A Guide to Making a Shore Lunch Canadian Style!

Few things conjure up the memories of fishing trips past as well as photographs, and with the possible exception of big-fish snapshots, few things are captured on film as often as shore lunch.

Of all the special catches, moments and events that a fishing trip with friends or family might include, few are as memorable as a delicious, sizzlin' hot shore lunch of fresh-caught fish, complete with all the fixin's and expertly prepared over an open fire.

Neither should any fishing trip be considered complete without enjoying at least one of the greatest outdoor recreational experiences of all time - shore lunch.

Shore lunch and/or hearty meals built around fresh-caught fish are among the cornerstones of a Canadian fishing experience. Much of the social life at camp revolves around cleaning, cooking and enjoying the delicious and nutritious bounty that your fishing harvest offers.

Getting Started

Catch fish, or it just ain't the same! Once ashore, assign chores to the guys - collecting firewood & starting the fire; filleting & coating the fish; peeling the potatoes & onions; opening the cans, buttering the bread and unpacking utensils.

Everybody doing their share of the work is part of the experience. Later, somebody has to do the cooking, clean up the mess, put out the fire, and repack the gear.

Make sure someone stops long enough to take those all-important photos. Shoot the roll - take snapshots of everyone at their appointed tasks, enjoying the meal and relaxing afterwards.

Cooking Over an Open Fire

The key to a successful shore lunch is to have everything ready at the same time and piping hot. That's easier said than done since each food item requires a different amount of preparation time.

Timing is everything, so cook those foods that require the most time first (onions, potatoes), the fish last. Don't begin cooking anything until the fire has burned down a bit and the embers are red hot.

Begin with the onions, frying them in an oiled pan until lightly browned. Next, add the sliced/chunked potatoes (par-boiled the night before & refrigerated).

Over very hot coals, brown the potato/onion mix, stirring often and gently, to avoid "mashing" the mix. In the meantime, place the coffee pot, can of beans and a large skillet with 1/4" of oil over the fire.

As soon as the oil is hot enough to "spit" back a drop of water or ignite a match head, cook the fish (about 2 minutes per side). Take everything off the grill simultaneously and serve while it is still piping hot.

Let everyone finish their meal before pouring the coffee or serving dessert (fresh or canned fruit and cookies). Afterwards, take time to let the meal settle and for the guys to "ooh" and "aah" for a while.

Cast off the rocks, take a walk, plan the afternoon's fishing, have a smoke, whatever - you'll know when it's time to clean up the site (and everyone will willingly do their part).

Finishing Up

The basic rule for outdoor recreation is to leave a site better than you found it. Of the utmost importance is extinguishing the cooking fire - dead out

It will probably have burned down considerably over the course of the meal, but must be thoroughly drowned, stirred to expose still-hot embers, then dowsed again.

Pick up the site completely - paper/foam plates & cups, littler, bottle caps, cigarette butts, packs & cellophane, beverage cans, plastic utensils, everything.

Stack and cover extra firewood in a dry location, away from the fire pit, for the next visit / group.

Fish guts present a special problem. If the gulls haven't already cleaned up the mess, either leave them on a distant mid-lake rock outcropping where they will find them, or remove them from the site (as garbage) for disposal elsewhere.

Do not throw entrails into the lake or leave them at the shore lunch site to rot and stink, or to attract insects, scavengers and bears. A clean site will later welcome, rather than repulse, the next group of anglers with shore lunch plans.

Here in the Great White North, shore lunches are a way of life, as much a part of the fishing experience as, well...catching fish!

And, even for guys who can't boil water, light the BBQ, burn toast or make Kraft Dinner, preparing shore lunch will, after a couple of outings, become second nature and an integral part of every fishing trip.