Bluegill filleting technique part 1

[drjamyma]

proper is right, nice work man, can't wait for spring to get here

[Soulman1282]

Gutbag. lol

[Marax1231]

i bought a set with a 4 inch and a 7 inch knife i love the 4 inch one for gills

[Gilbs2211]

All the meat is right, tons of videos with lots of wasted meat out there.

[Buzzmanfly01]

great technique, I will definitely use this method from now on. Might just scale em though to keep the skin. Love that crispy skin.

[scottishchik18]

TY, very useful video. What do you do with the left over carcass? Bait?

[MrWildkat]

all i can say is i've been working to damn hard, and now i will try the easier way, thanks

[muskymod]

@MrWildkat Be sure and check out part 2

[dwiggs77]

skills on them gills

[dongerdid]

impressive skills 

[youngvito262]

so do u just fry these or what?

[sethandcam]

thank you so much my wife and kids love fish but there all to expensive, so it really helped to learn how to filet a bluegill. me and my kids always go fishing for bluegill but i didnt think you could eat them so this video helped a lot.

[cr4zyj4ck]

@sethandcam you can eat pretty much any fish you catch.

[valeofsecrecy]

Thanks for the Info man, im ready to go catch me some bluegills right now lol!!!, I can fillet channel cats all day long, but i never did learn how to fillet bluegills. I know they are some really good eatin thats for sure!

[cajr1234]

best method on youtube man. I need to try this because with the electric knife you waste a lot of meat

[ThanhCuTi]

Awesome...Thanks

[nicknackfatsack]

Dude, I have been cleaning fish for about 15 years and i thought i had a good method. you showed me a thing or two. Great video.

[darrellhacker2000]

best technique i've seen, thanks for the video

[damien2524]

Thanks

[HawGrkThorne]

YOU ARE A PRO!!

[gali4436]

can you filet a bluegill the same way fileting a perch?

[PhenomnonKr3w]

this is going to help ..that looks hard to do..

[andrewg367]

Great Video! Its been a while since I cleaned a panfish and this was a great refresher. Plus ,I learned a thing or two!

[xxaimpiratexx]

Do you scale your fish before you clean them? If so, how do you go about-doing so?

[muskymod]

@xxaimpiratexx On occasion I will scale my bluegills before filleting....the flavor of scaled bluegills (skin-on) is very good and worth the effort if you don't mind scaling.

I use a small spoon and do all the work underwater in a bucket or sink...this will contain the scales from flying all over.

[gopher0]

THANKS

I dont mess with Brim cause I found them hard to clean

this makes me want to try them again

With the small ones we would gut/head and scale them

then fry crisp and eat them like a tater chip bones and all

[BigLongJon21]

goood job my man

[jifigz]

Hey Musky, would you also recommend this method for Smallmouth Bass? I live directly on a fantastic smallmouth river in Pennsylvania and fish for them just about every day. I release basically everything I catch, but occasionally I like to keep some fish, usually catfish, but would this work on smallies?

[muskymod]

@jifigz The basics of this technique can be applied to most species and will produce boneless fillets with the exception of Pike, and Muskellunge.....That vid is yet to come.

[nicocrux]

@muskymod So catfish could be cut like this? Also, didn't know bluegill were eaten very much... had I known that, I wouldn't have release the many I've caught.

[jasonpendergrast]

very talented bastard

[preach319]

I like this technique, thanks for posting!

[nineinchnail1024]

I use almost the exact same method, except I use the side of my thumb with firm pressure to seperate the pin bones rather than using the blade of the knife. Keeps the blade a bit sharper for when you have a mess of fish to clean. Very nice technique.

[cronosbray]

Seamless and streamlined. I'm gonna try ur method. I'm sure u make it look easier than it is. Never the less I am inspired. I never kept Blue Gills thinking it would be too much work for such a small fish. Then again u got some big ones. Bigger than I've seen in my area. I hear they're damn good eatn too. I'll be out there this year. Thanx bro

[gravity5]

brilliant. a fine meal, and some leftover catfish bait all-in-one

[muskymod]

@gravity5 ....lol, I don't fish for cats

[facewad5]

I taught myself to clean blue gill through trial and error and I settled on the exact same technique as this.

