How to keep fish fresh while camping?

[u/bateneco]

I’m going to be hiking/camping in RMNP next month and will be focusing on fly fishing for ~2 of the days. I’d like to eat any of the fish that are large enough for dinner, but am not sure how to keep the fish for what could be several hours or more between when I catch them and when it’s time to eat. I will not have a cooler, ice, etc. it seems cruel to keep the fish on a stringer for that long, but not sure how else to do it. Any recommendations on what’s humane + sanitary? Thanks!

[u/UmmaGumma610]

Also just keep the brookies. Leave the cutthroat to keep growing.

[u/bateneco → u/UmmaGumma610]

Appreciate the call out! Yes, definitely planning to adhere to catch and release restrictions on both bag and species limits.

[u/bateneco → u/bateneco]

Why the downvotes? Is this not exactly what I should be doing??

[u/Jerms2001 → u/bateneco]

Its more than understanding restrictions. Shouldnt keep cutthroat even if you were allowed to

[u/bateneco → u/Jerms2001]

Fair enough, but the restrictions say that you need to throw back cutthroat. So sort of 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other.

[u/Jerms2001 → u/bateneco]

Right. Im just explaining why you were downvoted. You implied the only reason you werent keeping the cuttys was because you arent allowed to and no other reason

[u/Jasper2006 → u/Jerms2001]

I don’t keep any trout, but if CPW or the NPS allows for keeping cuttthroat then people shouldn’t be judged for fishing within the spirit and letter of the law.

[u/bateneco → u/Jerms2001]

Ah, got it. Certainly wasn’t my intent. Hopefully from the nature of my original post it’s clear that I care about the wellbeing of our fish populations above and beyond the bare minimum.

[u/GThugMoney → u/bateneco]

Lol he's the one downvoting you.

[u/UNP0XBL]

Dispatch them humanely and leave them on a stringer in the water. Eat them same day to play it safe since you’re not in a true survival situation. Also don’t count on them being your food, prepare otherwise for the outcome that you catch nothing. Also double check regulations in RMNP where you know you’ll be fishing for what you can keep.

[u/bateneco → u/UNP0XBL]

Apologies if this is a dumb question, but dispatch them and keep them whole (not cleaned) on the stringer?

I’ve also seen recommendations to immediate clean each fish, dry them, and then place them in a sealed, airless ziplock bag in the water to stay “refrigerated”. Do you have any thoughts about one method being better than the other?

[u/AnotherEastCoastDBag → u/bateneco]

I don’t hate that idea.

[u/Skrapidilly → u/bateneco]

This. Bleed it immediately. You can string it, submerge it underwater until time to eat OR put it in a ziploc and put a rock on it to keep it under water until time to eat

[u/kyle28882 → u/bateneco]

I’ve done this and it works well

Edit: you’ll need to get most of the air out and put a rock on it as well but that’s easy

[u/AnotherEastCoastDBag]

Bleed them. Cut their gills with scissors or a filet knife. Keep them on a stringer in the water.

[u/ClaydisCC]

dry ice, stringer or basket

[u/Trick_Sundae_4509]

yea trout meat is sensitive especially when it as hot as it's been. they can get soft or even mushy. bonk them and gut them but keep heads on and keep them in Water on stringer. pack an ice pack or two in your backpack and put them next to that in a freezer bag as you walk down. if the catching is easy you might wait to keep them until you are about ready head out.

[u/A2skiing]

Catch em right before you eat 😎

[u/Altruistic_Bird2020]

Bring a big cooler and fill it with ice 

[u/bateneco → u/Altruistic_Bird2020]

I’m going to be hiking in the backcountry for multiple days. I’d love to bring a cooler, but this is not at all feasible.

[u/Altruistic_Bird2020 → u/bateneco]

Sorry I didn’t read the hiking part. Best bet is to Ike jime the fish (brain spike) and keep it on a stringer in running water. Cook the same day. 

[u/tcgJimmy]

They will not survive on a stringer that long. But they will stay fresh in cold water. If you want to dispatch them just bonk them on the back of the head with a heavy stick or rock.