SMALLMOUTH BASS TACO is the Next Best Thing! | Fishing with Rod

I attempted a catch and cook with smallmouth bass from Cultus Lake in Chilliwack BC Canada.
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Camera:
Rodney Hsu
Editing:
Rodney Hsu
Music:
Epidemic Sound
Copyright: Fishing with Rod Production
My name is Rod, and I am an avid fisherman, fishery advocate, conservationist and educator in British Columbia Canada. On this channel you will find:
🔸 700+ fishing episodes & video tutorials!
🔸 Targeting many different fish species including salmon, trout, steelhead, sturgeon, bass, pike!
🔸 Exploring new fishing spots in the Pacific Northwest and Beyond!
🔸 Conversations on current fishery and conservation issues!
🔸 Fun outdoor adventures with me, my friends and family!
#bassfishing #bass #smallmouthbass #fishing

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks for watching all! Would you eat smallmouth bass? Be sure to subscribe and comment below. To get the latest updates: ► Instagram: instagram.com/fishing_with_rod ► Facebook: facebook.com/fishingwithrod

[@MrIpjrobson]

I would eat a smallmouth and have in fact.

[@hussainstartsofgilgit]

No 😦

[@hussainstartsofgilgit]

I ate trout :)

[@MissisChannel]

yes!!! IM all about that Bass bout that bass bout that bass!

[@DustysZJ]

Of.course who wouldnt

[@eranvooys4361]

I love eating SM Bass. Thanks for posting this.

[@pyg888]

Nice catch an cook 🔥

[@vaughnprecision]

That looks yummy.!

[@FishingwithRod]

It was! 😄

[@NorthwestOpenSeason]

Bass are delicious. There’s a stigma out there about not eating them, but in alot of cases, you are helping smolt survival, and in most areas the bass populations are abundant. I think like any fishery, as long as there are reasonable slot limits and bag limits in areas that need to remain sustainable, go for it. If it’s an isolated water body with a problematic invasive introduction, get after it. If it’s a native fishery with trophy potential, let’s be smart and protect it.

[@FishingwithRod]

Definitely. Every water body/fishery should have its own management approach. :) Thanks for checking it out!

[@Spezarina]

What brand tube are you using for those smallmouth?

[@davidbrown7932]

Well your choice missing out Smallmouth is truly delicious God Bless Rod and family 🙏

[@Walker82kg]

love the bass content keep it coming I only fish bass in BC such an under rated fishery

[@FishingThePNW]

Nice reflexes and rod save!

[@FishingwithRod]

Yeah we don't need a repeat of that other episode from a few years ago lol...

[@GlenStoner]

That looks so tasty..! I think I'll go out in a few weeks once the water temp goes up a bit.

[@Pray4Mojo1]

Funny, I caught one the same way last week with my line dangling in the water! Lol. I still haven't tried eating one, but now I will have to. Great video, Rod.

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks!

[@Pray4Mojo1]

Hey rod, i was there the other day. Still haven't tried to eat any. I don't have a boat and haven't had any luck at all from shore. They're all to small to eat. However, I got a pumpkinseed out of here the other day. First one ever out of cultus. My dog jumped and grabbed it (luckily did not get hooked) and tore it open. Out came a long tapeworm. It was nasty. I got my dog some meds to treat him. Is this generally a problem for a lake? Or was it just bad luck? I've caught lots of salmon and other fish over the years with parasites, just not gigantic tapeworms! It grossed me out bro.

[@soundlounge4941]

Question? Is it safe to handle bass with bare hands. Also what’s the best fishing practice to minimize the suffering and suffocating a fish experiences when out of the water? Thanks for your assistance?

[@FishingwithRod]

lol... I like how you've removed your original comment.

[@LadybugAdventures]

After I catch a fish I always dangle my line in the water about 2 ft down well I sort out the fish I just caught. Inevitably a bluegill or a rock bass or even large mouth bite my lure. Also nice cook. I followed Jay Siemens and I've always meant to buy some of his catch and cook.

[@FishingwithRod]

The Catch and Cook coating is really good, I've used it several times now and will have to experiment more with it. I'll have to dangle my line in the water more often too!

