3 Ways to Fillet a Bluegill That Every Panfish Angler Should Know! 

Easy to catch and delicious!

Me too

Blue gills and sunfish are the same.

@@milktruck9345 I didn't know that. If they were larger and distinctly blue, we called them Bluegills. If they were smaller and yellow, "Sunfish." In any event, they were fun, and for any young fisherman in the Midwest, were likely the very first fish he ever caught.

@@philmann3476 ok I was always told they were the same maybe not. But yes when we were kids it was fun to catch them.

Thank you sir! Same here. I remember biking to a lake near me and wading around catching a stringer full and bringing them back home hanging from my handlebars!

You and 99% of the rest of us. Gills and perch it doesn’t get much better eating.

@@tomvana4270 hard to beat either!

My first catch was a small blue catfish that was maybe 2 pounds and I caught it when I was 3 at the docks that my uncle used to leave down the river to the ocean for shrimping on a shrimp boat.

​@@tomvana4270 amen to that!

I need to cook them that way some time.

I scale and cut the whole tail off about an inch up and fry them up first and munch on them while somebody else cooks the rest

No other options?

@@rafeone9808 not when I catch & cook them.

@@terryogletree2128 I leave panfish whole, but I also fry the bass leftovers from fillets, the bones, fin & tail.

Those memories are the best!

I have a cabin in Minocqua!

You can submerge them and scale them underwater, I which I had known that for my first 1000 or so fish! You can also use a spoon or regular fork. I remember those days being covered in scale too! The skin when fried is arguably the best part of most fish!

@@calebwistad Playing the piano on a fishes spine... '75

Scale ‘em in a tub under water. Controls ‘scale spray’.

It’s pretty slick!

I don’t sell merchandise but I’m glad you are satisfied with whoever you ordered it from. Lol

You bet!

Yes. Best way imo!

​@@calebwistad me too. Same with crappie and yellow or ring perch.

Me too.

Yep!

Yeah but alot of fish have parasites at Least 1 out 10 where im at!!! This fish looked like it had BLACK spec parasites in it

The skin and bone what gives it flavor.

The crispy fried tail is the best part

My relatives from west Texas say it's a waste of meat filleting fish. They always gut and scale the fish and cook over a fire or fry it whole.

Yep. That’s where I’m coming from too. Lol

Good deal!

Just finished a video on that topic!

Anyone who fillets panfish just dont know how to cook fish.

Fish potato chips!!!! And the skin...

@@Rloc8773 Is the skin of panfish safe to eat? I'm completely clueless when it comes to cleaning fish, very experienced with cooking it though lol. I guess I just sort of assumed the panfish skin in most lakes would be a little sketchy

@@Tykenolm THe scales cover the skin. Once you have scaled the fish and cleaned them like you should, it should be fine.

Thank you!

That sounds really good! Might have to try that.

@@calebwistad Works with most any species, season them for your taste, use some olive oil so the seasonings stick. Best part, no greasy cleanup.

That’s awesome!

Awesome. You will love it!

Thanks!

Thank you!

Thank you! I’m glad to have helped out!

what did you uses for spices if i may ask to get the best results.

I like yellow perch but you'll never hear me say pass the rock bass

Cindy, that how we grew up. Nothing better! 🙂

​@@davidg813 I happen to like rock bass

They are delicious indeed!

Good deal! Thanks much!

Interesting! I have only tried pike ceviche but I should try it with panfish sometime.

Thanks!

Haha. Thanks!

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

You bet!

For sure!

Thats the only way to eat a mess of gills.

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

You bet! Glad you found them helpful!

You’re welcome.

Wow, thanks for sharing! Those memories are priceless. I was fortunate enough to grow up here and those two week vacations you mentioned were virtually my everyday life as a kid. Imagine having all that at your fingertips right out your back door 24/7! (And to this day, it still makes me feel like a kid, which is why I still live here!)

