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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Hardwater Cuisine => Topic started by: jhl4661 on Feb 06, 2017, 12:35 AM

Title: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: jhl4661 on Feb 06, 2017, 12:35 AM
I was out this weekend and caught two pickerel around 20 inches while bluegill fishing.  I have never kept them before and thought I would give it a shot.  I have heard you could bake them.  Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to fix them.  Thank you
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: trapper2000 on Feb 06, 2017, 05:34 AM
20 inch pickerel......  sun rendered on the ice ....sea guls love  them
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: dwitte62 on Feb 06, 2017, 06:28 AM
Fish cakes.....maybe !!
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: adkRoy on Feb 06, 2017, 06:32 AM
I would check on this board.  ;)

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?board=58.0 (http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?board=58.0)
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Birdslayer on Feb 06, 2017, 06:35 AM
Try pickling them!! I know the thought of pickled fish always kinda sounded funny until I tried it and its delicious on crackers. The vinegar dissolves all the bones and the meat is nice and firm not mushy like i thought. I make mine hot like dilly beans and i put a lot of garlic and onions in there that are delicious when pickled also! Very easy and a nice bar snack....
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: hardwater diehard on Feb 06, 2017, 06:35 AM
This should help you out some ...I pickle mine ...SEARCH upper left should help fine a recipe to your liking

        don't forget about them Y bones 

http://www.in-fisherman.com/recipes/

http://www.in-fisherman.com/recipes/cleaning-care/cleaning-catch-y-bone-removal/

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=336258.0

http://www.in-fisherman.com/recipes/pickled-fish-recipe/

http://www.in-fisherman.com/recipes/fish-recipes/fishermans-pickled-fish/
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: RIVERRAT2 on Feb 06, 2017, 07:41 AM
I would check on this board.  ;)

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?board=58.0 (http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?board=58.0)
I like the pickled ones,but here are lots of ways to do them
 ;D ;D ;D
RAT
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: milo44 on Feb 06, 2017, 08:12 AM
we do them just like a pike  then batter and fry   very tastie
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: darkeyez on Feb 06, 2017, 08:28 AM
Cold water pickerel are pretty tasty, reason most people don't mess with them is the Y bones and not knowing how to remove them properly.
If I keep any, it's also batter and fry them.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Calciumsoda on Feb 06, 2017, 08:34 AM
Make a chowder and add smoked kielbasa.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Pike Paralyzer on Feb 06, 2017, 08:38 AM
Dig hole in garden. Insert pickerel, cover hole and let marinate for eternity.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: mono_mono on Feb 06, 2017, 09:22 AM
Survival food  :o
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Rangerclay on Feb 06, 2017, 10:02 AM
Fillet just like a perch, remove skin and ribs, leave Y bones.  Cut off the last 3 inches of filet closest to tail that has no Y bones.  I call those "tips", a nice clean piece of meat.  Take remaining filet and run through the meat grinder twice.  Form into patties, bread and deep fry.  Y bones grind up.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: CabinFever on Feb 06, 2017, 12:36 PM
I agree with Ranger.     Put filets in a blender with egg and seasoned breadcrumbs.   Grind.  Form into patties.  Fry and eat just like crab cakes.  Maryland never had it so good.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: rlowery on Feb 06, 2017, 01:01 PM
I'm a big fan of the patty method mentioned by ranger. I like to add a bit of peppers, onions, and parm cheese to the grind as well
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: hardwater diehard on Feb 06, 2017, 01:07 PM
I'm a big fan of the patty method mentioned by ranger. I like to add a bit of peppers, onions, and parm cheese to the grind as well

My buddy has added shrimp also.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: can_of_worms on Feb 06, 2017, 01:20 PM
Pickling is a fantastic way to use them, as is the patties, we make a lot of them every year as Honeoye is full of pickerel, grind them and add whatever you like they are very tasty. Most recently we made them into burgers and grilled them put a scoop of fresh coleslaw on top and they are great. They are a very tasty fish through the ice, timely to clean if you want boneless. Please keep the unsportsman like comments to yourself, no one wants to hear about your wasting of fish, even if it is in jest.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Adkslabslayer on Feb 06, 2017, 01:58 PM
Great post as many people seem to think there garbage I really enjoy the patties and cant wait to try and pickle some up
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: trapper2000 on Feb 06, 2017, 02:21 PM
if you trap they make great coon and mink bait ......skin and heads  in ajar  left in sun makes great fish oil too!

