get fancy if you like.  Take the fish out of the buttermilk and toss it in the flour until it is well coated.  If you like extra crispy (which I do) then send it back to the buttermilk again and toss it in the flour again.  Double breading it like this will give it an extra crunch that a lot of people really love.

Now toss it in some hot oil.  375 degrees, roughly.  Make sure it is good and hot.  If the oil is too cold the fish will get greasy and  taste greasy and pretty much disgusting.  So keep the oil hot.  I use corn oil most often, but you can use just about any kind of oil you like.  Cook until just almost golden brown.  When you remove them from the oil they will continue to cook for a while, so don’t leave them in the oil until they reach the color you want because they will be darker when you go to serve them.

That’s all there is to it.  Yummy and tasty.  Fry up some french fries as long as you have the oil hot.  Whip up some tartar sauce (or open a jar, I won’t tell), and there you have it.  One of the best meals a fishing pole can buy.

admin cooking Catfish, cooking, deep frying

There is a lot to be said for pan-frying your rainbow trout, but truthfully I think the best way to eat just about any fish is to filet and grill them.

I’ve had salmon, trout, rock fish, cabezon, ling cod, and well a whole passel of other fish all done up on the grill, and quite frankly (except for catfish, which should be breaded and deep fried) this is the way to go.

I know that for a lot of people (myself included) that “fishy” smell when fish are cooked, especially in butter or oil can really be a bother.  To circumvent this problem, first filet the fish delicately, being sure to avoid the skin, excess fat, and bones.  This will produce a strip of meat ideal for grilling.

Get your grill good and hot and well lubricated.  I prefer olive oil here, but there are other oils you can use as well.  Season the fish with a bit of sea salt and a dash of pepper, grill on both sides for just  a short time and there you have it.  If you really want to get fancy with it, then a dash of lemon juice and a sprig of dill will suit just about anyone.  Serve with steamed vegetables and a bit of rice.  Or a nice cream sauce and mashed taters.

You will definitely want to be sure that the grill is well prepared because fish tends to stick and if it sticks it may very easily fall apart right there, in which case you will end up with nothing more than a charred pile of disgust.  Done properly, however, the end product is a delicate and suptuous bit of flesh that anyone (even the most anti-fish person on the planet) can appreciate.

admin cooking cooking, eating fish, grilled fish, grilling

Okay, here is a real treat for the kids, especially if you have a boat.  If you don’t have a boat, well there is plenty to do from the bank as well.

Fishing for Channel Cats on the Snake River is one of my favorite past times, and more than likely you’ll hear more about it as we get into summer.  My boy, just nine years of age at the time of this writing caught a catfish nearly as large as himself, so large that he couldn’t hold it without help from dad or grandpa.

Use minnows if you can get them, but worms work as well.   A little scent (WD-40) never hurts, but isn’t strictly necessary either.  You’ll want something a bit stouter than your trout fishing rod, as these fish really do bite hard and put up a fun fight as well.

You ought to be able to pull up quite a few before you know it.  One of my favorite dishes is deep fried catfish strips.  Fish ‘n chips back country style.

admin Oregon, Places Catfish, catfish fishing, Channel Cat, Channel Catfish, Snake River

Deep sea fishing out of Depot Bay, Oregon is one of the great experiences that I’ve had as a fisherman.  I’ve fished out of Yaquina bay as well, but truthfully I prefer Depot Bay.

I’ve done both charter fishing as well as a private vessel and every time we’ve had excellent luck.  Cabezon, Rock Fish (Sea Bass), Ling Cod, and Greenling are all plentiful in the area.  In addition the Dungeoness crab are a wonderful addition to any seafood dinner.

If you get lucky you may see whales while you are out.  On occaision we’ve been so close that we could almost reach out and touch them.  That, my friends, is an experience that stays with you for a lifetime.  I recommend that if you ever get the chance to see these magnificent animals up close that you take it.

After the fishing is over, there is always plenty to do right there in town.  There are a number of inns and restaraunts available to suit nearly every taste.  Lincoln City, is not too far North up the highway and is readily available if you feel like something a little bit bigger and more crowded.  Many of these establishments have long lists of awards and have been reviewed in magazine after magazine around the globe.  Me, I just go for the fishing.

If you are ever looking for a fun summer adventure, then I recommend you hook up with one of the several charter outfits and head out of Depot Bay for a great time.

admin Oregon, Places cabezon, deep sea fishing, fishing, greenling, ling cod, Oregon coast, sea bass

If you are really looking for a great experience, try fishing at Anthony Lakes in Oregon.  Again, you will be catching stocked rainbows, but you can’t trade the view.  This is a particularly fun lake for families and those looking for a summer camping spot.  The camping does tend to fill up, so you will want to call ahead and make sure that you will have a place during the busy months.

Actually there are several lakes here, all of which are accessible and the hikes around are just wonderful.  If you aren’t terribly fond of roughing it there are cabins available as well.  The hiking and views are really hard to beat, and I know that my family had a ton of fun playing in and around the lake while we were there.

admin Oregon, Places anthony lakes, anthony lakes oregon, rainbow trout, trout, trout fishing

There are a thousands of little getaways all around the country.  There are thousands more around the world.  Hebo Lake isn’t a whole lot different from many of these, but it sure was a great memory for me to take my son out there and watch him reel in his first rainbow trout.

The lake is a small little lake, just big enough to put in a canoe if that is what you are interested in, but also excellent for fishing from the bank.  If you have a fly rod and go in season you can limit out in about 10 minutes or so.  This will leave you with plenty of time to hike the very scenic trails around which in the summer through the early fall are simply astounding.

In addition to the fishing, there are campgrounds available, and generally it is not very crowded at all.  Access to the lake and camping is simply a matter of driving to Hebo, Oregon and following the signs to the lake.  If you get lost, just ask anyone in town or stop off at the forest service office there and you will get simple directions.

I would seriously have to recommend this to anyone who is fond of green and the great outdoors.

admin Oregon, Places fishing, lake, lake fishing, rainbow trout, trout, trout fishing

Sorry, no nifty photos this time, but you will have to trust me when I tell you that the Salmon River is one spectacular place to go fishing.  The steelhead fishing is in fact world famous.

I lived in the area for a few years and thoroughly enjoyed the out of doors.  The fishing is excellent.  Guided fishing trips are available, but really there is not reason to get a guide unless you truly have no experience whatsoever fishing.  The river is accessible in many, many places and it is simply a matter of going and getting the fish.

Ketchum and Sun Valley are close by, but I would give Sun Valley a miss unless, of course you are into crowds and shopping.  If this is your cup of tea, then you will probably be just as happy skipping the fishing.  Of course there is lodging available in any number of little towns along the river, but the camping is not something that will be easily forgotten either.

admin Places, idaho idaho, river fishing, salmon river, steelhead, steelhead fishing