How to fillet a walleye fast and easy? If you’ve ever eaten fish, chances are you’ve had a bite out of a walleye. The fish is native to North America and has become a favorite food source for anglers.
Walleyes are usually caught using live bait or lures. They are also sometimes caught using hook and line techniques.
When to fillet a walleye fast and easy, you’ll want to remove the head, guts, fins, and tail. We have written this article to tell you a little more about the fish and just how you would go about filleting one. Let’s dive right in.
Walleye Fish
The walleye is an extremely popular sport fish that can be found throughout most of North America. It is known as the “king” of all freshwater gamefish because it can grow up to 50 pounds.
Walleyes are typically caught by anglers using live bait or luring methods. Some anglers use artificial lures such as spoons, crankbaits, and jigs.
A walleye is a member of the perch family. This means that they share many characteristics with other members of their group.
One of these similarities is the fact that both species are bottom feeders. In addition, walleyes are very aggressive eaters. They will often attack any type of bait placed on the water surface.
When choosing your walleye fishing spot, make sure that there are no obstructions nearby. You don’t want to place your lure too close to rocks or other objects that could snag your line.
Also, try not to put your lure directly over a weed bed or underwater grass. These types of plants provide cover for small fish and insects.
Once you have caught your catch and successfully got it home, it’s time to start filleting and preparing for cooking. The next section will guide you through the process.
How To fillet a walleye fast and easy tricks
When you’re ready to fillet a walleye, take note of its size before beginning. You will need to know how much meat to remove from the fish so that you don’t end up with too many bones.
For example, if you plan on eating the whole fish, then you might need to remove the head, gills, guts, and fins.
To begin, make sure that you have enough room to work with. Then, lay down a clean towel on the countertop. Next, place your walleye on top of the towel.
Now, grab your knife and start cutting away at the skin. Start at the back of the fish and cut around the entire body until you reach the front of the fish.
Once you get to the front of the fish, you should see two large flaps of skin. Use your fingers to separate these flaps and continue removing them.
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Next, you will need to remove the entrails. This process is fairly easy. Simply pull the intestines out through the anus.
Be careful not to tear any of the flesh during this step. After you have removed the intestines, you should notice that there is a small cavity behind the anus. Pull the viscera into this area and discard it.
Now that you have removed the entrails, you will need to slice off the fins. Take care when doing this.
Make sure that you hold the fin firmly between your thumb and forefinger while slicing it off. Also, try not to let the blade touch the rest of the fish.
Now that you have removed the fins, you will need to cut off the head. Hold the fish steady and carefully cut along the jawline. If you are unsure where to cut, simply follow the curve of the jawline.
After you have removed the head, you will need to open up the mouth. First, push the tongue away from the teeth.
Then, gently pull the lower jaw forward. Finally, pry the upper jaw apart by pulling the gill plate toward the center of the fish.
You now need to remove the eyes and brain. The easiest way to do this is to insert your finger inside the eye socket. Gently push the eyeball out of the socket. Repeat this process for the second eye.
Finally, you will need to scrape off the scales. This part is pretty simple. Just run your fingernail over the scales in one direction until they peel off.
Once you have finished to fillet your walleye, rinse the fish under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels and store in the refrigerator before cooking and eating.
How To Cook Walleye
Walleye Recipes
Baked Walleye Recipe
Follow this recipe if you prefer to bake your walleye- It’s delicious!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 pound cooked and flaked walleye
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter an 8-inch square baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and pepper; set aside. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream and mayonnaise. Add the lemon juice and mix well. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Top the walleye evenly over the batter. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.
Fried Walleye Recipe
This fried walleye recipe is perfect for those who like their fish crispy! It’s also great to use up some walleye you might have stored in the freezer!
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces frozen walleye filets
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg white, beaten
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
Directions :
Thaw the walleye fillets. Place them on a rack and pat dry with paper towels. Combine the flour, egg white, cornmeal, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl.
Dip each filet first in the flour mixture, then dip in the egg wash, and finally coat with bread crumb mixture.
Set the coated fillets on a wire rack. Heat about 3 inches of vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or Dutch oven to 375 degrees F. Fry the walleye fillets 2 at a time for 5 minutes, or just until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot.
Final Thoughts
We hope after reading this article you have gained an understanding how to fillet walleye fast and easy, as well as learned a little more about the species, both from a fishing and a cooking point of view.
Don’t be afraid to try one of our delicious walleye recipes when it comes to cooking and plate up to all your family and friends with your favorite form of potatoes! We promise they’ll come back wanting more.