[muskymod]

Ditto....great minds think alike!

[CanadaEh1969]

where did you learn this method? i was taught the exact same method at the Culinary Institute of America. it is a very good method! nice video bro!

[carpcrappie]

Excellent video. I fillet mine the same way but I use the clipboard clamp to put the head in and the fish will not move and frees a hand to hold the fillet. Thirty panfish equals 30 min to clean.

[FaceMaul]

Thanks for posting. Seems easy. You describe things so clearly. Thanks again!

[shevymevy]

this technigue is awesome

[TheNook11]

Pretty Cool, Never seen it done that way befor.. But if you filet the fish by taking the ribs with the slab , and then cutting them out you can actually get more meat..

[muskymod]

Unfortunately, the ribs with the slab method is very hard on the knife, and garauntees the distribution of noxious body cavity fluids throughout the fillet, and all across the cutting surface.

[TheNook11]

How can Cutting out the ribs be hard on the knife??? that doesn't make sense, because all you are doing is taking the blade just below the ribs and gliding underneath them and capturing some good meat.. And also i have never had a problem with noxious cavity fluids.. Anyways no need to argue... There are a million ways to filet a fish.. I'll have to try your method sometime..

[muskymod]

What's hard on the knife is cutting thru the rib bones when removing the initial fillet...during that process the knife coincidently ruptures most if not all of the internal organs.....try my method...it's clean, efficient, and time saving.

[TheFishingschool]

first of all good job and i have seen all of your videos and i was wondering do you like bass filletts? somepeople dont like them becuase they are too fishy my answer to that is if you dont want a fishy taste dont eat fish lol. plz answer

[thealphamale0806]

damb your good, i wanna see your way of cleaning perch!!

[shelley9000]

Damb he IS good, thealphamale0806! I wonder how he does perch too......

[Hardcorediver44]

That's a horse! LOL I love bluegill....yum! Good job

[SmokeRises]

it's always interesting when you learn something

[freespadersuggs]

Hey Musky Mod Awesome video. Of course I'm not so disciplined to do all that sh it you were talking about. Anyways I have a question for you. Is there a problem with catching some bluegill, cutting the heads and tails off, scaling the fish with a knife, pretty much cutting out the belly, then just pan frying them bitches on a skillet? Alright, thanks---

Lazy Guy

[muskymod]

Not a problem at all....in fact field dressed bluegills...i.e. scaled, headed and gutted, are one of my favorite ways to prepare them.....The skin-on, and bone in method of preparation is the most flavorful....hands down!

[HTCSWEOD]

nice... great information

I have to thin out the bluegill in my pond and needed to know how to dress them out.

this is perfect!  THANKS

[charbar198]

That is some fine technique there buddy, you've changed my approach for sure. I like the non-electric knife too. Respect.

[tatorforskins]

Great video but I am not familar with the bone you take out at the end. Not sure if I have been leaving them in or not. I've never noticed them before.

[lardtaziumwadmaster]

Lucky bastard! theres a freakin limit of 5 per person at my pond.

[FishingKing754]

That's actually good for a lake, unless it's a big one.

[gopher0]

@lardtaziumwadmaster

where you from its 30 here in SC

[lardtaziumwadmaster]

@gopher0 umm, I forgot what I posted. If it's the limit of fish...last year it was 8 per person. If it wasn't, reply

[bagrat22]

best i've seen, by far. tell all fellow anglers.

[Chai07]

great vid

[kevin5797]

best way i have seen to fillet panfish!

thanks, great vid!

[joepurt]

Thank you for the great video! Would also like to see how to fillet a catfish.

[KoopaKonartist]

Thanks a bunch for the info, mate.

I'm gonna need to use this technique whenever I manage to bring in a couple dozen good sized Bluegills.  And those looked great, too. Each one big enough to cover your whole hand. Arigato! I'm goin' fishin'!!

[cjacustomwoodworking]

This is a great video- boy did it work great on the perch and gills I've caught. I now use it on all my fillets- get a lot more out of the fish.

