10-02-2003, 11:25 AM
[cool]As I have mentioned before, carp are great candidates for the smoker. They have firm flesh and it really takes up the flavor or the brine and smoke. I seldom go through the whole brining process when I smoke fish. I usually do the fast prep and smoke routine...sprinkling sugar, salt and spices on the fresh fillets and letting them sit for an hour or so before going in the smoker. But, I once had a smoked carp specialist tell me that he freezes the fillets and then thaws them before brining. Something about the cells opening up even more to the flavoring.
I have eaten carp fixed a dozen different ways and while I do not rate it as high as walleye, I find it quite acceptable. Much of it has to do with the method of preparation (bone removal) and cooking...with seasonings and sauces. But, that is true of all fish.
If only those things weren't so ugly, I'm sure they would have a bigger fan club. The fact remains that pound for pound, they can outslug a lot of our more popular species. And, there is no better fish to introduce kids to fishing and to teach them how to fight larger fish on light tackle. So what if they pop off a big old buglemouth. There are plenty more where it came from. Then, when they hang that ten pound brown, the battle will go much better if the kids are familiar with the tackle and know how to set the drag and use the rod to fight the fish.
Carp are kinda like the homely girls you get on blind dates. Even though they may have "great personalities", it's difficult to fall in love with them when you get a good look at them.
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I have eaten carp fixed a dozen different ways and while I do not rate it as high as walleye, I find it quite acceptable. Much of it has to do with the method of preparation (bone removal) and cooking...with seasonings and sauces. But, that is true of all fish.
If only those things weren't so ugly, I'm sure they would have a bigger fan club. The fact remains that pound for pound, they can outslug a lot of our more popular species. And, there is no better fish to introduce kids to fishing and to teach them how to fight larger fish on light tackle. So what if they pop off a big old buglemouth. There are plenty more where it came from. Then, when they hang that ten pound brown, the battle will go much better if the kids are familiar with the tackle and know how to set the drag and use the rod to fight the fish.
Carp are kinda like the homely girls you get on blind dates. Even though they may have "great personalities", it's difficult to fall in love with them when you get a good look at them.
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