Living Off the Water: Kentucky Fishing | S6E16 | MeatEater

[@jackiekinner3826]

I’m from England and we just don’t have that kind of fishing here. Which I’m pissed about. That is simply genius! I always say ‘oh that was my favourite episode’ after every episode. F**k it there all my favourite!!

[@mikemorrison281]

Thanks for respecting southerners, Steve. I know there’s plenty to parody, but you avoid tropes and don’t prejudge ppl. I notice and respect you even more for it. ♥️ from Texas.

[@jackiekinner3826]

Just wondering what tropes are??

[@mikem6571]

@@jackiekinner3826 a trope is a convention or device that establishes a predictable or stereotypical representation of a character, setting, or scenario.... dictionary.Com is your friend. Basically he's glad Steve didn't play on the old stereotypes generally assigned to southern people.

[@joeyricefried9621]

Right on

[@SlavicCelery]

@@jackiekinner3826 Jug fishing and trot lines - up north those are banned in most states.

[@ShaggyRogers1]

@@SlavicCelery that's not a "trope", he was more referring to the stereotypes and generalizations of southern people. Such as acting they all eat "bottom feeders" and are rednecks or what have you. He already knew about the fishing methods before hand, and at most he could have acted stuck up about them, but he also does a lot of things that other "respectable hunters" don't do such as shooting tree'd mountain lions with a rifle. Any true sportsman knows that almost all the hunting/fishing regulations concerning methods etc are just there to intentionally make getting animals more inefficient. You can't try to spray 30 rounds at a group of deer to poach them if you can't be caught using a machine gun and with more than 10 rounds on your person, for example. The laws aren't in place because of any concept of "fairness" or ethic status, as anyone who actually does outdoor sports can tell you.

[@dustincarner7427]

Kentucky is just the epitome of Dixie and Southern hospitality and frontier spirit. Being from Kentucky makes me proud to be from the South, glad yall boys had fun. It's hard to beat Southern fried catfish.

[@Sketchyowl]

If heaven ain’t a lot like Dixie I don’t wanna go!

[@MyRifleMyGun]

I love this episode as it shows the importance that understanding how to process your catch is just as important as knowing how to catch it. Fishing from shore in the Northeast, I catch bluefish a lot, which to most is regarded as a gamey trash fish. Fun to catch, but not to eat is what most people say. But I've been eating them and found that properly bleeding the fish, and trimming the fillets of dark meat, belly meat, and chilling removes all of the gamey taste and rivals plenty of other prized catches in flavor. Great episode, think I'll go load my poles into my truck now.

[@bushmeatbandit4261]

i’m born and raised in eastern Georgia and to hear people say catfish is a trash fish blows my mind down here it’s a staple

[@lenanbo1]

I love catfish and this is my favorite episode too.

[@jordanbridges]

From eastern Canada, no one would eat bass except a select few. I've fileted them and made beer battered fisshnchips and they had no idea. Most fish can taste good if handled by the right hands.

[@lash4572]

exactly!, Bluefish are great eating, Great on the grill

[@bigkinnybass]

I agree. I've only caught one wild blue in Oklahoma. I bled it and baked it. It tasted way better than channels in my opinion, and I love me some wild channels. Taking care of the catch is important.

[@Woodsmaster722]

You guys need to give Kevin his on small game series . The world needs more Kevin Murphy

[@troyatwood9251]

This has been my favorite outdoor show since the first episode I saw. The reverence for nature, the respect for the people, and the way you tell each story is something this world is in desperate need of

[@dabcity9035]

Being born and raised in Kentucky and commercial fishing for most of my young teenage and adult years, this episode brings back so many memories (and in the case of trot lines and untangling them, nightmares)

[@chrismurdock6520]

Born and raised in KY. Been all over and to other countries. Kentucky is a great place! The fishing here is awesome! Glad you had a great time while visiting.

[@ThatHarborGuy_]

When I get that notification of a new video, my day is complete. Those Blue Cats are just gorgeous.

[@joshuawannenberg281]

100% Agreed

[@jantharpe362]

@@joshuawannenberg281 has always had fun with thistle it all I love I wish was to share the day I love it

[@typeretti6814]

I love steve rinella. He has shaped me to be a ethic knowledged hunter. I appreciate all the time he puts foward in making these videos for us. I wish i could hunt or fish with the guy. That would be my dream in the hunting and fishing world.

[@jtotherog]

Welcome to Kentucky baby! This video epitomizes why i love living here! Awesome job brother! ✌😎✌

[@C-24-Brandan]

Kevin and Leon are good ol' boys at heart! Livin' off the land, huntin' trappin' and fishin' bootcamp!!! Best pay attention, no room or time for errors and or BS on that trip. The good ol' jug line & hook, can't beat it!

