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Fish for Dinner: What Kind of Fish Are Great for Catching and Eating?
There’s nothing quite like a meal freshly picked from the lake and the satisfaction of knowing that you went out and caught your own dinner. Kids love to do it, and it’s a great way for parents to bond with their children. But what are the best kind of fish to catch and actually prepare in a meal?
In this article, we’ll take a look at several types of fish that make the best “eating fish.”
-Walleye.
Walleye is considered one of the best-tasting freshwater fish and can be thrilling to catch, with a record 42-inch Walleye being the largest ever caught. Walleye will provide plenty of meat to cook as the typically grow to over two feet in length. They’re not an easy fish to a small child to catch without the assistance of an adult, which can make them a bit problematic.
Walleye have excellent vision (their light-reflecting eyes give them their name) and typically come out during low-illumination (think dawn and dusk) or in choppy waters, where they have an advantage over prey. Walleye can also swim deeper, which can make them more of a challenge to catch.-Bluegill.
Very popular in the upper Midwest (Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan) and Texas and Lousiana, Bluegill are smaller than Walleye, but easier to catch. They are considered to be on par with Walleye in terms of taste, and can be caught relatively easily by children with simple bait such as worms or flies.
Bluegill are also called “panfish” because of their size and the methods typically used to cook them. They are also a great fish to help teach your son or daughter how to fish, as they can be quick biters and will tend to come up to shallow waters to feed.
-Smallmouth bass.
Growing anywhere from two to six pounds, smallmouth bass are a relatively medium-sized gamefish that live in both rivers and lakes, and can be caught by simply “angling” techniques or with flyfishing. Smallmouth bass have a reputation for being fighters when hooked, and typically can make some splashing when near the top of the water. This might help your child learn how to work with fish that fight back.
Smallmouth bass are great for cooking as well, with a clean white meat that goes great with dinner.
Many of these types of fish are relatively common and will make a great fish to seek out during your next camping trip or visit to the lake. Learn more about each fish to easily identify them and teach your children about the different species.
Photo Credits: e53