[@shrevesoule3567]

They are a blast on the fly rod!

[@FishingwithRod]

Yes! And actually I find fly fishing to be the easiest way to get them. 🙂

[@reelbcfishing]

Is it possible to catch them in early may? Are the pikeminnow inshore now?

[@FishingwithRod]

Yep, worth a try.

[@vancityflyguy]

I don’t keep anything i catch but you eating it with such an appetite always makes me crave some fish:) well done Rod

[@wynnsnfinsoutdoors957]

I would eat it!!!! Thanks for the video rod!!

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks for checking it out! 🙂

[@hussainstartsofgilgit]

Nice . Love from Gilgitbaltistan ☺️

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks!

[@dannyhero2536]

Oh man I'm a make this asap

[@spencebrooks7187]

you must have massive hands with how you measure

[@FishingwithRod]

Well, the hand is only so accurate to a certain extent, that's why the tape measurer came in later.

[@GoingGaming86]

Where is that!! I love bass fishing need to go!!!

[@headfakez]

Great vid Rodney! Those smallmouths are excellent fighters 💪

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks 👍

[@minkos61]

Looks good Rod great vid .

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks Ernie! 😃

[@BestViralClips003]

Hey rod im finding it hard to find the north part of the lake is it by the boat launch or the main beach area where the park and rentals are

[@FishingwithRod]

All along that shoreline from main beach down to Sunnyside can be great. 🙂

[@gradbuckie]

I’ve been watching your channel since your o.g. boat..love it..totally going to get myself up to cultus from maple ridge to try these bass out..I’m more of a Kokanee chaser myself...one tip rod I’d like to pass along if you don’t mind...put a towel down on your cutting board when filleting your fish..the measure of control you get over your protein is noticeable

[@JamesTKirk-yz5ng]

Selective harvest is the way to appease both crowds. Great video Chef Rod!

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks James!

[@Outdoorswithmike]

Awesome catch and cook video and the fish wrap looks delicious awesome good job 👋🏽👍🏽

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks Mike! 🙂

[@TelosBudo]

I oil fry bass when camping too. 🏕

[@FishingwithRod]

Yeah what would have made this video even better is if I had cooked the fish by the lake. Next time!

[@TOMMAMOOSE69]

Man, the joys of fishing. "never seen that before" from someone who has been fishing their entire life.

[@FishingwithRod]

Always something new to learn how there.

[@AJ_Ohio]

Smallies taste really good.. white and flaky! Will try your recipe!

[@FishingwithRod]

Yeah definitely! Thanks A J! 😊

[@salazarsteel9819]

I found your videos from Carl and Alex fishing and I love you videos 👌

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks Salazar Steel! 😊

[@TCB77]

Awesome (if they’re there) let’s eat’m! Good plan Rod.

[@TCB77]

Shout out to Jay Siemens Cat&Cook #thecanadianangle

[@jandyke9995]

Now I am hungry for a bass Taco, good video and information Rod

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks Jan!

[@yongsoochang8722]

Gonna enjoy fish tacos soon, thanks Rod!

[@FishingwithRod]

Awesome! Thanks for checking it out.

[@Walker82kg]

hey man can't make them all happy I usually release these bass cuz I love them but eat them sometimes to

[@graysonfishy]

Hey rod are you going to be doing some red Chinook fishing in the vedder we were out today at the train bridge none on our line but 6 big Chinook got pulled out

[@FishingwithRod]

I'm usually quite busy with other projects during this time of the year so always end up missing this fishery. 🙂

[@thecfood6619]

Nice video! I tried to steam them as well, it also taste very good :)

[@FishingwithRod]

Definitely! 😋

[@Kankudai]

Rod, please bonk your catch immediately please.

[@rafabonati7757]

I was spoiled in Australia with the mango from Queensland. I have tried mango from several other places but there is just no comparison. Well, they can be compared, but they all fall short. I tried eating some smallies a couple years ago, but thought they were too strong. So I just release them.

