Pickerel-ish-ous!

Pickerel – some of you out there may be thinking what the heck is pickerel? I imagine that is simply because most people call it walleye. Personally, I like the name “pickerel” better, I find it a bit more ”Canadiana” :0 and also, who wants to eat something that is called a walleye anyways? It sounds kind of frightening! Look at this thing I just pulled out of the water – it”s got walleyes! lol. Last summer I had the privilege of going fly-in fishing WAY up north – for some of the best pickerel that Ontario has to offer – when I say way up.. I mean to some hidden lakes fed off the ogoki river. It was an amazing time, but most importantly, the fish was delicious. Of course, fish that is caught right out of the lake and eaten straight away is the freshest that you can get.. but the 2nd freshest, I have found for you at the St. Mary”s Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. It”s very close in taste to what I had last summer that I caught on my own. The fish at St. Mary”s comes out of Lake Huron and if caught on a Saturday it is sold fresh, but if it comes in on a different day they freeze pack it and sell it that way. Photo: US. Fish and Wildlife Service For those die hards that are trying to eat all local, and are missing salmon in your diet or perhaps some other ocean roaming fish, I suggest trying a little pickerel in your diet, it is a sure winner! Some Pickerel Notes:Flavour:• Delicate,refined flavour • Among the most popular and enjoyable types of fish• Lean,firm flesh with yellow overtones. Walleye History:Apparently the common name, “walleye,” comes from the fact that their eyes, like those of cats, reflect light. This eyeshine is the result of a light-gathering layer in the eyes which allows the fish to see well in low-light conditions, which in turn helps them be great hunters themselves, and eat lots and get big and juicy for us to eat!  Read More