Thread: Finally caught a break

Originally Posted by skillett007

I think I'm a pretty good teacher, but she's a lefty.

So what's that say Kev? Either you're a good teacher or you're not??? I'm a lefty too. Maybe you can teach me one day.

Okay Kevin, I fixed the sideways pic, now explain what it means to zipper a filet. Then we will be even. lol.

Originally Posted by "D"

now explain what it means to zipper a filet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO6mWDyrTnA
Danny, I won't speak for Kevin but I thought I'd post this video which shows it being done at about the 1:50 mark. It's on a walleye where it might be different for crappie in Kevins case.
I never heard the term either, and I have been catching/cleaning walleye for many years......then last fall fishing with Rich, he showed me how to zipper a walleye.
Once again the lessons learned from each other.......priceless!

I learned the trick from Kevin.... Who I think learned from Jimmy.... Who may have learned from Larry.... and, well, who knows where Larry learned it!!!!

John (Steelguy) has an interesting way of filleting crappies too. I noticed his fillets when were we cooking them at the spring camp last year. If memory serves me, he cuts out the ribs and belly and leaves the backstrap and the tail section

if you zipper a northern pike all the Y bones will be in one of the pieces making it real easy to fillet them out from there. I learned zippering from Jeff who learned from Lee who learned from Billy.If I go a little farther I'm sure Kevin Bacon will be mentioned.

Now I know. Never called it that but always do something like that when cleaning saltwater fish. Redfish and speckled trout. Thanks now, I learned it from Steve, who learned it from..... you get the idea. Good job on getting the daughter involed, Kev. My 3 always liked catching, but not so much cleaning. haha
By the way Merry Christmas from Louisiana.

Originally Posted by spartannation

if you zipper a northern pike all the Y bones will be in one of the pieces making it real easy to fillet them out from there. I learned zippering from Jeff who learned from Lee who learned from Billy.If I go a little farther I'm sure Kevin Bacon will be mentioned.

Make two cuts in the tail section instead of one. Hold on to the "tab" along with one side of the meat and do like normal. One side has no bones. With the other side, grab the tab and pull that and those other bones will come right out. No need to fillet them out! Takes out the mud line too.

I still need to be given a tutorial on filetting a Northern,I love the taste, just not the y bones.....friend of mine from Minnesota showed me the 7 step method but I was lost at step 5, maybe it was 4.