Carp of the size of that eelpout infested the waters, and so did catfish in the dredged barge channel, but large-mouth bass there were dying of old age. Bass are tasty, like flounder. If I caught a bass less than three pounds, I tossed it back in to grow some more.
No carp or catfish for me, and this eelpout looks to be in that class of trash fish. We just hooked the carp with a gaff and left them back to swim away and die. Some peo[le said that soaking carp fillets in milk would get rid of the muddy taste when baked. I tried it once, and it did not work, a waste of time and good milk.
Pan fish were aplenty, and three or four fresh-caught, filleted, skinned, and butter-fried bluegills were a prince's meal matching any aquatic delicacy around the globe.
Next to walleyed pike, that is.
Throw back anything under 3 pounds? Why? It has been my experience that those under 3 pounds are the best eating. In fact, by time they get up to 5 pounds, they are not even close to as good to eat as the smaller ones.
About 1 to 2 pounds for large mouth bass, to eat, are the best you can get.IMHO.