Is there a proper way to filet pickeral?

[zman]

Its got a good flavor, but when I try to filet it in the normal bass style I get a ton of little bones. I know some people out there eat em, is there a trick or do they just not mind all the bones?

[mallard]

I've actually heard of a way of cooking them so that the little bones actually become soft... and you eat them with the meat.

I haven't done it, and don't know where the link is, but it's out there if you're willing to search it. Sounds good to me.

[GotBass]

it's really hard to explain... but pickerel, like pike and musky have what is called a Y-bone. it runs along the spine, when making the cuts along the spine, you will notice some small cartilage type bones. the trick is to turn your knife under these y-bones and pull them up (don't cut them or they'll get lodged in the meat). once you get them all from head to tail, you can then resume cuttin the fish like normal.

i still haven't mastered it, but my Uncle taught me the trick before he passed away last summer. you really have to see it to get the right idea though.

[BassNva]

WTL
this guy James Raffanhttp://www.writersunion.ca/r/raffan.htm did an article about fileting pickerel.i couldn't find it,but i didn't look very hard.had some stuff to do...i'm sure you can find it someplace.good luck.....tom