How to clean a catfish

[Schoe]

Step by step instructions with pictures on how to clean a catfish!

http://cleanfish.blogspot.com

[RamRod]

I usually skin the catfish first, then I fillet it off the sides. Is there any reason why one way is better than another?

[Catbird]

Ramrod, on the fishing trip when I first met Schoe, he showed me his techniques of cleaning catfish. They were the same as mine except for removing the skin. Fileting the skin off afterwards is much faster and easier. Just be sure your knife is sharp. After going back home, the skinning pliers went into the corner of my work bench and have been there ever since.

[Ðe§perado™]

I just fillet all my fish the same way. By filleting the sides and flip it over the fillet and cut the skin off.

[Screen]

Schoe - thanks for sharing! That looks much easier then skinning that tough skin first - does anyone leave the skin on the filet?

[Catbird]

Screen, I had a guy tell me that he freezes his filets with the skin on. After thawing, the skin is supposed to come off easy. I never tried it though. I would think that it would make the taste of the filets really strong.

[Screen]

Thanks Catbird! See you have a new profile pic. Got tired of holding those two fish?

That makes sence, they would have a stronger taste!

[little_fiddler]

For me, it's much easier to fillet off the skin with the knife than it is to pull it off with the skinner plier. Seems to be faster too.

[Schoe]

Colbyjack, you just listen to some of the Good ol boys on here and they will help you all they can, huh Kirk. I will show you how to catch and clean the turtles in the spring after I get back home. Schoe

[swampman]

i take a heavy knife and sever the spine then pull the head and skin off at once.

[fringe]

Yeah Soupy, I get the same page.
I clean them sorta like Soupy, except I don't hang them but I should . I'm interested in seeing Schoes way though, it may change the way I do it. I'm always interested in honing my cleaning and butchering skills.
I was watching an outdoor show where a dude from Australia filleted a fish from the tail up. I tried it, and found it's easier for me to do one side of the fish that way, so I just encorporated that into my filleting method.
Never to old to adapt;)

[cmward]

Filet them with an electric knife just like I do bluegill, crappie, bass, stripers, and any other fish. Its easier to me than skinning and gutting.

Corey