Uploaded August 2016 | Updated September 2026, 16 hours ago
We’ve all seen thick salmon fillets on the grill, but rarely small bass, bluegill or crappie fillets. I’m intrigued as to whether I can actually grill a small fish fillet without it falling through the grates. Have you ever wondered too? I only need to catch a few fish to find out. See below for the recipes, info on the lake, and fishing equipment used.
LOW-CARB COLESLAW
The recipe was inspired by the recipe found here:
genaw.com/lowcarb/my_favorite_coleslaw.html
Ingredients:
1 14 oz. bag of pre-shredded coleslaw
1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup Splenda (6 packets) or equivalent liquid Splenda
2 tablespoons white vinegar
¼ teaspoon celery seed
⅛ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
Mix the mayonnaise, Splenda, vinegar and seasonings in a large bowl. Mix in the pre-shredded coleslaw, stirring to coat well. Chill several hours before serving. The whole recipe has about 30 net carbs.
GRILLED BASS FILLETS
Ingredients:
1 pound of bass fillets
Cooking spray
¾ stick of butter, melted
Your favorite lemon pepper seasoning
Directions:
Start grill and heat to 425°F.
Spray cooking spray on a special grill grate with small holes
On a foil-lined baking sheet, lay out the fish fillets and brush on the melted butter.
Sprinkle generously with lemon pepper
Flip the fish over and butter the second side
Season the second side generously with lemon pepper.
Place the fish fillets on the grill grate, close the grill and allow to cook for 6 minutes
Remove with a spatula and serve!
FISHING EQUIPMENT:
THE BOAT
The boat is a Bass Hunter I ordered from Bass Pro Shops about 12 years ago. They no longer sell it. Also, this model is no longer available, but newer models like it are still sold. Check here: sportsmansguide.com/product/index/bass-hunter-ex-96-boat?a=670576&pm2d=CSE-SPG-15-PLA&utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=CI&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=WX2*0186929000000&gclid=COz4v7CNocsCFQmQaQod_-EG4g
THE LURES
The first lure used was a Berkley Havoc 4 inch Subwoofer in black with red flake.
The second lure used was a Strike King 1/4 ounce buzz bait in black.
The two baitcasting reels are Shimano Calcuttas 50B, from about 2004. This model is no longer made.
The first reel is loaded with Original Stren monofilament in 8 pound test.
The second reel is loaded with Sufix 832 braid in low-vis green, 10 pound test, 4 pound monofilament equivalent.
The first casting 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 from Cabela’s.
The second casting rod is pistol grip medium/lite action 6 foot rod that is approximately 16 years old. It is a model BB60MLC Bionic Blade purchased from Bass Pro Shops, recommended lure weight ⅛ to ½ ounce, recommended line 6 to 14 pound test. It is no longer made.
THE LAKE:
Was named Lake Ketchabigwon by the native Americans who sold me the property 30 years ago for a good amount of wampum. It is almost 6 acres and is located in NE Ohio.
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.
Learn how to fillet a fish here: youtu.be/KgiGqlrB0LM
MUSIC:
The background music is “Bill Cheatum” performed by Fiddlin' Mutt Poston & The Farm Hands from the album Hoe Down Volume 5 from archive.org, Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike.
We’ve all seen thick salmon fillets on the grill, but rarely small bass, bluegill or crappie fillets. I’m intrigued as to whether I can actually grill a small fish fillet without it falling through the grates. Have you ever wondered too? I only need to catch a few fish to find out. See below for the recipes, info on the lake, and fishing equipment used.
LOW-CARB COLESLAW
The recipe was inspired by the recipe found here:
genaw.com/lowcarb/my_favorite_coleslaw.html
Ingredients:
1 14 oz. bag of pre-shredded coleslaw
1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup Splenda (6 packets) or equivalent liquid Splenda
2 tablespoons white vinegar
¼ teaspoon celery seed
⅛ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
Mix the mayonnaise, Splenda, vinegar and seasonings in a large bowl. Mix in the pre-shredded coleslaw, stirring to coat well. Chill several hours before serving. The whole recipe has about 30 net carbs.
GRILLED BASS FILLETS
Ingredients:
1 pound of bass fillets
Cooking spray
¾ stick of butter, melted
Your favorite lemon pepper seasoning
Directions:
Start grill and heat to 425°F.
Spray cooking spray on a special grill grate with small holes
On a foil-lined baking sheet, lay out the fish fillets and brush on the melted butter.
Sprinkle generously with lemon pepper
Flip the fish over and butter the second side
Season the second side generously with lemon pepper.
Place the fish fillets on the grill grate, close the grill and allow to cook for 6 minutes
Remove with a spatula and serve!
FISHING EQUIPMENT:
THE BOAT
The boat is a Bass Hunter I ordered from Bass Pro Shops about 12 years ago. They no longer sell it. Also, this model is no longer available, but newer models like it are still sold. Check here: sportsmansguide.com/product/index/bass-hunter-ex-96-boat?a=670576&pm2d=CSE-SPG-15-PLA&utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=CI&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=WX2*0186929000000&gclid=COz4v7CNocsCFQmQaQod_-EG4g
THE LURES
The first lure used was a Berkley Havoc 4 inch Subwoofer in black with red flake.
The second lure used was a Strike King 1/4 ounce buzz bait in black.
The two baitcasting reels are Shimano Calcuttas 50B, from about 2004. This model is no longer made.
The first reel is loaded with Original Stren monofilament in 8 pound test.
The second reel is loaded with Sufix 832 braid in low-vis green, 10 pound test, 4 pound monofilament equivalent.
The first casting 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 from Cabela’s.
The second casting rod is pistol grip medium/lite action 6 foot rod that is approximately 16 years old. It is a model BB60MLC Bionic Blade purchased from Bass Pro Shops, recommended lure weight ⅛ to ½ ounce, recommended line 6 to 14 pound test. It is no longer made.
THE LAKE:
Was named Lake Ketchabigwon by the native Americans who sold me the property 30 years ago for a good amount of wampum. It is almost 6 acres and is located in NE Ohio.
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.
Learn how to fillet a fish here: youtu.be/KgiGqlrB0LM
MUSIC:
The background music is “Bill Cheatum” performed by Fiddlin' Mutt Poston & The Farm Hands from the album Hoe Down Volume 5 from archive.org, Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike.
