Eating bass

[frefghtrgrl]

Do people really eat these? Not that I would I always C&R, but if I ever did I don't think I would know what to do.

[HillbillyGeek]

Of course I've eaten bass. They taste a like crappie. :chef:

I C&R most of the time but if the fish is injured and I happen to have a cooler in the boat, the fish is gonna get bonked and put on ice.

This year I'm going to keep a few smallmouth, but let the largemouth go. A few lakes are overpopulated with smallies and it's good for the overall population to thin them a bit. That's why the WDFW recently changed the rules...

[ChrisB]

First off, welcome to the website frefghtrgrl ! Bass are edible, but its not recommended to eat them daily. They can have a high level of mercury inside them. I'm not an expert because I C&R also, but there is more info on the WDFW website.

[frefghtrgrl]

Cool, thanks for the info. We ate a lot of crappies down in Arizona along with crawdads. Kind of a pain, but nice every once in a while. Do you clean them the same way? Anyways, thank you again for the info, I have been on the site for a while and never used the forums. [-x

[fishaholictaz]

With bass it is best to fillet it .

[frefghtrgrl]

Again thanks for the info, I know Taz is a big bass person. Gonna have to teach me a few tricks down on Offut. Do they have lots of bones? I might be more inclined to eat a smallie. :albino:

[fishaholictaz]

Just to let you know the Offut lake bass taste nasty you don't want to eat them just throw them back in:-"

If you do that I will share my secrets to the Offut BASS!!

[frefghtrgrl]

Nice, probably from all that ucky poo in the lake, thanks for that info. One day you will have to come out here to our private lake outside Shelton to do some fishing and a bbq. Off to bed for me, gotta get up early and fish. LOL.

[fishaholictaz]

Good luck:cheers:

[SPARKY101]

Same goes for swafford pond bass (lewis county)I actually tried one once YUCK tasted like the pond smelled.I Dont eat fish anyways but tried it

[fishaholictaz]

I was being sarcastic I am sure the fish are fine Offut is clean I don't want to start a bad rumor#-o

[SPARKY101]

Im telling the truth so it sounded good to me SWAFFORD BASS STINK AND TASTE LIKE 10year old bucket water but fishing for them is GREAT:cheers:

[JT26]

Ive never ate a largemouth but ive ate smallies and they are really good. I dont think largemouths would be as good.
The smallies were caught on the columbia at the tri citys, so proboly taste cleaner than a bass from any lakes around here.

[beerman1981]

I've eaten smallies and largemouth, and they taste the same... Aweseome (if prepared properly). Filet them out, and be carefull around the rib cage, that area can be tricky, but take your time or you'll get some bones. Once fileted, pound with flour and fry with oil in a pan, or beer batter and deep fry. These folks are right. It tastes just likey crappie, perch or walleye (awesome). I do a lot of catch and release, but heck, you gotta keep one once in a while for the fryer.

Beerman

[Mike Carey]

Correct me if I'm wrong (I don't keep a lot of bass) but in my experience the bass coming out of the clear water lakes taste much better than the ones coming out of thestained-colored lakes.

I only keep the bass in the lower sized slot limit, BTW.

[papamike]

the ones around 12in are the best eating, the big ones should be let go. if you do get one that has a slight smell to it just soak it in salt water or butter milk for a half hour or so, beer batter and deep frying is one of the best ways to fix almost any white fish.

[AaronE]

Correct me if I'm wrong (I don't keep a lot of bass) but in my experience the bass coming out of the clear water lakes taste much better than the ones coming out of thestained-colored lakes.

That's been my experience in places like Georgia, Florida, and Ohio. Haven't kept any bass since moving to WA a few years back but I'm guessing it's the same concept.

The way we got around it down south was to filet the bass caught from stained-water and then soak the filets in cold water overnight after putting a few drops of vinegar in the water. Worked for us down there so I figure it would work up here as well.

[Trent Hale]

I like to falet bass but only 12" the larger ones are strong fish taste salmon or trout eaters will love them I've tryed to eat trout and salmon I don't like it. But get your elec knife and cut down to the back bone and stay with the back bone and cut down the fish don't cut the falet off stop just before the end of the tail. Flop the falet over still attached to the fish and cut the falet starting at the tail down to the skin an cut to the end and cut all the way for skinless falets if you do this the fish will alaways taste good. The skin gives the bad taste. corn meal salt and pepper mixed fresh water fish have to also be salted before you add it to the corn meal mix. you will love it! HAWG HUNTER!!

[cavdad45]

Bass are not edible. If you should hook one, throw it back immediately!

[muskyhunter]

Why would you eat a large bass anyway? They are the gene pools. If you do eat any, eat the smaller sized ones. They have spent less time in the Mercury filled waters, less poisons in their bodies. If you do eat them, when you filet them all you have to do is cut the lateral line section from the meat. Its the strip just above the ribs cage its a white line. you can see it. Cut about a 1/4 inch strip all the way down to the tail. I throw all my cleaned fish in water and salt, it gets rid of the blood. Then when your getting ready to batter it up dip the meat in milk,egg and batter.. deep fry PRIMO..really cant tell the difference between the bass or a crappie...just one man's experience. Like your comment cavdad45!! Thats awesome!