I’m planning my first Crappie fishing trip and plan to fill the boat. Can you tell me the best way to clean my catch?

Actually, cleaning a Crappie is pretty similar to cleaning most other types of fish.  The biggest difference is that is it not necessary to scale the Crappie.  I normally use an electric knife to make the process a little quicker.  Using this particular method will keep the bones, guts and head altogether, making the disposal of scraps a very simple process.  The first cut you make will be right behind the gill and the fin, when you actually feel the blade hit the backbone, turn the blade towards the tail of the Crappie.  Keeping the knife blade as close to the backbone as you can, run it along the backbone stopping right before you hit the tail.  Turn the fillet over and run your knife between the meat and the skin.  The final step is to cut out the rib cage and remove the fin muscle and tendons.  Repeat the process on the other side of the fish.  While some anglers prefer to clean their fish right away, others will tell you to ice it overnight.  Try it both ways and choose your personal preference.  If you’re not planning on cooking your catch right away, you can freeze the fillets for later, rinse them well, place them in a freezer bag and fill the bag with water.  You don’t want any air in the bag so make sure that you overfill it and zip it closed.  Don’t put in any more fish than you’re planning to cook for one meal.

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