Best Tasting Freshwater Fish

[airborne_angler]

I'm not big on eating fish.if I order it at a restaurant, its usually something like whitefish or cod. I have eaten Catfish and originally I enjoyed it, but I can't really say the flavor does anything for me anymore. Dont care for Trout.The only ones ive ever eaten were stockers and were actually pretty bland.When cooked correctly, I really enjoy Tilapia.

I've heard Bluegill are good eats, and a local lake has a good abundance of them.I just can't bring myself to dispatching them and then I'm worried about the care of the fish and it spoiling before I get home(1.5) hours from the lake.For those that have eaten Bluegill...what am I missing? Are they that good?

I've heard Walleye is tasty too.What's everyones favorite eating freshwater fish? Anyone know of any "sleeper" fish, where the consensus says its avtrash fish but it was actually good eats?

[BrettD]

1. Walleye

2. Crappie or perch its close

3. Blue gill

 

All three are really tasty.

[A-Jay]

Well, for me - Bluegill are very good.  Really Sweet tasting.   

 

Up north here, walleye, yellow perch and pike make great table fair as well.

 

A-Jay

[J Francho]

In this order:

 

1. Walleye

2. Yellow Perch

3. Northern Pike

 

Not a huge fan of trout or salmon, but I've been told the dime bright specimens I bring home for the grill or the smoker are outstanding.

[slonezp]

Great Lakes perch 

I also like blugegill, walleye, crappie, and LM bass on the condition they were caught in cold water. When the water temp gets above 60-65 the meat loses its firmness and depending on the water they came from may get a muddy taste.

[Teal]

Walleye

Crappie/ perch

Striper

Theres some fish listed above, that i havent had the pleasure of tasting. I do eat LM bass and catfishoften, but they dont make the top three.

[MCS]

1. Walleye

2. Crappie or perch its close

3. Blue gill

 

All three are really tasty.

 

X2

[Bankbeater]

Bluegill.

[tholmes]

1. Walleye

2. Crappie or perch its close

3. Blue gill

 

All three are really tasty.

 

Bingo! #2 and #3 are are a toss-up,  IMHO, with walleye the clear favorite. I'd have to throw sauger (and the sauger/walleye hybrid) in there as well. 

 

Tom

[BradH]

1.  Walleye

2.  Yellow Perch

3.  SMB but don't tell anyone

4.  Pike

[J Francho]

3.  SMB but don't tell anyone

 

I've had them too.  They're good.

[Felix77]

Perch are amazing.

 

I have had LMB and SMB as well ... not all that great.

[xbacksideslider]

Last week I caught a small striper, maybe 2.5 pounds, removed the lateral blood line from the filets, very good eating.  Less than two hours from water to table.

[Scott F]

I like to eat fresh water fish immediately after cleaning them. That's when they're the best. After they've been in the refrigerator for a day or two, or after they have been frozen, they are just not quite as good. I won't eat fish from a store.  To me, if it smells like fish, it's not good.

[Dave P]

1. Walleye

2. Yellow Perch

3. Northern Pike

4. White Bass

5. Bluegills and Crappies

6. Small Bass

[clayton86]

Walleye

Perch

Bluegill

Pike

I do have a steelhead in the oven as I type this though with some lemon slices butter and a mix of seasonings. It was a nice brite one not to big either just over limit

[ww2farmer]

#1 Bluegill

 

#2 Perch

 

#3 Crappies

 

#4 Rock bass

 

And that's all I eat.

[Teal]

#1 Bluegill

#2 Perch

#3 Crappies

#4 Rock bass

And that's all I eat.

My dad would eat dinner with you... he loves "pan fish dinners"

[ww2farmer]

My dad would eat dinner with you... he loves "pan fish dinners"

I have ate bass too, but usually they are mixed in with the rest and I can't tell, other than the size of the fillet, the difference. I will admit, crappies have to come from my home lake, the next closet lake to the east of me, Conesus............blahhh, they taste like garbage out of there.

[SirSnookalot]

It's a toss up between walleye and Lake Superior whitefish.  Whitefish can be a generic term for other species in other waters.  I like perch a lot too.

We had cod last night for dinner, it's really good.  Dolphin, swordfish, and barracuda are extremely popular here.

[Bk4]

Striper, Catfish, Crappie

[SuskyDude]

Walleye, perch , crappie, bluegill are all delicious.

 

I fish a lake that is full  of rockbass and eat several dozen of those a year and they tatse great.

 

I don't understand why some people hate bass. It must have to do with the water they come out of because all the bass I've ever eaten from up here in NY have been tasty as hell.

 

I wouldn't worry about them spoiling in an hour and a half, especially if you put them on ice.

[mg4u2nv]

I've never tried LMB, i've always heard mixed reviews about them.  Tilapia are always a good bet for freshwater, I eat mainly saltwater fish down here.  Mahi is incredible, grouper is awesome, snook are delicious.  I've always heard snakeheads are great table fare as well.  While i do catch them, i do always see the bodies of water i catch them from.  i think i would need a hazmat suit to clean the fish, haha.

 

Matt

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Most amazing freshwater fish are northern snakeheads number one. The Potomac River is full of them. Flaky white meat yum yum.

Jay-

[GeorgiaBassBros]

I love me some fried blue gill or crappie. Dont get too many catfish since i have about as much patience as a toddler