It's kind of ironic.....as a kid I never knew what filleting was. Scaling , cut the head off, take the guts out, wash off, fry whole, or steak it out!! Till this day I've never eaten a Bass. Catfish and Goggle Eyes was all.
They are honestly delicious. I've eaten all I've caught for over 50 years. I cleaned them like you, but the bigger over three or so pounds I filet. I fry them up in corn meal the same as crappie and bream.