keeping trout

[LittleJohn]

Better make sure you're not on the water when you gutting them. Just put them on ice and they will be just find.
LittleJohn

[GeoFisher]

As others said...........Do NOT clean them on the water.

THAT is illegal, and the CO will THROW THE BOOK AT YOU........

At Cumberland, there is a cleaning station at the top of the ramp at Kendall. GREAT facilities.

Clean them there, or clean them at HOME..........

Later,

Geo

[btlspin]

thanks for the information everybody!

[GeoFisher]

Where' you headed.

I've been REALLY wanting to get to Cumberland, but have not made it this year.

Maybe after I get back from canada later this month..........

Later,

Geo

[RoadToad]

Just throw them on ice as soon as you catch them, while they're alive. Keep them on ice until you're ready to clean them, and they'll be fine. I've seen some folks on long fishing trips put their fish on dry ice, but I wouldn't recommend that. That will freeze them hard as a rock, so hard they'll get freezer burn! Plus that stuff can be dangerous. And if they're of any size (bigger than the stockers they put in the local ponds) let me suggest you do a butterfly fillet on them, and stuff them. Yum!

[RICHYD4U]

Having grown up around natural trout waters, I have to say that there is no better tasting fish then a native trout (cutthroat trout at that). As for the planted trout, it takes them a while to get the fish hatchery taste out of them. That taste comes from the steady diet of pellets and the life in the concrete runs. Once they spend time eating insects and their natural prey, they will develope into nice tasting fish. I always gut my fish away from the waters where I caught them, and away from where I am camping (too many critters). Cut the heads off, thus removing the gills which have high concentrations of blood which can spoil the taste of the fish. Throw them on plenty of ice, and you should be in business. Perhaps the best way to cook up a trout is to place a slab of butter in the middle, salt, pepper, lemon, and wrap it up in tin foil. Throw it on a camp fire and cook to perfection! Delicious! Just my 2 cents.

-Rich