Commercial Fishing 101

The Ultimate Fish Cakes

I made my favorite fish cakes recipe on the Stab ‘Em and Eat ‘Em episode of the Fur Hat Ice Tour, and we wanted to share that process with you. The most important aspect of building a top-notch cake is the ingredient proportions. I don’t douse the cakes in breadcrumbs, for instance. The point is to highlight the fish that you’re using, whether it be walleye, whitefish, or something else—a delicate treatment is mandatory. Poaching the fish in...

Hardwater Basics: A Guide to Tip-Up Fishing

After augering 10 holes and clearing the slush, we moved on to setting tip-ups. My fingers were already losing function due to the cold, but the adrenaline kept me going. As usual, we were first on the frozen lake, my father and I. The sooner we set up, the sooner our jumbo shiners would swim at depths haunted by big northern pike. To break up down-time between pike bites, we would set a few smaller rigs tipped with tiny emerald shiners for white...