Hi Everyone,

Upon reviewing a bunch of the member's photos, I noticed that a lot of people seem to be keeping Smallies to eat. I have always been told that bass often taste like mud. What do you guys think? Are they really good to eat, or are folks just eating them out of desperation?

BWCAGUY

Bass, like most other fish are good to eat when they are prepared correctly.
The secret is using hot oil (375 degrees or more) when frying any fish.

It's my favorite fish to eat in the BW. A little tougher to filet than a walleye, but I like the flavor and firm meat.

I eat mine with Barley.

All fish tastes the same if fried correctly.

Bass are good.....Mmmmm!

The colder water is better for bass for eating. As the water warms they dont taste as good. Remember they sun in shallows and use water other fish may not.

"I eat mine with Barley". We'll see if Mr Barley can verify this.

Smallmouth are one of the easiest to catch. Those who eat them are probably unable to catch walleye, crappie, etc. Panfishing does not include black bass for a reason.

I like smallmouth over crappie only because there is more meat per fish...I also like to eat northern but I can never seem to con my buddies into "y" boning them out for me!

If we have bad luck and can't get some walleye then we just hammer out a couple of smallies and call it supper. Taste just fine out of cold water. Fish that fresh helps with the flavor too.

They are great when cooked properly.

It's hard for a fish to taste muddy in waters with very little mud. So, eat them all....please.

Put some pancake powder in a ziplock bag, add your wet fillets, pan fry or deep fry, and all fish taste good...especially smallmouth. Enjoy.

They taste pretty good...Like others have said any fish caught out of the lakes up there is going to be pretty tasty. I'll bet if you fried up some walleye, northern, and smallmouth doing a blind taste test you probably couldn't tell that much of a difference. I think most people like walleyes simply because they are easy to clean and have flaky flesh. Northerns are probably some of the best tasting, but the y-bones scare a lot of folks away from cleaning them. In most other parts of the country most people are conditioned to think that eating bass is taboo and I know in my home state of Nebraska I have never eaten a smallie as they are prized here because we have very few fisheries that can support them, plus our waters are not as clean as the northern lakes so that might be where the "muddy" taste comes from. A nice bunch of bluegills...now those are tasty!

Smallies are great to eat in the BW especially if it keeps you from eating a 24"+ walleye or a 38"+ northern.

As earlier mentioned SM are tasty but as the water warms up they do tend to get a bit mushy. Smallmouth usually stay in cooler water so they're not too bad. On the other hand Largemouth use the warmer waters and taste like $h8t.

JB

quote wilfish4food: "Smallmouth are one of the easiest to catch. Those who eat them are probably unable to catch walleye, crappie, etc. Panfishing does not include black bass for a reason. "

I catch walleye and other species all the time, sometimes I prefer to eat a small bass because they do taste good from a coldwater lake. p.s. Im sure other people that eat smallies know how to catch other fish too.

I prefer walleye but my wife would much prefer a smallie. I think they're pretty close in taste but NOTHING beats fresh walleye.

To me freshwater fish taste great. I enjoy eating the bass, smallmouth and largemouth. Some people don't and also discard the pike. I enjoy the 5 fillet method and enjoy eating pike also.

Walleye taste good too, but I just don't see that big a difference when I'm at a camp site and fixing fresh fish for a meal.

In the past I've laughed at people who have said they prefer pike over walleye up in the BW. Now, I get laughed at when I say I'd prefer pike over walleye in the BW.

I don't really fry my fish though... I put aluminum foil over the fire grate, grease it with butter, and cook the breaded fish that way. Clean up is way way way way easier.

There are people that prefer walleye because it has very little "fishy taste". To make walleye have any taste you have to add something to it (butter, seasonings, breading). Pike and small mouth do have a fish taste to start with. It's like eating beef all the time and then trying venison for the first time, it has more of a wild game taste.

Another good way to cook fish up there is by heating up a few tablespoons of margarine in the bottom of the skillet, dice some onions in nice sized chunks, put the fillets in the sizzling pan, sprinkle the fillets with lemon pepper salt, then add a little lemon juice then add the onions on top. Cover the skillet with aluminum foil and steam the fish and onions. After a few minutes flip the fillets and then re-cover. Steam the contents for a few more minutes and then serve with a side of stove topped stuffing. Now that is good eatin’ ! No oil or breeding to deal with here. This works for all kinds of fish, not just smallmouth.

We've eaten them on occasion. Just trying to do our part to keep their numbers down. It hasn't had much of an impact :(

Smallies are good...by all means EAT THEM! Largemouth Bass...not so much.

Yes, they are good. Any fish out of cold, clear water tastes good, and any fish out of shallow, warm, muddy water tastes like mud. Prepare a mixed bag of walleye and smallie and in my experience there is no real difference.

quote apugarcia: "In the past I've laughed at people who have said they prefer pike over walleye up in the BW. Now, I get laughed at when I say I'd prefer pike over walleye in the BW.


