? about no livewell

I only use ice! It keeps the meat firm :)

Especially in the summer and/or when you catch a bunch, they'll start to die and the meat goes downhill quickly. Packing them in and on ice is the best. I've seen many dead crappie with cloudy eyes that died and sat in a livewell all day that I wouldn't eat... Meat rots in 80 degree weather... Same thing for dove hunters that don't put their kills on ice then wonder why they taste bad..

Try ice chest with a couple of frozen gallon water jugs and add water until 4 or 5 inches deep in ice chest. As the crappie body gets cold Hypothermia sets in and blood will be drawn out of meat to internal organs. Less blood in meat when fileting and fish are still cold.

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

There is a great thread in the "cooking" section from an old offshore fisherman that talks about keeping your catch fresh.

It is the best article I have read in quite awhile as it explains exactly what he did and why he did it. The interesting thing to me was the fact that he didn't need to bleed the fish.

Take a look at it and you might have a different take on storing/keeping your catch fresh. It opened my eyes and I ran big boats on lake michigan for years.

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Do you remember anything more about the thread that might make it easier to find?

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Originally Posted by Herewego

Try ice chest with a couple of frozen gallon water jugs and add water until 4 or 5 inches deep in ice chest. As the crappie body gets cold Hypothermia sets in and blood will be drawn out of meat to internal organs. Less blood in meat when fileting and fish are still cold.

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That's the method I prefere. Not near as much slime to deal with, seems they cool a little slower so blood is drawn out better and clean a whole lot easier.

Firebug go down in this post to team M&M
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/cooki...fish-goes-bad/

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Originally Posted by cray

Firebug go down in this post to team M&M
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/cooki...fish-goes-bad/

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Found it. Thanks, cray.