Ok so I am here in Iowa a most of the fish I catch ice fishing are blue gills anyone ever smoked and if so how and how long any ideas would be great have a bunch this year and want to try something other than frying it up all the time
Oily fish are best for smoking
For something different you could cold smoke them then pan sear when ready to cook. I'd be careful not to dry them out too much during hot smoking
I have smoked sunnies in the past. I leave the body whole and put them in a salt brine with liquid smoke,water and a cup of brown sugar. I usually smoke for 2hours at 225 and leave in smoke for 5-6 hours. I usually tell it is time to take out when you grab the fish and try to break the coral fin by moving it from side to side. When the meat looks loose then it is time to pull them.