I am always looking for good fish recipes. This looked a little different so I thought I would give it a try. It was good. The mashed potato flakes make it nice and crispy. We used this on our last catch of crappies. 　

Ingredients

1. 2 cups all purpose flower

2. 3 teaspoons salt 3. 3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning4. 1 ½ teaspoons pepper5. 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6. 2 lbs pan fish fillets

7. 2 eggs

8. ¼ cup milk

9. 2 cups mashed potato flakes

10. 6 tablespoons vegetable oil/ divided

Directions

1. Use a plastic bag and combine the spices and flour. Shake the fish in the bag one piece at a time to coat the fillets.

2. Mix or Wisk the eggs and milk together.

3. Put the potato flakes in a shallow dish.

4. Dip the fish in the eggs and milk, then roll in the potato flakes-then back into the eggs and milk and coat in the potato flakes again.

5. Pan fry until done- about 5 minutes on each side or until the fish flakes with a fork. Add the oil as needed.

These come out a nice golden brown.

Enjoy

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What a week! 2 feet of snow-then 70 degrees the next day. Low water was a problem. But not anymore. Now it is just the opposite. The good news is as the water levels fall this coming week the fishing could be great. there are steelhead in the area. Fish are being caught off the breakwater and marina by the sport shop . As usual it seems to be the best in the early morning or evening. A kind of a mixed bag is being used for bait. Spoons, Spawn and crawlers all seem to be working.Tip-Best bet use 2 lines. Set one on the bottom with crawlers or spawn and cast spoons with the other.

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Have you have been wanting to try ice fishing in Michigan? The up coming week end may be a great time. Michigan’s free fishing weekend February 14^th and 15^th. Maybe you have wanted to try some Trout and Salmon fishing on the great lakes but did not want to spend the additional money for a Trout and Salmon Stamp. Now is the time.If you would like additional information and a list of Free Fishing Week Activities click on the link below.

 Michigan Free Fishing Weekend

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Ice fishing reports have been pretty weak here on the bay. I guess extremely cold weather brings good and bad. The good news is the ice is developing quickly in the deeper water bringing with it some nice catches of Lake Trout. If you can endure the cold long enough to set up your ice fishing tent. As the weather warms we should have enough ice for some great fishing. Get yourself some wire line, a bobbing stick and some jigs and you are ready to go.

Ice Fishing Tip- Lake Trout are usually in deep water. Use a deep water Fish Locater and keep an extra line ready to go. If you start marking fish between you and the bottom, say 20, 30, 40 feet this could be a school of Salmon. Get that extra line into the water.

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What a change in the weather here in upper Michigan. From a really nice fall- almost instantly to cold and snow. Oh well I guess it is time. Thanks Giving and Christmas are right around the corner. By Christmas we should be doing some ice fishing on the inland lakes.Early ice fishing is hot. But you must be careful. Know the lake you are fishing. Deeper water- thinner ice. Do not go it alone. Test the ice with your ice bar close to shore and work your way out. Don’t take any unnecessary risks its not worth it. If you don’t feel comfortable with the thickness of the ice don’t go out on it. Watch for wet spots. Even when the ice is thick a wet area can indicate a spring or current creating weak ice in that area. Approach it with caution or better yet not at all. Ok enough preaching!So the ice is safe. Are you ready?Now is a good time to check your equipment. Replace last years line. Check your ice fishing tent.Start your power auger if you have one. Maybe replace the plug and do a little fine tuning. Nothing is more discouraging then when all of a sudden you find out the ice is safe and nothing is ready.

If you are fishing for pan fish keep the line light-2 or 4 lb test. Fish the edges of the weed beds in about 10 or 12 feet of water. Later in the winter when it gets colder you may have to move to deeper water.

Carry a good assortment of ice fishing jigs. The color or style they are hitting on today may not be the same tomorrow. Believe me this can make a huge difference.

Here in our area it can be a real challenge to get ice fishing grubs early in the season. What I do is go searching for golden rod balls. If you don’t know what these are, an insect lays an egg in the stem of the golden rod and the plant forms a ball around it that protects the larva. If you cut these balls in half you will find the grub on the inside. They are small but make an excellent grub for early ice fishing. Use them like you would use a wax worm or a mousse.

If you have a good lake for brook trout-Night crawlers seem to work real well with early ice.

Fish High- Try different depths from the bottom. With early ice don’t be surprised if you find the fish just below the bottom of the ice. If you are set deep and they are not hitting-move it up.

So get ready. Ice fishing is just around the corner.

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Here in upper Michigan the fall Deer Season is on. Deer bow season Started October 1^st. The gun Deer season starts November 15^th. So your not sure if you want to climb up into that tree or not. Not really! But what a great spot for a blind. The branches are just right and it is overlooking a very heavily used trail. You have some buck rubbings near by. It is just too good to pass up.If you are a little nervous over hunting from a tree. You are not alone. Some very serious accidents have happened using this technique. So if you are uncomfortable about climbing-Don’t.

I have used a ground blind for years Bow Hunting and have done very well.

Here are some tips for building a ground blind.

Scout out your location early in the summer. The earlier the blind is built before Deer Season the better. This will give the deer a chance to become adjusted to the blind being their. If you pick a good hunting area you may only have to do this once and it will be good for many years to come.

In the area I live in the fall winds seem to favor coming out of the north or north west. Ideally you want your blind located down wind from the deer trail or your bait pile. If the deer pick up your scent they will be gone before you can even get a shot off.

I like to pick a location that is slightly elevated over looking the bait pile or trail. I don’t think this is necessary it is just my preference.

