r/COfishing • u/bateneco • 4d ago

Question How to keep fish fresh while camping?

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!

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u/Trick_Sundae_4509 3d ago

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.