The Only NORTHERN PIKE FILLET Tutorial You'll Ever Need!

*Scroll for Product Links👇 * Everything you need to know about filleting northern pike all in one place! Northern pike (or "northerns" as some people call them) are one of the best eating fishing in fresh water. You are missing out if you always throw these firm, flaky, white meat fish back simply because you don't want to deal with the extra Y-bones or slime. It's well worth a few extra minutes on the table to harvest what I consider a better fillet than even the revered walleye! I've cleaned hundreds of pike over the years and I'm giving you everything I know about filleting these tasty critters!
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[@joonasantikainen]

Here in Finland we call the piece with the Y-bones a mother-in-law's piece😁

[@calebwistad]

😂

[@valentinediyprepper]

🤣🤣🤣

[@whiteyfisk9769]

Pickle those y bone strips and theyre one of the best strips on the whole fish

[@chadbosko8935]

I missed the cooking part I must have blinked

[@satanmitdengeilenbarthaaren]

He he 😂

[@ClareAnkerstein]

At last somebody that really knows how to filet fish. Most KZbin videos they make a mess of it and waste so much of the fish. Thank you for teaching your methods and explaining it so well.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! I’ve been filleting fish 52 weeks a year for virtually my entire life. Repetition certainly comes into play. 😂

[@kolumbus1984]

​@calebwistad Little tip, actualy first thumbs up for a video, but the deslimming would be cheaper and faster with just a hot watter, boil the kettle, and pore that boiling water over the fish, while hold it by its head and it come of like never been there. Takes only few seconds right after the water is steaming hot. I would love to hear what you think of it, once you try.

[@Alex_Rich]

@@calebwistad But you still haven't learned how to carve fish.

[@chrismedaris4873]

Ikr well said

[@benjaminliebherr4154]

I think pike is one of the best eating fish. I’ve always just ate around the bones. I can’t wait to try this!

[@calebwistad]

You’ll love it!

[@ODColon]

One thing that you will notice is that the fish will cook better. Pike have broad enough shoulders so that with a conventional filet, it is difficult to get the inside cooked right without overcooking the outside, or getting the outside done but the inside is not done yet. This thins the filet so that you can get it perfect.

[@hermanschopper8954]

Benjamin your absolutely right. That is not a filet of fish. The Y bones are so big they are easily removed when eating. Everybody has their preference, but I want a filet of fish not chicken fingers.

[@alanstrong55]

Pike is supposedly tasty. Just got to clean and filet it right. Good in service.

[@generalbrown2972]

We grew up eating fish with the bones even as little kids. My mom would just tell us don’t choke and watch out for the bones.

[@VisitaInteriora]

Hey man, I have been catching pike in Europe since 30 years, and like you, I really like to eat them. Here is something I treid out 4 years ago , and it worked amazingly well: On a hot summer fishing trip I didn't bring a cooler and caught a 5 pound pike in the morning with around 22C°. Immediately I tooke the scales off and took both sides of filets out. I left the rib-bomes in. I salted the 2 fielts, maybe about double the amount you would use on a pork roast, and left the filets in a bag without cooling. Guess what...these two filets with the skin on, came out so good. This exquisite pike taste was preserved by the salt, I loved it. I tried this because I just didnt have ice and a cooler and really wanted to eat this fish. It's sort of an outdoor bushcraft fishing hack. Take care.

[@calebwistad]

Wow, interesting. I may have to experiment with that!

[@VisitaInteriora]

@@calebwistad Hi. This was a tip an old french fisherman on the atlantic coast told me. They all preserved their fish witn salt before refrigiration developed in early 50s. it's certainly not a new thing. I just tried it with pike. I was surprised how great it preserved the excellent pike flavour.

[@najroe]

salting fish is ancient tech, if done right it works great

[@williamrendall134]

I have filleted Pike approximately 55+ years ago, I am now a 73 year old and a sea fisherman now. I have never saw the proper way to fillet a pike, I suppose you are always learning. Thanks for your great video.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks and you’re welcome!