As far as distance it is pretty much up to your skill level. I have had deer come with in 30 feet of my ground blind. Build your blind close enough to your bait pile or the trail so you will be confident when you are about to make the killing shot.

For material you can use about any type of building material. Make sure you make it tall enough. If you are sitting- the ceiling has to be high enough so as not to interfere with your bow. The same applies when you create your window opening. Keep in mind you need that extra room for your bow limbs.

I think this next one is the most important of all. It has to be dark inside. Buy that I mean their must be no light behind you in the blind at all. If you keep it dark behind you the deer will not have a clue as to what is going on. Any cracks or joints have to be sealed enough to keep the light out including your way in.

So if you don’t like climbing that tree-Don’t

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For my area the fall is a great time of the year for foraging for wild mushrooms. The fall rain makes the mushrooms pop quickly and the cooler weather keeps the insect damage down to a minimum. One of my favorites to harvest in the fall is Agaricus campestral. After a couple days of rain along with some cooler temperatures this mushroom is fairly plentiful. You can find it growing in yards, ball fields and many other grassy areas all you really have to do is ride around in your car and look. They are good size and the taste is excellent. There are a couple of look a likes but once you know how to positively identify this mushroom you wont have a problem telling them apart. This mushroom is the same genius as the white mushroom you buy in the store.Cap-Rounded or cushioned shape 1 1/2 to 3 inches across. Becoming flat with age. The color is mainly white and takes on a brownish tint as it becomes older. Gills-In the button stage the gills are pink. As the mushroom ages they turn brown then to a dark brown to almost black at maturity. The gills are free and not attached to the stalk. The spoor color is dark brown.Stalk- 1 to 2 inches stuffed. Pretty much even from top to bottom.The spoor print on this mushroom is important. It has to be dark brown. If it is white you could be dealing with an Amanita which could make you very sick. Such as the destroying angle which is also white. But has a white spoor print. The good thing about this mushroom is, it is usually found in wooded areas.

The closet look a like I have found is Lepiota naucinus.
  

This is not a deadly mushroom but is not recommended for eating. It has been known to make some people sick.When this mushroom is young its gills are white not pink. The spoor print is white. In the Agaricus family itself watch for the yellow stainer. It pretty much looks like the edible one except if you scrape it with a knife it will turn yellow at the scrape. This one will make you sick.Remember if you are in doubt don’t eat it. If you are new at mushroom hunting consult an expert.

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I hope you all had a good summer. I guess what they say is true-the older you get the faster time goes by. I like ice fishing but much prefer the open water and the warmer weather.Don’t get me wrong there are many good things about fall. This is a fishing and hunting paradise and in the fall you can do them both!

Lake Trout fishing remained good all summer here in the bay. The salmon stayed in but the fishing was spotty. As the cooler fall weather settles in we should start to see the salmon running up the rivers. I believe we are due for a pink salmon run in the Falls river this year. If this materializes I will keep you posted.

I like this fish canned. I will often add some liquid smoke to the jar just before processing. It gives it a great taste. I have eaten these fresh and was not all that impressed. However just recently I was told I was wrong. A friend of mine said they are great. Worth another try I guess. The bait of choice for this fish is a spinner bait. Pretty much the same thing you would use for Trout fishing.

What a year for pan fish in this area-one good tip after another. I am sorry to see it coming to an end.

The fall fishing in the bay can be awesome. It is possible to catch almost anything. Steelhead, brown trout, salmon and who knows maybe even a walleye or bass.

So if you get a chance break away from football on Sunday afternoon and do some fishing.

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Please welcome guest poster Bobby from Free RecipesThere are so many good ways to cook fish, pan fried, baked, deep fried, or grilled. So many ingredients to enhance the flavor, there are even some really good box mixes out there, but this is better. Last night for the first time I tried Parmesan fish and it was great. The fish is first rolled in bread crumb/parmesan cheese mixture and then deep fried but you can easily sauté in the pan if you don’t have a deep fryer. The real highlight of this recipe isn’t in the breading though; it’s in the delicious lemon sauce - A simple yet great tasting sauce consisting of lemon juice, lemon zest, mayo and basil. This recipe will work with many different types of fish including tilapia, cod, cat fish, bluegill, crappie, bass and many more. Enjoy.

Ingredients:
5 medium fish fillets
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup dry bread crumbs
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 eggs (beaten)
½ cup white flour
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper
Oil (for frying)
Lemon Sauce-
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons basil

Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: For the sauce – In a small bowl combine mayo, lemon juice, lemon zest and basil. Mix well cover and chill.

Step 2: On a pie plate combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and cayenne pepper. Mix well. On a separate plate combine flour, 1 pinch salt and pepper. Mix well. Beat eggs in a shallow dish.
Step 3: 1 at a time coat each fillet by rolling in flour, then dipping in egg mixture and then rolling in the bread crumb mixture. Make sure fillets are fully coated evenly.

Step 4: Deep fry 2 pieces at a time at 350 degrees in a deep fryer. Deep fry for 2-3 minutes or until fillets are golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with lemon sauce.

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Wow what a fast summer. I don’t now about you but this one for me is going by way to quick. When the preseason football season starts to me it is a good sign we are nearing the end. For the most part here in upper Michigan the summer has been very nice with temps staying below the 90 degree range along with plenty of moisture.
In Keweenaw Bay the lake trout fishing has been good all summer and continues. There are some salmon being caught but you have to work hard for them. This should improve as we get closer to fall. The salmon will move in to start their spawning run.
The inland lakes are still producing some real nice pan fish. Our last trip produced 33 keepers with over half of them being some real nice crappies. The bait of choice for that trip was small minnows and pink and white twister style jigs

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