Uploaded October 2016 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
I’m not much of a soup guy. I want solid food to sink my teeth into. I found a fish soup recipe online though that looks hearty, meaty, satiating and satisfying. I have all the ingredients except one. You know what it is, the fish! Time to go fishing again! See the fishing equipment, recipes, lake info and more below.
Tomato Basil Fish Soup
Recipe inspired by: in-fisherman.com/recipes/tomato-basil-fish-soup-recipe/#ixzz4Lc4GBWRX
8 ounces of chopped celery
8 ounces of chopped onion
1 carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
8 ounces of chopped green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped finely
1 teaspoon of jarred minced garlic
1 12 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 quart of low-sodium chicken broth
salt and pepper
splash of balsamic vinegar
1½ pound of fish fillets, cut into 1-inch squares (I used largemouth bass)
1 big handful of fresh basil,
garlic croutons (see below)
In a large soup kettle, heat the olive oil. Add the celery, onion, carrot, peppers and garlic. Cook over medium heat, covered, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper and vinegar. Cook over medium heat another 15 minutes. Add the fish and cook 8 to 10 minutes so the fish is cooked through but not falling apart. Divide the basil into 6 bowls. Ladle the fish soup over the basil and garnish with croutons.
Garlic Croutons
Cut ½ loaf of french bread into small cubes (I used low-carb bread). Generously drizzle with a mixture of olive oil and melted butter (I sprayed with olive oil cooking spray). Sprinkle with 2 TBS of Italian seasoning, 1 TBS of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of salt over the croutons spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the pan every few minutes until the croutons are golden brown and crisp.
Spinach, Walnut, Feta Salad
Baby spinach
Fresh tomatoes, cut into wedges
Pecans or Walnut halves, toasted is best!
Feta, crumbled
Dried cranberries (careful, they’re high in carbs!)
Olive oil
Fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt, to taste
FISHING EQUIPMENT
THE REEL: The baitcasting reel is a Shimano Calcutta 50B, from about 2004. This model is no longer made.
THE LINE: The baitcasting line is Sufix 832 braid in low-vis green, 10 pound test, 4 pound monofilament equivalent.
THE ROD: The baitcasting rod is a Shimano Compre, Model CPC68MC, 6’ 8” fast action, medium power. Suggested lure weight ⅛ to ¼ ounce. Suggested line weight 6 - 12 pound test. Purchased April 2016.
THE BOAT: The boat is a Bass Hunter ordered from Bass Pro Shops about 12 years ago. They no longer sell it. The Bass Hunter company web page is gone, but boats like it, “Sun Dolphin” are still available.
THE LAKE:
The lake is called Lake Ketchabigwon (named by native Americans). It is almost 6 acres and is located in NE Ohio. It sits on 37 acres of property. The lake is private.
FISH IN THE LAKE:
largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie, black crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, and grass carp
WHY KEEP SMALL BASS:
We had biologists come out and do an electroshock survey of the lake. They found too many small, stunted bass. Their advice was to remove all bass under 12 inches, and to release the bigger ones. This rule is usually the opposite in large public lakes.
WHY I DON’T FISH FOR CATFISH
Yes, there are channel catfish in the lake but I’m not knowledgable about how to fish for them. Rigging for them is confusing to me. Also, I don’t enjoy sitting and waiting for a bite. It seems boring.
LARGEST FISH CAUGHT: The biggest was a grass carp I hooked and managed to beach. It weighed over 30 pounds. Next was a channel cat (accidentally caught while bass fishing) of 10 pounds. The larges crappie was 14½ inches and weighed 2 LBS and 1 oz. I did not measure the largest bluegill, but it had to be at least 10 inches. Finally, my largest bass was 6¾ pounds caught here at Lake Ketchabigwon.
VIDEOGRAPHY:
The principal camera is my iPhone 6s Plus on a tripod. I also use an iPhone 5s as a close-up, counter-top camera when cooking. It is mounted on a small tripod. I use a Rhode microphone indoors to help lessen the echo. The video is edited on my MacBook Pro using Final Cut Pro X.
WHY WE DON’T DO TASTE TESTS:
Lots of others have requested it too. But when Ms. Lulu is with me, she prefers to have dinner when the food is ready. She is not happy to let it get cold while we do taste tests and skits for my YouTube videos! It isn't her hobby, it's only mine. 😊 I hope you can understand!