[cak234]

i would agree this is the best technique, i have seen on here. I scale the fish or should they be skinned instead?

[muskymod]

Scaling, then filleting (skin on) method is very tasty!

[12hondamagna]

awsome video and nice size bluegill i like how you dont waste ne meat

[sausagenpeppaz]

Excellent technique! haven't found a better one yet!

I took my 2 little ones fishin the other day and caught a bluegill that was worth bringing home to try and cook, needles to say it wound up on the george grill and having the meat finger picked from it! meat tasted great and now i know how to fillet em up the right way! post more vids!

[N3ATS]

Excellent video!  Thanks for posting it.

[xxtrastrength]

Your video was the first one that pop up after i did a search on filleting bluegill, and the last one. I did not look any further after viewing your technique. OUTSTANDING VIDEO! U R the MAN!

[muskymod]

Thank you for the gracious compliments...Bluegill filleting technique Part 2 will be released soon, and will focus on speed tips while using this method of fish cleaning....stay tuned.

[boi560]

i love your vids

[fna79]

Hey Musky Best method I've seen. I always used an electric knife untill I watched this vid Thanks Keep em comin

[dmbfan1912]

what's that knife? can't understand the name in teh vid. that's awesome!  also, what are those green gloves. I didn't see you slip on your grip once. I usually am chasing them across the floor. Thanks for the vid!

[muskymod]

I'm using a 7 1/2" Rapala fillet knife....the gloves are just basic latex....makes for a clean job and only one dirty hand.

[gopher0]

@muskymod

thats the knife

I use the short one but ive had it 25 yrs

great nife

[o3T3Z]

same way you do a bass. right on man.

[xnitronx]

Good technique, but keep the skin on and remove the scales with the spoon.

Taste better pan-fried that way.

[buttlord123]

excellent

[wigglez872]

good job man ill take your style and use it from now on

[cyclefish]

I've watched a half dozen of these, all showing the same style. You are by far the best skills & most informative.

Good for you, great job.

[luke5949]

great video

best filleting technique ive seen/used

[Axil]

Thank you for this video. I've tried it your way, and the way most people show you (just blowing through the rib cage with your first cut) And your way yields more meat, is less messy, and is easier on my knife. Thanks much!

P.S. I will say that the "rolling" thing on the ribcage took me a while to master, the rest was easy, but it seems there's a bit of finesse to that bit.

[packyjdp]

Best technique I've ever seen!!

[chayphet]

wow dude you are trully the american ninja this technique works well on bigger fish to?

[fortunapj]

Best panfish cleaning video on youtube!!!

[ROFLpwnedvideos]

Now take those fillets...egg them, bread them with corn muffin mix, and fry in vegetable oil.

Deeeeelicious.

[djdilz79]

best cleaning technique I have used! Use it over my dads! Thanks for the video. This is the second time I have used your video for the 'mess-o'bream' I caught.

[SANCTUSREAL4LIFE]

best filet technique i have ever seen period awesome dude!!!

[hedgehoghunter007]

thats awesome,will it work on the smaller about palm sized ones?

[Joalch]

Very impressive. are u ninja?

Good work dude!

[brattleborooutdoors]

Great video. I just got done with 10 Gills plus a Crappie using this technique. They're on the grill and I'm toasting a brew to ya.

[JasonJForrest]

great video! it's similar to how i fillet 'gills..........nice fish too!

[ROFLpwnedvideos]

Very cool. I'll have to try that. I've never eaten Bluegill, but it's all I've caught this year...haha.

Looks like I'll have to start.

[tryperry]

Great video muskeymod. Really well explained. I've seen sunfish filleted a few times and I always thought that at least half the meat was lost when looking at the job. I see I was right. Maybe I'll volunteer next time - or at least point would-be filleting underachievers to your great video!

[gotlogg]

Great job. Pretty much exactly how I do it but you look like you've got it down better.. I've been checking around and you wouldnt believe some of the ways people fillet gills and crappies..

If you were my friend I'd give you crap for the glove but since your not I won't.

[muskymod]

You'd be surprised how amazingly clean my hands stay by using one latex glove...neither hand is ever exposed to blood, slime, scale.....or fishy smell.

