Father and Son Smoking Arctic Grayling In the Yukon

Ever wondered how to turn a freshly caught fish into a smoky treat the whole family will enjoy? Imagine spending a full day with your son or daughter learning old-school smoking techniques with clever Yukon hacks that make the whole process easier and more fun!

This Yukon Boys adventure is not just about food. It is about family tradition, outdoor life, and the simple joy of working together. Mark and Dad invite you along for every step, from gutting and cleaning the fish to preparing a classic salty-sweet brine that adds a perfect northern twist.

Watch as Dad uses a plastic straw to puncture the fish, ready to be strung to the rack; an unexpected hack! They share the brine recipe with easy instructions, making it accessible for anyone wanting to try this at home with grayling, trout, or char. You’ll learn about the smoker setup, discussing wood chip choices for authentic Yukon flavour. You’ll see the smoker in action over hours as they manage temperatures, refill chips, and check on the fish at key moments. The commentary is down-to-earth with plenty of real family banter and fun surprises along the way.

Mom even gets consulted for her Alaskan expertise on smoking fish, adding that cross-border family wisdom that feels authentic and warm. If you love learning about old-fashioned food preservation or want ideas for your next camping trip, this is a must-watch. And by the end, they share a simple taste test with saltine crackers, showcasing the finished smoky fish in all its glory.

This is not some polished studio cooking show. It is real Yukon family life: outdoorsy, messy, and absolutely genuine! Whether you are looking for practical smoking tips, curious about Yukon traditions, or just want to hang out with Mark and his dad on their latest adventure, you will find something special here.

The Yukon Boys channel celebrates the northern lifestyle with humour, skill, and heart. Let us know your favorite moment in the comments, and share your own smoking tips or outdoor food traditions. We would love to hear your ideas and keep the conversation going. If you enjoy the video, be sure to like, subscribe, and join us for more Yukon experiences with our family. There is always another adventure waiting in the wild north.

BRINE RECIPE:
Salty-Sweet Brine for Grayling, Trout & Char (For 3-4 Pan-Sized Fish)
Ingredients:
4 cups (1 litre) water
1/3 cup kosher salt (or 1/4 cup table salt)
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey

Instructions:
1. Warm about 1 cup of the water in a saucepan (just enough to dissolve ingredients, not boiling).
2. Stir in the salt, white sugar, brown sugar, and honey until fully dissolved.
3. Add the remaining cold water to bring the total back to 4 cups. Stir well. Chill if necessary to ensure it’s cool before adding fish.
4. Place cleaned fillets (grayling, trout, or char) in a non-metallic container or large zip-top bag.
5. Pour the cooled brine over the fish, ensuring they’re fully submerged.
6. Cover or seal and refrigerate for 6–8 hours (for a milder cure, 4–6 hours; for stronger, up to 12 hours max).
7. Remove fish, rinse briefly in cold water, and pat dry.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Episode Intro
0:13 Welcome and Project Overview
0:21 Link to Previous Episode
0:37 Step 1: Processing Grayling
1:53 Dad Explains Next Step
2:04 Step 2: Preparing the Brine
3:56 Morning Rinse and Prep
5:31 Step 3: Rinse, Dry, String
6:54 Ready to Tie for Smoker
8:04 Step 4: Straw Hack Stringing
8:42 Attaching Strings for Smoking
9:56 Step 5: Preparing the Smoker
11:18 Tying Fish to Rack
12:47 Step 6: Start Smoking
13:52 Why We Keep the Box
14:44 Enjoying the Smoke Smell
15:13 First Smoke Check at 20 Min
15:57 One Hour Smoke Check
16:52 Step 7: Three Hour Check
18:03 Step 8: Four Hour Check
18:17 Mom’s Smoke Expertise
18:46 Needs More Smoking Time
19:00 Step 9: Remove After Five Hours
19:29 Cutting Fish from Rack
20:02 Smoked Grayling Taste Test
20:54 Father-Son Taste Test
21:04 Link to Previous Episode
21:12 Link to Hooked On Fishing Playlist
21:19 Episode Outro
21:28 Goodbye from a Smoked Grayling

MUSIC ATTRIBUTION
🎵 Travel Light by Audionautix - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... – http://audionautix.com
🎵 Your Intro by Audionautix – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... – http://audionautix.com
🎵 Back To The Wood by Audionautix – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... – http://audionautix.com
🎵 Angeline the Baker by Nat Keefe with The Bow Ties – https://music.youtube.com/
🎵 Sour Tennessee Red (Sting) by John Deley and the 41 Players – https://music.youtube.com/
🎵 Apple Inc. iMovie Sound Library (Buddy, Roadtrip, Medium, River Walk, Acoustic Sunrise, Lazy Day, Bell Buoy) – https://support.apple.com/en-us/101664

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