[@RogerD.JudithMcGinnis]

Best fish cleaning video I ever seen ,never knew how to clean northerners.Good jog,thank you.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@kirkmason4432]

Nicely done!! I've been Filleting Pike for 30+ years Love catching Pike over walleye any day!!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@glensebzda]

You Win!! ⭐️ You’re the only person I’ve ever seen do a tutorial of cleaning a pike and do it the same way as I do. I watch the people leave the bones in and pick around them once it’s cooked. Some people, quite a lot really use the 5 piece method and some just don’t eat them at all. Cooking it bones in and picking them out as you go makes for a poor eating experience, 5 piece method is wasteful and in my opinion it’s a bit of a hack job. Not eating them is no fun. My dad would sit at the table, take his time and using the same method as you he would slice out the bones trying not to miss the slightest bit of meat. I learned that same technique from an early age. I have thought many times about doing a demo video but never had a pike on hand when I’d see a video of someone struggling to eat a pike and make me think about doing it. You did a great job showing people the best way to debone a pike. I hope all the fishermen that cross paths with pike see your video so they can stop struggling and enjoy some pike. Great job.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks so much! I agree about the 5 piece method. It definitely doesn’t get as much meat off the fish.

[@jtmachete]

Pike is my favorite fish to eat. Your video is the best I've seen on cleaning this delicious fish.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks so much!!

[@jerebukich246]

Best pike cleaning video. That cross sectional diagram was my Ahh...ha moment. Thanks!

[@calebwistad]

Thank you and thanks much for the super!

[@jackmanjls]

Excellent video. The graphic of the "Y" bones was really helpful. Keep up the good work.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@joejoerobinson8724]

Just kept my first pike in Wisconsin, I’m from Florida, just finished the video with my wife, looks easy enough.

[@calebwistad]

Nice! You will like it. It’s no grouper or snapper but it’s still very good fish.

[@markkalyta4560]

First method was the one I was taught. Been ten years since I cleaned a Pike. Good refresher!

[@calebwistad]

Nice!

[@davedtheisen5569]

Excellent explanation n step by step live process of cleaning n northern... n removal of the " y " bones... Great video man

[@calebwistad]

Thank you!

[@LeroyBrown-fn5tz]

LOVED your duck and fish mounts!!!!! Very\ BEAUTIFUL. Oh yeah, I liked the way you showed how to fillet the YH-bones out of a Northern Pike. Out of all the video's I've watched yours is the BEST.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks so much! I did taxidermy for about 15 years. I did all those mounts you see myself. No time anymore between family, plumbing and this fishing/youtube thing!

[@LeroyBrown-fn5tz]

@@calebwistad thank you for the reply. Hopefully you'll find time to get back into the taxidermy (if you want to). Bod bless you, your family & may you be safe and healthy.

[@wallytverstol8627]

I am an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. I used to fish for a living. we Red Lakers can fillet northerns and walleyes so fast the don't even bleed

[@calebwistad]

I don’t doubt you are fast.

[@dougmccoy1260]

I lived on Leech Lake in the 70s and 80s. We cleaned so many fish. We took out campers at a family camp and cleaned fish after breakfast. We sometimes had contests on who could filet a northern the fastest, skin and rib bones. My best was under 30 seconds, that's with no screw ups..this with Rapala filet knives. I would suggest, if right handed, belly toward you. Cut down slit belly, then cut pushing the knife to tail, don't cut through. Flip filet and keep going to get skin off...almost all in one movement. The next side with back towards you, drag the knife while cutting, repeat. The push cut and drag cut really get the most meat off the bones. If it's a big fish then you have to cut down like in the vid because the bone is too big. I'm out in Oregon now, so it's trout. Still filet em.

[@mike110outdoors]

When I first started fishing in northern Minnesota 40 years ago, We did not know how to fillet northern so if we came into the public fish cleaning house with northern, there was 2 old timers that would trade us walleye for northern, and we thought they were crazy! After eating nice boneless fillets of northern we soon learned why! So delicious! It still took me years to learn, even after lots of practice. This video is right on!

[@calebwistad]

Yessir, pike are one of the best once you know how to fillet them. Thanks!

[@adoptdontshop3916]

Sir, you've restored my faith in pike. Thank you for making this video. All the best, Cheer 🍻!

[@calebwistad]

That’s what it’s all about! You will love them.

