Did pretty well on the Columbia the other day (5 total before 12pm) so we are smoking up some Chinook tomorrow. This will be my first Salmon smoke in my bradley, any pointers would be appreciated. Specifically where can I find a silicon or non stick mat to place the salmon on?
Thank you
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv53/rolliebeltran/P1000884.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv53/rolliebeltran/P1000892.jpg)
Nice looking catch. You can get some frog mats at yard and pool website
http://www.yardandpool.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=Frog+mats&Search.x=0&Search.y=0 (http://www.yardandpool.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=Frog+mats&Search.x=0&Search.y=0)
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Nice Catch :)
Are you Upper Columbia River or Lower? I fish the upper Columbia for Kings. Looks looks you had a great day.
Check out avatar. this was taken last Wednesday.
Anyway. Smoking Salmon. I normally use "Scotts Brine" Fillet fish and remove all pin bones then cut into about 1.5 or 2" strips leaving skin on. Brine for at least 12-24hrs in the fridge. I have frog matts but don't use them for salmon although I may next time to prevent skin from sticking to racks to bad. After brine is up get your racks ready, spray with Pam, or if you have frog matts use those. Lay fish on racks and let air dry untill tacky usually about an hour. Dab them with a paper towel to speed things up. PRe heat smoker when you are doing this.
last weekends smoke I use my PID for the first time. first cycle was warm up. second was set to 125 deg for 4.7hrs W/ smoke generator going for 2hrs. second cycle was set to 160 for another 4hrs.
Hope that helps.
I would suggest Kummoks Salmon recipe. http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=107.0
Use Kummoks recipe for sure!!! Don't try and rush the process, Patience will make you a captain smoker. The fish that is discolored may be unsuitable for smoking as it may just turn to mush, Sorry. I would give it a shot.
Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I might just grease down the racks, I don't really have time to order the frog mats. I was up in the Vernita bridge area, the cooler temps really made the fish become active and the wind kicked up and made the white caps active as well. They are holding deep right now do to our warmer temps. I was going to use Alder, I have Cherry, Hickory as well. Should I just smoke the entire time with Alder? Keymaster- These babies were bled almost immediately the pigment discoloration on the outside of that one happens sometimes after being caught (same fish in photo 1). The meat was still very bright and firm.
I would use Alder all through out the smoke, youll do good
Quote from: Keymaster on October 01, 2011, 04:22:56 PM
Use Kummoks recipe for sure!!! Don't try and rush the process, Patience will make you a captain smoker. The fish that is discolored may be unsuitable for smoking as it may just turn to mush, Sorry. I would give it a shot.
I really need to try Kommoks. Next time for sure.
Keymaster. I'm sure the meat on that fish is fine. Looks like that was the one on the bottom of the cooler possibly.
Will do (alder), thanks guys.
Well that area looks familiar to me. I have been to Moses Lake twice this year to pick up loads of chemical. Quite the drive out there. Nice fish SR. Alder is what I use for salmon for sure.
Those are some nice sized spawners, Smokinroll! ...and the water looks almost ski-able to boot...must have been a memorable day on the Columbia!
If by skiing you mean wind surfing then you are right. The topoghraphy there sets a pretty good wind threw the gorge. They have wind surfer contests there from what I have heard. But the last time I went threw the water was smooth as glass and on a week day there was probably 15 boats out with skiers.
I've seen the Gorge wind surfing years ago but I must have hit it just right all the other times I've been through there cuz it was droolingly ski-able and I had a deadline to meet so couldn't stop and give it a go...too bad the Kings don't go for bait at 28mph cuz you could ski AND troll at the same time!!
Kummock, just 30 minutes away is the Tri-Cities where I live, it's a boaters paradise. A ton of skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, jet skiing etc, we have the yakima, snake and columbia rivers to choose from. Great weather not windy at all like the Gorge and temps in the 90's in the summer and yes water like glass in the a.m. prime for wakeboarding or skiing. I used your recipe for my salmon and it came out great. How do you normally store yours do you freeze them right away? If just refrigerated and not frozen is it safe to assume they would keep for about a week or two?
