I don't do much ice fishing. We usually only have a week or two of safe ice and most public waters around here prohibit ice fishing or even going on the ice.

When I have gone, most of the fish freeze nearly solid. When I get home, I put the fish in a sink or bucket of water until they thaw enough to butcher.

Is it safe to just take the whole frozen fish, bag them up and put them in the freezer, until you are ready to eat them?

If so, how long will whole frozen fish store safely, with guts intact, in a freezer?

I would think having the scales and skin on would help lessen freezer burn and increase freshness.

Keith

No idea, but I would just keep doing what your doing.

but then you wouldn't have the fun of watching them come back to life and swim around in the sink.i wouldn't do it that way,i'd fillet then freeze.just me.

this is my take right or wrong....I"ve tried both ways and to me once frozen whole with guts inside it just seems to me they dont taste so good.......froze hundreds a few yrs back whole and ate a few and gave the rest away. Its just possible that its just me.

It might be Safe... but not something I would do

I would figure out a way to keep them from freezing while out on the ice. Bury them in snow if you have any. If not, put them in a pail of water.

It is never a good idea to freeze trout or any other fish without cleaning it first. It leaves bad bacteria when thawing it out and can make you very sick. Always, always, always.... clean that fish before freezing it if you plan on eating it later.

I always thaw them out when home and properly process and then refreeze in ziploc freezer
bags and water. Lasts and will taste good for a year if need be.

Chris

^^^^^^^THIS. Put filets in ziploc bag, fill with water, burp out all air prior to 'ziplocking' and it will last years without freezer burn. Air touching the meat is what causes the burn and foul taste. I know it works for Walleye...not sure about them nasty trout. Lol

YEP

I've done it in the past and here is my take on it..Myself being I can get lazy.. I find it's best I just clean the fish then freeze..Then when I think hey I'm going to fry some fish up toady. I just get them out thaw them fry them up.. Don't have to think Geeze it I thaw them fish then I got to clean them yet too..So then they end up being in freezer until they become bait at a coon set instead of supper..
Anyway that is why I've been seen cleaning fish at midnight instead of waiting until even next morning.. Lazy!

I've always been told it was best to at least take guts out. Once you mess around that much might as well just finish the job. Fillets take up less room in freezer too.

Mac

Get the skin and guts out you will have much better tasting fish. If you have having trouble with freezer burn just make sure the fish are frozen in water with no flesh exposed to the air.

Double YEP lol. I wouldn't do it Keith. The guts will sour the fillets and the chance for bacteria goes up 1000%. Best to clean them first.

We do it this way also.....never had a problem.

I wouldn't leave them whole frozen I feel like the guts would make it taste awful

I agree,,also they dry out"freeze dry?" and are not as good.Besides,,an electric fillet knife makes short work of a couple buckets of fish.

That's what I do also.

X3

X2

We use to use those 1/2 gallon waxed milk cartons to freeze fish In. We caught them filled the carton with water and put the fish In whole and froze them. Never remember any bad taste because of It.