I've been to the BW many times, but have never done much fishing. A little here & there. This summer I want to change that.

What would you say is the ideal size for eating? As far as SM Bass, walleye, etc. Most likely won't eat pike as I hear they're harder to clean. I'm just getting more into fishing and still learning so any info on the right ideal sizes to keep what to toss back would be appreciated.

First things first... check the rules and regs for the sizes that are legal to keep.

Secondly, I think most will say smaller walleyes - 14"-17" (approx.) - cook the best. The larger fish have thicker meat which make them a little tougher to fry. The smaller fish fry evenly and easily. Some argue they taste better, but I'm not sure about that.

We rarely eat smallies, but again, mid-size fish cook the best.

As for northern pike, many argue that pike tastes as good or better than walleye. I concur! The key is filleting them properly so you don't end up with a mouth full of y-bones. This video will show you one way to fillet a pike.

Personally, I prefer the 5-fillet method the best. I find it easier to take off the top fillet, then fillet off the sides and the two tail pieces. Your mileage may vary.

Walleyes 14 to 17. Smallmouth under 14 in and smaller pike under a couple pounds

If you get a little bit nicer pike, give the 5-cut method a try. It's not difficult at all unless the fish is small. Sometimes, the ideal size is the size you have in hand as dinner time approaches. We kind of go by if it seems like it might be too small or too big, it probably is.

We try not to keep any walleye over 16". Some days it's hard to catch eater fish because they are all too big. Have a hard time putting a knife to a 18"-22" walleye.


Fish for six one night.

I hear those smallmouth bass are something to be desired for table fare. I think I remember a rather large discussion about not being able to tell the difference in taste and texture compared to a walleye... (roll eyes... LMAO)

Walleye--18-20" is my ideal.
Bass--I don't eat bass.
Pike--26" minimum normally but sometimes desperation sets in.

PikeEatPike: "We try not to keep any walleye over 16". Some days it's hard to catch eater fish because they are all too big. Have a hard time putting a knife to a 18"-22" walleye.


Fish for six one night."

LMAO , 11 fish is more like enough for 20 people. I keep telling my family the same thing, but that’s after we eat said portion.

On topic -> Try not to eat the breeding class of fish when possible. Read up on it. Sorry I don’t have a link. Google the topic for endless research. LOL...
Personally I can’t remember a bad tasting fish of any size.
IDEAL EATING SIZE. Keep it simple and keep only fish under 2-3 lbs for any species and enjoy the day.
FB

FishBrain: "

PikeEatPike: "We try not to keep any walleye over 16". Some days it's hard to catch eater fish because they are all too big. Have a hard time putting a knife to a 18"-22" walleye.



Fish for six one night."

LMAO , 11 fish is more like enough for 20 people. I keep telling my family the same thing, but that’s after we eat said portion.


On topic -> Try not to eat the breeding class of fish when possible. Read up on it. Sorry I don’t have a link. Google the topic for endless research. LOL...
Personally I can’t remember a bad tasting fish of any size.
IDEAL EATING SIZE. Keep it simple and keep only fish under 2-3 lbs for any species and enjoy the day.
FB


"

I would have kept 12 of those same sized walleyes for the 6 of us up in the BWCA. And we would eat them all.... plus beans and rice.

2019 Northeastern Mn NEW Northern Pike Angling Regulations: 2 (not more than 1 over 40" in possession. All from 30-40" must be immediatley released).

I like about a 23-26 inch northern pike to eat.

Don't pass on the pike too quickly! Easy to learn how to clean them, they're great eating, and abundant in numbers.

djwillco: "Don't pass on the pike too quickly! Easy to learn how to clean them, they're great eating, and abundant in numbers."

I would rather eat pike over walleyes. People are just to concerned about the slime and bones.
Check out Shocks pike cleaning thread. Very easy to get the y-bones out.
When not in the BWCA, I do it with an electric fillet knife.

In a perfect world I'd prefer to keep walleye in the 15-17 inch range. Although that range can shift a bit depending on how hungry I am and what is biting.