Thanks.
Glad your results were great! I always vac-seal and freeze after the smoke and some cool-down time. For my own personal taste, the product has a better flavor after they've been frozen than fresh out of the smoker, even if only frozen for a day... After coming out of the freezer, it usually has a planned purpose so it normally gets used right away but I have kept it in the reefer for a few weeks with no negative taste effects.
When that run is through, c'mon up and catch some "Winter Kings"!!
I went to an up-scale fish camp last week and the only thing I caught and brought home were bed-bugs. 16 bites and 6 bugs in my socks. >:( They gave me a one day free stay when I returned....I put it in the trash.
Not a problem up here Olds....the little buggers have to wear parkas to keep from freezing and that makes them big enough to see/squish! ;)
Someday, Someday!!!!!
How were the runs up your way this year Kummok?
As always, it depends on the fishery....Copper River had high water a lot and lower numbers (from what I've been told by friends ther...I didn't fish the Copper this year)...the Kenai was K-I-L-L-E-R for Reds this year. Reports of Silvers and Kings right out our front window, at the "Can"...that's a 1.5 mile run from the dock so it's a great $aving$ on ga$ when they are that close.....Here's results of our last trip with my good friends, Bob & Harriet (My wife cut my head off or you'd see a BIG smile!). There's three Silvers (white gums) in this group of Feeder Kings (black gums):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/Kummok/August2011Kings.jpg)
and what color gums are those two (possibly more) flat fish on the right. Those are a good eating size! I bet you did have a one of those big smiles. This seems to have been the year to come up. I was talking to another guy in Vancouver and he said their runs were really good.
Quote from: Caneyscud on October 04, 2011, 06:59:17 AM
and what color gums are those two (possibly more) flat fish on the right. Those are a good eating size! I bet you did have a one of those big smiles. This seems to have been the year to come up. I was talking to another guy in Vancouver and he said their runs were really good.
I am thinking them be Halibut Caney
Those flatfish are salmon that got squashed by the boat and flattened...the brown color is because of the bruising...yucky stuff...(bycatch while trolling for target species)....
I thought just that - you couldn't fool Caney with that fake Halibut costume you have on them! I probably still have my bumps and bruises from landing some of them squashed salmon a bit bigger and in 4 - 5 foot seas - it may have only been 3 or 4 foot seas - but felt like 10 foot. Outta Homer a few years ago. Formed a great respect for those Dangerous Catch guys and their 40' seas.
LOL....can't fool ya! ....and those Deadliest Catch guys are wusses compared to Sir Shackleton and his crew!! ;)
While not as glamorous as your run, here is a "run" had on a local farm pond owned by a friend. Man those big "gills" were fun! Excuse the crappy iphone pics.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/43something/bass.jpg)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/43something/gill1.jpg)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/43something/gill2.jpg)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/43something/gill3.jpg)
Aaaaw Caney those little guys are so cute. ;D ;D ;D Now what are you going to use that bait on.
Whattayamean "not glamorous"??? I bought a pair of earrings for my wife that looked just like those!! ;) ;)
Kidding aside, those look real tasty to me...I grew up catching perch and blue gill in Shasta Lake (N. Calif) and had some great feasts as a kid..
Quote from: Quarlow on October 06, 2011, 07:24:05 PM
Aaaaw Caney those little guys are so cute. ;D ;D ;D Now what are you going to use that bait on.
One of these maybe?
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/43something/pike%20trip/_MD70036.jpg)
But then you know, beggars can't be choosers. I have come to the conclusion that Alaskans, Canadians and NWerners are being pretty selfish. Ya'll take the opportunity to catch all them red-fleshed beauties and all them big ugly flat fish before they have a chance to come down here where we can have a crack at them. I wish ya'll would let a few through.
