How do you make stocked trout edible?

Might I suggest, as I did before but it didn't go over too well, use them to fertilize your garden.
Most plants taste better than stocked trout.
That is what we did with the fish from our aquarium when they died. Not that we had that many that it would have made a huge impact but it seemed more dignified than flushing them down the toilet.
 
While I am not arguing that stockies wouldn't help fertilize a garden, I would not keep and kill a fish for that purpose alone. I can scoop up free horse manure at a few locations near me. If I am not going to be eating the stockie, I will most likely release it, even if it is in a water that contains wild trout.
 
I have something like this hanging in the basement. I think I got it 15-20 years ago. I Don’t remember if I used it more than once or twice. It’s one of those things that I forget i have.


Can you post a picture of the inside? Just curious to see if it has any lining and how the seams are finished.

There are some pictures here.
 
If I am not going to be eating the stockie, I will most likely release it, even if it is in a water that contains wild trout.
I have, on VERY RARE occasions, caught a stockie on a wild trout stream (think upper Kettle), but it ended up becoming a raccoon's dinner. I'd never return one in such a situation. To each their own.
 
While I am not arguing that stockies wouldn't help fertilize a garden, I would not keep and kill a fish for that purpose alone. I can scoop up free horse manure at a few locations near me. If I am not going to be eating the stockie, I will most likely release it, even if it is in a water that contains wild trout.
I'm the opposite, I would.
I do this a lot in the early season to help clear them out of local wild trout streams.
Sure beats freezer burn.

But to the point, converting stocked fish into vegetables makes them taste better IMO.
 
That is what we did with the fish from our aquarium when they died. Not that we had that many that it would have made a huge impact but it seemed more dignified than flushing them down the toilet.
Dear dudemanspecial,

When I saw a kid, I came home from school one day to find a Danio had attempted suicide and was lying dry and lifeless on my bedroom floor.

I tossed him in the toilet and yanked the lever. A legend was born! Ol' Flush came swimming back out of the abyss like a salmon leaping waterfalls while evading brown bears in the Kenai. 😉

He lived a good long time after he was returned to the tank. Apparently, he learned his lesson.

Regards.

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
The late Bob Baird made the most beautiful creels I ever saw. I lusted for one to hang on a wall, but he sadly passed away in 2011. I believe some were refurbished old creels while others were new. I'm not positive.

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I've posted this pic before, but it seems the wicker creels were commonly used among old time fly fishers. There's a certain romace about them.
 

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I'll keep em if I have manage a bleeder or a deep hook, but that is rare, even when I'm chucking spinners or bait fishing with my young nieces and nephews. Otherwise, it's back in the drink. I figure if I don't eat them, something else is eventually going to, as evidenced by the healthy Heron and Osprey I often see.
 
I've posted this pic before, but it seems the wicker creels were commonly used among old time fly fishers. There's a certain romace about them.
Dear wildtrout2,

Is that Jed Clampett and Grannie standing on top of that jackdam?

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
The key is to bleed them. Give them a quick knock on the head to dispatch them and then pull the gill rakers out while the heart is still beating. That will clear most of the blood.
If inclined to keep one or two I'll break their neck to dispatch them quick and clean. This 1) keeps them from suffering and 2) prevents lactic acid build up will struggling to die in a creel or on a stringer. Lactic acid will further taint the meat.

I clean them, leave the head and tail on, generously hit them with lemon pepper or Old Bay seasoning as well as salt and garlic. Wrap them in foil, put a wad of butter in the belly cavity, close the foil, and grill away.

If I don't grill them then I season them much the same way and fry their arses in a cast iron skillet with olive oil over low heat.
 
I've posted this pic before, but it seems the wicker creels were commonly used among old time fly fishers. There's a certain romace about them.

I think they look cool as heck but I imagine after about 15 minutes I'd be walking back to leave it in buckboard...

The other thing that cracks me up is the hole in the lids which I guess was an automatic culling device...

"Nope, too big, throw it back..."
 
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