small modern living blog - whitefish tale

As our first summer in Bayfield came to a lingering end, we imagined how our lives could be more “off the grid.” We envisioned a greenhouse space where we could grow our own food. Suddenly, we became more interested in hunting and fishing. We decided our next tiny house would be completely off grid. This all coming from a couple who lived most of their lives in a large city environment!

The thought of growing and catching our own food seemed like such a foreign concept and yet, it was incredibly appealing. We could save money, live more sustainably and naturally. The reliance would be on ourselves and the land. For now, we rely on my brother in law, the very gifted fisherman in our family, for delicious whitefish. He always seems to come back with an abundant supply, enough to always share.

According to Dr. Paul B. Addis, Fish in Lake Superior offer health benefits as they are rich in omega - 3 fatty acids and monounsaturated oil (Omega-3 Fatty Acid Content of Lake Superior Fish, 2013). Indigenous communities around the great lakes have a long tradition of incorperating whitefish into their cooking traditions. One can cook it in a variety of ways - smoke, grill, boil, bake. It’s fun to experiment and try recipes at local restaurants in Bayfield. My favorite is the whitefish pizza at the Copper Trout.

Last night my son asked me if we could go ice fishing and try to catch a whitefish in Checquamegon Bay. That started a ten minute bedtime story about “Petey,” the whitefish we chased around the bay and finally caught, before releasing him back to the great lake. I am discovering with every whitefish tale, the desire to be more aligned with nature and all of her abundant gifts.