[@FishingwithRod]

It's indeed very hard to find good mangos here! You know the struggle like me after being spoiled with good mango elsewhere. ;) My parents actually just returned from Taiwan and they brought back four giant mangos which are sitting in my fridge right now. I can't wait to eat them.

[@magicworldbyjorg]

[@FishingwithRod]

Thank you!

[@magicworldbyjorg]

@@FishingwithRod Thank you very mutch... have a nice day.... see you….

[@andykjohnsonjohnson7622]

Another excellent video Rod. I've heard that Pitt lk in B.C ( near Coquitlam ) has Bass , both species. Not a big fan of eating them though, more of a- sea or stripper bass . Maybe cos I'm English 😉. Pickrall ( walleye) & Perch, are my favorite 😋 👍

[@shaemuswickham3168]

If pitt marsh had smallmouth, that would be huge news. It has had largemouth in it for well over 40 years as well as other tributaries of the Fraser.

[@ganeshtiwari3052]

Do you think soft plastic swimbaits would be good for cultus lake smallies and what size of lures would you recommend

[@FishingwithRod]

Yep they'll work for sure.

[@scottb7890]

What type of oil do you use for frying?

[@FishingwithRod]

I just use any neutral oil for frying, canola oil in this video.

[@MegaNafo]

Damn! Now, I want bass taco! 😄

[@FishingwithRod]

Better go catch some soon! 😄

[@MegaNafo]

@@FishingwithRod tried today , no luck , will get im next time 😅

[@justtsendiit]

Hey Rod, do you think Chinook are in the vedder right now and do you think it’s safe or smart to fish the vedder right now

[@FishingwithRod]

Yep, the season is just starting, worth checking out.

[@ChipDarby13]

I feel like I could have eaten that whole plate of fish! And with the mango, onion etc….well I’m embarrassed to say, but I was drooling 🤤🎣

[@FishingwithRod]

Well... I did actually finish that entire plate of fish after I stopped filming... 😆😳

[@anthonymcfarland3563]

Had a similar thing happen to me. Was fishing for perch. Had just rebaited one rod with a fat worm. Got a hit on the 2nd rod. Just has I landed that one the one I had just rebaited was dangling a couple feet down and bam. Just about lost my rod. A 12 inch rainbow hit it. Got him to.

[@FishingwithRod]

Haha awesome!

[@brianfantana5405]

They taste really good but they are very high in mercury

[@FishingwithRod]

That's not correct. Mercury accumulation depends entirely on the water body and the age of the fish. The older the fish, the higher the concentration. The water body where these fish were caught is not contaminated with mercury. In fact, it's one of the cleaner lakes in this region.

[@brianfantana5405]

@@FishingwithRod that makes sense. I’ve just seen the warning posted on the freshwater regulations page. Maybe it’s mostly just in region 1.

[@greggrogers731]

Rod. Looking at your vid, I'm sure your culinary talents will give your fishing skills some serious competition. BTW, when you fileted the bass, how did you remove the bones I heard being cut? If you haven't already perhaps a short video for the newbs to fishing.....

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks Gregg! My cooking skills are ok but I really enjoy it. 🙂 I probably watch more cooking videos/shows than fishing videos. 😦 For this video, I actually didn’t bother dealing with those bones along the lateral line. I just cut above that line to get that meat along the back to avoid them. I guess I could have tried to get one more piece below the lateral line but I didn’t bother with it. Instead those leftover pieces with bones I am using for broth.

[@GlenStoner]

Thanks for making me hungry Rod… I’ve caught a few smallies in Cultus over the last couple years but haven’t eaten any yet. This year for sure. What water temperature or time of year do you think we’ll see them back in the shallower water and eager to bite? Can’t wait to bring my grandkids there again.

[@FishingwithRod]

I would say they show up as early as late April, and May and June are definitely prime months. 😃

[@fishingreporter2784]

Bass is well known delicacy in Asia

[@leec7463]

Great Video! in my humble experience don't cut the head off when Filleting. Cut like you did around the gill plate to the spine, use the head as handle and follow the spin down (you can feel the ribs with your knife), pull the fish into the knife while working the knife back and forth, adjusting the angle as you go.