[@Theblackwolf-v5q]

Awesome video!!!! Pike is my favorite fish to fish for, but haven't quite mastered the proper way to prepare it. I will definitely use this technique. Thank ya sir👍

[@calebwistad]

Glad ya liked it!

[@jimmeade2489]

Fished and ate pick for 65 years, but this is the best info ever on the whole cleaning process. Thanks.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks so much!

[@DragonFlagDano]

The second side technique you could leave a patch of skin to legally transport. A DNR requirement. Otherwise, I just do the 5 filet way that I've revised to 3. If anyone likes pickled northern, save up those Y bone strips. The bones dissolve.

[@jonmcallister2208]

Well done. We go through a lot of these, and absolutely love them. The 5 fillet method always seemed a little problematic when bringing fish back across the border from Canada, so I adopted this technique years ago. I have never seen the slime removal method and will have to give it a try. Very informative video. This will surely help a lot of people eliminate waste. Keep up the good work.

[@calebwistad]

Right on! Thanks!

[@JS78012]

Thankyou Sir! I took alot of snapshots and you made it very clear with removing them y bones. It’s always great to eat fish and not have to worry about them bones!

[@calebwistad]

You bet! 👍

[@chadwilson9100]

Thank you. Caught our first Yukon River pike today. I need to catch more to improve my filleting skills… but this did prove exceptionally helpful!

[@calebwistad]

Awesome! The Yukon river is one of the best pike destinations in the world. I’m glad this was helpful!

[@LPKJFHIS]

Excellent content. Bravo

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@ker4all]

I love my early season Pike... and after watching your skills, I believe I'll enjoy my Pike all that much more! Thank you for sharing🎣

[@calebwistad]

Thanks for watching!

[@haroldgardiner1966]

That is the best video I have seen regarding fileting pike!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks so much!

[@frankr641]

Thanks for this great tutorial! I love pike and until now I didn't care too much about the bones because they are easy to remove once the fish is cooked. But this method looks amazing. I will try this next time.

[@calebwistad]

You bet! Glad you found some good info!

[@lexwaldez]

A) best demonstration/tutorial I've ever seen and B) you did a GREAT job filleting those fish out Removing that slime would be handy if you're just learning to filet pike. Much easier to hold onto and cut. Great tips.

[@calebwistad]

Wow. Thanks very much!

[@aaronmeyer9431]

This video helped give me the confidence to fillet up some Pike. Each time I keep getting better. Thanks for teaching me!

[@calebwistad]

Good deal!

[@mattdriessen8883]

Amazing video. Well spoken, to the point, great visuals of everything. Learned a lot. 16 minutes went by like nothing. Great work, thank you!

[@calebwistad]

Thank you so much!

[@terbus12156]

Very informative! This will make my next fishing trip to the U.P. that much more enjoyable... Tight lines!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Good to hear.

[@RobertPowell-j5s]

This was the very best pike filleting video I have ever seen!!! AWESOME Job, Sir !!!!!!!!!

[@calebwistad]

So glad to hear it! Thanks.

[@awesum0]

Thank you. I've been using the 5 piece fillet and was sick of losing so much meat. This came at the perfect time

[@calebwistad]

Glad to hear it!

[@frankbrowning328]

Great video! You're an expert on Northern Pike filleting! This is the best video I've ever seen for dealing with the Y bone and filleting a Northern Pike. It's my favorite fish to catch and my favorite to eat.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks very much!

[@Will-sn7dk]

Thanks for the informative video. Pike are fun to catch and great to eat. Skin on, skin off, electric vs regular knife, you covered it all. Nice job!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! I’m glad you liked the video.

[@The_Mannings]

Thank you so much for this video! We have 6 good sized pike in our freezer and weren't sure how to deslime or debone them! Awesome!

[@calebwistad]

Awesome!

[@K3Flyguy]

Excellent video! Gramps just took two fillets and pickled em! The pickle process softened the bones enough to basically dissolve them! I was quite young when he was around so there may have been a bit more to it but I believe i was just cut and pickle. Thanks for sharing!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Yep. I’ve had pickled pike and it’s very good on crackers!

[@vrod1a]

Awesome demo 👍 Most people shy away from eating pike because of those Y bones, Pike is one of the best eating fresh water fish, The meat is firm and clean.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Yes. They are great eating.

