Dip Net Fishing for Hooligan | Taste Test + Smoking and Canning
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Our first dipnetting trip of the year was a success. Our target fish, Hooligan AKA Smelt, run up Alaskan waters in the Spring months. We head to the shores of Twentymile River to dip net the tasty and multipurpose fish. At the cabin we taste test fried hooligan as well as smoke and can the fish to preserve the harvest.
We appreciate you tagging along for our Alaskan adventure 😀
Thank you for watching and supporting our channel! 💙
- Eric & Arielle Illia
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These fish are sometimes called oolichan or eulichan and were used by First Nations for oil more than for the flesh, hence the name "candlefish". The oil was so desirable that it was an important trade item.
i also grew up calling them oolichan.
Thats really cool. How would one extract the oil? Is it just by cooking, or what kind of process would need to accur?
@@samanthamcneil2729 Cooking and then pressing like you do olives?
@@samanthamcneil2729 Look up Bizarre Foods: Alaska with Andrew Zimmern. They film the process
I grew up eating these every spring in in BC. Dipped whole in a flour, salt, pepper, and curry mix then fried. So delicious!
I'm from West Bengal State of India and we Bengalis have a reputation as fish eaters. This is how we usually eat medium and small sized fish, head tail bones and all
A tip that my mother used to say...while eating whole fish of that size, start eating from the tail end, less chance of bones sticking in your throat
I'm a fish filleter and have a super good tip for gutting fish! if small like that use a tea spoon and scrape the guts out saves so much time, even bigger fish you can use a table spoon gets all the harder bits out that your fingers can't grip on to :) also awesome catch 💪🐟
Jesus loves you all very very much repent and believe and be saved from eternal punishment of sin amen, Jesus suffered for you
Solid tip! Thanks.
Yep good tip, in Maine we used grapefruit spoons too, and go easy
Thanks for the tip
I love how you two are always trying new things. It nudges me to step out of my comfort zone. Lol Thanks ❤
Here in Scotland we fry herring in flour & oatmeal, it’s an oily fish too, and the meal mops up the oil & gives a crispy coating
oats like you buy to cook or ground to a flour ?
We get varying grades here for porridge, but the finer “pinmeal” is probably the best. You could simply put a cup of course oats in a blender if needs be.
@@42apprentice ok so like the texture of corn meal?
I'm in Ireland but grew up in San Francisco...mom is from outside Glasgow...
Equivalent to US “steel cut” it uses the whole grain and gives a nuttier taste. Mind you it is quite hard to get fresh herring these days. Back in the day it was a staple.
In Argentina, one place I grew up, my dad would take us to the port to a restaurant that served whole “pescaditos” (little fish), heads & insides included. They were Sonso fish (Mediterranean Sea Eel), about 2-3” long, completely fried (lightly flour dipped) and served in a huge mound, like a plate of French fries, as an appetizer sprinkled with salt, served with a plate of lemon slices and a small bowl of a garlic aoli on the side as a dipping sauce if you felt like it. My goodness it was so good! Crunchy, salty, lemony. Best weekend treat! Your video reminded me if this.
we eat them like that in Europe (Croatia)
you guys are always like "we've never tried this" and then go and actually do an amazing job!
I love this too! This is how my husband and I are nice to see others do the same.
I've said this before, but I'll say it again. I love how you two talk between yourselves. It makes me feel like I'm right there with you. : )
I love how they always treat eachother with complete respect it's really nice to see
Exactly what I feel too, like I am standing right before them and listening
I'm starting to think that other bird has a crush on one of your chickens.
It's so funny to me watching them look absolutely disgusted eating the fish, and then going 'It's delicious'! They're such a sweet couple haha
Living in Wisconsin smelt is super popular like insanely popular here.
So thats awesome you can catch em fresh :D
Fried smelt is a bar delicacy you get during packer games for free ;) lol
Marinette, Wisc. Go Pack Go!!!
New Berlin, WI. Born & raised in Kenosha and smelting was always a big thing growing up
From WI as well. I remember eating fried smelt. I am not sure where we got the fish, we did not catch them ourselves, but likely in Oconto County. I LOVED them. I wish I could have some now. We ate the bones as well, but I don't think we ate the heads. I'm pretty sure I'm not brave enough for that. This was a great video. I really enjoy them all!
My favorite part of your videos is seeing how you two work so well as a team together ❤
Oh my. Does this bring back memories. 70 years ago the Wisconsin smelt run became available to us in our local general store in Eastern Iowa. The town was population 300. I liked the crispy tails the best. We ate them just like you did. Thank you for sharing all this Alaska goodness with us.
Yes, smelt fries in the springtime! Yum, yum.
