| Have you ever tried to smoke a fish? (I know, it | | | | very well. An electric smoker is preferred |
| is hard to get them lit!) Anyway, I have here a | | | | because you don't have to tend the fire as often |
| great recipe for smoking salmon and trout that is | | | | and it cooks much more evenly. |
| simple but very tasty. In a minute, I will give you | | | | As far as the wood you need I would |
| the recipe but first a little story about how this | | | | recommend apple, cherry or hickory wood chunks |
| recipe came about. | | | | (not chips if possible). The wood chunks last much |
| Years ago, my uncle Bob along with his 2 sons | | | | longer and burn slower. Slow, cool smoke is what |
| and his father-in-law decided they would like to | | | | you are after and the wood chips tend to burn |
| start fishing for the small Kokanee salmon, | | | | too quickly. Before you start your smoking, soak |
| (commonly called bluebacks), at a couple North | | | | the wood chunks overnight in water so they will |
| Idaho lakes namely Lake Coeur d'Alene and Lake | | | | burn slow and not catch fire so easily. |
| Pend Oreille. My uncle came up with this special | | | | Now, here is what you have been waiting for, the |
| bait he figured would catch those fish like crazy | | | | recipe. |
| so they all decided to give it a try. Back in those | | | | 1 Cup Non-Iodized Salt (it must be non-iodized), 1 |
| days, maybe 30 or more years ago, both these | | | | Cup Brown Sugar, 2 Gallons of Water, 1/8 Cup of |
| lakes had commercial fishing available on them | | | | Pepper if preferred. Soak your fish overnight (12 |
| with limits from 125 to 250 fish a day per person | | | | hours) in the above mixture and take out and |
| for the small Kokanee salmon. On a good day, a | | | | leave at room temperature for an hour before |
| group of four could really bring in the fish. My | | | | putting the fish in the smoker. |
| uncle and his crew all purchased commercial | | | | That's It!! I know it looks simple and it is. Many |
| licenses and began fishing with his new discovered | | | | recipes ask for seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, |
| bait. | | | | soy sauce and other things but this recipe is |
| It took only a few hours on their first trip out to | | | | simple and the very best. |
| discover that my uncle's bait was indeed amazing | | | | Your fish should be filleted if possible but not |
| and that all of a sudden they had caught a whole | | | | completely necessary as the meat will pull away |
| slew of fish. When they returned to shore and | | | | from the bone easily after smoking. It is |
| counted their first bounty, they discovered that | | | | important to leave the skin on the filets as it |
| they had brought in a total of 650 fish! What | | | | keeps the fish from sticking to the grill. Use good |
| were they going to do with all these slimy | | | | quality salmon or trout when smoking. Fish with |
| creatures? Well, they put their minds together | | | | white meats do not do well and tend to dry out, |
| and they decided that smoking them would be | | | | as they do not have the oil in the meat like the |
| the best way to not only preserve them for a | | | | salmon family does. |
| length of time but also maybe they could make | | | | Place your wood chips in your smoker and put |
| some extra money selling them to the local | | | | your fish on the grates. Depending on the |
| stores. | | | | temperature outside, it could take a couple of |
| So, to make this story readable and not bore you | | | | hours to several to smoke your fish. Test the |
| with all the details, they did start a little smoked | | | | fish after an hour or so to see how the texture |
| fish business and began distributing their fish | | | | looks. You can taste test the salmon as it is |
| around the local town. Before I give you the | | | | getting done to get the required texture you |
| recipe for this incredible smoked fish, there are | | | | desire. I like my salmon fairly moist but others |
| some essentials you must have to get started. | | | | may like it drier. The choice is up to you. |
| A good quality smoker is needed to begin with. I | | | | It may take a time or two until you get this |
| don't believe you have to pay $100's of dollars for | | | | smoking thing down but after you have perfected |
| one either. I have a small little smoker I purchased | | | | this recipe, you will be smoking fish on a regular |
| from Home Depot for around $75.00 and it does | | | | basis. |