Some trout for the smoker

[HortoTheSlayer]

Went out to santee lakes yesterday with @Mattydoesntknow to do some trout fishing. He had never been there before and hadn't fished in a number of years so I was hoping to get into some action. After walking around and trying a few spots and talking to a couple people and getting some tips we started hitting them. Everyone around seemed to be getting into them to. We probably saw close to 30 trout taken in just a couple hours. I was able to bring in 3 and Matt landed 2 but one broke off the line. I landed 2 off of powerbait and 1 off a mini jig that a guy gave me for helping him with my net when he was catching them. Overall we saw lots of action, the ranger even caught a couple guys in our area who were fishing without permits and they left real quick leaving behind a stringer full of fish. It was a pretty eventful day at the lake. Now I plan to brine and smoke them whole. I've never done it before but thought I'd give it a shot and maybe make a smoked trout dip.

 

[SDLIVIN]

Nice, good eats there!

 

[ilovesprig]

Lookin' good.....It's been a long hunting season.....I'm ready for some fishin'

 

[Bowman]

Nice catch. Good looking trout.
Hot or cold smoked?

 

[HortoTheSlayer]

Thanks LB! I'm gonna do a hot smoke on them. I saw a video on it and the temp they ran was around 170°.

I'm open to any tips or suggestions if any has done this before. I'm not going to fillet them or debone, just smoke whole.

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

Nice job. Love me some smoked fish dip.

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[Bowman]

I no expert but I do hot smoking.
Works best with skin removed.
And thin as possible. Personal preference I cut a way the skin, and cut fish into two sides. I like the smoke to go through the meat. I use hard wood with a little Chicory or mesquite. Best smoking wood I used was hard wood acacia.
Some friends of ours had good luck with pellet smoker it's more
Consistent. Very simple really.

 

[Bowman]

Just like making jerky thinner slices the better. When the wife and I make jerky we make a few pounds. It was gone in a couple days. Kids loved it. So do we.

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

Works best with skin removed.
And thin as possible.

I've smoked trout a couple times and actually prefer it whole, skin on.. really keeps it moist and those good oils locked in. Also love nibbling on the chewy, smoky skin. Goes great on a bagel with some onions and capers!


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[Bowman]

That's cool different strokes for different folks.
My rational is well smoked meat .
Kills parasites and bacteria.
I want it well over done.
But it's matter of preference..
Smoked salmon or trout is the best. Good stuff.

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

That's cool different strokes for different folks.
My rational is well smoked meat .
Kills parasites and bacteria.
I want it well over done.
But it's matter of preference..
Smoked salmon or trout is the best. Good stuff.

For sure. I've got some playing around to do with my smoker over the Christmas break. Gonna experiment with ducks...

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[WaterDawg]

Trout dip sounds yummy. Go for it!

 

[HortoTheSlayer]

Yea im gonna try them whole with skin on and also have some salmon that I got from a chef yesterday. I service some restaurants for work and wanted to pick his brain on brines and he showed me how to make a dry brine and gave me a piece of salmon to play with. My daughter wanted to help me make a wet brine for the trout and we will be smoking these guys after work!

 

[ilovesprig]

They look so peaceful

 

[Bowman]

Horto
Here is guide lines for curing and smoking. For chef friend was wise for suggesting salt curing. It kills the parasites. The link discusses all dope.
https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/nchfp/lit_rev/cure_smoke_pres.html
Like the pics brother.
Have fun and enjoy the trout.
The reason in the link I hot smoke.
Trout and samon have parasitic worms. Just like pork.
To kill them for sushi, ceviche
It must be frozen below as noted
In the link.
Good eating brother.

 

[HortoTheSlayer]

So I went over to my uncle's house to smoke my trout and salmon fillet and man I cant wait to go get some more fish! First of all the salmon didn't make it in the photo because we ate it too fast! since it was a fillet and smaller piece (about the size of a normal wallet) the dry brine really cured the meat and didn't need much smoking time. Probably finished in a little over an hour and man was it delicious! My uncle busted out some pita chips that we spread a little cream cheese on then the salmon then some fresh basil from his garden and finished off with a bit of sun dried tomatos..it was killer. On it's own I could have done a tad less salt but with the added accoutrements it was dead on!! Now the trout we smoked for about 3 hours and it was still real moist, I think leaving the skin on helped but I would still like to experiment. Maybe I'll try one with out next time just to see. I would have liked to been able to hang the fish because some of the skin got stuck to the grill but was able to get them off. Gonna try not to eat it all while taking it off the bone and hopefully make a dip with it!

 

[Bowman]

I use something like this for smoking and grilling fish. Keeps it together.
I missed an important process in
Smoking jerky soaking in brine
So glad your friend said something.
My wife reminded me we soak our
Jerky in brine I am losing it.
https://www.tigerchef.com/fox-run-5...e-LOp7K5aMZjZameXg_I0v9uN7pcFzr4aAqFBEALw_wcB

 

[Bowman]

Your pics are making me hungry for smoked fish and jerky.
I have to fire up the smoker and grill.
I may try cotton tails rabbit soaked n brine and soaked with butter and bacon fat. I think if I keep marinading the rabbit it shouldn't be to dry.

 

[HortoTheSlayer]

I use something like this for smoking and grilling fish. Keeps it together.
I missed an important process in
Smoking jerky soaking in brine
So glad your friend said something.
My wife reminded me we soak our
Jerky in brine I am losing it.
https://www.tigerchef.com/fox-run-5...e-LOp7K5aMZjZameXg_I0v9uN7pcFzr4aAqFBEALw_wcB

Haha it is funny you showed me that..my aunt was just telling me earlier her dad used something like that to smoke / cook his fish! And now you're making me hungry for some beef jerky!! That rabbit sure sounds good as well

 

[Bowman]

Having a cook out see which s better.
Beinkman grill and smoker or
The Weber smoke and grill.

On the menu
Cotton tails
Trout
Catfish
Pan fish