I really enjoyed watching this episode. As a child living in our native village in North coast of BC, Canada, we catch tonnes of them, we call them oolichan. We smoke them, sun dry, salt and also render all that oil and make oolichan grease. When call them candle fish.
I couldn't believe the oil that came out. Maybe you all should try the candles.
You guys have so much fun. Enjoy every moment. You won't regret it. Thank you for taking us along .
the first time I dropped a hamburger off the grill and my chickens devoured it in seconds i realized they are really Lasa raptors
Yep they are farm buzzards lol.
Chickens will eat anything, even other chickens...
When me and my family slaughter our chickens the other ones come up and eat the guts. They’re definitely savage haha
I grew up eating Smelt, to me they are the best tasting freshwater (the Great Lakes) fish, local grocery stores even have them, frozen of course, they are that popular!
I can remember cleaning trash cans full of them when I was a child. The spine peels right out after you cook them.
I grew up about 15 miles from the mackinaw bridge, miss those days of dipping, sadly all but gone now
Used to gut them, run the finger over the sides to knock some scle back. Flour and fried on the coleman on shore. Don't find them much here on Simcoe anymore.
After working a kitchen in San Diego for a year, it is SO refreshing to see yalls outdoor food prep. Also, it’s ok to walk around with blood on your hands, not contaminating anythin sit down. Lol. I love how much teamwork you guys seem to need, it’s very romantic.
Washing them with vinegar really does take away the fishy smell from any fish.....and eating fish head is very delicious , because it's not part of your culture you fine it strange.....😊..love watching you guys! Viewing you from sunny island of Jamaica 🇯🇲 🌅 ❣️...
Oh my gosh, your dog drooling whilst you stood in front of the smoker talking about the fish… so funny, he was staring SO HARD 😂
When I was a kid we used to eat fried whole smells in cornmeal with a soy dipping sauce. 65 years later I still get cravings.
It's not a smelt
@@jtee4247 Actually, Hooligan are one of five fish within the Smelt family.
It was so fun to see you two catching these little guys in huge quantities. BUT even more fun was watching you taste test them. We died laughing. "Why does the head taste so good?!?!" and when you guys were saying that it wasn't amazing, but kept taking nibbles off of it. Bahah you two are the sweetest! Your vids just keep getting better and better. You are such naturals! Sending big love from Ontario Canada. - Erin + Brian
Oh, and if you haven't heard of Dick Proenneke, and the story of him living in the wild for 30 or so years on Twin Lakes in Alaska... You might want to look up his old docs on YT. REALLY interesting. Maybe he is the inspiration behind some of your adventures. Not too sure. But if you don't know about him, we think you would like to. :)
The oil is packed with omega three. Very good for you, your dogs and your chickens. When you get to eating your canned ones, pour any unused oil into the dog/chicken feed.
I live in Michigan, and many of the streams that empty into the Great Lakes used to have runs of spawning Smelt in the springtime. It was great fun to go to these streams in the middle of the night and basically do what you did with pretty much the same type of equipment, though the nets had a finer mesh. Often referred to as “Smelt Drinking” as opposed to Smelt Dipping, giving you an idea of how it went. Now with so many invasive species the runs have dwindled severely.. They were about the same size as you guys were getting, very tasty, not oily at all, very mild fish..
I miss smelts! They make the best fish "sticks". Enjoy your bounty!
“Look at cute he is! *smooch*”. Arielle, you are adorable! What a great haul, friends. Thank you for taking us along with you!
I feel like I'm on an adventure every time I watch the videos. So much fun, thank you 💕
My gosh, you two youngins, y’all really know how to seize the day, every second of it! You days seem to last at least 30 hours. I love that you share chicken time with us. It’s fun watching them snack, squawk, and strut.
Watching them throw random food into the chicken cage and then seeing the chickens come out to eat is one of my favorite parts of many of their videos.
Best TH-cam channel out there!
AGREED! ‘Love this channel. I drop everything to stop, grab a drink and enjoy their latest upload.
Great video. I love smoked fish canned in marinara sauce, served on flatbread or hot, buttered toast.
You could use the smoked fish in a kedgeree dish too, if you're looking for recipe inspiration.
You never fail to astound me how hard you both work, how resilient you are, and how open you are to trying new things 💖
Love the life you two live! Inspires me to be outside more and enjoy nature! Thanks for the great content.
My grandma was full blood swede and lived in Everson and Bellingham WA. My dad said that there were only a few places in the world you could find hooligans. Sweden, Nooksack river and Alaska. I'm sure there's other places. But my dad bragged about how much he loved hooligans
As a Southeast Asian, all I can say is: that's how you eat fish!
