The following articles were authored by N1P

Panfish with Herbs

Ingredients:

1 lb. panfish fillets
1 lemon
1 tsp. each chopped parsley, chives, and rosemary
1 tb. butter

Directions:

Melt the butter and pour into a shallow baking dish. Arrange the fish fillets in the dish. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze about one tablespoon of lemon juice over the fillets. Sprinkle with the herbs. Slice the remaining lemon half into thin slices, and arrange the slices on top of the fish. Bake in a preheated 450-degree oven for 12 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Pan Fish Tacos

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp lemon pepper
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 6 TBS fresh lime juice, divided
  • 2 sliced white onions
  • 1-1/2 lb bluegill (crappie or perch) fillets, filleted and cut into 1/2″ strips
  • 4 (10″) corn tortillas

Combine lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and 4 TBS of the fresh lime juice in a resealable plastic bag; add fish. Seal and shake; chill 30 minutes.

Grill fish ad onions on cast iron griddle over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes on each side or until fish flakes with a fork.

TOPPINGS:

  • Chopped Cilantro
  • Fresh Salsa
  • Chunky Guacamole or Avocado
  • Red Onion Slices
  • Tomato Slices
  • Jalapenos, sliced
  • Mango Salsa
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Crappie Pasta

Thaw and drain 1 lb of skinless fillets.   Place in quart bag and cover with Italian dressing.

Boil 1 lb bow tie or rotini pasta and drain.

Heat a non stick skillet to medium heat.   Place dressing covered fillets in pan 1 layer deep.   Soft saute until edges of fillets are cooked.   Flip fillets and add hot pasta.  Saute until all fish is just done.   Plate and garnish with parmesan and red pepper flakes.

 

Simple Dry Fryer Dredge

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup yellow corn meal
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 lb skinless fillet of pan fish

Directions

Mix dry ingredients in a gallon zip top bag, seal and shake vigorously. Add 2-3 wet fillets at a time to bag and shake. Use tongs to float fillets in 350deg vegetable oil. Cook until medium brown. Place on paper towel covered plate to drain.

Slow-Cooker Bluegill Chowder

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup fresh corn kernels
  • 2 large potatoes, diced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 2 large carrots, diced
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1 pound bluegill, fillet and skinned
  • 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk

Directions

  1. Cook and stir bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned, 5 to 8 minutes; drain excess grease. Cook and stir onion and garlic into bacon until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a slow cooker.
  2. Pour chicken stock into slow cooker. Mix corn, potatoes, celery, and carrots into the stock. Season with black pepper and red pepper flakes. Set the cooker to High, cover, and cook for 3 hours.
  3. Stir bluegill into the boiling soup. Stir evaporated milk into chowder, heat thoroughly, and serve.

Palm Rods

Over the weekend I was asked by a number of people about palm rods.   So here are a number of youtube videos I dug up to show you the basics.

Many of you also asked about practicing. Grab a gallon glass jar or glass beer pitcher and fill it with water.  If you learn what the jig is doing by watching the jig in the water, you will be able to duplicate it when you get out on the ice.

Flasher Batteries

Every year it seems one of my batteries for the flasher goes down.   Won’t take a charge.   Time to replace it.   You have options.  Most of us carry a unit on a hopper bucket, so the physical size can vary a bit.  If you are using the plastic carrier that came with the flasher, you might need to bust out the tape measure if you are going to go the economical route.

You just need to look at the Amp Hours.    Most of the links above are for 9ah batteries.   They will last you 2-3 trips before needing to be charged.   You can save some money going to a 7ah battery, but you will need to charge it more often.

Now Steph and I carry spare batteries.  As I said before physical size is not that big of a deal in the hopper bucket.   The battery is in the big bucket on the botton that the hopper rig is hooked to, while the smaller bucket, on top, holds your catch.

I don’t recommend putting the spare in the hopper bucket, if you choose to carry one, but in a spare dry bucket in your sled.    My Dry Bucket has saved me many times.  poolbucket

  • Spare Batteries
  • Dry Gloves
  • Extra Hat
  • Extra lures and baits
  • Hand warmer packs
  • Lunch

If you know a friend who buys their pool chemicals at a warehouse store, they often come in buckets with screw on lids.   Perfect for staying dry in all weather.  Buy them a six pack of beer and they will save them up for you and your fishing pals.

Rod Pod

OK, I love it when I complain about something and a manufacturer responds with a awesome solution.   Jack just sent me this video, now I can’t wait to get my hands on them.   ROD PODs from K&E!   A simple way to keep the rods from tangling.  Looks easier than those socks and look they hang too!

The Rod Pod holds rods up to 30 inches in length and will fit most ice rods.  The design is simple and easy. There are no screws, Velcro of loose parts to break or lose. Just hold your blank of you rod on the bottom of the Rod Pod and slide it in.

I will post back and let you know how durable they are, Jack says we can break anything when we are on the hunt for Pan Fish.

rp-30-3

NEW – Skandia Tungsten Tear Drops!

That’s right, Skandia now has a NEW line of Tungsten Tear Drop Ice Jigs.  These great Tear Drops come in size 10 & 12 and in eight great fish catching colors.  We’ve been hearing for some time now that anglers wanted a Tungsten Tear Drop and Skandia now offers such an item.   These Tear Drop jigs will be a huge hit with the anglers and an even bigger hit with the fish.  Tip them with livebait or your favorite plastic and see what happens.  Panfish are sure to love the new heavy weight Tear Drop and so will you.  So next time you’re at your favorite sporting goods store be sure to ask for the NEW Skandia Tungsten Tear Drops, you’ll be glad you did…..

skandia-teardrop-color-chart

2017 World Championships announced

14th WORLD ICE FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP
24. – 27.February 2017
Rīga, Latvia

Stay tuned for more details . . .