[@notabot3375]

They remind me so much of my grandfather and his neighbor. I used to spend summers with them and do all this stuff. Miss them so much.

[@Blue_Collar_Colonizer_1776]

We use gallon milk jugs with the line tied through the handle. I can see the two liters tip up and can tell if you have a fish on better. But will fish jugs at night in lakes. And only check them every few hours. Throw them out, go run your trot lines then go back and find your jugs. After that check your other line. Get alot of soft shell turtles.

[@adamgibbs7738]

Awesome. One of my favorite episodes. I LOVE how you have been featuring the less “mainstream” hunting a fishing out there in our country.

[@williamclinton2289]

Kevin Murphy is the man. Not only the world's best small game hunter, turns out he's the best no rod/reel fisherman.

[@jakeroberts7435]

I'm loving this, fished off shore Florida for over 30 years, moved to rural Kentucky 2 years ago. Plenty of fish in Kentucky, love the lakes. Great video

[@josephkarriker2532]

I'm glad that they showed the last step in processing catfish filets. That is what makes the difference!!

[@Tramz14]

Quite the cliffhanger with the paddlefish, was looking forward to seeing how it tasted

[@Evergreen1400]

That was one ugly fish lol

[@calroberts888]

Agreed

[@sulla175]

@@Evergreen1400 they're so ugly, they're pretty. Like an English bulldog.

[@DiagnosedTopG]

Best tasting freshwater fish I've ever had.

[@craigsessions7262]

I'm a Texan. Eat catfish ever week, dam near. Never seen or eat a paddle fish. Must not be all that good

[@jaquinpappageorgio9611]

Wow, watching y’all eat that fresh caught catfish and me not having any makes me want to eat my hand.

[@ADVENTURESOFBZ]

Hahahaha

[@AlphaQHard]

@BeizamSlayer I love watching them, gets me motivated to go out fishing.

[@joelruder2857]

Meateater did talk about eating some guy's foot on the podcast

[@matthewellisor5835]

I had to pause to go get a snack

[@Nick-hm9rh]

Im biting in my hand right now that looks sooo good!

[@Flacooutdoors]

Crazy how he just takes he just takes home as much as he wants / as much as he can get

[@kadebaitrum7797]

When there’s surplus population of fish Fisherman play an important role for keeping fish stocks from overpopulating. If there was a decline then regulations would be put in place. Some fish are pests or invasive and never have a limit or regulations Like lionfish where I live Take as many as you can to try and control the population

[@fishordie1992]

No Edgar. Those people are called poachers. This is harvesting done right.

[@dudthestud8656]

Born and raised in Kentucky and there’s a good reason why I love it

[@jeannettasills1117]

I love 💕 to fish 🎣. My dad and I done it alot as I was growing up. I was thankful for my husband who passed away last July because he loved it also. We would pole fish 🎣 but also set out nets and trout lines down the Hatchie River in Haywood county TN. He showed me something I never heard on of and that's what he put on trout lines and that's Ivory soap. I never would've believed it until I pulled up a trout line and seen catfish, bass, and others. I thought one thing that they should be clean inside. We ordered rice cakes and cheese from a Louisiana catalog. I really do miss it!

[@lakinmiller468]

Man I grew up jug fishing in kentucky and still do. Love to see this. We usually put out 200 jugs at a time. It's a blast and a great family activity love to see this

[@Justin_Buser]

Welcome to Kentucky. Best out of all

[@tylermaxwell4179]

As an avid cat fisherman in Ohio I can definitely appreciate these methods of fishing . I am more of a rod and reel guy but might give these a go for myself

[@kerbygator]

I used neon colored foam pool floaties. I cut them down to 12 inches. When you shine a flashlight on them at night, you can see them a really good distance.

[@clhuke6494]

My uncle use to take us kids to fish the snake river, for cats (Channel and Blues)...... some of the best times as a kid, me and my cousins...

[@vincentwilburphillips4115]

Down home and oh so rightous, god bless america and those who stand by her!..heartfull thanks to you'all!

[@chriss1151]

KENTUCKY AGAIN! YES. :) Home sweet home.

[@kennethgray2110]

Thanks for another great video Steve. Your a good man who has taught me a lot about the outdoors. I moved to Montana to pursue my life as an outdoorsman thanks to you!

[@jeannettasills1117]

OMG 😳 I've never seen nothing like that when he twisted that tail and pulled that long white thing out. There are so many interesting things you see about fishing 🎣! God bless 🙏 you All!

