Anybody here eat Cisco's?

[pastaboy]

Ran into and caught some nice big ones the other day, my buddy said they are kind of a strong tasting fish and said they would probably be best if smoked. In all my years of fishing (48+) never caught any until then. Nice fighters, didn't keep any but had fun catching them. Any thoughts?!?

[bobberbill]

had some when I was a kid. Family friend always gave my folks some in the winter. Can't recall ever having them since then. 60 yrs ago..Thinkin smelt??

[Jim_MI]

I have broiled them when fresh - very much like whitefish.
If you cannot eat them the same day, you can cut the fillets into cubes and then pickle them. This is your basic "pickled herring", after all.
Have not tried smoking them.
There seem to be more BIG ones out there this year, not sure why.

[fishybill]

they are a bit like whitefish, best eaten grilled or smoked. 
toss them on the grill with some lemon pepper and garlic cook until flaky.

[bobberbill]

Fish Tacos?? Jalepeno, some fresh veggies, Corona's, ..oh well, back to perch and gills..

[ready2fish]

I caught one last year and decided to keep it for dinner, to be honest i really cant remember how it tasted, guess if it was that bad i would of remembered.

I deep fried mine with some crappie, lets us know if you liked it

[RLWagner]

One of the tournaments I fish each uear, they bring in ciscos quite a bit. All fish are tossed into the ring for a big fish fry. Tasye like the rest of the pannies when cooked right away.

Elsewise treat it like fishy. Bill says.

[pastaboy]

Thanks for the info fellas. Now another trick question....How do you clean one?? If I catch anymore I may have to try some, either in the smoker or the good ole fashioned way....In the fryer.

[princecraft]

There is a lake I fish that has a good population of cisco's.  They are some of the best smoked fish I have ever had.  A couple years ago I fileted one out and cooked it just like I would my bluegills and was really surprised how good it was.  A little boney but good.

[swampbuckster]

As long as it's not a Golden Shiner!!! I don't know how many Ol Guys around here call the large shiners they catch "Ciscos" No! No! No!


If it doesn't have an adipose fin, It's not a cisco!
I wasn't trying to knock you pastaboy, I'm sure you do have ciscos in your neck of the woods. It just kills me how many times I hear locals around here call shiners ciscos!

[RLWagner]

Nice comparison Swamp, thanks for taking the time to post the visual.

[pastaboy]

Thanks for clearing that up for me swamp, I was catching the fish in the top pic, long and somewhat skinny, running about 14+ inches.  No offense taken at all, unless you were calling me an "Old Feller"......   Which in case I am, sure beats being 6foot under!  Tight lines my friend!