as far as eatting the  cakes are good  or  you can pressure cook or can them ...... if you pickle   you should  freeze  them  first  fresh water  fish carry a lot of  nasty things and pickling doesn't  kill them

of course ya could stop messing with pickerel and  go catch a couple walleyes to eat instead   ;D ;D
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: beachwoods 16 on Feb 06, 2017, 02:56 PM
I skin and season and flour whole fish.without head and tail. fry in butter and olive oil medium heat. I even cover after both sides are brown. When done i remove, and pull out comb and y bones. Nice eating fish. had last night. I have to try the fish cakes next though.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: greensider on Feb 06, 2017, 06:51 PM
I see trapper is back to giving bad advice leaving fish on the ice is against the law and pickerel are about as good eating as any fish there is just fry them like any other use crisco instead of oil it makes a huge difference
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Joe Snag on Feb 07, 2017, 04:58 AM
send me a PM and I'll tell you how to fillet them out and you will not get 1 bone--I've posted this before with pics.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: jhl4661 on Feb 07, 2017, 02:54 PM
Thank you for all of your replies.  I sadly did not have access to a meat grinder as my grandfather was out of town and our grinder is with him. I filleted them and it was quite a bit of work for not a lot of reward. I will probably wait until he returns to keep any more.  However when i cleaned them i opened up the stomachs and found a good reason to keep them as there were quite a few young bluegill in them. 
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Raquettedacker on Feb 07, 2017, 02:59 PM
Uses a food processor if you have one.
Add some onion, an egg and process it..
Make patties, dip in egg and milk and roll in your favorite breading...
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: beachwoods 16 on Feb 07, 2017, 04:31 PM
 I think I'll use the Food processor. It is easier to clean.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: hardwater diehard on Feb 07, 2017, 04:44 PM
I think I'll use the Food processor. It is easier to clean.

Run crackers through the grinder...and use a binder to boot EZPZ.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: moosefeet on Feb 07, 2017, 09:16 PM
I boiled one in Ginger Ale once, was pretty good. Never tried the patty method but the next slime dart is destine for fish patties!
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: beachwoods 16 on Feb 09, 2017, 07:10 AM
Run crackers through the grinder...and use a binder to boot EZPZ.
I used to always run bread through, but my wife has celiac. Gluten free stuff is a little more common now so maybe I will try that.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: perch chacer on Feb 13, 2017, 11:25 AM
Cold water pickerel are pretty tasty, reason most people don't mess with them is the Y bones and not knowing how to remove them properly.
Use the 5 piece fillet method and the "Y" bones are gone.  Cut behind the head down to the back bone and toward the tail and out just before the rear dorsal fin (pc 1).  This exposes the "Y" bones.  Trim any of the "Y" bone tips out of the 1st fillet if any of them were cut  off during the  1st dorsal cut.  Cut the side fillet off by cutting down to the ribs just outside the "Y" bone line, end your side fillet near the tail section where you ended your first dorsal fillet cut (pc 2). Repeat other side (pc 3).   Now fillet the tail section as you would normally do any fish (pc 4 and 5).  Now skin all 5 pcs.  If you did it correct the "Y" bones should still be attached to the back bone with a strip of meat.  Practice makes perfect.  I batter and fry them like pike and they are great tasting.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Neil McCauley on Feb 13, 2017, 11:41 AM
I'd batter and deep fry them.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: FingerLaker607 on Feb 13, 2017, 11:53 AM
The prime cuts (back and tail pieces) hold up great on a well seasoned grill...Underrated and underappreciated fish.  Keep the panfish population balanced, great action on light tackle, prevalent and tasty!
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: bigfish1212 on Feb 13, 2017, 11:57 AM
Here is how I deal with the y bones I have done the 5filet, but I prefer this way.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Huntyeraws on Feb 13, 2017, 02:51 PM

pickerel patties
(http://i48.tinypic.com/wkr57b.jpg)

getting brown, flip em over
(http://i46.tinypic.com/219qteh.jpg)

final product - YUM!
(http://i50.tinypic.com/k039dg.jpg)

Lots of guys don't like pickerel or pike because "they have too many bones", boy they don't know what they are missing. 