[@diezelvh4133]

It's because it's extremely bad for you. To the point you can turn them in for cash.

[@vrod1a]

@@diezelvh4133 What’s extremely bad for you ? Pike meat or Y bones ?

[@dalevonthun5257]

I like your teaching style. I look forward to more.

[@calebwistad]

Thank you very much!

[@jeffreystieve8017]

I agree with everything you said about the bones being an issue and the wonderful table fare that fresh pike can be. I am very stingy, and so I do not even try to remove the y-bones - before cooking the fish. I take the filet off one side, remove the skin and then cut each filet into three pieces. I make sure the tail piece has no y-bones. Then I prepare the fish - fried, breaded, grilled, baked - whatever. Then if you take a fork and remove 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the edge of filet. That usually comes off cleanly and leaves all the tips of the y-bones exposed. I eat the part I took off, pick out the y-bones which come out without issue, leaving me with ZERO loss of meat, and no bones. Try it, it works great, and the filleting is much faster than trying to remove the y-bones before cooking.

[@calebwistad]

Interesting. May have to try that!

[@Randy-dm5tg]

I like em deep fried in peanut oil. So I take out the y bones.

[@Olaf236]

I fillet like your second method. It is a very quick way if you use an electric knife once you get the hang of it, and I find it very enjoyable!

[@ahermens]

Love this video all the way from London, UK !

[@calebwistad]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[@ProSinik]

I’m going to follow your steps to hopefully convince my family to start eating pike this summer!

[@calebwistad]

Nice! It’s worth it!

[@Jagabot_Esq.]

Being in Western Canada, Northern Pike is absolutely the best freshwater fish you can catch (fun fight) and eat (delicious). Definitely worth learning to fillet them properly!

[@Settlingintoalaskaliving]

Great job brother!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@AbeGonshor]

Excellent step by step explanation. Very well filmed.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@randybudner404]

Nicely done ! I’ve been using the first technique you showed for 40 years It always works well & I agree, Pike are great to eat! Here in Northwestern Ontario both Pike & Walleye are very common & when prepared properly most people cannot tell the difference between them. Thanks for sharing!

[@calebwistad]

Right on! I

[@atter219]

I like to watch these videos so I can pretend I catch enough pike to worry about my filleting technique

[@calebwistad]

Haha, well, when you do get one, now you have it covered! Lol

[@Squid_gardens]

I can relate!

[@antonujvarosi1617]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@elpelone]

All I catch is pike haha

[@tactualone9763]

come to manitoba you’ll catch them a lot 😆

[@user-km6oz9cb7s]

Best video i ever seen how to clean and filé a pike. Good work!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks so much!

[@nathanclay9694]

Definitely the best way of filleting pike. Hands down the best fresh water eating fish. Thanks for the great video

[@calebwistad]

Absolutely!

[@johnlocke_1]

Have you never had walleye?

[@calebwistad]

@@johnlocke_1 I’ve eaten hundreds of walleye but I’ll trade you my walleye for your pike when we get back to the dock.

[@johnlocke_1]

@@calebwistad deal, although I wasn't talking to you.....

[@nathanclay9694]

@@johnlocke_1 walleye is mush compared to pike. I actually did a hidden taste test with walleye and Pike. Out of 12 people 11 chose the pike

[@cookie761]

We usually bring our fish home pretty quickly, after we get done fishing and clean them...... that avoids the slime. We have never had a slime problem. I like them filleted, but I like the Y- bones in. You can cut through the top part of the fish and all the Y-bones poke out at the same angle all in a row.......you pull them all out, In two or three bunches, and then you have all of the meat left, All in one piece. Much simpler. 😊 Thank you so much for your a video. My husband always cleaned the northerns. He died seven years ago and I never did find out how to clean them. Thank you for showing me the parts that I needed to know.

[@calebwistad]

Nice. Pike sure are worth the effort either way.

[@anglingwithPride]

Excellent video! I will try this on my next catch. Thanks for all the details.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks much! And good luck.

[@AnttilatheHun1]

This is the best tutorial I've seen. Excellent job, thank you.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@daleley7645]

Best example of filleting a pike I've seen. Thanks for the details and thorough explanation.

