Backcountry fish preservation techniques

[Michael J.]

I'm headed out to do some camping and fishing on the lower Deschutes this weekend. My question is - what if on the slim chance I hook and land a Chinook - how would I preserve it overnight. Field dress and keep in the creel - in the river? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, MJ

[Michael J.]

We're backpacking in so we won't have access to a cooler.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Michael,

It would be a great time for a little back counrty feast! images/icons/grin.gif

Whats left could be stored as mentioned above but I would take along some gallon sized zip lock bags to put the fish in.

Maybe you could pack a few plastic soda containers with frozen water. If ya don't catch a fish you'll have a nice refreshing cold drink of water to look forward to. It won't add too much weight. Put them in the zip locks and the rest of the stuff in the pack should stay dry.

By the way, are you enjoying the canoe? images/icons/grin.gif

Have a great trip and good luck,

Mr. F.

[ 06-08-2001: Message edited by: Mr. Fisherman ]

[smilesforu]

Easiest way to take care of them is to take a picture and let them go. Maybe another backpacker can enjoy it in the future. If its small enough for dinner eat it.
Enjoy your trip

[ampersat]

i've always done it this way, although i've never tried to overnight it. i'll be interested to hear what others have to say.

as soon as i've bonked the fish and put a stop to all that floppin', i open the mouth up and cut through the gill connector that runs down the middle of mouth about two rows back, top and bottom. this allows the fish to bleed out. i've also heard that you can slice into the fish from the top just behind the head and bleed them. i would also remove the internal organs as soon as possible. try to avoid damaging any of the flesh inside the cavity since this will allow river water to access the fish flesh and may lead to some 'abdominal distress' when eaten. then, i'll tie a line around the head through the gills and stake in the water where there is decent water flow. if you can get a burlap sack to put the fish in, that will help cut down the sunlight shining on the fish and will help it look nicer longer. your creel should be just fine for this provided it's large enough. make sure to tie it off really well or you'll be extra sad in the morning to have lost your nifty creel and the nice fish inside it.

good luck on the trip and let us all know how you do.

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Put it in a cooler after field dressing and bleeding it. Keep ice on it and it should be fine. Remember to put all parts back in the river and not on shore. You said camping, but you didn't say whether or not a cooler would be handy.

[Michael J.]

Ray, My girlfriend and I love the canoe! We've only been out once - but it is really a nice water craft. Thanks again. MJ

[Iceman]

I've taken a couple 4-day camp trips down the Deschutes for summer steelhead. The first time was with a several others that had been taking the trip for the past decade or more.

Their solution to keeping fish preserved for several days was somewhat unique to anything I'd ever encountered, but turned out to be very effective and probably was the way of the past, before ice, coolers, etc.

Clean your fish in the water, removing gills, entrails, etc. and then hang the fish to dry in the nearest tree. The skin and rib cage cartiledge will dry out and form a protective barrier to keep flies, etc from getting to the meat. Once the exterior of the fish has thoroughly dried, wrap the fish in newspaper and store dry. Do not allow the fish to get wet!

I think it's a bad idea to keep fish stored in water. The meat breaks down much quicker if this is done for any length of time.

If your going to be on the river for only one night, the cooler, ziploc bags, and ice are probably the way to go. If ice and cooler space is limited, try the method I've suggested. It works well.

[CAGEY]

M.J. i have done this several times and i take care of the fish by throughly cleaning them. Make sure you get all the blood off and out of the fish. Dry it off as good as you can and put some cheese cloth around it to keep the flies away and then place it in the coolest place you can find. Beleave it or not that just might be your sleeping bag under a real shady tree. I have hung deer in eastern oregon in early Oct in 70 deg heat and then rolled them up in a sleeping bag during the day and never lost one. Fish will spoil a little faster but you should be able to keep it for a couple of days. What ever you do keep it out of the water.