And it's good to know that I'm not the only one who grinds the y-bones in the hauki filets to make "balls." Being a horrific American, of course, I make "burgers" v "balls" that I fry and put on buns with rémoulade. Sub potato starch for the eggs and cream and use chives for the flavor/color enhancement.
I wish we could use katiska, because pike tend to cut your line with those teeth. I've lost dozens of [assumed] pike and ended up with a cut leader for my troubles.
I'm not sure how you could travel without at least knee-high rubber boots. Redneck cooks like me never go anywhere without them, LOL. You never know when you'll get to go fishing or have to ford a swamp to get some wild mushrooms. But I vaguely remember my late 20's and early 30's when "style" v homely functionality mattered.
Good spot about the y-bones, they grind up just fine of course. Are traps like katiska against the rules where you are? Thanks for having a read John..hope all's well.
Very well thanks Wil, I’m just back from successful grouse hunting trip in N. Maine.
In US, rules vary depending on where you are. In saltwater, nets and traps can generally be used with some restrictions. In freshwater though, traps and nets are highly regulated. Where I live we have freshwater self-sustaining populations of landlocked salmon and brook trout. Traps and nets can only be used for baitfish.
Pike are an introduced species and can be harvested with impunity, but only by hook and line in open water and through the ice. I make a few trips in winter to catch them through the ice. The “balls/burgers” freeze nicely, so I can eat them year-round.
I love this piece. Having worked a lot covering salmon recovery in the NW, I could really “see” your story. Your father-in-law plunging his hand into the bucket was may favorite bit.
I thought it was going to be some sort of Finnish tradition where the pike are first clothed and then made to perform in a macabre puppet show. In a sauna.
Much to like here!
And it's good to know that I'm not the only one who grinds the y-bones in the hauki filets to make "balls." Being a horrific American, of course, I make "burgers" v "balls" that I fry and put on buns with rémoulade. Sub potato starch for the eggs and cream and use chives for the flavor/color enhancement.
I wish we could use katiska, because pike tend to cut your line with those teeth. I've lost dozens of [assumed] pike and ended up with a cut leader for my troubles.
I'm not sure how you could travel without at least knee-high rubber boots. Redneck cooks like me never go anywhere without them, LOL. You never know when you'll get to go fishing or have to ford a swamp to get some wild mushrooms. But I vaguely remember my late 20's and early 30's when "style" v homely functionality mattered.
Good spot about the y-bones, they grind up just fine of course. Are traps like katiska against the rules where you are? Thanks for having a read John..hope all's well.
Very well thanks Wil, I’m just back from successful grouse hunting trip in N. Maine.
In US, rules vary depending on where you are. In saltwater, nets and traps can generally be used with some restrictions. In freshwater though, traps and nets are highly regulated. Where I live we have freshwater self-sustaining populations of landlocked salmon and brook trout. Traps and nets can only be used for baitfish.
Pike are an introduced species and can be harvested with impunity, but only by hook and line in open water and through the ice. I make a few trips in winter to catch them through the ice. The “balls/burgers” freeze nicely, so I can eat them year-round.
I love this piece. Having worked a lot covering salmon recovery in the NW, I could really “see” your story. Your father-in-law plunging his hand into the bucket was may favorite bit.
Thanks, Michelle. That salmon recovery sounds fascinating.
I thought it was going to be some sort of Finnish tradition where the pike are first clothed and then made to perform in a macabre puppet show. In a sauna.
All traditions start somewhere buddy.
I’ve just realised - we didn’t get to see a photo of the boots. BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS 👢
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😭
This story is from a decade ago of course. Not seen those boots in years. Probably in England somewhere.
My first thought was, why was a pike wearing cowboy boots? ;-)
English is a really messy language, right?