[@calebwistad]

Wow! That’s great to hear! I appreciate that very much.

[@user-ifishoften]

I am one of the fishermen that throws. my pike back after catching them. With this excellent presentation I think I will be eating my next one. Great job in breaking it down to simple steps.

[@calebwistad]

Good deal! I think you will like it.

[@emromanec1291]

Thanks for this video. I really did learn a few things that I am going to adopt in my fish-cleaning. I love eating pike too, and feel good taking these home instead of the walleye that are hunted around here (Northern Ontario) rather relentlessly. I can make good chowder from pike meat because it stays together and doesn’t turn into a ‘porridge’ as trout and walleye meat tend to do. As you mentioned, the flesh is good for many different methods and recipes for fish.

[@calebwistad]

You bet! And yes, it’s a very versatile fish.

[@bertmenden2645]

As a only child growing up I fished a lot of pike, and because my friends parents hated the boney pike was given a lot too. My mother's cure was canning them with tomato puree, salt/pepper in large glass jars. Fish just cut into inch thick slices, descaled, skin on. Instant canned salmon subsitute, and the bones just desolved, sometimes the backbone was left like a small slightly crunchy nugget. If you buy canned salmon they usually have the bones cooked in too. Still like to do pike that way 60 some years later, almost as fast as filleting but with some cook time added.

[@calebwistad]

Interesting! I haven’t had them that way.

[@marvandvicarmendinger4933]

Wow! Great informational video, wish I would have known this years ago. I’m an old timer now and NP are not in the area where I live. Excellent eating fish, we used to keep the bigger ones and fight with the bones. Had a friend that would put them through a grinder and make patties out of them. Really enjoyed your video 👍

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Well hopefully you get a chance at once again!

[@jameswaller5568]

That's the Best video i've ever seen on Cleaning Pike. I round off the tips of my fillet knives just a little, maybe a 1/16 radius. I feel this helps to ride the bones and, with a slight angle change, avoids nicking them. Also i don't razor sharpen my knife. When reshaping the tip i sharpen the backside just a bit. If you run hot tap water over your finished fillets for a minute, it runs oo alot of the fat and blood, then, chill with cold water and refridgerate overnight, changing the water a time or 2. Poor Mans' Lobster

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! And good tips!

[@erfrench87]

Thanks for sharing! I love catching and eating pike but have always struggled with filleting them like this. This will come in handy for our Minnesota trip this week.

[@calebwistad]

Awesome! Good luck.

[@DSToNe19and83]

As a Minnesotan, where’s a about you fishing? “There’s 10,000 ways to filet a fish”

[@kristopherkleminski8869]

Great vid. Cleaning them for 40 years like that. The vinegar tip was great. Can't wait to try that

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@proteusxavier9477]

Awesome tutorial. I've always kept smaller pike myself, so that second method is certainly a meat saver.

[@calebwistad]

Lad you liked it!

[@claustin1]

Awesome video. Very well explained! Minnesota guy here that lives the taste of pike!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@mnboi1980]

Thanks for the video. Hopefully my next session of fish cleaning goes as smooth as you made it look. It’s been several years since I’ve actually had to clean fish and it was an epic disaster trying to clean fish today 😂

[@calebwistad]

Haha. Thanks! And good luck!

[@ozzieman4392]

Best and most informative video yet on filleting a pike.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@robertfortin213]

Get a piece of corrugated cardboard, put the slimmy fish on it, and it sticks like velcro without drastic cleaning

[@calebwistad]

Good tip!

[@byronbrockmeyer2250]

I use puppy pads, same deal.

[@KlondikeMike]

Thanks for sharing this video. My last pike clean was 50 years ago but I know how its done right. I had to arm-twist a know-it-all that just lopping off the head and tail was not good enough. Your video done taught him right!

[@calebwistad]

Awesome 😆

[@bouncerslabrealnature9143]

Try baking soda to remove the slime....it takes two minutes and also helps to remove the occasional fishy taste that is sometimes prevalent with some pike. They are always delicious 😋🤤. (BUT you already know that. )

[@calebwistad]

Hmmm. I may have to try that one!

