The backbass and hybrid are on Richland Chambers near Corsicana. The tilapia are in lake Fairfield power plant lake. Lake Fairfield used to have a great redfish population but drought driven low lake levels and extremely high summer temperatures a couple of summers back pretty much killed the reds!

They sell Tilapia at a local store. They say it's good eating. I don't know, I've never eaten any. Have Ya'll eaten it before and how good is it?

I have eaten it before Robert, it is good.

What kind of fish, would you say it taste like? It looks like a big Blue Gill.

Well, its hard to say, I say it taste like Bass.

My wife fries tilapia.  I really like it.  I haven't had whiting in a long time but as I remember, tilapia is similar to it.

An interesting side note.  I once went to Colorado and saw the alligators and the tilapia in the shadow of the snow capped Sangre de Cristo mountains.

Charles my mom fried up tilapia last night for dinner!.. and some super home fires /potatoes things!-small world brother!

personally i have always been a SALMON or TUNA STEAK person...YUMMY!

I thought Tilapia was a little muddy. But what do I know. Love me some Salmon, Tuna, trout, or Cod though.

Tilapia is like all other fish, in the hands of the right cook it is outstanding, and it can be poorly processed and prepared as well. I would rank it just below red snapper-crappie-walleye! :) But then like a lot of you I have eaten alligator, shark, squid, possum, armadillo, blackbirds, robins, rattlesnake, etc.

Blackbirds and Robins - WOW - never heard of eating those. Its hard to beat Alligator.

Alligator is my oldest Grand Daughters favorite. I fry some for her birthday every year.

My favorite fish is fillayahfish.  I like that it is boneless, rectangular and has a crunchy outer layer.

I like filet fish because it's easier to cook and eat and I don't have to worry about the young ones, swallowing a bone.

I'm with Tobias.  No fishing equipment, no hooks in your hand, no cleaning, no bones; marvelous.

I must mention this for general info, I'm not a kill joy. As the host of this group, I feel it my duty.

  A Robin is a song bird and should not be harvested as food. Black birds on the other hand are crop predators and can be harvested for that reason or to eat. I have eaten Black birds and they are okay. There is plenty of Game birds and crop predators to harvest, so we don't need to kill song birds. Someone mentioned eating Robins, so I thought I'd mention this. I am sure if in an emergency situation that all is forgiven. If someone is not knowledgeable or a young one reads our post, I just want to set them straight. In most circumstances, it is not okay to shoot song birds.

  I hope I have not stepped on any ones toes, but as I mentioned earlier, I am the host and I had to set everyone straight on this.

Hmmm...  Well when if comes to gull and pigeons (at least in the urban environment) I wish you could just legally shoot on sight as nuisance birds. They drive away the otherwise native birds and animals.  Nasty diseased ridden rats with wings yet if i kill one I can be fined or jailed!  Just doesn't make a lick of sense.

You are right, they should be call nuisance birds, in some instances. I have a friend that has a Crawfish pond and there are some birds that cause a lot of damage and cost him money. The law says all he can do is try scare them off. I guess all we can do is try to get the law changed.

I have a great idea for a new discussion, that I will be starting soon. I'll give you a hint about it. What would be or do you have a hair raising, harrowing experience that a knife played a major roll?

  I'll let Ya'll think about it a little while before I start it.

Any story involving a knife might do. It doesn't have to be life or death.

The Grandkids have left for Houston, yesterday after Church. Kinda quiet around here today. I hated to see them go. They love the outdoors and doing things outdoors. We shot rifles and pistols, built a wilderness shelter, camped overnight at the farm, drove the pick up (they love doing that), fished and used knives many many times. They each got lots of Grandpa's knives to take home for their collection. We are sure going to miss them.

Do they visit around Christmas? I'll bet they would love to go hunting with you.

Not Christmas Robert, but they are thinking about Thanksgiving this year.

Those kids had a great visit, Ken.

I am sure those kids made some good memories, but I bet you did too ken.

Yes Charles, Great memories, I miss them already.

Yes they did Howard, Grandpa had a great time to.

I just made a memory with Danny.  He let me start the lawn mower and then put him on my lap.  He then drove the lawn mower!  And he is not three yet.

What a great picture of an even greater memory.

Ken,

Now that sounds like a great way to spend some summertime.  Outdoors with Grandpa!  I am so glad you got to spend quality time with them

Comment by Ken Spielvogel 12 hours ago

Charles,

LOL, did he earn enough mowing the lawn to get a new knife?

SH Jan, I don't have to pay him yet!  Don't spoil a good thing for me!  LOL

Thanks Jan, I loved every minute they were here.

Congrats Steve!  Now get some rest.  Or as much rest as a farmer can ever get!  LOL

Looks great, Steve.

Steve, I know that feeling, I remember it well. Glad you got it in. The cows will eat this winter.

Steve, so under the tarps is bedding, and the square bales next are for food?

That is alot of hard work there Steve.  Did the stockman stay sharp?

Great idea. Thanks.

Steve, farmers work hard.

We are thinking about going to Grand Ile, La. and do some fishing and crabbing. If we go I'll post a bunch of pictures. It has the best beach in Louisiana. You can catch fish and crabs at the beach.

Sounds like fun Robert!

The decision of which knives to bring is an important one. I will need to have a good folder in my pocket. Plus a filet knife and knives that are suited for cleaning crabs. A multi tool and a hobo of course.

Some of the knives I plan on bringing are; a stainless GEC Trapper with Camel bone handles, a Colonial and Ontario fixed blade fish knife, a Sunrise River custom Filet knife. a couple of Ozark Trail Hobo's, a Rough Rider Moose, the girls are bringing their Rough Riders Barlows and their boy friend Paul is bringing the Benchmade I won here on IKC.

Sounds like you are going to be well prepared Robert.

Have a knife time Robert

Thanks, we leave tomorrow. A friend of mine that's going with us, got there today and reported that they were catching a bunch of crabs and Trout. We can't wait. I love eating boiled Blue Point crabs.

  Yes, we prepare well. I have been going there since I was a young man and have learn a few tricks at catching the seafood. I hope to teach them how to catch Sheep Head fish. If you don't know the trick, you'll not get a bite.

Snakes are just one of the reasons I am always armed.  (But the main reason is two legged varmints!)  My EDC is a S&W .38 and/or a Ruger LCP .380.  (Yes, I normally carry both.  Only in special circumstances do I only carry one or the other.)  When I go to the woods, the .380 is replaced with my S&W .22 LR on my hip.  But the .38 is still in my pocket.  If I am deer hunting, my Ruger Blackhawk .45 is on my hip and the S&W .22 replaces the .38 in my pocket.  If I have to kill a copperhead or rattler, I don't want to have to get close enough to do it with a knife!  LOL