Christmas Channel Catching

[chilerelleno]

Took my two youngest kids out for a morning of catching at Steve's Farm Market/Catfish Ponds.
They love this place and this trip was their Christmas gift from me.
Great pay-to-play ponds stocked with Blue x Channel hybrid catfish, stocked with loads of 2-5lb fish and they go all the way upwards of 50lbs.
This is not fishing, this is catching.
Unless you're targeting the 20, 30 and 40lb+ fish, then you need to change tactics and 'Fish' for them.
Of course those big'uns aren't good eating so they're photo'd for catch and release.

Anyways......
We had a blast putting 40lbs+ of fish in the cooler, only kept 3-5lb fish and we brought home 14lbs +/- of fillets.
Let all the bigger fish go, lots of 8-15lb fish.
We didn't get any of the monsters, but weren't targeting them either.

Inviting family over tomorrow for a fish fry, siding the fish with fries/tots, veggies and salad.

 

[SonnyE]

Need to bring my Grandkid's down to your neck of the woods.
Looks like a great time! Good on Ya Chile!
I bet they had a blast! Lots of smiles.
Lookin forward to seeing the fish fry tomorrow!

 

[dcecil]

that’s a great looking catch. Gonna make a fine meal. Look for to seeing that thread.

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

Looks like a great time Chile! What, no hush puppies at the fish fry?

 

[motocrash]

Awesome man!:cool: I have a place ~ 25 mins from me just like that in West by God.
I haven't been there since I was your kids age but I remember going there like it was yesterday.
http://www.zettsfishhatchery.com/index.html

 

[chilerelleno]

Need to bring my Grandkid's down to your neck of the woods.
Looks like a great time! Good on Ya Chile!
I bet they had a blast! Lots of smiles.
Lookin forward to seeing the fish fry tomorrow!

that’s a great looking catch. Gonna make a fine meal. Look for to seeing that thread.

Looks like a great time Chile! What, no hush puppies at the fish fry?

Yeah, a good time for the three of us, plenty of action on the rods equals no bored kids.
$1.00 for a pack of hotdogs and that's bait for a whole day.

Gonna be a good feed tomorrow, 12 adults and four kids.
My fryer will be about over burdened with fish and taters for that crowd, I need a two basket fryer.
Naw, no Hush Puppies, none in the freezer and I'm not going near a store of any kind right now.
Fish, taters, veggies and salad, good to go.

 

[chilerelleno]

Awesome man!:cool: I have a place ~ 25 mins from me just like that in West by God.
I haven't been there since I was your kids age but I remember going there like it was yesterday.
http://www.zettsfishhatchery.com/index.html

Stocked waters always make for a fun and busy day of fishing, worth the premium price.
Makes for some great times with the kids for sure.
They like eating them as much as catching them too.

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

Yeah, a good time for the three of us, plenty of action on the rods equals no bored kids.
$1.00 for a pack of hotdogs and that's bait for a whole day.

Gonna be a good feed tomorrow, 12 adults and four kids.
My fryer will be about over burdened with fish and taters for that crowd, I need a two basket fryer.
Naw, no Hush Puppies, none in the freezer and I'm not going near a store of any kind right now.
Fish, taters, veggies and salad, good to go.

Just tugging your line a little Chile! Here in TN, Puppies are always served with catfish. In all seriousness, I hope the fish fry goes well, and Happy Holidays to you, and yours!

 

[chilerelleno]

Just tugging your line a little Chile! Here in TN, Puppies are always served with catfish. In all seriousness, I hope the fish fry goes well, and Happy Holidays to you, and yours!

Man, this is Lower Alabama... Ya wanna talk hush puppies being almost mandatory?
Maybe someone will bring a bag, if they do I hope they're jalapeno.

 

[tropics]

Nice trip there Chile you can see the kids are happy.Merry Christmas
Richie

 

[gmc2003]

Looks and sounds like a great way to spend time with the kiddos' John. Those fish are amazing. I bet their gonna taste good in your capable hands. Enjoy the fry and your holidays.

Chris

 

[SmokinAl]

Looks like a fun day!
I love fried catfish!!!
I like the small ones and fry them whole, then just eat them with my hands like corn on the cob!
Al

 

[SonnyE]

Man, this is Lower Alabama... Ya wanna talk hush puppies being almost mandatory?
Maybe someone will bring a bag, if they do I hope they're jalapeno.

I hear Ya Chile about them stores. Totally nutz right now. I'm like a stealth fighter, in and out as fast as I can...
Ask, and I bet somebody has a bag in a freezer.

I was in Tulsa OK for a week once.
Every day I was asked if I wanted Grits with my order of coffee. "Would you like Grits with that, Honey?"
If I asked for a glass of water, it came with grits.
Not a big fan of grits.
But listening to those Southern Girls talk was just mesmerizing. Sweet as Honeysuckle.

Do they still have Molly Malone's House of Fine Repute down South? Hadn't thought of that in Decades.

 

[chilerelleno]

Grits are good plain, cheesy, savory or sweet.
With, eggs, fish, shrimp... Heck almost any meat.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I really like a half pound of crispy bacon covered in cheesy grits and topped with three very soft sunny side eggs.

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

 

[SonnyE]

Oh, I've eaten Grits, even liked them buried deep enough.
Just not something I go looking for.

There are only two things I won't eat, Rutabagas, and Lima Beans. But as I matured (like wine turning to vinegar), I did come to tolerate Lima Beans if there was more ham than beans.

At home, there was "Required Eating". It didn't matter how bad it was, or how burnt the liver came out, you sat there until you ate it and made a clean plate.
I still make a clean plate today...
And I'm careful about my eyes being bigger than my belly.

 

[chilerelleno]

LOL... Watched My Cousin Vinny last night.

 

[chef jimmyj]

Very cool and some great fish. My second house was built on a piece of a subdivided farm. The farm owner lived in the main house that had a 2 acre pond on the property. He allowed the people that bought land from him fish catch and release. It was well stocked with 2 pound small mouth bass among other pan fish. To say it was catching, not fishing, was very true. I would take the 3 girls, with their Barbie Fishing Poles, and two dozen minnows. I didn't fish because I had all I could do running between girls as they pulled out one after the other until the bait was gone. That was 20 years ago. Thanks for bring back the memory...JJ

 

[mfatty500]

Nothing like Shut up Dogs with Fish

 

[chilerelleno]

Nice trip there Chile you can see the kids are happy.Merry Christmas
Richie

Looks and sounds like a great way to spend time with the kiddos' John. Those fish are amazing. I bet their gonna taste good in your capable hands. Enjoy the fry and your holidays.

Chris

Looks like a fun day!
I love fried catfish!!!
I like the small ones and fry them whole, then just eat them with my hands like corn on the cob!
Al

Very cool and some great fish. My second house was built on a piece of a subdivided farm. The farm owner lived in the main house that had a 2 acre pond on the property. He allowed the people that bought land from him fish catch and release. It was well stocked with 2 pound small mouth bass among other pan fish. To say it was catching, not fishing, was very true. I would take the 3 girls, with their Barbie Fishing Poles, and two dozen minnows. I didn't fish because I had all I could do running between girls as they pulled out one after the other until the bait was gone. That was 20 years ago. Thanks for bring back the memory...JJ

Appreciate it guys.
Simple pleasures build the best memories.

I'm really glad today is over with, three more days of festivities to go.
Two turkeys going in the smoker tomorrow.

Here's a plated shot from the fish fry.