Pike cleaning pointers?

[fisherofman]

Interested to hear any insight or tips on cleaning pike.  Had a chance to get out this past week and bag some pike and can't believe all of the slime on these fish, and can make quite a mess when cleaning.  I can handle the Y-bones (it takes me a while but I've gotten better over the years with limited experience and some youtube help), but am curious of any pointers on dealing with all the slime when cleaning pike.?

[Fishingnerd33]

For the slime, I typically just have a nasty, old towel that I wipe them down with prior to cleaning. They are usually dead or close to it when I clean them but if not, drying them off helps a lot to keep a hold on them.

[hardh2ofish]

Hmmm.  I don't think I do anything special.  I use a piece of plywood scrap about 5' long and 16-18" wide.  I used to use an old piece of counter top but I think the slick surface an slime was a big fight.  The wood soaks a little bit of that up.  When you can transport your fish home keep them dry as possible.  I try and refrain from washing them from what ever dirt grime whatever when I get them home.  Wetting them down just prior to cleaning only makes the slime appear in mass.  Wipe down with a clean rag or paper towel.  Oh yeah.  Slime.....get used to it!  Lol

[IceDoc]

The trick I use with any of my fish is to clean them on an old newspaper.  I keep all the newspapers we get and have a stack of them in my garage.  I just pull out a few and clean fish on them.  Does a good job of soaking up the slim.  Used to fish Pike all the time when I live out west and that was the method I picked up from the local boys.

[chasin eyes]

I've never tried this, but just heard about it the other day.  A fellow was saying that as soon as he catches a pike that he's going to keep, he whacks them in the head, and claims that this stops the sliming from happening.  Worth a try in my opinion...

[hardh2ofish]

I've never tried this, but just heard about it the other day.  A fellow was saying that as soon as he catches a pike that he's going to keep, he whacks them in the head, and claims that this stops the sliming from happening.  Worth a try in my opinion...

Hmmm.  May try it once.  At least to test it.  Like the news paper idea.   Though I rarely have any around.

[Cotacatchers]

take the back of your fillet knife and scrap it off , usually takes about 3 or 4 scraps per side. - make sure you get it off or the meat will taste horrible.

[fishngolf]

I always use a paper feed sack to clean the pike on, I split it to open it up for a bigger cleaning area. This would be real similar to the news paper soaking up the slime.

If the fish are just to the point of freezing but are not hard that helps a lot too. Also like the previous post commented, use a paper towel to wipe down.

One of my favorite fish to catch, clean and eat.

[funtwohunt]

I just use the newspaper trick, just use the grainier newspaper pages themselves and not the slick shiny adds, inserts etc. with all the ink. Any paper or cloth that is really absorbent works pretty good. I have used the back of the knife blade at first to scrape the most off first, then paper. Also use an unfinished piece of plywood as suggested helps a lot too. Good Luck.

[IceHutt]

I bought one of those countertop or shower squeegee things from Menards for 2 bucks.  That works good to scrape the slime off of the fish and the work area.    I have used the newspaper trick for fish for years.  Wad it all up and throw it in the trash or burn it (we can still burn things here on the farm).     I like fishngolf's idea of the feed sack....the residue in the sack would work to add some protein or trace minerals into my diet so that I don't look so bloated or develop a selenium dificiency......L O L      Happy Trails !     D. Hutt

[fisherofman]

Thanks for the pointers guys.  Look forward to implementing and giving these options a try.  Appreciate it.