[@mrsmartypants_1]

Very nice. Thank you. I’ve eaten a lot of pike from icy cold lakes ice fishing and from nice clean northern lakes while canoeing in the Boundary Waters etc (along with lake trout, walleye, bass…). A lot of people don’t think very highly of eating northerners. Never understood that.

[@calebwistad]

They are one of my favorites!

[@dgrasser]

Best video I've seen on how to fillet a northern pike! Great job!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@mkebrewer2]

Finally got a chance to try the vinegar trick and it’s like magic!! Thanks a million!

[@calebwistad]

Awesome!

[@garys.7846]

Had a gutted pike in the freezer, saw the video and took it out. Wow, the method worked great, first time in my life I ate a pike without spitting half of it out due to bones poking my mouth.

[@calebwistad]

Glad to hear it worked well for you!

[@brucemitchell4581]

What a great and informative video buds ! You did a fantastic job with your presentation. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@calebwistad]

Thank you and you’re welcome!

[@danflowers8584]

I have never caught a pike to clean but with your instruction I am confident I will be able to do a great job of it. Thank you for this.

[@calebwistad]

You bet! It’s easy once you get the hang of it and you will certainly enjoy eating them.

[@rogerpaulsen8321]

Excellent video. Well spoken and articulate. Thanks

[@calebwistad]

Thank you very much!

[@makk2072]

Super job. Thank you for uploading the video. I just got a pike and will follow you steps.

[@calebwistad]

Awesome!

[@1234554321ep67890]

Now that takes skill and practice! Excellent video!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks very much!

[@walleyehunter1541]

Awesome more pike will now be eaten! Such a delicious fish

[@calebwistad]

Nice!👍

[@toddswansby7271]

Hey Bud, Im also from Wisconsin. Pike fishing is all i do. Especially through the ice. I would eat a pike over a walleye any day. Im actually going to try that vinegar trick. Great video.

[@calebwistad]

Awesome! Yeah, pike beat walleye imo.

[@grtherroni]

My dad and I would throw back some amazing pike when I was younger as he did want the slime on his boat and didnt want to deal with the bones. Now that I learned how to deal with them, I really kick myself thinking of all the ones I tossed back

[@calebwistad]

They can sure save the day when the walleyes aren’t biting too!

[@brucejones8749]

As for myself once it’s cooked, it’s hard to tell the difference…

[@TheWanderingWayfarer]

Very helpful! Thank you sir! Just landed a beast of a pike today ice fishing and totally using your first method to clean him up. Great video.

[@calebwistad]

That’s great to hear!

[@shenanigans0401]

Ageeded, pretty tasty fish. Born and raised on them. We also call them jackfish. Thank you for this.

[@calebwistad]

Yessir!

[@hubrisnaut]

The tip on taking the slim off with vinegar is great. We don't have a lot of northern pike here in Maine. They have been illegally introduced in places and we can keep all we want. We do have plenty of pickerel and there is no limit on them too.

[@calebwistad]

Well, definitely take advantage of the opportunity!

[@hubrisnaut]

@@calebwistad I live need Sebago Lake in Maine. Which is premier land lock salmon waters. Some idiot put northern pike in there. They also put them in the St. John river which is some of the best brook trout fishing in the US. Illegal stocking deserves prison.

[@DanMeek-j6i]

I use this method of filleting all the time, works great! And no bones. I don't use the vinegar, I wrap them in newspaper after catching, and leave them for about 2-5 mins. Then fillet. It removes the slime perfectly!

[@calebwistad]

Interesting. Might have to try that one!

[@jacktumbleweed]

I grew up being shown essentially your second method but with just a normal fillet knife. Holding the blade firm and level against the backbone you pull the fish into your knife with a "rocking" motion to help cut through the ribs. Always a reminder of how sharp your knife is!

[@calebwistad]

Might have to try that!

