Fishing Club fish fry: real food for “reel” people
Scott Baker
There’s a natural gap between people in any community. We build our lives around differing hobbies, interests, and social activities. We have our universe of friends, and they have theirs. Sometimes we all seem galaxies apart. Then along comes the RR Fishing Club. Boom, there it is, a point of instant communion, and a beer-battered bridge soon opens up between those worlds.
With each club meeting or gathering, conversations start about the hottest fishing spots. Soon afterward, the question arises, “What are we going to do with all that fish?” “Eureka! Let’s cook us up some fish.” But we’re not talking baked or grilled. We’re referring to only one thing—Fried!
Welcome to the Fishing Club’s “oil” party, with 62 members attending. With just under 50 pounds of catfish, our fall backyard fish fry took hold, where everything was made with oil. Master cooks Steve Haugen, Marc Busboom, Mike Lock, and Scott Baker lighted up the outdoor fryers, hand-battered the fillets, and gently dropped them into the hot, bubbling oil. A few minutes later, platters were laden with deliciously moist and flaky fillets covered in a crispy, crunchy coating.
The fried fish definitely took center stage, but we needed all those side fixin’s, too. There were double-fried French fries, creamy coleslaw, and bacon-laden baked beans. Delicious every one, but these were only supporting actors for the real stars of the show—crispy fried fish!
Claims of being stuffed to the gills were nixed when we spied the desserts: cakes, pies, and banana pudding. And when it came to cleanup, no fancy tableware here; only paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils. Eat, drink, throw away—what could be sweeter?
The evening was spent eating and breathing fish, the aroma strong enough to seep into our pores until we could barely put down another bite. While heading home, we were already planning the spring fish fry. Yep, you got it. It sure ain’t gonna be healthy, but it’s sure gonna be good.
Never ones to turn down an opportunity to cast a line, plans are always in the works for fishing destinations around Texas and beyond. The RR Fishing Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Wildhorse Grill Boardroom at 4 p.m. For any inquiries, contact RobsonFishing@gmail.com or Scott Baker at 214-334-7664.