Why do springers taste better

Leatherneck · 02-22-2002, 05:19 PM

My wife isn't much of a fish eater but she love's to eat the springers I bring home. She perfer's springers over fall chinook and steelhead and I have to agree. Why do springers taste so much better.

Stz ll · 02-22-2002, 05:25 PM

Spring Salmon are higher in fat content than the other types of salmon. Thry have the excess fat because they need it to sustasin themselves till they spawn which won't be til later in the late summer or fall. At least this what I was always led to believe. Anybody else??

Got Fish? · 02-22-2002, 05:42 PM

Ya I've heard that exact same thing with the fat content, but I also heard that the water temperature being colder helps preserve the quality of the fish and the fish uses its fat less.

fishbait · 02-22-2002, 07:56 PM

Yeah its the fat, just look at the meat and you will see the white lines between the muscle folds, or compare the oil as it sits on the BBQ.... Think about it, a springer may enter fresh water in March, not yet sexually mature and live without eating much till sept, oct even november when they spawn and die, the whole while being sustained by its fat reserves, covnersly, a fall nooker will enter freshwater in Sept/Oct and spwan in Nov/Dec. thats why Tules are dog food, when they enter fresh water they are fully mature and ready to spwan within 30 days or so. Why do you think upriver brights are such a valued fish for eating, their fat reserves, and the now long extinct Columbia River June Hogs were also one of the top fish for table fare. Fat on a fish is prized, but fat on us slightly routend fisherfolk is a topic for ridicule.... Not fair......... FB

Salmonator · 02-22-2002, 07:57 PM

I'm not sure that the water temp plays a big role. A spring salmon fresh into the river tastes better than a fall salmon fresh into the river because of it's sexual immaturity. Fall salmon and winter steelhead are very near spawning even while still bright, spring salmon and summer steelhead aren't even close when they first head up the river. I think that much of the oils go into the growth of the reproductive organs, especially eggs...