[@JasonSchmidt-w6c]

Thanks for sharing, very good explanation of this, and northerns are very good to eat

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@РоманСтецюк-э5д]

I ordered two of these based on the reviews. kzbin.infoUgkxqmKabisEv81ul5v7OhvVxxOpt2CJruI- Received them on time and they look good. I really like the handle on these knives as they feel good in my hand. I'm giving them 4 stars on look and feel, but have not had the chance to put them to the test yet. I mostly fish for catfish and can hopefully try them out in the next few days. If they hold an edge throughout a limit of catfish, they'll be worth another star.Update...I used the 9" strong and the 9" fillet on a mess of catfish. I did put a sharpening on these before I started. I want a razor edge to fillet fish but they weren't quite that sharp. The people who gave these knives crappy reviews and said they were sending them back was because they weren't razor sharp. So what, do they not have a knife sharpener?? Good grief! I mean you have to sharpen any knife from time to time.I personally like them and am pleased with them. If you're too lazy to sharpen a knife then hire someone to clean your fish lol.I've never bought a knife in my life that would shave hair right out of the box. Don't be afraid to purchase the knives. They're pretty nice in my opinion.

[@calebwistad]

That’s because…….

[@elirobillard3451]

Solid, great video! The best way to deal with slime (for me anyway) is to fillet them on a section of newspaper. The slime practically glues the fish down and makes it real easy to work with. Helps to use fresh paper every 2-3 fish.

[@calebwistad]

We used to do that when I was a kid. Right on the kitchen counter at my parents house. My mom HATED that. 😂

[@michaelkonsorr2947]

This is a super well written video!!! Thank you for the instructions. MIKO

[@calebwistad]

Thank you!

[@wayne-oo]

Well done !!

[@calebwistad]

Thank you!

[@PicklePro]

just filleted a perch, a zander and a pike. this method is much easier than anything ive tried with a lot of meat saved, thanks

[@calebwistad]

That’s great to hear! Good luck.

[@GrandKnightMichel]

Best video on filleting a pike I’ve found. Great Job

[@calebwistad]

Thanks so much!

[@PredatorsPursuits]

Nice. Finally, a good instruction for filleting pike !!!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@coljaschoppe8670]

Ok this title really isn't clickbait! What I like to do (also with trout) Put the meat through the mincer with the spices, then fry it and finally pickle it. Greetings from Germany!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Sounds interesting.

[@Tom-s8y2u]

Super nice job of explaining and showing us how to "get er' done". Thanks.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@Roy-d4y]

Excellent video 👍 here in northern Michigan I can catch pike all day long....there fun to catch n I love eating them 👍 I'm gonna try your method next time I'm out fishing thanks for the video 👍

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Good luck.

[@hopester5549]

I’ve never seen a pike in the flesh, but if I ever am fortunate enough to catch one, at least I will know how to fillet it. Thanks for clear, easy-to-follow instructions.

[@calebwistad]

You bet and thanks for watching!

[@josephkee1298]

Nice job

[@calebwistad]

Thanks!

[@rogerdudra178]

Watching you is really a good way to know what to do with a pike. We usually throw them 'way back' around here.

[@MikeYurbasovich]

That's really bad, save fish for the kids. I was taught similar things about carp, catfish, and drum, but they were wrong.

[@rogerdudra178]

@@MikeYurbasovich Greetings from the BIG SKY of Montana. Never sat right with me either, but pike eat trout so those I was with acted on their own,

[@MikeYurbasovich]

@rogerdudra178 Dang, Montana? You don't have enough people to wreck the water. Here in Wisconsin we do, and up north musky guys kill pike, which makes me angry. Both are great fish.

[@calebwistad]

Good deal!

[@arnyholben5230]

Great job, buddy & I really like your knife. It's super sharp.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks. Sharp knife makes a big difference!

[@Emperor_Of_Mankind]

The vinegar>slime thing helped a lot. The nice cutting surface and all that ... appreciated. I was hoping to figure out how to do it in the middle of the woods, with very limited supplies (2x1 folding table, fillet knife, 1 mm plastic sheet for a cutting surface). I can pack some vinegar, so that's still a solid advice and it'll help with all the slippin' and slidin' of the fish. Notes taken. Thanks for the video.

[@calebwistad]

Glad you liked it! It’s funny you mentioned that. I’m definitely considering doing a video on tips for cleaning fish on a wilderness trip at some point so stay tuned!

[@ribo451]

Filleting fish in the field isn’t legal everywhere. You might need to check your regulations.

[@sar9907]

Nicely done. Tried pike. Walleye. Croppies for the last 5 years. I still can't beat salt water fish when it comes to flavor. No comparison.

[@calebwistad]

I agree. Saltwater fish are the best!