LEARN HOW TO FILLET A FISH HERE: youtu.be/KgiGqlrB0LM
I’m not much of a soup guy. I want solid food to sink my teeth into. I found a fish soup recipe online though that looks hearty, meaty, satiating and satisfying. I have all the ingredients except one. You know what it is, the fish! Time to go fishing again! See the fishing equipment, recipes, lake info and more below.
Tomato Basil Fish Soup
Recipe inspired by: in-fisherman.com/recipes/tomato-basil-fish-soup-recipe/#ixzz4Lc4GBWRX
8 ounces of chopped celery
8 ounces of chopped onion
1 carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
8 ounces of chopped green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped finely
1 teaspoon of jarred minced garlic
1 12 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 quart of low-sodium chicken broth
salt and pepper
splash of balsamic vinegar
1½ pound of fish fillets, cut into 1-inch squares (I used largemouth bass)
1 big handful of fresh basil,
garlic croutons (see below)
In a large soup kettle, heat the olive oil. Add the celery, onion, carrot, peppers and garlic. Cook over medium heat, covered, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper and vinegar. Cook over medium heat another 15 minutes. Add the fish and cook 8 to 10 minutes so the fish is cooked through but not falling apart. Divide the basil into 6 bowls. Ladle the fish soup over the basil and garnish with croutons.
Garlic Croutons
Cut ½ loaf of french bread into small cubes (I used low-carb bread). Generously drizzle with a mixture of olive oil and melted butter (I sprayed with olive oil cooking spray). Sprinkle with 2 TBS of Italian seasoning, 1 TBS of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of salt over the croutons spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the pan every few minutes until the croutons are golden brown and crisp.
Spinach, Walnut, Feta Salad
Baby spinach
Fresh tomatoes, cut into wedges
Pecans or Walnut halves, toasted is best!
Feta, crumbled
Dried cranberries (careful, they’re high in carbs!)
Olive oil
Fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt, to taste
FISHING EQUIPMENT
THE REEL: The baitcasting reel is a Shimano Calcutta 50B, from about 2004. This model is no longer made.
THE LINE: The baitcasting line is Sufix 832 braid in low-vis green, 10 pound test, 4 pound monofilament equivalent.
THE ROD: The baitcasting rod is a Shimano Compre, Model CPC68MC, 6’ 8” fast action, medium power. Suggested lure weight ⅛ to ¼ ounce. Suggested line weight 6 - 12 pound test. Purchased April 2016.
THE BOAT: The boat is a Bass Hunter ordered from Bass Pro Shops about 12 years ago. They no longer sell it. The Bass Hunter company web page is gone, but boats like it, “Sun Dolphin” are still available.
THE LAKE:
The lake is called Lake Ketchabigwon (named by native Americans). It is almost 6 acres and is located in NE Ohio. It sits on 37 acres of property. The lake is private.
FISH IN THE LAKE:
largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie, black crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, and grass carp
WHY KEEP SMALL BASS:
We had biologists come out and do an electroshock survey of the lake. They found too many small, stunted bass. Their advice was to remove all bass under 12 inches, and to release the bigger ones. This rule is usually the opposite in large public lakes.
WHY I DON’T FISH FOR CATFISH
Yes, there are channel catfish in the lake but I’m not knowledgable about how to fish for them. Rigging for them is confusing to me. Also, I don’t enjoy sitting and waiting for a bite. It seems boring.
LARGEST FISH CAUGHT: The biggest was a grass carp I hooked and managed to beach. It weighed over 30 pounds. Next was a channel cat (accidentally caught while bass fishing) of 10 pounds. The larges crappie was 14½ inches and weighed 2 LBS and 1 oz. I did not measure the largest bluegill, but it had to be at least 10 inches. Finally, my largest bass was 6¾ pounds caught here at Lake Ketchabigwon.
VIDEOGRAPHY:
The principal camera is my iPhone 6s Plus on a tripod. I also use an iPhone 5s as a close-up, counter-top camera when cooking. It is mounted on a small tripod. I use a Rhode microphone indoors to help lessen the echo. The video is edited on my MacBook Pro using Final Cut Pro X.
WHY WE DON’T DO TASTE TESTS:
Lots of others have requested it too. But when Ms. Lulu is with me, she prefers to have dinner when the food is ready. She is not happy to let it get cold while we do taste tests and skits for my YouTube videos! It isn't her hobby, it's only mine. 😊 I hope you can understand!
LEARN HOW TO FILLET A FISH HERE: youtu.be/KgiGqlrB0LM