Might be wrong video!
When you have the smoker going it is also worth it to smoke cubed bread to turn into smoked bread crumbs for breading things you want to fry for a different flavor. You can also save the smoked cubes for smoked croutons or to turn into smoked stuffing.
I am loving these longer videos! I could watch these forever. Thanks for sharing Alaska with us!
School of fish!
Definitely longer videos
I absolutely love this couple and I admire them for living the dream, but there's no way would I eat fish heads! 😀🇬🇧
Boy, when Eric gets the hang of it, he really gets the hang of it!
I love the longer videos. Thank you so much. I am a city girl at heart but this is my favorite TH-cam Channel. Thank you so much. Watching you two brings me a lot of joy in the midst of a season of hardship.
Fun to learn that other fish species smell like cucumber. Our Garfish (Northern Europe) also smell like cucumber and they have distink green bones.
Sounds like those would be an excellent LAXATIVE for your Digestive System In your time of Need!!!
Holy cow! What a beautiful life you two are living!
@@donaldmiller8629 words
Eric giggling when he finally started catching was the best of this entire episode...well, until you started cooking and eating them! I am so inspired! Thank you, for taking us with you on your adventures.
We grew up fishing for huligan ( or how ever you spell it ) and my parents just packed them tightly into milk cartons, filled it with water and froze them. They didn’t clean them and I don’t remember having to deal with fish guts...memories from childhood is a handy thing.🐟
I hear you, that's how Dad did it too.
We did it the same way with the milk cartons here in Michigan. But we cut off the heads and gutted them. So darn good fried
My parents lived in Alaska for 5yrs., right after they got married. I don't remember them talking about smelt...as we called them when they went to lake Erie and seine them! We would bring home garbage cans full! We cut the heads off, then froze them in milk cartons, and I don't remember if we used what else we used, but I was pretty young then! We always cut the heads off and gutted them, dipping in egg and milk stirred up and fried them using lard. I miss them, as I used to buy them in the grocery store, long after we quit seineing for them, but haven't seen them in the stores her in Ohio for years! I don't remember if we canned or smoked them like we did Salmon. I definitely miss them and would like to try eating the heads! I really miss hearing about the fish stories my parents talked about! They lived outside of Anchorage, dad worked on the railroad, and mom was a nurse in Anchorage!
When Ariel showed us the worms and said "they are pretty hard to see but ... they move ... when they aren't... frozen " as she shifted her eyes ... i was dead 🤣🤣🤣. Love how you two make videos like this one ! Thank you!
Fish worms and parasites can't hurt you can can be eaten raw as well
always look forward to new videos
edit: look at your boys @39:40 were drooling, those are for sure tasty fish, your boys and tomato plants will thank you
You should try basting with olive oil, garlic, and herbs and grilling them like sardines.....
I saw that, too. So cute!
I can’t stop watching your videos. They are right up my alley! Thank you😍
Just found you yesterday and love you guys and your channel! SUBSCRIBED after my first taste and this is my first real time episode notification! Thanks for sharing your journey with the world. All the best!
You really really have to go back and catch up watching all their vids. Much better than watching a movie.
@@dinahquillen9380 That's all I've been doing yesterday and today. They are quite the couple! Love the B-rolls, especially during eating the bacon and sausage video. Can't stop watching. Great stuff.
@@dinahquillen9380 so true !!
its better at low water , easier to net them and thats when they start moving up river .also keep an eye out for bird life , where ever there is alot of seagulls you will find them .
those dogs look really angry you did not smoke a couple each for them, im sure your cat/s would like some too :)
Ariel apologizing to the fish was hilarious! You guys did awesome
Ariel smacking the fish around and then apologizing to them 😭
I chuckled a little when she did that😂
Her clubbing fish period 🙄
@@jujuandwamwams165 Any other ideas?
@@joniboulware1436 I know rip the gills out
Clubbing fish Kills them instantly, the rest is just nerves firing.
We fished for these guys a lot when I was young. In Oregon we still call them smelt, there used to be a run in the Sandy river. Now I think only the Cowlitz (WA) still has a run.
that's sad. they were so plentiful in early '60s'
My grand dad used to win the smelt eating contests they held in Fairview next to the sandy river.
That is very cool!!
😂 You make the most informative yet insanely entertaining videos!
This brings me back to my childhood. In Michigan they would announce when the smelt were running. My dad would take the day off from work and head to the Au Gras River kind smelt dip. We had this 25 gallon galvanized metal tub that he would fill up. When he got home it was clean and taking the heads off. Then divide up into dinner for 7 portions. We usually got 25 to 30 bags.. it was a lent stap.e for us. I love all thing things you done with them. Happy eating
I bet some spicy chiles when you canned them would be awesome.