@@calebwistad, That’s so cool man. I met kids like you who lived permanently up north on the lakes and I was jealous. Man that was a dream of mine as a kid. Just live on the lake and fish every day. But I always had to return to stinking Chicago and dream about next summer vacation up north where I felt more at home and more in tune with nature. My dad was born and raised in Wisconsin so he knew the north woods and lakes like the back of his hand. Took me camping in the snow on the Wolf River when I was about four years old. Dad taught me everything about fishing and camping up there and Wisconsin has a special place in my heart. It was paradise to me as a kid. I don’t know if you know Booth Lake but it was one of many small lakes I remember but don’t remember the location of. Pelican Lake was another one we went to, it’s around Rhinelander. North or south of it, I forget but I caught my first Muskie there. Five of us in the boat all fishing for crappie toward sunset and I decided to try my trusty Rapala minnow lure I never caught anything on…yet. Everyone laughed that I wouldn’t catch a thing on that, the crappie are biting live minnows on the surface under a bobber. (Yawn) I frowned and kept casting my Rapala. All of a sudden the water exploded and a huge fish jumped out of the water with my Rapala in its mouth. My mom yelled, “Sean’s got a Northern!” (Only Wisconsinites call Pike, ‘Northern’) My dad yelled, “That’s a Muskie! no spots, only stripes! Loosen your drag son! You only got 10 pound test! Holy Christ!” I did have a plastic-coated wire leader though, and that’s what we always used back then, even for panfish. Seems ridiculous now but very necessary for a Muskie. My drag was loose and screaming, everyone on the boat pulled in their silly crappie jigs and I was the star of the show. “Let him run, son. Tire him out.” Everyone was excited but it was habit to whisper advice so as not to spook the fish. Being stealthy and quiet was paramount to catching fish. If you were anchored with the typical coffee can anchor full of concrete and someone on the boat dropped a beer it made a huge noise, the fish were spooked for miles and we had to move. “Nice going, moron. You ruined this spot”. I’m not sure if that was true but we always moved and made the noise-maker feel guilty about it. And then it was his fault if we didn’t catch any fish at the new spot. Anyway, everyone is silent on the boat, the Muskie is tired and dad noticed our net was too small. The Muskie is right at the side of the boat and it was nice. 40 inches easily. My dad went for a tail-grab and it took off, my lure was barely hooked and ripped through its lip. It was gone. Bye bye Muskie. That was fun though and nobody criticized my choice of gear after that. I kept that lure for years but never used it again because the Muskie had broken its neck and the head of the lure slid up and down the wire. It was busted and all scratched up. It sat in my tackle box as a good-luck charm. I bought a few others like just like it and never caught anything on them. I did better with spinners and poppers. Sorry my Wisconsinite friend, I get carried away telling a story and don’t when to stop. I blame the Irish blood. I subscribed to your channel yesterday and have been watching a few of your videos. Great stuff and very nostalgic. I didn’t comment on them not wanting to clog up your comment section with my long-winded stories. It’s fun to read the others and know they are in the zone. Take care, tight lines, peace and aloha to you and yours. 🤙🏼

@@Woodstock271 no problem man, I enjoy hearing your stories!

@@calebwistad, Thanks man. I enjoy writing them. Happy fishing and be safe.

You’re welcome.

Good luck and have fun!

Nice! The good old days. There was no lithium battery electric fillet knife back then!

That’s awesome! You might enjoy this video too: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-O7YjdUHwgBo.html

Haha. Thanks much!

You bet!

I like it! Maybe that’s why they call you John the Fancy.

lol just posted the same thing before i read yours that tail is the best part.

Thanks! I appreciate it.

Yellow perch are tough to beat!

Yes. A few folks mentioned that. I’ll definitely try it next time!

You bet!

You’re welcome. Me too!

You bet!

Gotcha. Just a little step swap. I might try it that way some time.

@@calebwistad I always had a hard time filleting the skin off if I accidentally cut through the tail at the end and it came off the fish, (this is using a reg knife and the 2nd method) as i had nothing to really hold on to then and I would waste a little meat, so if the skin was still on I'd cut out the rib cage, cut down to the skin, and go sideways to remove the rib cage and keep that part of skin on. Then I had plenty to hold unto to fillet all the good meat off the skin.

Thanks!

I really need to try them whole. I keep hearing how good they are.

You bet!

Nice! Hard to beat bluegill.

Interesting. I may have to try that.

Absolutely

Awesome! I need to try this method.

For sure!

