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Pinky ain't so bad #11334516 07/27/16
Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia 458 Lott OP Campfire Ranger
OP 458 Lott Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia	Still recovering from a bonsai dip net trip on Sunday, I think I’m getting too old for this crap. We left late Sunday, launched the boat just after midnight and dipped until 5 am, then drove back. Our meager take was seven fish, two of which were pinks. The big humpy yielded some pretty nice sized fillets. I’ve tried gilling and broiling pinks with various recipes and I’ll concede that they just rate anywhere near a sockeye, chinook or coho. But when treated with salt, brown sugar, garlic powder, some time for them to work their magic and then a dose of alder/hickory smoke and some heat you somehow you end up with a fine smoked salmon. For something different I added a bit of tobacco siracha to some of the fillets before putting them on the smoker, good stuff.

GB1

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11334536 07/27/16
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 17,491 Alaska - N63º, W162º Klikitarik Campfire Ranger
Klikitarik Campfire Ranger Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 17,491 Alaska - N63º, W162º	Pinks are useful before they become humpies. (I don’t have much use for them after they turn mud/slime-green and ‘harden’.) Smoke and additives can be the salvation of some otherwise mediocre fare though. Your efforts look quite palatable. Nice save. Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11334581 07/27/16
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 86,156 In the shadow of the Kenai Mtn... ironbender Campfire Oracle
ironbender Campfire Oracle Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 86,156 In the shadow of the Kenai Mtn...	I used to fish with the kids for pinks. Only kept dime-bright hens, though. Eggs to cure and filets straight to the grill. If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender

Re: Pinky ain't so bad ironbender #11334852 07/27/16
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 17,167 Northern California Hammerdown Campfire Ranger
Hammerdown Campfire Ranger Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 17,167 Northern California	Looks like some good eats. Randy NRA Patriot Life Benefactor

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11334892 07/27/16
Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,626 Anchorage, AK USA Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna
Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,626 Anchorage, AK USA	Originally Posted by 458 Lott Still recovering from a bonsai dip net trip on Sunday, I think I’m getting too old for this crap. We left late Sunday, launched the boat just after midnight and dipped until 5 am, then drove back. Our meager take was seven fish, two of which were pinks. The big humpy yielded some pretty nice sized fillets. I’ve tried gilling and broiling pinks with various recipes and I’ll concede that they just rate anywhere near a sockeye, chinook or coho. But when treated with salt, brown sugar, garlic powder, some time for them to work their magic and then a dose of alder/hickory smoke and some heat you somehow you end up with a fine smoked salmon. For something different I added a bit of tobacco siracha to some of the fillets before putting them on the smoker, good stuff. Looks like you are still getting them a bit hotter than you should... Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.

IC B2

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11335232 07/27/16
Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia 458 Lott OP Campfire Ranger
OP 458 Lott Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia	I knew you'd comment on the albumin Hey, it's a big chief and I'm happy with the product.

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11336219 07/28/16
Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,626 Anchorage, AK USA Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna
Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,626 Anchorage, AK USA	Keep it a little cooler and I bet you be more happier... Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11336513 07/28/16
Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia 458 Lott OP Campfire Ranger
OP 458 Lott Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia	Will try on the next batch. If you want to flip flies for reds on the Russian next week, let me know.

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11336540 07/28/16
Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,626 Anchorage, AK USA Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna
Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,626 Anchorage, AK USA	I could probably do that. Wiring Chris' shop this weekend and should be done by Monday. Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11336703 07/28/16
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 17,491 Alaska - N63º, W162º Klikitarik Campfire Ranger
Klikitarik Campfire Ranger Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 17,491 Alaska - N63º, W162º	Plenty of air, lots of smoke, mostly zero added heat. That’s a really good way to roll if you can pull it off. Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.

IC B3

Re: Pinky ain't so bad Klikitarik #11336707 07/28/16
Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,626 Anchorage, AK USA Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna
Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,626 Anchorage, AK USA	Originally Posted by Klikitarik Plenty of air, lots of smoke, mostly zero added heat. That’s a really good way to roll if you can pull it off. I am not a fan of most hard smoked salmon. Too much smoke on most of it and it is tough! Give me kipper with some moisture left in it. Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11336720 07/28/16
Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia 458 Lott OP Campfire Ranger
OP 458 Lott Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia	If weather is good Monday I might drag the boat down to Seward and chase silvers. But I should be free the rest of the week on evenings for sockeye.

Re: Pinky ain't so bad Sitka deer #11337584 07/28/16
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 17,491 Alaska - N63º, W162º Klikitarik Campfire Ranger
Klikitarik Campfire Ranger Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 17,491 Alaska - N63º, W162º	Originally Posted by Sitka deer I am not a fan of most hard smoked salmon. Too much smoke on most of it and it is tough! Give me kipper with some moisture left in it. Pinks do get hard pretty fast. But some people don’t smoke their fish at all so that is easily tailored. And any of the long-river salmon, caught in the salt just before they make their run, don’t dry down hard and usually have plenty of the fat that makes for wonderfully rich, tasty strips and dry fish. Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.

Re: Pinky ain't so bad 458 Lott #11337633 07/28/16
Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 4,347 Alaska FishinHank Campfire Tracker
FishinHank Campfire Tracker Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 4,347 Alaska	Is it true that it's almost impossible to dry out a Yukon king because of their fat content?

Re: Pinky ain't so bad FishinHank #11337644 07/28/16
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 17,491 Alaska - N63º, W162º Klikitarik Campfire Ranger
Klikitarik Campfire Ranger Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 17,491 Alaska - N63º, W162º	Originally Posted by FishinHank Is it true that it's almost impossible to dry out a Yukon king because of their fat content? Yes. The darned things just hang there and drip, catching every gnat that comes along in their oily goodness. I’m sometimes surprised I don’t have an oil fire in the smokehouse when they drip on the smoke pot. I prefer to jar some of the fattest strips and mix them with canned salmon during the winter when I make spread. Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.

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