Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodney on April 05, 2022, 12:18:51 PM

Title: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Rodney on April 05, 2022, 12:18:51 PM
After thinking about this for several years, I finally went ahead and made a video about it. Episode goes live at 7pm tonight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnvClIOCT2U

(https://i.imgur.com/WZJDMuC.jpg)
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Dave on April 05, 2022, 01:20:17 PM
I've eaten them ... quite bland, imo.  Guess it's going to depend on how you cook 'em Rod  ;)
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Rodney on April 05, 2022, 01:24:28 PM
Well, in the video Nick Basok ate some... ;)
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: fisherforever on April 05, 2022, 02:15:46 PM
I tried them along with Nick, I was hesitant at first but after one taste they were delicious. I’ll be using the recipe in the future.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: psd1179 on April 05, 2022, 02:17:59 PM
I have been told by many Chinese that pikeminnow tasted way better than salmon
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Dave on April 05, 2022, 02:29:31 PM
I tried them along with Nick, I was hesitant at first but after one taste they were delicious. I’ll be using the recipe in the future.
Well, that's good enough for me, lol!  and happy retirement Gord!
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: fisherforever on April 05, 2022, 02:41:20 PM
Thanks Dave. ;D
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: clarki on April 05, 2022, 03:38:39 PM
Never met you, Gord, but I second the "Happy Retirement" wishes!  :)   
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Rodney on April 05, 2022, 06:41:44 PM
Video starting in 20. :)
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Wiseguy on April 05, 2022, 07:42:33 PM
Gotta say I was sceptical before watching. Now seeing Nick enjoy the pike minnow fish balls. Your a good cook bro!
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: DanL on April 05, 2022, 07:57:56 PM
I've eaten them ... quite bland, imo.  Guess it's going to depend on how you cook 'em Rod  ;)

I tried a pikeminnow maybe 5-8years ago and found it like you say. Honestly not terrible at all, but I think it's the type of fish that needs proper seasoning. It doesnt really stand up well enough on it's own.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Rodney on April 05, 2022, 07:59:54 PM
Now that we've determined even Chilliwack locals like them, maybe there'll be a pikeminnow balls stand popping up beside Kev's at On the Way...?
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Fish Assassin on April 05, 2022, 08:06:34 PM
Your expression after inadvertently adding sugar is priceless ;D
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Darko on April 05, 2022, 08:15:32 PM
Coming from a European family coarse fish like pikeminnow is what my parents ate as kids. They are used to eating fish with bones just like they are from other cultures like in Asia. The fish are not bad at all. Though the picking bones apart can be annoying for most Canadians who are used to eating fillets with no bones in them or fish and chips. One Macedonian guy I fish with loves fishing for and eating coarse fish in the Fraser more than any other ones. People who demonize Pikeminnow are extremely narrow-minded. In my opinion definitely not "real anglers". True angler loves and respects all fish
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Wiseguy on April 05, 2022, 09:08:47 PM
Next up a Bass catch and cook! Bass imo are delicious. Had them when I was out working in Ontario.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Darko on April 05, 2022, 09:37:46 PM
Next up a Bass catch and cook! Bass imo are delicious. Had them when I was out working in Ontario.
agreed, I've had both smallmouth and largemouth and they are both tasty.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: psd1179 on April 06, 2022, 07:51:48 AM
Now that we've determined even Chilliwack locals like them, maybe there'll be a pikeminnow balls stand popping up beside Kev's at On the Way...?

How long did it take to dice / chop the fillet? Can you still feel the tiny bones
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: dennisK on April 06, 2022, 09:59:07 AM
I like herring on the grill. I've never had pike minnow. Would the bones be similar or are pike minnow even worse bonewise?
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Rodney on April 06, 2022, 11:47:08 AM
Your expression after inadvertently adding sugar is priceless ;D

That reaction was as genuine as it gets.. I was actually so shocked because I've never done that before, and that was all the meat I had for the video so I thought I was screwed. ;D

How long did it take to dice / chop the fillet? Can you still feel the tiny bones

Not super long actually, way shorter than I thought. Using my hands to mash them up some more after dicing really helped. I think the dicing and grinding part actually took less time than the gutting and filleting, which was a pain.

I felt a couple of bones from this batch when eating the balls but overall it was fine. I could have grind the meat up more I think.

I like herring on the grill. I've never had pike minnow. Would the bones be similar or are pike minnow even worse bonewise?

The bones in the pikeminnows are definitely not the same as the herring, I find them really unforgiving. They are so fine yet sharp, I hate to get even one in my mouth.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Arkatek on April 06, 2022, 07:11:48 PM
Nice to see someone doing this. I've had the same idea for about a year now but never got out to cultus to catch them. One tip to get better texture is to use sweet potato or tapioca starch, it really helps make them bouncier or more Q.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Phronesis on April 06, 2022, 08:06:16 PM
I've tried pikeminnow, pan fried, they are not bad but too many bones is just not worth for me to take them home.
I have tried peamouth chub too, they dont taste good, mushy texture.
For some reason I dont like hatchery trout from lakes, but from river they taste a lot better.

Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Roderick on April 06, 2022, 10:24:28 PM
Pan fry in butter and pick them apart with a fork.  Pretty good.  Way better then whitefish. But only the smallish ones. 
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: 243Pete on April 07, 2022, 01:13:30 AM
One way to get through all those tiny bones is to use a spoon and gently scrape the meat off the fillets, basically fillet like normal, get a plain spoon and slowly scrape down from the top (collar) to the end of the tail. Don't push to hard but with enough pressure to scrape it off the skin.
We did this with some of the more boney fish like lady fish in Florida, soft meat, tasty but boney AF.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: clarki on April 08, 2022, 10:45:06 AM
I really enjoyed that, Rod.

A little tongue in cheek (or bone in cheek, as the case may be :)), but I also appreciated your comments at the end.

Admittedly, my attitude toward NPM has changed over the years. From kill 'em all to live and let live, with just the occasional one winding up as eagle food.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: RalphH on April 08, 2022, 02:10:10 PM
are sculpins next? ;D They were commonly eaten by FNs, at least those from saltwater. We used to kill all the sculpins (bullheads) we caught and they were thought to be a symptom of an increase in water pollution. Turns out they have a lower tolerance for contamination than trout, or so I have heard. I don't encounter sculpins  very often these days. I have eaten most of the common local coarse fish, carp, chub, brown bullhead, crappie, sucker and pike minnow. None were unpalatable. Also had largemouth and smallmouth bass. I preferred the SMBs. Also pike and walleye. Walleye are the best non-salmonid freshwater fish I have ever eatern & compare favourably to halibut and black cod etc.
Title: Re: Eating pikeminnows
Post by: Rodney on April 13, 2022, 04:19:20 PM
Thanks again for watching everyone. I plan to do another video on cooking these pikeminnows again, but it'll be with my friend Pailin who hosts Hot Thai Kitchen on YouTube. She'd do a much better job than me. ;D

I will also be trying smallmouth bass this spring.

All this depends on how distracted I get by Interior lake trout in the next couple of months of course... ;D