You guys make work look so easy. You can tell you love each other so much. Makes us wish we were young again and do the 'move' to Alaska and live in such a beautiful place. God is so good!
The original fish sticks. I’m so hungry now.
ya'll would love Louisiana, we eat everything here
Back in late 70's while attending Southwest State U in Mn had annual smelt fishing/fry at the dorms in the spring. Brings back fond memories!
Love Arielle’s one liners.....”that’s going down” re the bones from the smoker 🤣 Made my day, now I’m off to get the garden planted up whilst we have a break in the weather ☔️ ☀️
Thank you so much for your videos, we love them 💚
I don’t live off the grid but I enjoy your content and I do a lot of things that you do as far as canning my own vegetables harvesting animals one available etc. love it
These make great meals. Living in Michigan I ate these many times, although we call them smelt. I'd say the next time you go for them, get more, they do actually freeze well. And, next time, try a flour/egg wash/breading trio, think that would blow your mind even more! Love your videos!
I’m always camp cook because I’m not really sure that anyone else will be as clean with the food prep. But you have my respect; you really do take care of your fish! Love smoked hooligan, good job on your catch! Hope 2021 gives you much good fishing. BTW, so cute seeing Bo happily wag his tail when he was the first catch at the start of the vid
We have a similar fish here, the capelin. They roll up onto the beach to spawn. My favorite way to preserve them is salt and sun dry them on a flake with balsam fir branches,then roast them in the oven whole. Very common to pick them up on the beach after they've spawned and use them for fertilizer. It amazes me how similar Alaska is to Newfoundland and Labrador.
1. Ariel you should consider getting a silicone ring 💍 when going on these adventures.
2. Poor Bandit was drooling 🤤 wanting a peice if the hooligan.
3. That bird friend needs a name. She sounds like the mom from Charlie Brown 🤣
I noticed the stone and the mount and was thinking hmmm... that's ok but not for doing things with.
Same for in the garden
That was fun guys! Thanks for sharing another Alaska tradition.
I’m not sure I’d be as brave as you and eat them! But you look like you had fun and the chickens were impressed by their tasty snack!
They’re smelt. Not that odd to eat them 😂
Hi Ariel & Eric...this is one of my favorite videos. You are both inspiring me to visit Alaska!!!
We're gonna need a bigger bucket! LOL!
That was really well done.
Your commentaries are simple, polite, creative, informative.
Very good.
Very best to you both.
I have been making corn tortillas for 40 years. One tip I would give you is that if you add a little white flour with your corn flour (about 1/8 of a cup for every cup of corn flour is my guess we don’t Measure anything) your tortillas will come out softer and will bend without braking.
Thank you. I've been making flour tortillas for years but had a harder time with the corn masa ones. They did exactly what you said. They were cracking. Tasty right off the griddle but did not hold fillings so I usually only use them in enchilada or casseroles(totally not real Mexican food but the family loves the casseroles lol. Like a tex-mex lasagna lol. )
I am so going to give it a try later thank you for sharing your tips, I find so many better cooking tips and hints on TH-cam comments than any fancy cooking sites!
Have a great day!
@@Emeraldwitch30
That’s great that you make flour tortillas. I could never get the hang of them. They always turned out hard and liked like the state of Idaho (where I live).🤣
@@debbieherrera1605 well I got lucky. 8 grew up here in MI in apple country and a friend from schools grandma was delighted to teach me. But her recipe isn't quite what she said 100% Mexican lol it was flour/a bit of baking powder/salt/real lard and she used a bit of butter in the lard for flavor and hot scalded milk.
I also, since I got old, found an electric tortillas squisher! It heats up and only works with flour tortillas. You make the dough and get the round balls and squish them with the hot machine just for a few seconds. Then I put them on the griddle to lightly brown them.
It also does well hand rolling but they are more amoeba shaped when I hand roll.
I use the squisher not plugged in for corn tortillas.
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup lard with 2 tablespoons butter
One cup scalded milk with one teaspoon salt mixed in.
Rub the fats into the flour/baking powder until its fine little granules
Then slowly add the hot milk(I tried both hot hot milk and just warm it works both ways but if cold its harder to mix) till it forms a shaggy dough.
Knead it till it comes together into a nice stiff springy dough. Put in bowl and cover, I just put a plate or another bowl inverted over it. Let it rest for about 1/2 to an hour and then knead a touch more and devide into 8 to 10 balls.
Then roll and cook. But I find hot hot so that the tortillas cook quickly helps keep them tender.
I hope this helps.
