Fried Chicken is one of my favorite "comfort" foods.  Typically, there a lot that goes into fried chicken.  Spices and fixin are the key.

I am partial to broasted, but still like good fried chicken.  Sheepshead and catfish love the chicken bones.  Relatively easy and mess free when eating chicken on the boat.  And for all you new co-angler on the FLW, fried chicken makes an excellent lunch.

As the walleye tournament trail unfolds, including MWC, IWT, and FLW, I keep my eye open for good fried chicken spots.

Top 10 Fried Chicken Spots

1.  Hager Heights Chicken, just outside of Red Wing, WI.  Excellent chicken. Very flexible in piece selection, ie all wings or all legs.  Awesome pineapple shake.  They line up for the chicken here.  Tip courtesy of Dan Macguire.

2.  Pipe Express Chicken in Pipe, WI (east side of Winnebago).  One great chicken place, plus bait, beer and gas.  Cant beat it. Nice blend of spices.  Potatoe wedges are hit or miss.  Cole slaw can be a bit vinegarry.  Selections sometimes tough. Found on my own.

3.  Chicken at Gas Station, Francis Creek Exit on 43 near Manitowac.  All chicken hand battered and cooked. About 20 minutes or so, but fresh chicken always.  Great special.  10 pieces, with coleslaw (very good), and potatoe wedges (so-so) for $10. Tip courtesy of Bob Mahorzyk.

4.  Broasted chicken from Oconto, WI and 41 Mobil Station. Small operation but a big taste.  Found on my own.

5.  Chicken Shack in Winneconne, WI.  Broasted specialty.  Kinda long on the weight, but better on the taste.  I dont feel the love here.  More like chicken in "a" item, versus "the" item at other spots. Tip courtesy of Ken Doepker.

6.  Piggly Wiggly Chicken in Kewanee.  Still on list.  Havent tried but heard great things.

7.  Grocery store in Wyawega.  Again, on the list, but havent tried.  Denny Fox swears by it.

8.  Rips Restaurant in Ladd.  Tried to have it last week 10/14, but were closed.  Bar across the street  nice.

9. Brewmasters Supper Club, Henry IL.  Hit them up last week. Man that was good.  Better than first time.  Get the dry batter.  Tastier, though beer batter just as good.

Honorable Mention:

1.  Jewel Fried Chicken.  Not a bad chicken from this mega grocery outfit.  100pieces with sides, $100.  Had a batch for the local fishing club meeting. Went over very well.

Feel Free to suggest for favorite fried chicken spots.  A taste testing will occur and inclusion in the ranking survey.

Otherwise you can make your own.  Many thanks to Joe B. for  his recipe.

Southern Fried Chicken

Seasoning:  

1 cup salt 

1/4 cup black pepper 

1/4 cup Garlic Powder

Southern Fried Chicken 

4 eggs

1/3 c water  

1c hotred pepper sauce                   

2 cups self-rising flour

1 teaspoon of pepper House seasoning 

 2 1/2 pound chicken,  cut into pieces     

Peanut oil for frying

To make the House Seasoning, mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

In a medium size bowl, beat the eggs with the water. Add enough hot sauce so the egg mixture is brights orange.  In another bowl, combine the flour and pepper.  Season the chicken with the House Seasoning. Dip the seasoned chicken inthe egg, and then coat well with the flour mixture.

Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a deep pot. Do  not fill the pot more than 1/2 full with oil.

Fry the chicken in the oil until brown and crisp.  Dark meat takes longer than white meat.  It should take dark meat about 13 to 14 minutes, white meat around 8 to 10  minutes.