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks Lee! Yeah I totally agree that I should be doing it that way. I’ve just been so used to cutting the head first then fillet. I’ve tried the other method a few times but need more practice.

[@Gordon...Ramsay]

fishing at your place for smallies is now officially easier than fishing for them in oregon, where they've been here forever. they are so hard to catch and average like 9 inches

[@sharmisthadas4803]

Lol I say it’s healthy despite the deep frying. I can’t wait to get out there to try it. Do I need a boat to catch these you think?

[@FishingwithRod]

You should! Great fun for the kids. You can also catch them from the docks just with bobber and worms.

[@georgepotato7767]

Hi Rod, what's wrong in our world today. I subscribed to your channel because you cook and ate fish. lol

[@FishingwithRod]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching George!

[@brandonhowe9425]

Fantastic video as always. I just want to add that any fisherman fishing this species should not be releasing them back into the water. They're an invasive species and they threaten most if not all of our native fish. But like I said, fantastic video and happy fishing everyone 😊

[@FishingwithRod]

Great point!

[@brandonhowe9425]

quick question unrelated to the bass, what would you say would be your top 3 recommendations for fishing spots to teach kids how to fish in the lower mainland that the kids get to reel in fish? also on that point I think that would be a great video! cheers :)

[@RobFishYT]

Hey people I deleted some of my comments as my thread was a distraction in the wrong place. My apologies to Rod. Rod did not delete anything. Great video Rod.

[@FishingwithRod]

You didn't need to delete anything Rob. These videos create conversations. Whether I agree with any of the opinions or not, they are all welcome as long as they are done in a respectful manner. Sometimes I'm also amused by the comments. If it is something indeed quite offensive, then I'd delete them, but after over 20 years doing this, my skin is pretty thick and it is really rare for me to be triggered by anything anymore lol, so all comments are welcome. ;)

[@RobFishYT]

​@@FishingwithRod Hopefully those comments come back in another form. I didn't mean to reduce your comment count. I just started my content creator journey and thread that developed didn't sit well with me. Thanks for the response Rod.

[@zw5509]

Catch and release, catch and release, catch and fill the water with small stunted fish! Better to harvest some, not the largest. Since many waters are low on apex predators. And I agree, they do taste great. largemouth too!

[@Walker82kg]

there invasive in this lake eat them all

[@FishingwithRod]

I have been told several times now that largemouth are also quite good. I will try it one day. 😋

[@Walker82kg]

@@FishingwithRod largies are actually better tasting to me I think you'll agree to bad there's no clean water largies in the lower mainland that I know off but Osoyoos has some so dose the island

[@RC-bl2pm]

Rod...Years back I was a little drunk and took a dare to eat dogfish. I took a skinned filet and dredged it in flour and fried it gently.....It tasted really good, like if someone served you that fish or you got it in a restaurant you would really enjoy it. I was shocked that it didn't taste like motor oil/gumboot/diaper...why did I expect it to taste bad? I loved your pikeminnow trial as well....thanks for opening our minds.

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks R C!

[@ElectricDyck01]

Lol fish are made of meat and made to eat, haters live off hate, great vid! 👍👍

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks!

[@beaumitchell5179]

Don’t eat bass man

[@FishingwithRod]

Why not?

[@corbfisher]

I live near a couple spots where they need to be thinned out. A lot of skinny fish with big heads. So, I'll take a few once in a while. I like to fillet them and cut them into bite sized pieces and add them at the last minute to congee or rice porridge. Its a nice substitute for rock fish., sort of similar flesh.

[@FishingwithRod]

Congee! Next level. 😍 I do that sometimes with lingcod.

[@SledorFish]

Maybe I will have to do my part to thin out the bass population now. I was targeting greenling in the salt but there are several lakes closer to me.

[@FishingwithRod]

Greenling are not too bad either. 😋

[@oncorclarki1965]

It's nice to see a SMB wind up in the fryer, rather than back in the water! :)

[@JamesTKirk-yz5ng]

I release them all. Lol

[@spli9082]

Hi guys:how funny catch small mouth bass! do you catch Shad at Washington State of USA?

