He clearly doesn't have little kids. His tune will change when his 4 year old is turning blue in the face because he missed one of those Y bones . . .
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For years I didn't like to eat pike because of the bones until I learned how to fillet them properly, now the only ones that get released are the smaller fish. 3 lb. and over usually come home with me. Like I said before that is my wifes favorite fish. When I finish the cleaning job I will hold them up to the bright light of the window and that usually allows you to see any worms in the meat. It is a lot easier to remove the bones before cooking than while you are trying to eat the damn things. Pike and Walleye are the best of the bigger fish. Nothing wrong with the little panies either, just check them good for the little buddies in them.
Laker
I agree with rich and toddy. pike can be cleaned without bones, I did it once. But I don't take any chances any more for the reasons mentioned by these 2. They do taste great though.
I have a kid, I have a brother significantly younger than me too, ate tons of pike up near Kapuskasing for many many years. There is one story, my mom got a Y bone in her throat when she was a kid, the day before fathers day. Her dad got out the long needle nose pliers and got it out, these were his nasty greasy pliers, she had bought him new ones for fathers day but did not want to give them to him early.
You can freak out about anything, think about it. If you work to take out all the bones and miss some are you not in worse shape than knowing to look for the bones? What about a pin bone in a chunk of salmon? They are sharper and stronger than the Y bones on a 3lb pike.
I was told to turn soft pike into fish cakes, have not been able to wet a line in longer than I want to admit but I will try pike cakes at some point.
Rib nuggets and chicken nuggets are delicious, but realize what it is, just like blackforest ham is not that shape in the pig, it is literally edible glue holding it together.
I fillet my pike and very carefully look them over for bones, yes I had small kids but their not small now, so I wasn't suppose to feed them pike? I raised 3 kids current ages 27, 19, 14
This thread is hilarious. You guys do realize that Y bones are not spread out randomly all over the entire fish right? My kids are 7 and 9. Been feeding them pike since they started eating solid food. They love pike nuggets. Although my daughter likes perch better. Not sure what her problem is.