Diamond City Area On Sunday

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Decided to go Diving on Sunday. Put in at Diamond City went about a Mile up lake Vis was about 2 feet. Best Vis we saw was around Shoal Creek 6-8 feet It seemed to get better as we went down lake from D-City. Under 20 feet Vis was approximenty 0 feet couldnt even read an air gauge with it pressed up against your mask. On a good noted we saw tons of smallmouth around 10-15 in rocks on bluffs you name it they were there. Saw 2 that would have went of 7lbs never have seen a smallie that big. My brother saw them too and he guessed 8lbs... absolute monsters had to do A double take to realize what i was seeing. Didnt see any walleye at all. 2 small flat head we decided to let grow up. And Then Came across a nice 22lber we decided to take home for a big fish fry!!!

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[Need2fish]

Nice FH. I recognize that spot....ive shot a few flats and eyes there.

Its a nice dive as well.

[Mike Worley]

Flatheads are dang good eatin'. The belly meat is the sweetest of all the catfish. Yes sir my grown childred (youngest is 38) still brag on my pop corn fried flathead catfish. I'm starten to feel like I've had a "craven flung on me for pop corn fried flathead catfish". Think I"ll take the grand kids out to catch some bluegills and do some jug fishing when this moon gets dark.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Explain this popcorn flat head. I lthink I like the sound of it. It is amazing how much meat comes off those things. Even got some nice chunks iut of the head. I actually caught a 4 lb flatty the other day while crappie fishing and just let it go. I think that big one will go quite a ways

[Mike Worley]

Flathead can be a tad chewy if fried in very large pieces. I cut the meat in 1" strips across the grain or length of the muscle. Cut these into about 2" long pieces (thick pieces will need cut so the meat is 2"X1"). Dip in seasoned milk & egg and shake the well drained pieces in seasoned white cornmeal mix. I like to use a 4:1 mix of white cornmeal & self rising flour,1 scoop of plain bread crumbs about a large TBL of corn starch, paprika & Cavenders seasoning and about a half TBL of ground chipotle pepper and salt to taste (we don't use much salt on anything). Deep fry it in hot (400+ degree) canola oil. Be sure to shake off the excess cornmeal before dropping it in the oil. DO NOT over cook the fish, leave it in just long enough to float and turn a little golden brown and flakes when you break it.Chop up some green onions, celery and some bell pepper, mix this in with the left over cornmeal and milk & egg to make the hush puppies. Use a teaspoon dipped in the hot oil to drop the hush puppies in the oil. Cook the hush puppies longer intil the celery & bell pepper is tender.

[mattie]

Mike the idea of adding the veggies to the leftover breading is an awesome idea. I usually waste the remaining but when I told my wife about that idea her reply was, "so were having walleye and hush puppys tonight right!" not in question form either I was told we were having it.