A challenge to catch, a pleasure to eat…
Walleye fishing Texas
The most popular freshwater game fish in Texas is the beloved walleye. And for good reason. Not only does the walleye put up a terrific fight, but they are right at home in a frying pan! This is one tasty fish.
Oh, but the eyes.
The eyes are fantastic. When you understand how they work, you begin to understand why fishing for walleye in Texas is so popular.
The walleye has a membrane called the tapetum lucidum behind its retina. The sole purpose of the tapetum is to reflect and gather light. It is this membrane that makes the walleye such a strong predator. It allows the walleye to see in light conditions that other fish (and prey) simply cannot.
Advantage walleye fishing
The walleye typically hunts at dusk and at dawn. The dim light at these times of day make the walleye’s prey an easy target. We have a pile of walleye strategies that play to this strength and will help you maximize your success on the water.
But beyond the eyes, this tasty fish has other things going for it as well. Its curved teeth add to its reputation as a predator. Prey caught in the grip of a walleye’s grasp has little to no chance of escape.
Walleye also have sensitive nerve endings that run down the side of its body. This gives the walleye a jump on finding its prey because it can detect the smallest of vibrations in the water. Walleye primarily feed on smaller fish (including smaller walleye), but will feed on whatever the lake or river have to offer – insects, leeches, frogs – even small mammals.
Catching walleye on a remote northern lake is one of the best experiences you will ever have. The walleye grow large and strong in many regions of Canada. Often the best lakes are inaccessible by road and can only be reached by air.
And it seems the colder the water, the better they taste.
If you are considering a Texas walleye fishing trip, you are on the right track. The Texas north, the fish and the fight is something you will always remember.
How to Fillet Walleye
It’s time to learn how to fillet walleye.
What a great eating fish. Out of all the freshwater fish caught in Canada, the walleye is the most popular. Another great thing about the walleye is they are easy to clean. So grab your cutting board and sharpen your knife and let’s clean a walleye.
This is described from the vantage point of a right-handed person. If you are a lefty you will have to think of this in a mirror image. OK let’s learn how to fillet walleye.
Start with the belly of the fish toward you and the head of the walleye to the left. Take your knife and make a cut behind the pectoral fin into the fish up to the spine (halfway through the body). If the fish had a neck, this is basically where you are cutting.
Turn your knife and cut parallel to the backbone. Continue the cut toward the bottom of the fish and right through the end of the tail. You will now have one fillet attached to the outer skin. You should be able to see the rib cage attached to the meat.
Put that fillet to the side. Turn the fish over and do exactly the same thing on the other side. Cut under the pectoral fin turning the knife and running the cut all the way through the length of the body and out the tail. This cut might be a little tougher than the first one as you no longer have the “other half of the body” to act as a base. Take your time.
OK. You’re well on your way to learn how to fillet walleye. Next step is getting the rib cage off the fillet.
Take the first fillet and place it on the cutting board skin side up with the top of the fillet to the right. Place your hand on the top of the fillet pushing your fingers firmly into the skin to give you a good grip (some people push their knuckles into the fish rather than their fingers). This will flatten the ribs to the cutting board. This is what you want and it will ensure you don’t waste any meat.
Next, take your thumb and lift the side of the fillet closest to you and slide your knife between the rib cage and the meat. Start at the top of the fillet and cut toward what once was the belly. The key is to put pressure down on your knife as you cut along the rib cage. Make sure you slide your knife all the way through the fillet. You will know you have enough pressure on your knife when the blade “wows” a bit as you make your cut. Take your time with this. Do it slowly at first. Once you get the hang of it, you will discover it is the fastest and cleanest way to remove the rib cage.
So far so good. Learning how to fillet walleye is a breeze.
OK, the tough stuff is over. Next place the fillet skin down on the table with the tail closest to you. Begin a cut at the tail to remove the meat from the skin. Carefully cut along the length of the fillet toward the top and completely remove the fillet in one piece.
Do the same for the second fillet.
Lastly, we are going to remove the Y bones. This is simple in a walleye fillet and something that can be done without sacrificing much meat. You will notice the fillet has a “centerline” running through it. You will also be able to feel the Y bones by running your fingers on the fillet parallel to the centerline”.
Take your knife and make a cut along the outside of the Y bones. Typically the length of the cut should be about 1/3 of the fillet. Cut through to the cutting board. Secondly, make a cut along the centerline of the same length. Remove this piece of meat (which is full of Y bones).
That’s it. You’re done. You have learned how to fillet walleye.
Now clean that fillet and get it in the frying pan. It isn’t going to taste any better than it will right now.