BEST WAY TO FILET A FISH AFTER FROZEN IN THE ICE

[Tmaida17]

Hello everyone!!

I'm curious of everyone's theory on the best way to thaw a fish after its been frozen on the ice after a day of ice fishing. 

[UFCreel]

Rinse in cold water several times. The best method is to fill a bucket up with some water and toss the fish in it. Just after catching it Lots of times after fishing all day I will get home and dump them in the sink. They come back to life flopping and splashing. Also no slime that way. But I mostly fish crappie.

[kevs]

Let them thaw naturally in a warm environment or with cold water. Never use hot water (though some might disagree) it causes more 'slime' to be created and makes the meat mushy.

[slipperybob]

I just filllet it frozen.

[GCD]

I just filllet it frozen.

Could you please make a video of that and post it here for us to see?

[Tmaida17]

Could you please make a video of that and post it here for us to see?

I was thinking the same thing. I'm curious

[Tmaida17]

Rinse in cold water several times. The best method is to fill a bucket up with some water and toss the fish in it. Just after catching it Lots of times after fishing all day I will get home and dump them in the sink. They come back to life flopping and splashing. Also no slime that way. But I mostly fish crappie.

I read the same thing, let thaw in the refrigerator, and if possible cut up in the ice ( but then you have the leftovers to deal with) .

[DR.SPECKLER]

I let them thaw out in the sink.then wash all the slime off them with cold water and fillet.alot easier if you wash the slime coat off so they aren't slipping all over the place and I can grip them better.

[bearnoob]

I recommend against just leaving them in the bucket in the garage to thaw and filleting them as they thaw. It makes for a very late night.

[potatoe]

I like doing the water in bucket, if in a hurry I use hot water. I plumbed hot water into my garage, I can get hot water pretty quick as water heater is just on other side of wall.

[ispoman]

I use a bottle torch

[MFDIRT13]

Cold water rinse few times n leave em on the cutting board till they is soft enough to filet.

[mcperch]

I don't put my fish on the ice I put water in a bucket then throw fish in fished all day never froze , then no worries

[esox_xtm]

Kinda dicey to get skin and bone out while frozen like a rock. On the other hand you can carve sides off of very frozen fish. After a quick semi-thaw it's much easier, for me they gotta flex at least a little. Even a rinse under cold water gets 'em loose enough to finish.

[Kevin23]

Frozen in the ice? As in a fish someone left and you chipped out of the lake?

I dont let my fish freeze, i keep them in a bucket or my sled unless its really cold in which case i put them in water.

If i get home late and dont feel like cleaning fish i toss them in a grocery bag and drop them in the freezer, then toss the bag full in my bait tank to thaw before cleaning.

A tip, if you are using a bucket of water be sure to rip the gills before you toss them in the bucket. The fish will bleed out and taste even better!

[Raquettedacker]

Mine were pretty frozen the past two afternoons and just used the mister twister like I always would...

[sra61]

I picked one of these up. Some of my buddies put them on a stringer and let them thaw that way. I have thawed them by putting them in a cooler with snow on the bottom and layering fish between snow and just let them thaw over time. It took almost half the next week, but there was no slime at all and they were pike!
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/Clam-Fish-Well/0000000232453?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping%2Bsearch&utm_campaign=google%2Bproduct

[Rags777]

I watched a guy out on the lake make a live well the other day! he took his auger and drilled about 10 holes right beside each other, stopping about 3" before punching though, making a rectangle. then punched one hole at the very end all the way through. the water filled the bigger space allowing him to keep his fish alive and therefore thawed out without being able to escape. Me and the ol man just looked at him and said "hell we just throw them on the ice"  . hell of an idea though I thought!

[bobberbill]

wrap em up in some newspapers.. Have a couple beers.. Check on em, maybe have another. Not too difficult to figure it out..

[Rags777]

wrap em up in some newspapers.. Have a couple beers.. Check on em, maybe have another. Not too difficult to figure it out..

ok, this is a much better idea! 

I thought that we were trying to get technical here!

[Tmaida17]

All good ideas !! Thanks guys! Definitely going to try a few of them

[Mr.Seaguar]

I like my system best. I dump my fish in the tub sink at the bait shop, pay them a price determined by species and number of fish, and go on my merry way. Later I stop in and get my fish. I could also wait for them, I do that sometimes too. I get some harsh comments regarding paying to have fish cleaned. But when I get home and simply have to throw my bag of filets in the fridge vs spending an hr cleaning fish, I get the last laugh.

[maddogg]

I watched a guy out on the lake make a live well the other day! he took his auger and drilled about 10 holes right beside each other, stopping about 3" before punching though, making a rectangle. then punched one hole at the very end all the way through. the water filled the bigger space allowing him to keep his fish alive and therefore thawed out without being able to escape. Me and the ol man just looked at him and said "hell we just throw them on the ice"  . hell of an idea though I thought!

It's not a hell of an idea to the guy that steps in to it the next day.

[royjulius]

I always put my fish in the fridge overnight and fillet the next day. That way they are thawed and stiff (and dead, no dorsal fins jabbing my palm) and I can really be accurate because I'm well rested. Set up the table, turn on the football game, open 3 beers before you get messy, and have a ball. Been doing it this way for 15 years.

[sploke]

If I'm planning on keeping fish, I bring a few ziploc bags with me.  When I catch a keeper, it immediately gets dispatched, cleaned and filleted.  Fillets go in one bag, carcass goes in another for stock or gets left for the foxes.

[jdog1034]

Filleting frozen is better, especially with an electric knife.  Less messy, and easier to dispose the guts. 

[hnd]

i keep them in a bucket with water.  fish that are frozen or have been frozen are a nightmare to fish. 

[WYOICER]

I think they are better eating if you don't let them freeze

[slipperybob]

Could you please make a video of that and post it here for us to see?

What do I need to make a video?  All I know is its almost the same, just a closer and more precision cut to the bones.

[slipperybob]

i keep them in a bucket with water.  fish that are frozen or have been frozen are a nightmare to fish.

LOL am I reading this correctly?