02-03-2012, 10:55 PM
We didn't keep any of the eggs coming out of the fish. I found something interesting when I filleted the fish this morning. The really ripe females that were slightly darker in color had flesh that was not as red as the more silver and sleek females. I believe spawning brings on changes in the quality of the flesh for both the males and some of the females. Two of the fish had very red and high quality meat that I prize in my smoker. The other two females had a pasty white flesh that I think will not be of the highest quality. The later will be what I give to the people who bug me all the time for smoked fish but don't contribute to the smoker stockings.[:p]
If you look at the photo I posted you'll notice the first and third fish from the left are noticeably darker than the other two. The darker ones are the ones that had the poor quality meat.
I have always released the dark colored males at this time of year, I may start releasing the dark females and just keep the silver ones.
Mike
[signature]
If you look at the photo I posted you'll notice the first and third fish from the left are noticeably darker than the other two. The darker ones are the ones that had the poor quality meat.
I have always released the dark colored males at this time of year, I may start releasing the dark females and just keep the silver ones.
Mike
[signature]