I don't really fry my fish though... I put aluminum foil over the fire grate, grease it with butter, and cook the breaded fish that way. Clean up is way way way way easier."

Yuck!! :)
Try filleting your fish, cut into strips about 1/2 inch thick, coat with plain yellow mustard, roll in a corn meal based breading, then drop them into HOT oil (which is the secret to cooking fish)
This works for any species, and it is hard to tell the difference between any of them.
You can do this at home with a gas turkey cooker with the smaller pan and basket. They will taste as good as they do when camping.
HOT OIL IS THE SECRET-DON'T FORGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crush up saltine crackers for the breading and heat the deep fryer to 375, drop em in till they float.You can use a pan full of oil and do the same while camping, cook fish hot and fast.

"Ish-da dar good!!!!" That's what grampa would say.

Try panko for your breading. It's crispier than most breading mixes and won't get soggy. Add your spices and seasoning (garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, lemon, etc.) to the panko in a gallon ziplock bag. Roll the filets into the bag and pan fry in very hot oil as others have said here. I have found this to be the best breading to fry fish in.

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote apugarcia: "In the past I've laughed at people who have said they prefer pike over walleye up in the BW. Now, I get laughed at when I say I'd prefer pike over walleye in the BW.



I don't really fry my fish though... I put aluminum foil over the fire grate, grease it with butter, and cook the breaded fish that way. Clean up is way way way way easier."

Yuck!! :)
Try filleting your fish, cut into strips about 1/2 inch thick, coat with plain yellow mustard, roll in a corn meal based breading, then drop them into HOT oil (which is the secret to cooking fish)
This works for any species, and it is hard to tell the difference between any of them.
You can do this at home with a gas turkey cooker with the smaller pan and basket. They will taste as good as they do when camping.
HOT OIL IS THE SECRET-DON'T FORGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yuck. I prefer grilled fish. Not as greasy and clean up is easier. Fillet the fish, rub with olive oil, add fish rub, put between two screens and cook five minutes per side over the fire.

quote Basspro69: "

quote wilfish4food: "Smallmouth are one of the easiest to catch. Those who eat them are probably unable to catch walleye, crappie, etc. Panfishing does not include black bass for a reason. "

I catch walleye and other species all the time, sometimes I prefer to eat a small bass because they do taste good from a coldwater lake. p.s. Im sure other people that eat smallies know how to catch other fish too."

Right on BP, can not add to that!

quote topcat: "

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote apugarcia: "In the past I've laughed at people who have said they prefer pike over walleye up in the BW. Now, I get laughed at when I say I'd prefer pike over walleye in the BW.



I don't really fry my fish though... I put aluminum foil over the fire grate, grease it with butter, and cook the breaded fish that way. Clean up is way way way way easier."

Yuck!! :)
Try filleting your fish, cut into strips about 1/2 inch thick, coat with plain yellow mustard, roll in a corn meal based breading, then drop them into HOT oil (which is the secret to cooking fish)
This works for any species, and it is hard to tell the difference between any of them.
You can do this at home with a gas turkey cooker with the smaller pan and basket. They will taste as good as they do when camping.
HOT OIL IS THE SECRET-DON'T FORGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yuck. I prefer grilled fish. Not as greasy and clean up is easier. Fillet the fish, rub with olive oil, add fish rub, put between two screens and cook five minutes per side over the fire. "

Fish fried in HOT oil are not greasy.

Well put, Bro!!!!!!!!

quote bobby726: "I prefer walleye but my wife would much prefer a smallie. I think they're pretty close in taste but NOTHING beats fresh walleye. "

Except Brook Trout, but thats just my opinion :-)

Yep...cold water... hot oil is good eating .....any species in the 2 lb. range for me.

Yesssss

quote cooper: "Yesssss!"

Yesssssss! My precious!

Yes, they are very good to eat. So are Walleyes. So are Northern Pike. So are Sunfish. So are Perch. So are crappies. So are Bullheads. And so are Eelpout. Haha. Done right, they all taste delicious in my opinion. I like to bake or grill my bass for the most part.

quote gbuskk: "

quote topcat: "

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote apugarcia: "In the past I've laughed at people who have said they prefer pike over walleye up in the BW. Now, I get laughed at when I say I'd prefer pike over walleye in the BW.




I don't really fry my fish though... I put aluminum foil over the fire grate, grease it with butter, and cook the breaded fish that way. Clean up is way way way way easier."

Yuck!! :)
Try filleting your fish, cut into strips about 1/2 inch thick, coat with plain yellow mustard, roll in a corn meal based breading, then drop them into HOT oil (which is the secret to cooking fish)
This works for any species, and it is hard to tell the difference between any of them.
You can do this at home with a gas turkey cooker with the smaller pan and basket. They will taste as good as they do when camping.
HOT OIL IS THE SECRET-DON'T FORGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yuck. I prefer grilled fish. Not as greasy and clean up is easier. Fillet the fish, rub with olive oil, add fish rub, put between two screens and cook five minutes per side over the fire. "

Fish fried in HOT oil are not greasy."

