Keeping Pickerel for eating

[John Sheehan]

 I'm thinking 19-22 " is the range I want to keep Picks for food when I decide to. I only catch a few over 22 and have only surpassed 25"once. A 27,1/4",4#12 oz.  in Sept 2016. With the ice fishing season upon me I want to eat another ice pickerel ,haven't done it in awhile.As I recall there are 5 fillets .The top  boneless fillet,two side bony fillets and two tail to top fin boneless fillets. I have made fish cakes out of the bony sides and pan fried the three other fillets .Any recipes out there?

  Fish through the ice taste great and the flesh is firmer than other times of the year.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Yep like that!

[dick tabbert]

I can say I honestly never ate a pickerel but have eaten many a northern and assume the taste close to the same. Pike are good to eat now all I have to do is learn to fillet the dab burn things to get rid of the Y-bones.

[John Sheehan]

Pickerel hit well through the ice and so do Yellow Perch .I hope I get to have a meal with both this winter and compare the taste . Perch can't be beat I don't think but Picks 22" offer up substantial food!

[dick tabbert]

They are no yellow perch but they do eat well. Haven't had any for awhile just such a pain to fight through them bones.

[John Sheehan]

So Dick I assume you enjoy the taste of Pike since you've eaten many . What size is best for keeping for the plate do you figure?

[dick tabbert]

I fish Michigan and they had a 20" size limit on them that was a long way back have no idea what the size limit is now.  I have eaten pike up to 30" and they all eat good. Once and awhile you get in them skinny slender pike we call hammerhandles I stay away from them not much meat.

[John Sheehan]

August 8th 2016 fish. 19 'Pickerel took a #2 Spinner