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