Funny thing is that we do have some big fish here. I just happen to have chosen a way to fish that makes it less likely that i'd catch a monster. I love ultralights - both spinning and fly. And I just didn't want to have the bother, maintenance and noise of a boat. I cherish, walking up a small stream or river surrounded by trees, hills, and wildlife and wading knee deep in the crystal clear waters. Sorta mano - y - mano with the fish. All I have to do is pick up a rod, my waders (if not cool - not even them) and my wading bag, and I'm set. No worrying about battery charging, do I have to stop at a gas station, did I lube the bearing buddies, are the trailer lights working, is the propeller bent, where's the engine oil, etc.... Do I miss a boat - you bet I do! If someone would give me one - I'd have another in a New York minute.
And I do have the gear to go after the biggies. But throwing a 10 wt with 300 grain line can be tiring for a lazy ole white haired fat guy. They are bringing the sturgeon back, we have cats over 100#, Carp will go 40+ pounds, the stripers 60+ pounds, paddle fish 8' long, and the River Muskie grow to a pretty good size. I had intended to concentrate on the muskie some this year, but somebody decided they needed my gear more than I needed it. My pickup got broken into and among other things, they also took my muskie gear. My smokers were safe though!
Quote from: Caneyscud on October 07, 2011, 06:32:06 AM
Quote from: Quarlow on October 06, 2011, 07:24:05 PM
Aaaaw Caney those little guys are so cute. ;D ;D ;D Now what are you going to use that bait on.
....I have come to the conclusion that Alaskans, Canadians and NWerners are being pretty selfish. Ya'll take the opportunity to catch all them red-fleshed beauties and all them big ugly flat fish before they have a chance to come down here where we can have a crack at them. I wish ya'll would let a few through.....
Dang, Quarlow...I think Caney has properly exposed us... :o ;) ;) Although that glamorous Muskie DOES look like it snuck through....AND Caney painted an accurate picture of
why we fish...looks like we should offer him a life endowment membership and coerce him up for some red fleshed lip ripping!
(STOLE your fish gear?!?!?....THAT'S a hanging offense in my book!! >:( >:( I hope that they sit on a sturgeon hook and get it stuck waaaaay past the barb! :o )
Yup I would say the cat is out of the bag. razzafrazz'r dang darn. I think membership would do him good.
You know nothing is safe anymore. You can't even lock stuff up and it be safe. My brother had an old reel lawnmower under the stairs, the motor was apart and it didn't run. I had a perfectly good rear bagger that ran like a top but looked like crap. I guess theives are smart enough to know that a reel mower cuts much better cause they stole it and left mine.
Caney, I know you know I am just joshing ya. I really miss my days on the cattle ranch. All I had to do was walk across the field behind the house and I was fishing for some nice scrappy trout about 14"s long. Knock the head and tail off and they were the perfect panfry.
It was funny though, I had my graphite rod and balanced reel with 3 different spools of line. 2 or 3 stainless steel fly boxeswith all knids of feathery things.
I would cast as best as I could to look like I knew what I was doing, damn it was impressive.
Then my bosses buddy would come along to fish with me. He would go into the bush and cut a long willow stick about 8' long. He'd tie on a piece of line he kept in his pocket with a hook on it. He would catch a couple of grasshoppers and stick one on the hook and then he would proceed to out fish me at like 6 fish to my 1 or 2. Bastard. LOL
ooooo.......oooo.....ooooo.....I wanna join! I wanna join!
On the Caney, many times just the opposite happens. I'll either have my state of the art stealth rod made using fiber technology developed in the satellite industry that weigh but a whisper in my hand (I work in a fly shop occasionally and have to keep up appearances)or one of my beloved, but cheap 75 year old cane rods in hand. I'll find a concentration of trout and will pull one after another out and release them back hopefully smarter for the experience. The bait dunkers on the bank will be scowling. However, there is something soul moving about going out back, digging up a coffee can full of worms and taking a cane pole to the water and watching that red and white bobber take off to china knowing that a spunky gem of a green longear or a big shouldered shellcracker is on the other end of the line. In my case there is always an idiot on the dry end of the line!