How to Prepare and Cook Lake Trout
There are few things more satisfying than devouring a fish that you personally caught. In fact, one of the best parts about fishing is enjoying the fruits of your labor and perhaps feeding some family and friends as well. However, if you don’t have a plan going in, you may not like the final product.
Anglers who live around the Great Lakes or Canada may be familiar with Lake Trout. It’s not necessarily the most popular fish to eat, but when prepared correctly, it makes a fantastic meal. Here’s how to take the fish from catch to plate:
The Catch
The first step of the process is obviously to actually catch the Lake Trout. Once that part is done, you have to work quickly to prevent the meat from spoiling and to minimize the suffering of the fish. Knock the fish unconscious with a specialized tool to stop it from squirming. Then “bleed” the fish by cutting into both gills with a sharp knife. Dip it into the water and massage the back to help the blood pour out. Once the blood flow stops, put the fish in a cooler on ice to chill until the day is done.
Preparation
Once you’re home or wherever you’re going to cook the fish, it’s time to start the preparation. The easiest and most effective way to do this is to gut it first, right down the middle. Take out the organs and any other innards. You then cut around the fin and behind the head before cutting all the way down the center bone on both sides to create two filets. You then cut the rib bones off each filet before removing the skin, fat, fin bones, and dark meat.
Time to Cook
It’s important to keep in mind that Lake Trout will be a bit oilier than other fish you’re used to. But everything you took out in the preparation process should improve the taste. How you choose to cook the fish is really up to you. They’re often pan fried, baked, deep fried, and boiled. There are an endless variety of recipes online so find one that sounds appetizing to you.
If this has convinced you to try Lake Trout, but you don’t live in an area they’re native to you, it might be time to plan a trip. Anderson’s Lodge in Ontario, Canada is a perfect place to do it. We can offer you world-class accommodations with the best staff-to-guest ratio in the area, in addition to a wonderful fishing vacation. Make a reservation today!