When I've caught pike in Washington, Idaho, and Montana and
put a finger on it, the strand of slime goes as high as a foot before
it drops off. Not so in northern Canada. I wonder if this is true in similar
US latitudes.
Northern Pike are excellent eating. You need to study YouTube for instructions on removing the Y-Bone. Several ways on how to fillet the fish. Develop skills on method you prefer.
smells fishy wrote:
Great eating out of cold water. Small ones where legal are terrific pickled.
I think the far north cold water is the key. My boys catch quite a few of them around Wyoming and they smell fishy alive and don’t taste good at all. Really slimy and lots of bones. They kill a few just to save the other fish but they won’t eat em. Fun to catch though.
Mike-1000
Loc: SE Mn. Between Winona Mn. and LaCrosse Wi.
I cheat cut it into chunks and pickle it like herring, if you frying and get the Y bones out great if not pick around the bones to get a taste of that “sweet” meat and you’ll be hooked enough to learn the trick.
Stopped at a small restaurant near lake Wisconsin many years ago and had pike, still remember it as one of the best meals ever
Miley1
Loc: Northampton county,Pa,Bangor
Good eating as ashore lunch but yes it takes time to learn how to fillet them
Tyee
Loc: Normal, Illinois
Toothy and slimy when alive. Unless we plan to eat them, they are unwelcome guests in my boat. But all the nastys go away after they are fried and hit with a little lemon juice and white wine; a nice shore lunch alternative to walleye.
I think they are good eating lots of them here in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I like walleye and crappie better because they are easier to fillet no y bones.
Smoke em and the bones come right out.lol
Toqua
Loc: Eastern Washington
My Grandmother use to pickle them and they were very good.
I don't hate pike and crappie is yummy and so is walleye but I love Halibut yum yum yum I couldn't get enough of it when I was stationed in Alaska
No idea what it tastes like, I hate them, they are invasive species here, ! of our best trout/ salmon lakes"Sebago" is overun with them.Pike are related to baracuda are an ambush predator, and will eat anything it can fit down it's sizable throat, small 1s eat the same things as trout and salmon, and big 1s eat salmon and trout . Nothing is safe, from ducks, loons, turtles, best to catch them, cut them up and use them for lobster and crab bait,most lakes/ponds that have them are no limit and no size restrictions.
FS Digest wrote:
We don't have pike where i fish.. Most people I've asked say it isn't worth dealing with all the bones. I was wondering whether you all were eating them or releasing them back.
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by Chess-Piece-Face
there is a way to get rid of the bones when you filet(check it online) then cook anyway you want...delish!!!!!!!
The Northern is an incredible fish to catch and eat. The native Indians back home (SD) prefer to eat them over all else. I agree with everything Harleypiker said in his response. My Uncle taught me the Y-bone cleaing method. If you like pickled foods, Pike are the best candidates for it. The meat texture is perfect for pickling and the act of pickling them totally disolves the bones into non-existence. Both catching & cooking, Northern Pike are a treasure.
I agree with everything that they are great eating but need to get the y bones out
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