Sorry, you are right, they aren't greasy they are oily.

I know how to catch smallies and Walleyes.

quote Arlo Pankook: "I know how to catch smallies and Walleyes. "

To each there own. I prefer to CPR walleyes over 20 in.

I wish there were bullheads up there.

Yes, best not to bread them excessively or at all. It takes away from the general flavor of the fish because you are tasting more oil than fish. Try lightly buttering it, add some salt, pepper, and dill weed. Wrap it up in aluminum foil and grill it over a campfire or a grill for ~10 minutes flipping it halfway through.

Enjoy,
~Bass~

Smallmouth carry at least 3 different types of parasites. I can handle the black spot thing but if I notice tapeworms when I start to fillet them I'm no longer hungry for fish.

Tapeworms are in the digestive tract and you are discarding that part....aren't you?

All fish have a lot more than 3 kinds of parasites (and so do you).

quote walleye_hunter: "Smallmouth carry at least 3 different types of parasites. I can handle the black spot thing but if I notice tapeworms when I start to fillet them I'm no longer hungry for fish."

Walleyes are the worst when it comes to tapeworms FYI. Besides you would be surprised at the "stuff" in lots of things we buy at grocery store. Just because it comes in a pretty package does not mean it is good..

quote groupleader42: Walleyes are the worst when it comes to tapeworms FYI. Besides you would be surprised at the "stuff" in lots of things we buy at grocery store. Just because it comes in a pretty package does not mean it is good.."

I do not think that is correct to say that walleyes are the worst when it comes to tapeworm. You will need to prove that, and I don't think you can. Bass are the main carriers of bass tapeworm, yes walleyes can carry it but I have never cleaned a walleye with tapeworm. I've eaten ant eggs and other strange foods in different parts of the world and I know a little about the 'stuff' in my food but when I start to clean a bass and its guts are a big mushy mess from tapeworm, it disgusts me. We all have our little quirks I guess. I'm not trying to use tapeworm has an argument to declare smallmouth as a rough fish. I have other reasons for that :)

quote Jeriatric: "All fish have a lot more than 3 kinds of parasites (and so do you)."

I like my parasites and I'm pretty sure the weight I've gained the past couple of years proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I currently do not carry tapeworms. :)

Eat the bass! I try for walleyes on most trips - if I didn't eat some of the bass caught, I wouldn't get a fish dinner very often. My trips to the Boundary Waters are the only times each year that I eat fish. They are very good when freshly caught.

Walleyes and black bass are probably equally susceptible to tapeworms and other parasites. The most important factor is whether certain copepods (initial host) and an intermediate host (certain forage fish) are present and the walleye (the final host) is concentrating on that forage fish. Yellow perch is one intermediate host for some tapeworm parasites of walleye.
While the tapeworms are gross, we are unlikely to eat them. Other parasites are eaten by us all the time. Nematodes and digenetic trematodes (flukes) in the musculature of the fish are cooked and consumed without our knowledge.
When I was in my early twenties, I fancied myself a fish disease specialist. I took graduate classes in fish diseases and worked on independent studies. I am happy to say that the knowledge I picked up did not alter the taste of the fish in later years.

the key to frying smallmouth is to use butter and cook it a bit slower so the butter does not burn.
breading or not, butter taste better than oil!

u betcha,I eat a meal of smallies at least once a season.I target the ones between 12 and 15 inches when Im keeping "eaters"

I fish Lake of the Woods several times a year, and eat walleye often. However, when I go to the BWCA, I like to eat smallies. Both fish are very good, and both can carry parasites. As long as you properly cook your fillets, you should be just fine. To each there own.

Eat them all, precious... song

CHICKEN IN A BISCUIT CRACKERS!! Tried it and have been hooked since-
Crush em up and dip your filets in it- then pan fry- yum, so tasty!!

LOL I LOve it! Good one Mr. Barley!

Pretty good B!Reminds me of carp fishing at the Schells Dam

They are great to eat! Throw fillets in a bag that has a bit of powdered milk with water added (just enough to get them wet), Then add pancake flour or fish batter, and shake them up good. Fry them and wow are they good!

I really enjoy pike, bass, and walleye this way. I was converted to pike after I learned to fillet them using the 5 fillet method.

Yummy! I ate them fried, grilled, and braised in olive oil and in chilly. I do not eat any bass in FL, but up in te BW, there were lots of them, and no walleye on artificials. Fresh is the key if you ask me.

Yup....It's best if they're still floppin when they hit the oil. Like TGO and others have said- very hot oil.

quote fishguts: "

quote cooper: "Yesssss!"

Yesssssss! My precious! "

Utterly awesome, Dude! Love your humor, and for those of you worried about parasites in your fish, COOK THEM and you'll have nothing to fear! Smallies, wallies, norskies and trout all taste wonderful when they're COOKED!