[@FishingwithRod]

I’ve never fished in WA, but I do know there is a pretty popular American shad fishery. Occasionally, you do encounter the odd American shad in BC’s Fraser River, but it’s rare.

[@tristanvanoort7688]

I do not like people killing bass in general

[@FishingwithRod]

That's ok, we all have at least one flaw.

[@mitchc5538]

PLEASE STOP KEEPING SMALLMOUTH BASS! Keep crappie and pan fish and wallies. It takes a smallie around 10-15 years to grow to be between 18 and 20 inches. so by removing several fish like this you remove decades of aggregate fish growth that wont be replaced for decades. this is the reason why so many once amazing spots are now on the decline. STOP. FREE THE FIGHTERS

[@FishingwithRod]

Mitch, the smallmouth bass in this lake were introduced illegally a few years ago, that’s why I have no problem harvesting them.

[@mitchc5538]

@@FishingwithRod there are always those special circumstances like that. Still hurts me lol

[@shaemuswickham3168]

While I can understand the videos message as bass in cultus are invasive, I can’t help but cringe when I think of how these kinds of videos will affect trophy bass lakes like osoyoos, in the okanagan, and Shawinigan/elk on the island where catch and release of bass by the public is preferred. Personally I find the sport of catching a larger bass more rewarding than eating them, but ultimately what people do with their fish is their choice. I think videos like this convey a dangerous message, and people should at least consider releasing larger bass on isolated lakes where they were introduced decades ago to help promote sports fishing and build a solid fishery. Growth in smallies is slow, and it can take a smallmouth in cooler spring waters 6-16 years to grow to 5lbs. Not every fish caught needs to be eaten and It would have been nice to hear a little segment on this while you were already making a video on the subject. Aside from that I appreciate the vid and thank you for a new recipe. thank you for sharing Rod.

[@ShenpaiWasTaken]

I don't think people are necessarily antibass. I think it was more about you being potentially incorrect; especially since people look at you as a source of information.

[@FishingwithRod]

I haven't had a chance to answer your other comment yet, will do that later. :) So I don't think anyone can definitively say what will happen with both the endemic and non-endemic populations of this lake in ten years from now, and what the "correct" approach is. We can only make decisions based on the information/findings from past similar scenarios. I certainly don't have all the right answers, but I do have a pretty good understanding on the subject because of my background so I do my best to convey that information to everyone. That tongue on cheek comment at the end of the video is more referring to two specific crowds, one that only loves salmonids, while the other only loves bass. Quite often the endemic vs non-endemic/invasive topic evolves quickly to salmon/trout vs bass in this province because of that.

[@shaemuswickham3168]

I wanna start by prefacing and saying that I enjoy catching both species of fish ( bass and salmon) equally incase it seems as though I may be part of the bass only folk that Rod mentions out in his comment. I will say from experience, that a fair number of people are most definitely anti bass in The lower-mainland. I have never been to any place other this area where people will scowl at you and write you off for fishing for bass. I had a friend try and ask a older man if he could teach him how to make custom rods. For the most part the older dude was all ears until he mentioned he wanted to create rods for bass fishing where he was then ridiculed and put down by this guy. In addition, I’m curious what you think he misinformed about the last smallmouth video. Honestly, I’d argue that this video had more misinformation than the last, and with that being said, he mentions it is speculation. If you are curious what I am referring to, the ONLY thing and I mean literally the only thing I can point to in this video was the comment in which he says they speculate that they eat a lot of salmon (and I’m assuming he means in this lake). In its literal form, this statement is not true from what we’ve seen in the invasive webinar. On the other hand…. saying that this is misinfo could be seen as a sheer reach, as you can argue that the number of fry in cultus isn’t plentiful (the reason for this I explain right after), but at the same time you also can’t deny that the actual statistic of 4% (150 sampled) smallmouth containing juvenile salmon (during peak migration) is a very small number. Obviously with more salmon present they will eat more, but the magnitude and severity of the consequences (could be a problem could be not much of a problem) of this are unknown.

[@edboutdoors3632]

Great video Rodeny love it! Hey I texted ya on messenger pretty important t