OUT4Dux - I can relate. A couple years ago, during the fall, I was smoking up some silvers. Started about 6pm on a typically cool evening.

After a few hours in the smoker, I checked on the fish with a the help of a flashlight. What I saw was not what I wanted to see. There were some whitish wormy looking little guys emerging from my precious salmon. Wiggling, squirming bundles of joy.

Bye Bye Batch of Beautiful Bounty.

Not enough HEAT!

Found out from reliable sources about freezing the fish first and haven't had any trouble since.

Also, I made a smoker "box" to surround my little chief smoker which helps regulate the smoking temp. much better throughout the different seasons.

h2o - Sure looks tasty, but... :p
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'Tis a strange and bewildering place. Often, a steelhead will take on the first cast, and at other times, one can beat the water to a froth and swear a fish was nowhere near. --Bob Heirman