[@joeyricefried9621]

“Right down yonder”. One of my favorite Southern sayings

[@keithusace4352]

Before retirement from the Corp of engineers when we would do a pump out at the locks on the Ohio river, it was amazing how large some of the catfish were. Alot of them made these look like minnows "some 75-100 pounders" that we pulled out of the pump recesses. We would freeze them till the end of a job and have the best fish fry that any meat lovers would want to be at. Kinda miss those dive team days on the Ohio.

[@buckbusteroutdoors4531]

That’s the same way that trim them up. I always wondered if I was being too particular since I didn’t see nobody else doing it this way, removing the darker meat. I even remove the mud vein running down the middle, like a white bass. Taking this off does make a difference

[@Coldshotboarder]

Kevin Murphy is the man, must have watched the small game episode you guys did with him a dozen times.

[@Sluggo773]

This is by far one of my favorite episodes of MeatEater, I’ve watched it an rewatched I don’t know how many time!

[@joshse8709]

Everyone needs to like this preserve hunting and fishing on KZbin

[@joshse8709]

Don't like these comments like these video I guess in order to get more like for the video we should like the comment in turn lol ommmg

[@tineejohnston9737]

It humbles me to see Steve, so enthralled with these southern fishermen show him a thing or two ❤️😇🤣 love this video

[@patrickhowes5672]

This is my all time favorite episode of MeatEater. I been waiting for you guys to post it.

[@lenanbo1]

Same here

[@CopMorty]

Kevin Murphy is one of my favorite guests

[@stuffylamb3420]

As someone from the south, I can't believe you northerners look down on catfish. It's absolutely delicious.

[@dustincarner7427]

Amen, I'm glad he got to spend a little time in the South in different parts of KY and got a firsthand of good they are. It's hard to beat Southern fried catfish

[@bssaassin1900]

I love fishing for blue cats. Their larger size, bright blue-silvery color and I love the way they bite on rod n reel they don't twitch around they just pull like a ton of bricks and yank the rod out of the holder. I'm a bank angler with 1 rod rigged for cats and an ultralight rod or flyrod for white bass. Still have yet to catch a flathead

[@bobmiller4343]

Many ,many years of experience on display. Thanks Steven.

[@nashonlowery5845]

Being a Ky native & fan of the show as well as hunter/fisher I love this ep. Thank you Steve

[@adastra5346]

Hell yeah....you're in my neck of the woods. Glad to have you Steve and crew.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Catfish are under rated, some super good eating. Great job Steve.

[@dauntewimbush1939]

Very true, my girlfriends father told her her entire life they ain’t good eating. I basically had to beg her to eat it. She now loves it. I hate how people tell people stuff ain’t good

[@davebten1]

@@dauntewimbush1939 with these blue catfish not being bottom feeders, and instead for example, coming to the surface for the bait, is there less of an issue with heavy metal accumulation in their flesh?

[@usafret4709]

Meateater is literally the best show on tv.

[@brandonwinter1456]

If KZbin demonetizes your channel like they’re doing to the rest of the hunting and fishing channels I’ll follow MeatEater wherever you go.

[@bluegrassbassing3790]

You’re always welcome down here Steve. God bless

[@threesetstofailure9941]

I can skin a buck, I can run a trotline, ...a country boy can survive.

[@Verlisify]

This episode made me painfully hungry. Its been too long since I had a proper fish fry

[@DBAllen]

And no mention of Tartar sauce and Hush puppies.

[@davidcox3076]

Too long for me, too. Remember Dad cleaning out the freezer and firing up the dutch oven over the fire ring. It got dark. We had a trouble light. Every bug in the county was falling into the oil and sizzling. We neglected to mention this to Mom when we brought the fish and hushpuppies in.

[@58nunzi]

Same here. lol. I could almost smell it.

[@jordanbridges]

@@DBAllen from nova scotia, what in the heck are hush puppies?

[@DBAllen]

@@jordanbridges These; kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6GTp3SNj7JksNU

[@galecox721]

These videos are AWESOME...please keep teaching everyone at the different methods...very much appreciated.. good sir

[@countryfriedent]

Love this episode! I was on the ohio river yesterday in my jon boat fishin. I live near Bandana, KY, close to Paducah. I learned some stuff in this video, as i usually fish for channel cats, never tried blues. More Kentucky episodes please!! 👍👍

[@TheDaynish]

My boy Kevin Murphy needs his own you tube mini series 🧐

[@mikhail2400]

Loved this episode and have used all 3 methods shown. Here in south GA on the Altamaha river we call limb lines bush hooks but its the same thing. Its a great way to catch fish but if you have never done it be sure you tie your lines to flexible limbs. If you tie to a solid limb with no give to it the fish can break the line or rip the hook out much easier as they twist and hammer at it trying to escape.