I know in my searches that a blogger called "homesick Texan " has a recipe quite close to this so if you do better with visual learning she has great step by steps with photos.
I am living my dream of living in Alaska through you 🥰
I love you guys 🤗
It's been 40 years since I've had Smelt. My parents would get them whole, they'd roll them in flour and cornmeal, fry them, and serve them that way. If I recall, the recommendation was to leave them whole as the guts cooked away, but that could have just been my parents being lazy. haha. I remember enjoying them a lot as a kid. Yours made my mouth water. Thanks for taking us along.
It's not a smelt, oolichan is diffrent
I too had them as smelt only mine were about 50 years ago, I am truly sorry but 50 years isn’t long enough to wash awY that memory! 🤣 I do like most other fish though!
She's a trooper for getting in there with the fish helping clean em
Bandit is drooling just waiting for his treat.
Really enjoyed this episode, I just got back to Utah from spending a week up in Alaska, and seeing some familiar roads especially down by the river just brings back the whole trip for me! So beautiful up there!
A new Alaskan delicacy with every episode! 👍
Best of both worlds for me! An adventure and gourmet cooking from two of the most amazing people!
Love it!
In Illinois, we would catch Smelt in the river. There was nothing like a Smelt fry. I am sure Hooigan will be great Good luck
HOOLIGANこそ本物のシシャモといえますね！
脂の多いことから、ろうそく代わりに使われもしていた様ですね！
ALASKA 滞在中は塩水に漬けてから水切りして窓にぶら下げて
一夜干しにしてから焼いて食べていました！
日本のものとは比べ物にならないほど美味でした！
You guys are awesome. Every since I seen your first video 3 years ago I been thinking about moving to Alaska. I’ve visited a couple times and y’all make me wanna pull the trigger.
Loving the long videos and creative adventures you have. Great watch every time.
Bo says, "cool sushi!" And Bandit is looking like "why don't I have fish in my pond?" " I have it almost knee deep."
I love the dynamic of your relationship! Best friends, husband and wife and partners in every aspect!!!!! So nice to see good people still exist in this world! Love your videos
A beautiful diversion for a crappy day. Made my spirits soar, especially seeing Bandit and Bo, and those mean ole carnivores.😆 Oh my, that was an awesome shot of Bandit! I hope Bo got a fried fish to, they looked scrumptious. LOVED the ending.
@ 26:36 Nope;... having seen them with their eye looking up at me...
I dunn'a think I could eat them like that...
But U 2 enjoy them...
Thank you so much for sharing and taking time out of your busy schedule to share y'all adventures 🍀🍀🥰🥰😏😏😏
Its Fun Watching you two in your adventures :) Take care and stay Sweet, Chellie
AWESOME! I'll have to give this is a try next year! You both really do Alaska justice and do a great job showing just what it's like to live here.
In case you forgot. Fish eat worms. They are a high protein fish food. Fish eggs can be quick cooked and eaten. Remember onion garlic and butter sauce. Yum.
Love learning about smelt right along with you! Head is delish because of the 🧠🤓
wow. Such an abundance of fish. These fish are high in omega 3 and very good for you.
Your dogs were boring holes in your heads trying to stare you into giving them some of the smelts! So funny!
Used to go fishing in the finger lakes for smelt. On great nights you can get a almost full net on one scoop . Then the evasive zebra mussels came in and the smell we’re not there anymore good times good memories that’s all it is now memories. We cut the heads off and gut them ,some egg and milk dip,cracker crumbs on it fry them up.
Love the content, I watch religiously.. such a dream, you two together demonstrate a realistic approach to what it takes to leave the city and go rogue , I love it. Thank you for sharing your journey :)
I used to eat these all the time. A little breakfast/lunch place where i used to live had them on Fridays. Fried smelt and they were so good. We used to catch them also but it was line and pole only. Did make the mistake(not knowing) and threw cast net on them and caught more than we needed in one shot. I have also ate smelt soup which was soooooo good. There are many ways to eat them and they are very healthy
Oh man! This was so much fun to watch. We used to go "Smelt" fishing every year at the Sandy river near Portland Oregon. When the runs were good, every net dip was like that full net you brought in. They are a lot of work for a small fish but they sure taste good. Thanks for sharing your experience. I never knew they were called "Hooligans." After thought: we always milked out the eggs and sperm from the fish and poured it back into the water to help keep the population high.
Love how the dogs are watching you soooo attentively at the end, waiting for one of those smoked fish. Love them!
My Friday TH-cam entertainment! 👍🏽
Just found this channel this week, but I am already a really big fan of your videos. I'd imagine the animals taste amazing and clean out there.