Getting ready to go fishing

[LSFL]

Taking my 13 year old grandson. Just to a pay lake, but there are too many recreational boaters to use the lake or creeks this time of year. The boats aren't too bad but the jet skis are freaking obnoxious. It's still a 50 dollar fine to shoot a jet skier and then you have a year of thank you notes and cards from everyone who knew them that you have to respond to. Who has time for that?

Anyhow, catfish for supper tonight!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. What is a "pay lake"?

Do you have to pay to go fishing (apart from buying a fishing license)? I've never heard of such a thing.

[jpak]

2. A private pond stocked with fish - you pay to fish there

Fairly common down South.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Huh. In a state (MN) where there are +11,000 lakes

of at least 10 acres, and they're all public, the concept of a pay lake would be kind of strange, so that must be why I'd never heard of it. Obviously it wouldn't be a money-maker here. Maybe there are places where somebody charges to fish off their dock or something like that.

So I looked up "pay lakes" and discovered that there is a Pay Lake in Minnesota, but you don't have to pay to fish in it - it was so named because a railroad paymaster once settled there. Pay lakes seem to be a catfish thing, mostly.

[jpak]

4. In contrast, Georgia has NO natural lakes - they are all inpoundments

and pay lakes are quite popular.

[LSFL]

5. Pay lakes

Are small privately owned bodies of water. They are stocked with popular fish such as bass, bluegill and usually channel or blue catfish. You can pay a nominal fee to fish there. No license is needed. A predetermined weight or number of the dominate sspecies is included. I took my wife and grandson. We paid 45 dollars and netted 20 pounds of edible fillets. Catfish fillets average 8 dollars a lb so we killed it!
Great fun for all and I didn't need to go on my stupid boat. It was delicious and my extended family loved the Zatarans breading. Highly recommended for the tourist season.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. So kind of a game farm, only with fish.

I've never had catfish. They don't look very edible but I guess they must be...

[LSFL]

8. my mind boggles

I feel like I should hold an intervention or start a support group for you VO. Catfish is a flaky white fish with a mild flavor. It is good baked or breaded and fried. It lends itself well to Cajun spices and is remarkably good with ketchup.

Most you find in restaurants and stores is farm raised so the flavor is consistent. Wild cats are more of a mixed bag. I avoid the scavenging species and eat the predatory breeds for best flavor.
You should try some. It's good.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. We do walleyes and Northern pike in these parts. Really great eating.

I suppose I could catch catfish in the Mississippi but I don't know if I'd want to eat them.

And I never put ketchup on anything.

[LSFL]

11. I love walleye.

The smaller flathead cats are similar to walleye in taste and texture.

[sarge43]

7. So, any fine if you shoot the jet ski?

Then, make him pay you for a ride back to shore.

[LSFL]

9. Clear thinking sarge!

I know a guy who is a marine mechanic too!
We could partner.

[sarge43]

12. Thanks

Have the mechanic over charge skier and pay you a percentage. You could make enough to hire a secretary to deal with the thank you cards. Problems solved.

[LSFL]

13. lmao