[@jamestimmerman7519]

Used to catch paddles years ago. Good eating. Sad to get as old as I am and see old ways change. Be safe. Love the show.

[@vdavendettaweneverforgiveo1456]

I remember when people would go scuba diving for 6 foot catfish on Cumberland lake/ river and Nolan lake. Always wondered what they did with them and was hoping they'd show some of that here today..

[@billywallis4633]

yeah this seems like a way to destroy a fishery. That being said blue cats are abundant and fast growing.

[@gunnerscates3613]

My grandpa use to be a commercial fisherman in tn so I make a quick buck helping him and selling catfish and buffalo at the boat ramp and keep some for our self to eat this is one of my favorite episodes we still frontline for fish to this day

[@ImpendingDuff]

i love that you pay it forward rob. keep on keeping on. youre doing great things.

[@therockbiter8140]

With all of the sport fish this country has to offer, when it comes to eating, catfish is king. They always put up a fight, and it's one of the few fish that doesn't change with size when it comes to taste and texture, a 2 pounder tastes and feels just like an 80 pounder.

[@edmerrell4576]

Grew up on spoonbill and graduated to catfish from the Ky Tn lake. I miss the foggy mornings and beautiful surroundings that I was able to view.

[@davidberry3632]

Well, for one, . i cant believe that you are just now experiencing this. This has been the way of life I've known since my youth.

[@charlesfernandez-693]

Makes me wanna to go out and fish! Enjoyed watching from South East Asia

[@Sketchyowl]

Visit Kentucky one day

[@lenanbo1]

Been searching for clips of this one cause it’s not on Netflix anymore, definitely one of my favorites. I live up Mississippi from there in Illinois and we get some big flatheads up here and they’re delicious when done right. I need to get my ass out there and catch some more

[@jdizzle8007]

We live about 10 minutes from Elisabeth Town and have eaten at the E Town restaurant a few times before! It is funny to see you guys so close to home!

[@projectjunky]

Watched the video Saturday and went catfishing Sunday. Kept a few for the frying pan ! Haven’t done that in years! Thanks for the inspiration

[@SteinersDemoDerbyB2A]

Some of my guest memories as a kid were running jugs and lines with my papa! This is a great episode

[@terrymp1091]

If you can find where the shad are schooling up, that’s where you toss out the jugs. Just be ready to do some work. You’ll be slinging fish in the boat and re-baiting as long as you care to keep doing it.

[@mattfleming86]

I never got a lot of enjoyment out of banklines and trotlines.. but I can tell you we had a lot of great family fish fries because of their effectiveness. You still have to know the water.. you gotta know the patterns.. gotta find the hotspots.. but you can sure stock up a freezer or feed a group if things go well. Well said on the prepwork. Landlock striper and hybrid is the same way. Properly prepped it's delicious, but in the wrong hands is low grade at best.

[@StealthWolfie]

I’m so happy to see this new episode :)

[@deividas_kimontas]

Awesome video! 🔥 Interesting way of fishing and eating quality fish!

[@brinkee7674]

That's crazy as I've eaten catfish all my life and I'm a northerner/Yankee. One of my faves when I was young was young horn pout aka brown bullhead. We used to catch dozens or small ones on Cape Cod and they were wicked awesome. There are many places I wont eat cats from but goes with any fish. When I'm down south I'll eat them all the time

[@ramblinreelstv2335]

now that's a good time right there! got some blues in the freezer right now. Great eating!

[@renefguidijr.631]

Nice way of catching & eating catfish! Thanks Meateater!

[@redriver6541]

Down home episode. Born and raised in this area.....up river on the Green a little ways. Catfish is a staple if you live on one of these rivers. Cave in Rock (Elizabethtown area) is a great placeto eat some first class fish.

[@TheeTyroneShoelaces]

That good ol boy glows in the dark if he eats that much catfish haha

[@amygilliland490]

Love this!!!! I use all 3 methods to still catfish. I've got some spoonbill and blues in the freezer right now!!!

[@wherescaleb8793]

Louisville raised. This just took me back to the days of fishing the Ohio river with my pops

[@chrishenicke2052]

Glad to see these guys know how to clean a catfish! I’ve been telling people this for yrs. I do disagree with chunking the belly meat though. Flathead belly meat is like a steak on the grill! 👍

[@charlesbrown4483]

I’m a Kentucky native. Honestly I never knew until I got to be in my 20’s that a lot of people don’t like catfish. I can speak for KY, WV and TN when I say that catfish are most people’s favorite around here. Hard to beat a Kentucky “seafood” course of fried catfish with a side of frog legs and crawdads😁

[@FeldwebelWolfenstool]

19:10 ...saw a video years ago with a fancy chef in a Chicago restaurant, where he said it's very important to cut the brown lateral line off of the fish filet, he was doing up some walleye...

