Putting fish on ice ??

[Problem Child]

I'm going to try fishing for Crappie and maybe Bream with the Kayak.Normally I would just use a stringer but my new favorite lake is full of Lilly Pads.I'll probably use a small ice chest to put the fish in.So my question is.....if I put ice in the bottom of the ice chest and just throw the fish on top,will they stay fresh???

[w2n]

Yes. But fill that ice chest 2/3 of the way full before you set out. Trust me. You can always take ice out if you need to... you cant add more in once you get out there.

[leo]

Yes. But fill that ice chest 2/3 of the way full before you set out. Trust me. You can always take ice out if you need to... you cant add more in once you get out there.

You might notice that 'iced fish' are easier to clean; it makes the meat a little firmer

[Problem Child]

Thanks guys.

[WhiteWolf]

Also fill a 2liter with water and freeze. A block will last a long time. And as it melts you will also have water to drink.

[w2n]

Yes. But fill that ice chest 2/3 of the way full before you set out. Trust me. You can always take ice out if you need to... you cant add more in once you get out there.

You might notice that 'iced fish' are easier to clean; it makes the meat a little firmer

X2
But at the same time they can get a little more slimy and need a good washing off.

[MidTNKayakAngler]

My grandfather used to do this with bluegills. He had a livewell, but never used it just threw the gills in a cooler. He said it kept them fresh, he was also an icefisherman.

Jeremy

[tadpole]

any fish I plan to eat goes on ice as soon as possible fish wont live long on a stringer,and you don't want to eat a fish that's been dead and dragged around for hours...yuck..bacteria grows immediately on dead fish..the fish will taste so much better the sooner you get them on ice.

[Elkybum]

I never fished for ice before, what do you use for bait, LOL. Couldnt resist, sorry, I'll go sit in the corner now.

[Doogie]

Yes. But fill that ice chest 2/3 of the way full before you set out. Trust me. You can always take ice out if you need to... you cant add more in once you get out there.

You might notice that 'iced fish' are easier to clean; it makes the meat a little firmer

X2
But at the same time they can get a little more slimy and need a good washing off.

X3. I don't even use "regular" ice at all. I use a couple 2-liter bottles, and a handful of the smaller water bottles that I've already drank. Just freeze them up and toss them in the cooler. I feel like this helps to reduce the amount of fish-slime in the cooler at the end of the trip, because as the ice melts, it stays in the bottles, instead of pooling in the bottom of the cooler.

I agree 1,000 times with the ease of filleting Crappie that are ice-cold. Don't ruin beautiful fish by trying to clean them at room temperature. The flesh is too soft. Just keep them iced, and the knife will slice right through, leaving you with beautiful fillets.