[muskymod]

I would believe in some of the ways I've seen it done.....I just can't believe the positive comments their vids receive!

[jchung1031]

Thank for the info MuskyMod - I might try this technique on yellow perch? Looking forward to the perch season (for the shorebound angler) on Montrose (LM). Yellow perch are great table fare too!

Good luck!

JC

[muskymod]

This technique works well on perch, but because perch are more tubular than flat, make head cut and shallow spine cut on both sides before running the knife thru and removing first fillet....this tip will help insure a clean knife path to the top of the rib cage which can be difficult when cleaning the 2nd side.

[sooperdooper901]

You are the best!!! I catch bluegill all the time but never thought about filleting it!!! I tried before but got way too much guts all over the place!!! This video will help me a lot...Thanks for your technique!!!

[Elppin420]

Holy crap those things are huge

[IFukdYourGirlfriend]

Man you are freaking Great. I wish I could go fishing with you. You seem funny and smart as hell. Great Job so glad I seen how to do this the right way. Maybe you can make a video cleaning Catfish also. every other video about that sucks, LOL

[SalmonHead1963]

Thank you so much for this video.

My daughter and I fish bluegill in our pond and have now started to fillet them thanks to your technique!

[h3wg0]

Would ya think I'm lying if i told you that Iv'e been watching your video 8 times non-stop? Man this is exactly what I was looking for! No more messes on the table, no more guts, and more meat! Thanks a lot man! I really appreciate this video.

[muskymod]

Thank you for the gracious compliment!

[fotograh]

EXCELLENT TECHNIQUE ....5 STAR

[dsherbon]

i must say i have never seen a person go so in debth on fish filleting lol and i would like to ask what is with the glove and if you are ever in iowa i would greatly advise you stop by the iowa great lakes, they have probably some of the biggest bluegill, crappie, and walleye in the world

[muskymod]

The glove protects the only hand that is exposed to slime, blood and scales...makes for a clean filleting session.

[OzzyCoop]

Very nice. I just started cleaning bluegills. Needless to say I mess them up bad. This video helped a lot.

[quiquecongals]

Well done, it seems very easy, but i think the practice make a master. Greetings from México.

[goontah2202]

Nicely done, I consider myself quite good at cleaning lots of fish fairly well, real fast. I use an electric knife and don't think I waste any meat, yet I go through the ribcage, after seeing your demonstration I'm inclined to adapt your method as my new method. One question, what's your favorite way of keeping your knife sharp?

Keep up the good work, maybe I'll see you on Sterling sometime.

[muskymod]

I use a carbide knife sharpener.....Ace Hardware $10

[goontah2202]

Ok, then I'm pretty much on the right track, that's what I've also been using happily. Thought you knew of something I didn't, just like your filet technique. Thanks.

[sawyerhunnicutt]

why dont you us the head for bat

[pelletgun12]

good good impresive impresive. So is the shoulder meat the thicker side of the filet?

[Kharth70]

You throw away a perfectly good head, gut bag, & tail?

[muskymod]

Lol....yeah, do you think maybe that P.E.T.A would frown on that?

[cmoon15]

good stuff, thanks alot for the video! your video was so easy to learn from you taught my 7 year old how to clean fish. thanks again

[acdcrocker523]

what happens if you cut the ribcage or the gutbag?

[muskymod]

Things may start to get messy.

[acdcrocker523]

can you still eat it?

[muskymod]

Sure...but you'll have to thoroghly rinse off the noxious body cavity fluids the fillet will absorb like a sponge, and you'll need to remove the bones you missed.

[tedzinsky]

you should be a fuckin surgeon!

[muskymod]

My friends call me that often!

[muskymod]

Minus the explitive.

[gtkatushin]

Thanks for the video... I'm gonna try it.

(clean & easy) Buen Video... Gracias

[grinninggnome]

Very clean and well done... I wish the video was a little better quality. Five stars all the way though.

[midnightzander]

Thanks man last time i tried making bluegills i hit the gut bags constantly and i couldn't eat it

[GreenLearning]

Thanks for showing that. I gota give that a try.