[@georgehutcheson9679]

Got my mouth watering so much I gotta go catch me some feeshes for the fryer. Thank man that was a good vid.

[@jakerisner4139]

The catfish is cool and all but who else was disappointed to not see them finish the paddlefish? Those looked like amazing steaks!

[@j-rocd9507]

I live in St. Clair Co. Illinois and last time I checked there was a warning to not eat fish caught here. There is so much agriculture the fertilizers and pesticides run off into the water. I know that's pretty much everywhere.

[@ragnarragnarsson3128]

Probably industrial pollution as well. That's what I was wondering too. I wouldn't be lining up to eat anything out of those rivers either.

[@j-rocd9507]

@@ragnarragnarsson3128 Thank you for being curious about that as well. There is also a lake about an hour from here that has a coal power plant built on it called Baldwin lake. The lake is the cooling water intake and discharge for the plant. My grandfather and I used to go fish there and even ate a few stripers before I was old enough to know better. People have caught a few piranha because it doesn't freeze so people let them go in the lake. In 2015 a lot of untreated water was discharged into the lake. Wonderful. 😑

[@ragnarragnarsson3128]

@@j-rocd9507 yep it's sad to see place after place contaminated by careless human activity. I am all for America making things etc, but sometimes I wonder if buying imported goods is better for our environment since our country doesn't have to pay the 'pollution price' somewhere overseas does.

[@GrandDungeonDad]

This is an episode after my own heart. I love catfish its my go to when I want to go fishing. I will gladly take it over crappie or bluegill.

[@ericlee5778]

Ran jugs with my grandparents half my life, spent tons of time out on the boat floating the Arkansas river

[@ericwheat9540]

I used to love going cat fish fishing. That used to feed me all the time. From about 20 to 26 years old.

[@knifemaker2472]

Thank you! Have eaten there several times. Only people that regard cats as junkfish have never eaten them

[@jasonz7788]

No vegan BS here!!!! Thank you for the great work Sir!!

[@paddleandhook]

Well done as always. Hats off to the team on a great show 🧢!

[@stonebay2111]

Have eaten at e-town for decades. First question they ask is pond fish or river fish. Used to horseback all over Shawnee Nat.Forest not far from there. Catch the ferry and go to Sturgis Kentucky

[@TheIrishAmish]

Truly satisfying to see you end up at E Town restaurant! Great food!

[@kurtkohl151]

Jugging, limbing. All illegal in my state and next door.

[@theshooterakayoungchinmr4860]

I love how he is fishing in a clean white shirt how neat

[@notyouraveragegoldenpotato]

I made deep fried catfish sandwhiches the other night. Referenced your method/video. It was incredible. So good.

[@wesleygiddings893]

Looks fun. Man love the cooking at the end of these.

[@myronadams2101]

Glad to see you disprove the “catfish taste muddy” myth. I’ve been saying the same thing to deaf ears for years. Even giant blues are good eating if you trim them right.

[@charliethompson6601]

Without a doubt. I do every thing these guys do but i separate the fillets at the vein that runs the length.

[@FBP3392]

I think blues are the best catfish in my opinion nice and white flesh instead of yellow like a channel cat lol

[@charliethompson6601]

@@FBP3392 I agree that blues are better than channels. However I think flathead are the best because the meat is firmer. I like to grill it over charcoal and dip it in garlic butter like lobster. You can even rub a little BBQ sauce for an extra kick.

[@FBP3392]

@@charliethompson6601 I’ve never had flathead before that sounds awesome though

[@Chalz108]

I've eaten 15-25 pound blues and everyone says that's too big they won't taste good but that's just not true. They are very mild if you only keep the white meat.

[@jchris3841]

I love catfishing and catfish. Although crappie are number one for eating here in Virginia, catfish are a close #2 and pound for pound give one of the best fights on a rod and reel. This video was cool!

[@rebelscope]

That was so well done, Great Job to the meat eater team!

[@terrellhinton2449]

I just started jugline fishing and making my own trotlines and I'm doing well with it so far.

[@jerrythao9321]

I understand that some folks likes one method and never changes. Leon's method of cleaning can be made easier and will save him so much time. Cut the catfish an inch before the tail starts and let it bleed out. All you do after is filet the fish and the game taste and no blood line. Filets are more cleaner and taste much better