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When I’m at work I really need to concentrate on the moment at hand for a variety of reasons. It’s not that I’m super important; if anything quite the opposite, however it’s more that the work I complete on a daily basis does not end like a block layer constructing a brick wall. Block laid, on to the next one, and eventually the wall is complete.

My work gnaws at your brain for years. It never really completes itself. Sorta your expensive “work in progress” forever job.

There are a few ways I like to shut my brain off. One of my favorites is smoking fish. I run into a fair amount of herring and whitefish and it takes to smoke, like I take to cigars.
After its rinsed coming out of the brine and laid on the racks I only need to watch the temp and add wet chips or stoke the fire teasingly with maple. Give it too much wood and it gets to hot. To much fire, leads to too little smoke.

The old saying, where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire, Well I like a wee fire with billowing smoke, but the little flame is there. Then its time to sit, Cuz you can’t leave it unattended. Its time consuming, I’ll grant you that. Ah, but the smoky aroma therapy is nice and easy on the brain bucket.

Every hour I toss in some wet chips, check the temp to see if she’s smoking off around 180 degrees. My smoker is a gal by the way. She cooks up a storm on spring and fall days. No digital read outs or dampers. The grates get brushed off from the last time. The door almost closes all the way and the lid leaks like a sieve. It looks perfect.

From years of tending or learning to tend it, I learned to relax. You have to move at the smokers pace. You can’t hurry that flavor. So I don’t. Crisp fall days are preferred to spring smoking, but when life gives you autumn’s whitefish or Lake Superior spring fresh herring, its time to light up.

In my neighborhood we warn each other a few days ahead of time. Gives folks time to purchase their favorite cracker. One guy stops by just to make sure he gets a whiff. Everybody always wants to open the door but I have a fly swatter for those that want to look with hands. There’s plenty of time to handle the fish later on.

Warm off the smoker is nice but after it’s chilled in the fridge seems to harden the final touch on the smoky flavor. Like the guy who mows his own grass, he never gets the fresh mowed lawn smell like the down wind neighbors.

My smoker stands five blocks tall. It’s been here so long I forget who built the block walls in the first place. I always forget to duck my head on the way out. Funny thing to forget that? Smoking fish really does rest my brain.

The trout whisperer

Karl "Trout Whisperer" Seckinger is a respected JustNorth author and outdoor adventurer. His guide service, DuNord Guide Service, and the trout waters that he fishes in the Superior National Forest, are some of the most tightly guarded secrets among Trout enthusiasts in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Contact Karl at 218 - 525 - 0442 or write to him at:

DuNord Guide Service - 6999 Culbertson Road, Two Harbors, Minnesota 55616

Learn more about DuNord Guide Service in the JustNorth MarketPlace.