[19DevilDawg86]

Love your technique...plan on trying that out on my next fishing trip. THANKS!

[medicineman2100]

EXCELENT VIDEO

[darrin4032]

Great tutorial here! Excellent! Just what I was looking for. Faved.

[ShiNoSaru]

fav'd your awesome

[GBFisherFun]

Faved.

[parsonsian]

nice technique man. thanks a lot for this vid.

[BosTeamzownxz]

wow i feel so stupid up till now i used to hate these types of fish blue gill, sunfish, crappies all because i thought they were so boney and they stole the worms i was using to catch bass and stuff u showed me a new way to look at these fish and i will no longer treat these fish like trash

[furrythang]

wow those are slobs!

[jstone81783]

y's that?

[kevlarpaste]

rapala filet knifes are !the best your technique is food prep a+ need slo-motion your to masterfull .jealous

[9showoffsin1]

My girlfriend and I love blugill. So when we fish for them we get a LOT. So if you would gess it when I clean them I use the elc. knife, but after seeing this I will be useing my reg. knifes for the job.

p.s. How long do you think it might take to clean 50 + big slod gills your way?

[muskymod]

50 slob gills?....45min - 1hr

[bluelegato]

Great. I will try it on my next catch. Thanks

[rcxtreme12]

now after tht throw tht hole thing out for cat fish they would definately eat tht

[COEVA728]

you fillet like a champ.

[StilleTot21]

Wow! I'm definitely going to have to try this!

Represent Rapala! I'm yet to find a better brand of lure or filet knife.

Thanks a ton! Can't wait to catch a big haul of Bluegills to try this on and feast!

[amiicory]

ya i know no better filet knife but i found a better lure(s) try the gulp! brand its alsom (better for bigger fish) i use worms for bule gill.

[tullyangler1432]

great video

[crosman177]

real good stuff!

[cradlexofxmat]

interesting thanx

[messner888]

AWESOME!!! Great video! Thanks SO much - we catch a lot of bluegill and have been cleaning and scaling. SO much work! This is much better THANKS A TON!!!!!!

[fishnkid1923]

if you scale it(with a spoon or fillet knife)

and then leave the skin on it tastes alot better!

[fishnkid1923]

that`s nice!i will try that next time...looks easy and it`s faster

[RScott1959]

OOh, get out da corn meal and da hushpuppies!!!!

[Fishman6007]

I like that technique. I'll be going to Lake Delavan on Wed and hopefully will get some gills. I'll try that technique and see what I can do.

Thanks

[91ws6formula]

Thanks for a refresher course. I plan to get out and Gill fish next summer, after TOO long of a fishing absence.

[virginiahomes]

impressed musky mod. especially the rib work.

[RAGAB1000]

AWESOME

THANKS

[ihatepickles]

This is really the best technique for Bluegills and Crappies. You get 90% of the meat without the bones slowing down your meal. I think more bone-in people would convert if they used this technique, you don't have to lose much meat if you follow this guide.

[Fernzero]

Perfect! I'm looking to catch some gill soon. Great looking technique!

[hoodsofperegrin]

absolutely brilliant

[mrwiggles2]

I used this technique the past week on a lot of bluegill, worked unbelieveably well. We got a few smallmouth and I did the same thing-went fast and got beautiful fillets. Thanks MuskyMod.

[saintoftruth]

fillet perfection... good fishing

[stevenb53092]

Thanks for the video!

I've been taking the long way while filleting them my gutting them, cutting off their head, then scaling them. Looks like an easier way had been found!

[Geechieee]

Thanks Musky Mod for sharing your technique

on how to clean bluegills. I've been eating

them on the bone for 20yrs and Now you've

enlightened me on a new way. thanks.

[neofling]

quality.

you are an asset to youtube.

[schmidt311]

Dude, right on! You make it look so easy! Going to try it, hopefully I catch some big ones!

[stayingup2late]

nice knifework. thx for sharing the technique

[wwwbluegilltalkcom]

Looks like a nice technique.

[robert5117]

Mighty fine technique

[quasar88]

Excellent! Thanks!

[Dionysis62]

Nice video buddy going to try it myself... thanks!