Pyramid Lake Lahontan Cutthroat Fish...Do You Eat Them? I was talking to a guy that fishes the Nevada lakes including Pyramid, he was saying the fish in Pyramid are not good to eat in...

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

I was talking to a guy that fishes the Nevada lakes including Pyramid, he was saying the fish in Pyramid are not good to eat in his opinion, says they taste nasty...any comments from people who have tried them?

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

He was also saying one of his favorite eating fish are Mackinaw out of Lake Tahoe.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

I wouldn't listen to a lay person's opinion, I think brussels sprouts taste funny but that doesn't mean they are bad for you

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

ranger632 wrote:

I wouldn't listen to a lay person's opinion, I think brussels sprouts taste funny but that doesn't mean they are bad for you

That's why I was trying to get opinions from others who fish Pyramid, I figure there has to be some people on here that have eaten them...I'm referring to the way they taste, not whether they are bad for you.

Frank romero Loc: Clovis, NM

woodguru wrote:

That's why I was trying to get opinions from others who fish Pyramid, I figure there has to be some people on here that have eaten them...I'm referring to the way they taste, not whether they are bad for you.

How you clean and cook has a lot to do with how they taste. I love fried catfish but I have had some that tasted terrible. All in the way they were cooked.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

Frank romero wrote:

How you clean and cook has a lot to do with how they taste. I love fried catfish but I have had some that tasted terrible. All in the way they were cooked.

I always thought that had a lot to do with the river or lakes they are caught in, definitely the case with trout...

...but yes, definitely how a fish is cleaned and cooked. I always liked Channel cats, but not the mud cats in some rivers, but have had them that were really good from other places.

The guy that said he thought the Cutthroat out of Pyramid tasted bad thinks it's from the alkalinity of the water.

flycaster1472 Loc: Columbia, CA

I have been fishing Pyramid since 1986. They can be bad. I've had them grilled or broiled and were not good. Another friend smoked them and they are way better. Now if you are fishing from a boat on the east side around Red Bay, I've been told they are better tasting because they are feeding on scuds.
Unfortunately you can't access east side by vehicle anymore. Someone tagged the Pyramid Rock years ago and the Tribe closed the eastside. You have to be a member of the Paiute Tribe to fish the eastside.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

flycaster1472 wrote:

I have been fishing Pyramid since 1986. They can ... (show quote)

Smoking is what I used to do with darker salmon that didn't taste as good as the bright shiny ones...

Interesting observation on the east side, I figured I would eat the smaller keeper fish that are under the slot size rather than the bigger size.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

woodguru wrote:

That's why I was trying to get opinions from others who fish Pyramid, I figure there has to be some people on here that have eaten them...I'm referring to the way they taste, not whether they are bad for you.

Ok, understand now

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Frank romero wrote:

How you clean and cook has a lot to do with how they taste. I love fried catfish but I have had some that tasted terrible. All in the way they were cooked.

You are right there, I filet my cats and cut most of the red and yellow meat off and they taste good.

flycaster1472 Loc: Columbia, CA

woodguru wrote:

Smoking is what I used to do with darker salmon that didn't taste as good as the bright shiny ones...

Interesting observation on the east side, I figured I would eat the smaller keeper fish that are under the slot size rather than the bigger size.

That is the best choice. The 16 to 19 are better than over 24. I wish the Tribe would lower keeper size to 14. But then I haven't had any since 2007! FYI, I have caught maybe two fish under 21 inches since 2006. Average has been 25 to 27! My favorite big fish lake.

Frank romero Loc: Clovis, NM

ranger632 wrote:

You are right there, I filet my cats and cut most of the red and yellow meat off and they taste good.

I had a man tell that if I bled the fish in the fish basket in the water before I filleted them they would not bleed as much when filleted and would taste better. I tried it and couldn’t tell difference between a variety of fish. Walleye, catfish, crappie and white bass.

JMW Loc: Foresthill, CA

woodguru wrote:

I was talking to a guy that fishes the Nevada lakes including Pyramid, he was saying the fish in Pyramid are not good to eat in his opinion, says they taste nasty...any comments from people who have tried them?

I have caught and eaten the Lahontan Cutthroats. I believe that the taste depends on how you cook the fish. I usually use a lemon-pepper seasoning and bake the fish. I have not noticed any "nasty" taste.

Bobfromfremont Loc: Fremont Ca

Frank romero wrote:

How you clean and cook has a lot to do with how they taste. I love fried catfish but I have had some that tasted terrible. All in the way they were cooked.

I think what you do with them between taking them off the hook, and cleaning them has a lot to do with it too

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

I've fished Pyramid Lake a total of 4 times. And with the Tribal Rules regarding the 2 day fish limit you can keep 1 between 17" and 20" and 1 over 24" or you can keep 2 in the 17" to 20" range. I prefer to keep 2 in the 17" to 20" range because the smaller ones do taste better, like most other fish species (Stripers, Trout, most salt water fish, etc). I have cooked the Lahontan Cutthroats a variety of ways, from wrapping in them in foil with a variety of spices with lemon and butter to straight grilling them over coals to smoking them. Each way I have cooked them, especially the smaller ones, they have tasted good. The bigger trouts were mushier and had an "acquired" taste. LOL!
It's the reason I let the bigger ones go to let them get bigger for others to catch :-)