A number of years ago I went on a short 3 day/2night trip with a friend in early June. We fished HARD our one full day in spending 10 hours in the canoe trying to find the fish. We were getting our butts kicked and only managed to catch 2 scrawny smallies early in the day. We tossed them back thinking we'd sooner or later find better fish. Well we didn't catch another fish for over 8 hours. We set up on what should have been a great prime time spot and still couldn't get a bite. It was getting dark and we decided to declare 3 more casts and we're calling it a day. I made my 3 casts with no luck. My buddy put on a big 5 of diamonds spoon for his last 3 cast as sort of one last "what the hell, why not" kind of thing. First 2 casts nothing. 3rd and final cast and the last cast for the night and he hooks into and lands a 21" walleye (I was a great net man btw). Normally that fish gets photographed and released without even a second thought. However, that day it was all we had to show for 10 hours of fishing and the only thing preventing us from eating nothing but rice and beans for dinner. It ended up being the best tasting fish I had ever eaten.

Side note, there was a major bug hatch going on which was the reason for the terrible fishing. We talked to several folks at the EP who were heading out and that one fish my buddy caught was basically the only fish caught by anyone.

Zwater: "I would rather eat pike over walleyes. People are just to concerned about the slime and ...."

Hang your northern from a tree branch for 20 minutes before cleaning. No slime.

musky under 20" aren't bad either..

I had a small musky about 20 years ago,I thought it tasted terrible. Northern are much better,

Depending on where you fish in the BWCA,but a person ate a northern pike now and than and released a few more walleye which in some waters are over fished it would help.

Pinetree: "I had a small musky about 20 years ago,I thought it tasted terrible. Northern are much better,"

It's funny how long "bad fish" hangs with you. I had a bad crappie as a kid and never had ate another one for 40 years. Then caught a nice one, kept it, cooked it... surprisingly, not bad. Almost identical story with sunfish.

bobbernumber3: "

Pinetree: "I had a small musky about 20 years ago,I thought it tasted terrible. Northern are much better,"

It's funny how long "bad fish" hangs with you. I had a bad crappie as a kid and never had ate another one for 40 years. Then caught a nice one, kept it, cooked it... surprisingly, not bad. Almost identical story with sunfish."

I think some fish like crappie and largemouth bass get more muddy tasting as the summer goes along. Their flesh also feels mushier.
Crappie taste much better in the winter.
I like bullhead in the spring in cold water. after that I wouldn't eat one.

I love norderns 7-12 pounders perfect fillet. Love making fish cakes and potato pancakes. Walleyes I purfer stuffing the cooler but those days are gone. Anyways I prefer my walleyes 16-18 inches. Crappies suck to clean when ya got 100 of em, but taste damn good. Nothing beats lake trout wraped in bacon when your in the woods camping.

Pinetree: "

bobbernumber3: "

Pinetree: "I had a small musky about 20 years ago,I thought it tasted terrible. Northern are much better,"

It's funny how long "bad fish" hangs with you. I had a bad crappie as a kid and never had ate another one for 40 years. Then caught a nice one, kept it, cooked it... surprisingly, not bad. Almost identical story with sunfish."

I think some fish like crappie and largemouth bass get more muddy tasting as the summer goes along. Their flesh also feels mushier.
Crappie taste much better in the winter.
I like bullhead in the spring in cold water. after that I wouldn't eat one."

^I agree, but I think it depends on the body of water.

For my $0.02, I think a bigger walleye around 22" is HARDLY distinguishable from a 12" when sampled on the end of a fork. I musculature is finer, and a TINY BIT more tender, but the taste is the SAME. Nice, sweet fillet.

Bass are nice to eat, too. It's basically a large bluegill. They're both in the sunfish family.

I LOVE eating pike. Love, LOVE, LOVE eating northern pike. I eat them differently than most, though. If I catch a 26-30 incher, I will bake it with herbs and citrus and onion and butter in the belly, wrapped very loosely in aluminum foil (basically, steamed).... The meat slides right off the bones in the way that a lot of people like eating stream trout. AGggghhhh... my mouth is watering... :)

+1, on the philosophy to avoid eating the 'breeders' in lakes that get pressured.

lundojam: "Sometimes, the ideal size is the size you have in hand as dinner time approaches.

This right here!

Same for species!

I haven't discovered many reliable ways to save fish you catch in the evening for the next day, or early in the morning for that night's meal. So we usually eat whatever we can snag on the afternoon bite.