After the Catch

When we think about the magic of ice fishing, our imaginations usually linger on the feeling of the initial bite and reeling the fish in.

But whether you’re keeping your hard-earned fish for food or plan to release it back into the water, it’s important to have a plan of action for after the catch.

Once you've caught a fish, decide whether it will be released or kept.

If the decision is made to release the fish, it is important to reduce the amount of time a fish is out of water. Remove the hook and hold the fish fully submerged underwater while preparing for a picture. After the picture, release the fish right away.

After the fish has been released, post the picture to social media and tag Cabela’s Canada using the hashtag #cabelascatch

If keeping the fish, store it in a cooler or a fishwell to keep it from freezing.

Be sure to follow all local regulations regarding limits and transportation of fish.

How to Fillet Your Fish by Pro Staff, Andrew Rochon

8 Simple steps to fillet your fish like a pro.

  1. Rinse your fish under cold water to remove blood, bacteria, and other enzymes.
  2. Use clean knife & cutting board to cut the fish's throat, remove gills and entrails.
  3. Remove skin and fatty deposits.
  4. Remove scales by scraping the dull edge of a knife from tail to head.
  5. Remove the head b slicing just above the collar bone. You can break the backbone over a cutting board or a clean table.
  1. Take out the fins by slicing the flesh along each side.
  2. Wipe your fish clean with a paper/cloth towel without wiping it completely dry.
  3. Wrap the fish in a sealable plastic bag and keep on ice/snow (1.5 - 4.5 Celsius) to prevent bacterial growth.

Cleaning and Cooking Necessities

Recipes for Your Big Catch

Add delicious flavour to your fresh catch with shore lunch.

Grilled Trout

Perch

Fried Walleye

Fried Crappie

Fish Cakes

Salmon Tacos

Fish & Chips

Grilled Salmon

Smoked Trout

Grilled Trout

Ingredients

  • 6 trout fillets, skin on
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh dill, divided (1 Tablespoon chopped, 1 Tablespoon whole for garnish)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
  • 1 lemon, (Use ½ of lemon for juice and zest and the other ½ for garnish)

Compound Butter

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh dill, divided (1 Tablespoon chopped, 1 Tablespoon whole for garnish)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
  • 1 lemon, (Use ½ of lemon for juice and zest and the other ½ for garnish)

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients for compound butter.
  2. Preheat pellet grill on low smoke.
  3. Completely smother meat side of trout with compound butter. Place trout skin side down in grill, smoke until internal temperature reaches 105 °F.
  4. Turn grill up to high (400 °F). Leave trout skin side down, do not turn over. Finish grilling trout until internal temperature reaches 140 °F. It will raise to safe temperature of 145 °F while resting
  5. Serve immediately with fresh dill and a lemon wedge.