Nice. Sounds like you have it down!

Thank you very much! The table is actually made from an old “adopt a highway” sign. It’s plastic and works perfect for a fillet table top. They used to give away all the old road signs from the highway department when they would replace them. Now of course they can’t because of liabilities or some stupid crap…..

That would be perfect. Thanks for responding.

Absolutely!

Yes. That’s my favorite as well!

For sure!

Thanks!

Thanks!

@@calebwistad Thank you !!

Perfect! I have lots of how-to videos on fishing as well so be sure to check out more!

I use the little tool I show in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-O7YjdUHwgBo.html

never mind lol

Haha. That’s awesome.

I was shown by my grandpa. I got taught the first day of a trip when I was 10 or so, and every day and trip after that it became my job. Missing rib meat always got grumbles from the old guys, so I understand. They're all gone now, but I still chase perfect fillets every time.

Heck yeah!

Some folks like it, I prefer my fish cooked evenly. Totally legit if you like it that way though!

Yep. That’s a good way to do it too.

Thanks!

Thanks! I did try the water method and it worked great. And yes, I do typically bleed my fish. Makes things a lot cleaner!

@@calebwistad you already tried the water method so fast or did someone else give you the idea before? well glad it helped

@@ARCSTREAMS got the idea from the comments on this video. I actually filmed a video showing how to scale and cook bluegills whole next and used that method in that video.

@@calebwistad cool, thx for the fast reply

Yep. Same thing!

One of the best!

Best flavor, other than doing them whole. Video coming on that soon!

You bet!

Yikes! I’ve paid some big vet bills myself so I get that!

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Try it! They’re delicious!

Thanks!

Nice! It’s good that way.

I’ll try it!

Yes. Very good!

That’s an interesting idea.

There are still some on beds right now but even post spawn shallow action should be great!

@@calebwistad thanks! I’ll have to check it out. Probably taking the little river boat with me. Me and little man be gone fishing and back probably before the family gets up for the beach lol

Yes. They are great that way. I have a video on the fried whole method as well!

Nice! I bet that works slick.

Yep. That’s how we do stream trout as well.

I agree!

Yep. Skin-on has the best nutrition and flavor!

Nice haul!

Yep. They are delicious and you can usually catch them year round.

@@calebwistad my dad used to take my brother and I it in a canoe, sitting in the middle just rebaiting us both as we snagged like 40-50 in an hour, great times

The black dots are harmless when cooked and do not effect the quality of the finished fillets. I do remove yellow grubs if I see them, but they are also harmless when cooked.

Our perch from the Fox River here in Illinois have those parasites. We ate like 30 perch with them and everyone got sick with stomach aches and diarrhea..I won't make that mistake again. To each his own.

Ooo, I like that idea! I can’t say I’ve heard that one before. I’ll have to try it.

Thanks!

Interesting

@@calebwistad Try it next time!

Nice! Yes, you can definitely mix and match methods.

@@calebwistad Oh yeah totally, that was just how i was taught, and never knew any other way. And yes on bigger fish like walleyes I do waste meat. I caught a 6 pounder and a 6.5 pound walleye within an hour a few years ago of shore on a flooded road, (I swear I am not lying LOL!) and when i filleted them, I noticed a bunch of meat still on the rib cage, so i filleted the other side of the rib cage too and each piece of meat was like a bluegill sized fillet, like nice! I grilled the walleye fillets in butter, lawreys seasoning, andd some weber cajun seasion, yeah made a tin foil pouch on the grill for each fillet, so good, and fried the bluegill sized pieces from the other side of the rib cage in a flour mixture, same seasoning, but yeah coated in flour and fried on the stove in vegetable oil for a snack the next day. Anyways, thanks again for your video! It did help a lot, I have been fishing for years and never knew that way to fillet fish.

Interesting! I’m thinking about doing a video with the butterfly method soon.

So I keep hearing. I’m definitely going to try it. Nobody up here in Wisconsin cooks them whole that I am aware of. Everyone fillets.

Parasites.

That is too bad! They are such good eating fish. Clean as they come up here.

Thanks. Haha. Maybe next time!

They love gills!

Yes. You can!

I do both. And they are dang delicious!