08-29-2008, 05:40 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Kinda funky to reply to your own post, but I am responding to a PM I got from a respected member who had a concern about filleting fish on shore...when there is not a cleaning station, etc.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those who fish with me know that I have made a "travelling sideshow" portable fillet station, for situations where there are no other facilities provided. I carry a 2' X 3' fillet board I made from particle board, and urethaned to seal it. I cut a round hole in one end, through which to drop the "remnants". The picture in the first post...![[Image: image.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/files/image.gif)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=39967"][#212126]PREDATOR CONTROL.jpg[/#212126][/url] (269 KB) shows the size and structure of that board.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I prop one end on the rear deck of my vehicle and the other end...with the hole, over a square PVC framework I put together and take down in seconds. I put a heavy duty contractors plastic bag over that, into which the "disposables" go. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have a battery powered fillet knife that makes short work of the fishies, and does a much nicer job than regular knives. I plop the skinned fillets into ice cold water in a bowl at the side. I bring along a 1 gallon cooler that I freeze half full of ice the night before and add water in the morning. At fillet time it is cold water with some ice still remaining. Rinsing the blood and other "stuff" off the fillets, in cold water, is a big help in keeping them fresh and fine for the table.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The final step is the one our other member was concerned about. When I have finished the filleting process, I either take the bag home in the cooler, or deposit it in the nearest can or dumpster provided at the lake. We all have pulled up to a favorite spot and found it littered with stinking carcasses of filleted fish that some slob left for our enjoyment. It is okay to toss them back out into the water for the crawdads, but much more esthetically pleasing to future visitors if you remove them to a disposal site.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Attached are a couple of pictures of my portable cleaning station in action. Once at the Yuba perchathon in February and once at the Catfest at Lincoln Beach in April. On both of those occasions I had also brought along a folding card table to support one end of the fillet board. Not necessary when I have my Jimmy with the rear deck handy.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If anybody wants pics or info on making one of those let me know and I will shoot some pics and put together a writeup.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those who fish with me know that I have made a "travelling sideshow" portable fillet station, for situations where there are no other facilities provided. I carry a 2' X 3' fillet board I made from particle board, and urethaned to seal it. I cut a round hole in one end, through which to drop the "remnants". The picture in the first post...
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=39967"][#212126]PREDATOR CONTROL.jpg[/#212126][/url] (269 KB) shows the size and structure of that board.[/#0000ff][#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I prop one end on the rear deck of my vehicle and the other end...with the hole, over a square PVC framework I put together and take down in seconds. I put a heavy duty contractors plastic bag over that, into which the "disposables" go. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have a battery powered fillet knife that makes short work of the fishies, and does a much nicer job than regular knives. I plop the skinned fillets into ice cold water in a bowl at the side. I bring along a 1 gallon cooler that I freeze half full of ice the night before and add water in the morning. At fillet time it is cold water with some ice still remaining. Rinsing the blood and other "stuff" off the fillets, in cold water, is a big help in keeping them fresh and fine for the table.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The final step is the one our other member was concerned about. When I have finished the filleting process, I either take the bag home in the cooler, or deposit it in the nearest can or dumpster provided at the lake. We all have pulled up to a favorite spot and found it littered with stinking carcasses of filleted fish that some slob left for our enjoyment. It is okay to toss them back out into the water for the crawdads, but much more esthetically pleasing to future visitors if you remove them to a disposal site.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Attached are a couple of pictures of my portable cleaning station in action. Once at the Yuba perchathon in February and once at the Catfest at Lincoln Beach in April. On both of those occasions I had also brought along a folding card table to support one end of the fillet board. Not necessary when I have my Jimmy with the rear deck handy.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If anybody wants pics or info on making one of those let me know and I will shoot some pics and put together a writeup.[/#0000ff]
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