Pan-fried fresh Trout

Wrights Lake

Last weekend we went camping for the last time this summer. This time we went to an area near South Lake Tahoe where we got to hang out at two beautiful lakes - Ice House Lake and Wrights Lake.

It was my third time to camp this summer. That's a lot for a girl that's never camped in her life. School starts on September 1st. I think our camping adventures are over for a while.

The Ice House Lake Campground was a beautiful place. Nice big sites and really clean. The only downside was the port-a-potty out houses and the two wandering camp bears. Not one, but two. Thankfully I never saw the bears. But one of the guys in our group did. Scary!

Don doesn't know it yet, but I get to pick the next campsite. There will be flushing toilets and showers. 

We spent a lot of time at the lake swimming, hanging out, and relaxing. I even relaxed a little.

We were hanging out at the beach on Friday afternoon when a guy walked up to the group next to us and asked if they wanted some fish he caught.

"Want some fresh trout?" he asked.

"No thanks." they said, smiling. "Thanks, though."

I don't know why, but the guy then turned around and walked back the other way. He didn't approach anyone in our group.

Well you should have seen the faces light up. They wanted that fish. Monica, one of the gals, tried waving to the guy. But he was walking away so he didn't see her. She ended up running after him to get the fish. We're all yelling "RUN!" Ok, maybe it was just me yelling. It was pretty funny watching her chase him down. The good news is we got the fish. A whole bag of freshly caught and cleaned trout.

We put the bag of dead fishies on ice until dinner. I kind of felt sorry for some of them. They had their mouths open and looked quite shocked. So sad. Sorry fishies.

Fast forward a few hours and it's time to cook the fish.

Uh..... I don't know how to cook fresh, whole, fish. Do you? Luckily, Monica the fish chaser, knew how to pan fry fish. They were already cleaned (thank you cute fish guy.) We just had to cook them.

Monica and Nicola put butter in the pan and fried them. I'm sure I would have eventually figured out that is all you have to do. But maybe not.

Monica taught me how to filet them so I can do it again sometime.

We garnished the fish with salt and pepper, a squeeze of fresh lemon and chopped parsley. Boy was it good. The meat was flaky and moist. The flavor terrific and not fishy at all.

"Oh no!" he said. Yep. Sorry fella.

Kris and Monica

Please.........no comments about the dark circles, wrinkles, greasy hair, dirty fingernails, and dorky expression as I was talking to a cooked fish head....I was a mess!

And no nice picture of the big huge plate of fish filets either. We forgot to get that shot. Oh well. You'll just have to trust me that it looked fabulous and tasted even better.