Rodgers: Fish eggs, try them if you dare

“Even though February was the shortest month of the year, sometimes it seemed like the longest.” — J.D. Robb

“Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, the night the city of Philadelphia cried together.” — Charmaine J Forde

Back in the old days, one winter day found my maternal grandfather hunting ducks up at the Prime Hook refuge. This was way before motorized decoys, and mud boats and all of the “necessities” that today’s water fowler hauls around, often looking more like a telephone lineman than a duck hunter. 

But, before I start to sound like a grandfather myself, back to the story.

In those days of yore lead shot was the load of the day, and the daily duck limit was determined by a “point” system. Such and such a duck was worth so many points.

On this particular day a single duck flew over the group’s decoy spread and my grandfather eagerly jumped up and fired, dropping the bird with one shot. Later, as he remembered, he found it odd that no one else made a move to fire.

“Got it!” he exclaimed.

“That’s a fact,” one of his party answered. 

“What is it?"

“That’s a merganser,” came the answer with a half-smile.

“Are they good to eat?”

“They’re good,” came the drawling answer, “if you like ‘em.”

It should be noted that mergansers are considered to be horrendously horrific table fare due to their diet which consists entirely of fish. Sort of like eating a flying menhaden or cod liver oil on the wing.

This time of year, anglers are starting to find the first yellow perch of the year. The bigger females are often heavily laden with roe. Back in my grandfather’s era fish roe was a big item, and I was taught to carefully save it from each fish, no matter the species. 

Male fish, “bucks,” were caught with a wry “it’s not a roe fish, but better than no fish,” particularly if it was a trout.

Fish roe is, in the opinion of many, “good if you like it.” But it’s worth a try if you find yourself staring at a cooler full of fat female yellow perch. 

Carefully work the eggs out and prepare the same as you would a filet. Piercing the sack that holds the roe helps to keep it from spattering. I really don’t know how to tell you when it’s done other than to explain that it’s much easier to tell you when it isn’t.

Yellow perch, or yellow neds, offer thick white filets. The fish are a real treat on the table and are fished commercially in many of the Great Lakes states. 

We normally start to see the fish first on the western side of the state, as the water tends to warm up earlier there. In this neck of the woods, the Broadkill River can offer a shot at at some yellow perch as well.

You can catch yellow perch on many different types of baits and lures. Small jigs such as Crappie Magnets or twisters work well in small sizes. Grass shrimp, if you can get them, catch anything that swims and yellow perch are no different. Worm sections work well for the perch, but perhaps the best is a small minnow. 

Small number six or eight hooks do the trick for terminal tackle, and use just enough weight to keep your offering on the bottom. 

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One final note, it’s no surprise to anyone who has been in this area for any length of time to know that there are, quite simply, more and more people around. That means more anglers and more fish of all species coming out of the water. 

While it’s probably OK to have a few meals of roe this spring consider letting some of the bigger, egg-laden females go. That way we are sure to have bright, yellow finned perch each spring to look forward to. 

Late winter, fishing isn’t for the faint of heart, certainly, but try it this season and you might find out it’s good if you like it.

Reports, comments or questions to captjackrodgers@comcast.net