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blue vs. channel for taste...
#11000911
07/26/15 10:51 AM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 257
MBDLAW
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 257 |
I started keeping some of the catfish i catch in the last few months and cooking them blackened cajun style- used to catch and release all so somewhat new to this - seems to me that the blues taste much better than the channel cats - just curious if this is common knowledge or just my preference (or the specific fish i caught) - all on cedar creek lake - not a huge difference, but if this is the norm i am going to release all channels - any experienced thoughts appreciated!!
MBD
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: MBDLAW]
#11000941
07/26/15 11:55 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 16,196
steveiam
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 16,196 |
I hear this from others also-- When I do eat fish, I fry them and honestly I can't tell the difference-- The meat does look a bit different though, and I bet if you cook them another way you will tell a difference-- Just my 2 cents-
What has happed to you does not define who you are-
HOW you react to what happens to you DOES!
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: MBDLAW]
#11000975
07/26/15 12:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,006
HeavyLead
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,006 |
I really can't tell the difference. Maybe if I had them side by side I could.
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: MBDLAW]
#11001053
07/26/15 01:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,234
Jimbo
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,234 |
What I've found is the meat isn't as oily on the blues and a little firmer. The channels and this depends a lot on what lake you catch them from, but the channel meat tends to have that yellowish meat which is fat and a lot of people trim that off for obvious reasons. I do prefer the smaller blues over the channels, but once the blues reach close to 10 pounds they can be a bit bland and the meat tends to be a bit coureser. I've caught channels out of clear water lakes and you just can't beat the flavor of those cats. That's just my opinion but it's what works for me!
Just one more cast!
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: Jimbo]
#11001074
07/26/15 01:58 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 76,066
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 76,066 |
What I've found is the meat isn't as oily on the blues and a little firmer. The channels and this depends a lot on what lake you catch them from, but the channel meat tends to have that yellowish meat which is fat and a lot of people trim that off for obvious reasons. I do prefer the smaller blues over the channels, but once the blues reach close to 10 pounds they can be a bit bland and the meat tends to be a bit coureser. I've caught channels out of clear water lakes and you just can't beat the flavor of those cats. That's just my opinion but it's what works for me! Plus #1.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: Jimbo]
#11001163
07/26/15 02:56 PM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,415
TCK73
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,415 |
What I've found is the meat isn't as oily on the blues and a little firmer. The channels and this depends a lot on what lake you catch them from, but the channel meat tends to have that yellowish meat which is fat and a lot of people trim that off for obvious reasons. I do prefer the smaller blues over the channels, but once the blues reach close to 10 pounds they can be a bit bland and the meat tends to be a bit coureser. I've caught channels out of clear water lakes and you just can't beat the flavor of those cats. That's just my opinion but it's what works for me! That's pretty close to my findings. I prefer toe Blues up to 10 lbs or so, I release the larger ones. I find the texture of the Blues is more to my liking than channels. The Channels in the lakes I fish have the whole filet looking like a nuclear yellow mass of flesh, but they taste fine.
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: MBDLAW]
#11001197
07/26/15 03:24 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,085
spazm09
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,085 |
My guess is it has to with their diet. Blues eat mostly freshly dead or live fish, mullosks and crustaceans (maybe some insects for the smaller ones) but channels will eat absolutely anything they can put in their mouth. I have literally seen channels with a stomach full of mud. I was told it was from eating random things off the bottom.
As others mentioned, when deep fried, I can't really tell the difference but cooked any other way, I will always choose blues. The meat is just cleaner.
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: MBDLAW]
#11001204
07/26/15 03:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665
Muzzlebrake
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665 |
I know this is about blues vs channels but a flathead beats them all. My preference for taste is a 12 to 14" channel fried whole in yellow cornmeal, salt and nothing else. After that I prefer channels over blues simply for the meat texture. Even a lowly little polywob bullhead is pretty good eating IMO if caught from clear water and better fare than a big blue. A big channel is better than a big blue but smaller ones of both species are best for my taste buds.
If it's big enough to get on the hook is it big enough to go in the skillet?
Last edited by Muzzlebrake; 07/26/15 03:29 PM.
From Genesis: "And God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the earth."
Then He made the earth round...and He laughed and laughed and laughed!
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: MBDLAW]
#11001458
07/26/15 06:16 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 153
central texas
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 153 |
I can't tell the difference , but favorite freshwater is crappie and saltwater flounder.
Guns 2 worst enemies rust & politicians !
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: MBDLAW]
#11001492
07/26/15 06:38 PM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,861
jackiekennedyfishingguide
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,861 |
The body of water has a lot to do with how the fish taste along with how they are cleaned. I prefer blues over everything which includes crappie, flathead, and channels. Here again different people have different likes and dislikes. What one thinks is best others may think of it as so-so.
903-603-3793 Clients or I have landed eight state record fish and eighteen water body records. TPWD Elite Angler jackiekennedyfishingguide
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: MBDLAW]
#11001540
07/26/15 07:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,902
fmrmbmlm
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,902 |
I like channels better. To me blues are like the tilapia you buy or get in a restaurant, only flavor is what you add. Channels taste like fish, but my experience is somewhat limited.
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: Jimbo]
#11001571
07/26/15 07:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,117
taterpop
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,117 |
What I've found is the meat isn't as oily on the blues and a little firmer. The channels and this depends a lot on what lake you catch them from, but the channel meat tends to have that yellowish meat which is fat and a lot of people trim that off for obvious reasons. I do prefer the smaller blues over the channels, but once the blues reach close to 10 pounds they can be a bit bland and the meat tends to be a bit coureser. I've caught channels out of clear water lakes and you just can't beat the flavor of those cats. That's just my opinion but it's what works for me! Hit the nail on the head!!
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: jackiekennedyfishingguide]
#11001792
07/26/15 10:11 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,593
stubby77
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,593 |
The body of water has a lot to do with how the fish taste along with how they are cleaned. I prefer blues over everything which includes crappie, flathead, and channels. Here again different people have different likes and dislikes. What one thinks is best others may think of it as so-so. nail it Jackie.
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: jackiekennedyfishingguide]
#11006847
07/29/15 08:05 AM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 257
MBDLAW
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 257 |
thanks to all that replied - good information - i think i am going to stick with the blues unless frying them
MBD
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Re: blue vs. channel for taste...
[Re: Jimbo]
#11006924
07/29/15 11:00 AM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 26
Lee C
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 26 |
ETX Catfish God bless and tight lines. Retirement plan: "Fishing full time instead of part time"!
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