Fried pickerel patties, fresh coleslaw and fries. Washed it down with a cold one. Yum! Pickerel fillets were ground in a food processor, mixed with raw eggs, parsley flakes, garlic powder, fresh minced onion, and mixed with crushed Ritz crackers like a meatloaf and the patties were then fried in oil until golden brown. Delicious!
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Raquettedacker on Feb 13, 2017, 03:32 PM
That looks delicious Huntyeraws. We eat them on buns with lettuce, tomato and onion like a hamburger...    ;D
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: beachwoods 16 on Feb 13, 2017, 04:19 PM
And as the picture shows, don't forget the beer!!
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: perch chacer on Feb 13, 2017, 11:31 PM
Here is how I deal with the y bones I have done the 5 fillet, but I prefer this way.

Thanks bigfish, I'll have to try your method seems a little simpler.  The main thing is to get the "Y" bones out and then the pickerel or pike are great tasting battered and deep fried.  Baked covered with onions, garlic power and lemon juice wrapped in tin foil is a tasty treat also.
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: uncleshorty on Feb 16, 2017, 04:55 PM
Fillet the pickerel.  Soak the fillets in buttermilk for 4-5 hours.  Then rinse them, pat dry and season heavily with Uncle Cletus' fish rub.  Let rest for two hours to allow the rub to penetrate.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Place the seasoned fillets on an adler plank.  Bake in a 350 deg preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.  Remove the plank from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.

Throw the fish away and eat the plank...
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Chris338378 on Feb 17, 2017, 03:29 AM
Here is how I deal with the y bones I have done the 5filet, but I prefer this way.


Thanks for sharing the video, it looks really easy and am going to try that.  I've caught some decent size pickerel, twenty inches and bigger but always throw them back because I was afraid of missing some bones if I filleted them. 
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Raquettedacker on Feb 17, 2017, 06:36 PM
Pickerel Patties.............  And coleslaw and fixings....

(http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah196/Raquettedacker1/100_1025_zpszsexgw6k.jpg) (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Raquettedacker1/media/100_1025_zpszsexgw6k.jpg.html)
(http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah196/Raquettedacker1/100_1026_zpsbowe8gqj.jpg) (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Raquettedacker1/media/100_1026_zpsbowe8gqj.jpg.html)
(http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah196/Raquettedacker1/100_1028_zpswemqjsiw.jpg) (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Raquettedacker1/media/100_1028_zpswemqjsiw.jpg.html)
(http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah196/Raquettedacker1/100_1029_zpsnvtetquf.jpg) (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Raquettedacker1/media/100_1029_zpsnvtetquf.jpg.html)
(http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah196/Raquettedacker1/100_1030_zpsiz6hfrjq.jpg) (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Raquettedacker1/media/100_1030_zpsiz6hfrjq.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: Sandcountrylivin on Feb 26, 2017, 09:39 AM
Great looking meal raquettedacker!! If I have to hear that stupid alder plank joke again I might lose all hope. It's ran its course!
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: oldJiffy30 on Mar 11, 2017, 05:27 PM
5 cut method to fillet them (check out youtube) to get the y-bones out, batter and fry. White meat is pretty mild
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: RuttNutt on Feb 10, 2018, 10:40 PM
Fished with Spider today and he brought some delicious Pickerel Patties! Ground Pickerel, onion and beaten egg to hold it together. Made them on my new grill.
(https://s9.postimg.cc/scft048sr/61_D9_BF12-184_F-4_CFB-9_A80-799435_B5_F787.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/scft048sr/)
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: RuttNutt on Feb 10, 2018, 10:43 PM
Came out great! Put them on toasted rolls with tarter sauce!  @)
(https://s9.postimg.cc/6q0sj4zyj/B949_A734-893_C-4_ED6-86_A2-440_BB13_FFD61.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/6q0sj4zyj/)
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: tbern on Feb 10, 2018, 10:46 PM
Ruttnutt, they really look good! Nice grill!
Title: Re: Recipe for pickerel
Post by: RuttNutt on Feb 11, 2018, 12:34 PM
Thanks! Spider did a great job on the patties and I LOVE the grill! It folds up to about an inch thick so it takes up practically no room in the sled. And has a big cooking area for it’s size.