pout

[orchdork]

Ok, I have in recent years decided that eating pout isn't so bad if you can get past the slime, smell and downright uglyness. My problem is that the only ones I catch are strickly incidental. Do any of you have any tricks for catching this delectable table fare? I do most of my ice fishing on LOtW and Rainy both of which are world renown for pout. While my fishing partners are catching their limit of 12-13" sauger I wouldn't mind the fight of something bigger.

[kais24]

My only advice would be to keep your bait about 2" off of the bottom. The rare times I've actually wanted to catch one, I've done this and it worked. The best advice is to say "I don't want to catch one of those ugly buggers" and you won't be able to keep them off. Reverse psychology works.

[JHansel7]

Ish, I could never eat one of those, you might as well go drill a hole in 2 feet a water, take a scoop of the bottom of the lake, and thats what you got, tastes just like one of those d*mn things.

[bubblehead1]

Wow, if you really want pout, LOW is the capital, the honey hole for pout. Last year I went the 6 hour drive up there for some of that fantastic walleye fishing for the first time, 3 of us. We set up at the depth that looked common for resort houses just past pine island, and wow did we catch fish. Day one 27 fish, 2 sauger, 5 little walleye, 1 pearch, 19 POUT. Day two we moved over toward Morris point. 23 fish, 4 sauger, 2 small walleye, 17 POUT. Day three we moved to a different lake down by bemidji, and actually caught some keepable walleye. You want pout, LOW, pine island, 25-30 ft. of water. You can't miss.

[92python]

The most and largest pout I have caught have been after dark in sleeper houses on LOTW with rattle reels. The walleye sauger bite slows after dark but the pout still bite.

I have had good success actively jigging decent sized spoons as well.

[orchdork]

Thanks for the replies, even the non-productive ones. From what I can tell I should fish with a jigging spoon about two inches from the bottom. What about bait? Does color make a difference? Is early in the season better than middle or late?

Can any of you regulars add to this? I thank you in advance. It would be great to gross out my two fishing buddies who are both retired and consider themselves the authority on all types of fishing. They don't know that this forum exists and I can visualize the line of BS that I can spin when I start hauling in pout and cleaning them. They will be shocked speechless which will be a pleasant change. I'm close to 50 years old and they call me the whipper snapper. It will be great to see their faces. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[Gissert]

Look up Frank Walsh at the Bay Store on Oak Island.

Later on in the winter when the pout get ready to spawn, I bet he could get you on the mother lode of pout.

If you are going to the ice fishing show this weekend, he'll be there.

[Hammer-Smites]

We've caught a ton of them in late March out in deeper water during mid day. 31'-34' - fish right off the bottom. I kept a couple of them last year just because I've heard they weren't bad to eat and I was kinda curious. They actually are pretty good boiled and eaten with drawn butter.

They're ugly and slimy, but so what - they're still fun to catch and they're not bad eating. I don't know if I'll keep any ever again, but I gave 'em a try.

We have a little tradition amongst us guys that go up. You have to kiss the first pout you catch on each trip. I copied a picture of my buddy kissing a little fellar. Check it out!!

http://img69.exs.cx/img69/6461/Davebunkmate.jpg

[orchdork]

Guys, thanks for the replies. I would really like to target them while the old guys are trying for the walleyes. I really don't know if that can be done while in the same house with them but thought that it would be great fun. They are great fighters and I have always thought that it was a nice walley until it appeared in the hole. I will try to look up this Frank at the ice show. Does that start on Friday? I work downtown and could go during lunch break. I'm still looking for bait ideas and colors. I remember last spring someone was saying that a sutton spoon was causing all of the fish to hit especially the pout. I know it is embarrassing to admit, but let me know if any of you target them and are willing to give up your secrets. With the reduced limits I'll need some entertainment. That is other than the look on my buddies faces.

[Royce Aardahl]

Kiss em before they freeze you whimp Jigging spoon works great. Sweedish pimple type. Pinch the head off a fathead and go very close to bottom. I don't think a pout minds what color you use.

[Hammer-Smites]

That fish wasn't frozen. It was about 55 degrees out that day. My buddy pulled up the fish, kissed it as I took a picture and it went back down the hole.

I don't see your lips anywhere close.....wimp.

[89Bronco]

Wish I could help with tips on catching those things. I know last year the ones we cleaned were packed with crayfish in their guts. But like the others, the ones we catch are by accident. Maybe some crayfish scent on the bait???

They are delicious, though. Cut the meat into bite-sized pieces, dip 'em in beer batter and fry 'em up.

I hate seeing all the ones left on the ice when we get up to LOW.

[Royce Aardahl]

heehee hammer that was my reaction after a big wet kiss. NOT!! Bronco share the beer batter recipe. I'd give it a whirl! Maybe a little beer and cajon shore lunch? now that sounds good. I fried up some walleye cheecks in butter tonight with a bit of cajon powder and some black pepper. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! that was goooooooood!

[Hammer-Smites]

I have a good story...

Last March I was fishing off Long Point. We were doing okay catching a few walleyes and some nice perch. I hooked a fish, and at first I thought it was a nice walleye. Then it started doing that circular lap thing I knew it was a pout.

I got it up to the hole and as I was pulling it out, it crapped ALL over the ice. I mean alot - like about a 1/2 cup of brown crap. I stunk so bad I had to flip my shack up and spend about 10 minutes scooping it away with a dipper and washing it back down my holes.

Strange creatures - fun to catch though.

[orchdork]

Again, Thanks. I'm heading for the show tomorrow 1:00 and will talk to Frank if I can find him there.

89Bronco, I'm going to see if there is ice on rainy the 17th and maybe wet a line. Whats been going on at that forum. No activity at all. Looked at Rainy lake one stop web cam yesterday and it looked like a summer day. No ice at all. I have heard of a guy (not sure of the name) that fishes out of Sha-Sha that targets the pout and gets hundreds. Do you know anything about that?

Will be going out of Long Point on the 18th. If you are out there and see someone with a pile of pout on the ice and a couple of "old" guys with dumfounded expressions. That will be me laughing at them.

[89Bronco]

eyeguy...I don't do anything fancy with them...whatever's on hand at the time. Cut the straps into nuggets, dip them in your favorite beer batter, dunk into deep fryer until golden....MMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!

orchdork...I know of a couple of guys who fish for burbout almost exclusively. One was a classmate of mine. Their goal is to get the state record. Back in high school he wouldn't share "the old secret" he used to catch so many, but maybe he's mellowed in his old age. I'll have to give him a call.

I'm always checking the One Stop cam also. Come on ice!!!

[TomBow]

What is the proper way to clean a pout? Take the meat above the lateral line? How do you cook them?

They are fun to catch, beauty is in the eye of the 'poutholder!

[orchdork]

I'm not sure how to clean them. Someone explained it to me once and then I just tried it. I would like if someone explained the proper way however. I always peal the back straps off similar to the way you remove the backstraps from a deer. I have tried to fry them and deep fry them however I like boiling them the best and dipping them in melted butter.

My daughter is watching this as I write and she thinks pout are cute too.

[89Bronco]

orchdork I don't know if there is a proper way. Sounds like I do the same thing you do. I get the stinky, slimy skin off whatever way I can, fillet those "backstraps" off, and rinse well.

[irvingdog]

Just back-strap them. Cut down behind the head to the spine, turn the knife toward the tail and start cutting. It's really easy.

****WARNING*****

Do not open the belly!!!!

Consider yourself warned. They are, however, better eating than a Zander, uh, I mean, Walleye.