Propane Smoker - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

EastLosYaker · 08-24-2016, 10:12 AM

I'm looking to purchase a smoker, and for a few reasons, felt that a propane smoker would work best for my situation. Looking for one you can set and forget. Also like the fact that they're portable. I can take it to the Rose Bowl when I go to watch my Bruins on Saturday's. Also want one with a large capacity. My concern is having one that can maintain low temps since most of what I will be using it for is fish. Does anyone have any experience with propane smokers. I have looked at the home depot models (link below) and have done quite a bit of research, but I was hoping someone had some experience with a propane smoker that they might be able to pass along. Thanks in advance!

http://www.homedepot.com/s/propane%2520smoker?NCNI-5

farreola · 08-24-2016, 10:22 AM

I have a portable smoker from Green Mountain. It's a pellet smoker and works great. It is on the small side, but like i said it works great. I can smoke two 8 pound pork butts in it. I can also smoke 5 rack of ribs using a rack. I'm in the process of buying a rack to smoke more fish. Look into it!!!

Lipripper92592 · 08-24-2016, 12:54 PM

The smaller smokers from HD or Lowes work just fine, except they heat up. Not exactly what you want for smoking fish. Heat cooks fish....cold smoke....smokes fish.
The small set ups will work for both fish and other meats. Use the burner set up for smoking butts/racks/brisket etc, then use a cold smoke generator to smoke the fish.
Youtube has great example of how to make a cold smoker. Pretty much its an aquarium pump, and a metal container using the venturi effect to push the smoke from the tinder box to the smoker while keeping the heat to a minimum.
AS far as set and forget.......you will be spending some coin for that luxury.
There are a few auto pellet feeders out there, which are tied to 110v outlets, and have heat/burner control built in. I think they start out around $600 for just the burner.

YakDout · 08-24-2016, 01:11 PM

My next smoker will be something like this

http://m.lowes.com/pd/Masterbuilt-JM...d-8926ca7f6de5

Hunters Pa · 08-24-2016, 02:04 PM

I use a Weber Smokey Mountain right now with GREAT results. You can get accessories for it that make it set & forget, or control from your smartphone. I have not gone that route yet. Yet. Consist of a blower & temp probe.

My next addition will either be a Traeger from Costco or a Cookshack.

ful-rac · 08-24-2016, 04:27 PM

I have a propane smoker and you most definitely don't set it and forget it. You need lower consistent temperatures over long periods of time with lots of smoke. The problem is, smoke and lower temperatures don't usually go hand in hand. It's a balancing act, that you'll have to figure out for your particular smoker. I'm sure its different for every model smoker out there...but once you find a good balance you'll have amazing results!

ful-rac · 08-24-2016, 04:30 PM

And if you don't have one of these...get one! even if you don't have a smoker...just get it!

A-maze-n Tube smoker

JJ · 08-24-2016, 05:18 PM

Not a propane smoker but I highly recommend the Traeger.
I got mine from Costco.
Got the smaller one with the temp control for mainly smoking fish.
I love this thing so much that I wish I got the bigger model.
They may cost a bit more, but well worth it.
JMHO.
-JJ-

Fishin' Magician · 08-25-2016, 02:15 PM

I have the Masterbuilt Propane Cookmaster. Not really all that portable, though it does have wheels. It does a good enough job on smoking just about anything, I have no complaints except that for some reason I can't ever get it to cook lower than 200 degrees. So things tend to cook a little faster than I might otherwise want them to. But it could be that I need to open the vents up a little more. But that then lets out the smoke and that's the whole point of having a smoker.

But I cook some killer smoked salmon in it and it turns out perfect every time.

EastLosYaker · 08-27-2016, 12:04 PM

Freakin Traegers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ExJrfgJ8zU

ful-rac · 08-31-2016, 07:34 AM

Yeah those traegers are pretty cool, a bit expensive...but in this case I would say it's totally worth it...cause It's for cooking MEAT! Looks like the cheapest model is about $429.00, not bad.

That being said the ol' propane cabinet smokers are good as well too. I just did a batch of yellowfin tuna on monday and it was insane! You'll probably have more capacity vs the traeger, having multiple racks and all. You also need one of these....

farreola · 08-31-2016, 01:40 PM

Have you checked out the Green Mountain Grills?

EastLosYaker · 09-05-2016, 12:19 PM

About to pull the trigger on a Traeger, but I'll check them out.

08-24-2016, 10:12 AM	#1
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	Propane Smoker I'm looking to purchase a smoker, and for a few reasons, felt that a propane smoker would work best for my situation. Looking for one you can set and forget. Also like the fact that they're portable. I can take it to the Rose Bowl when I go to watch my Bruins on Saturday's. Also want one with a large capacity. My concern is having one that can maintain low temps since most of what I will be using it for is fish. Does anyone have any experience with propane smokers. I have looked at the home depot models (link below) and have done quite a bit of research, but I was hoping someone had some experience with a propane smoker that they might be able to pass along. Thanks in advance! http://www.homedepot.com/s/propane%2520smoker?NCNI-5

08-24-2016, 04:27 PM	#6
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	I have a propane smoker and you most definitely don't set it and forget it. You need lower consistent temperatures over long periods of time with lots of smoke. The problem is, smoke and lower temperatures don't usually go hand in hand. It's a balancing act, that you'll have to figure out for your particular smoker. I'm sure its different for every model smoker out there...but once you find a good balance you'll have amazing results! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

08-24-2016, 04:30 PM	#7
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	And if you don't have one of these...get one! even if you don't have a smoker...just get it! A-maze-n Tube smoker __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

08-24-2016, 05:18 PM	#8
JJ Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 80	Not a propane smoker but I highly recommend the Traeger. I got mine from Costco. Got the smaller one with the temp control for mainly smoking fish. I love this thing so much that I wish I got the bigger model. They may cost a bit more, but well worth it. JMHO. -JJ- Last edited by JJ; 08-24-2016 at 05:54 PM.

08-25-2016, 02:15 PM	#9
Fishin' Magician Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 219	I have the Masterbuilt Propane Cookmaster. Not really all that portable, though it does have wheels. It does a good enough job on smoking just about anything, I have no complaints except that for some reason I can't ever get it to cook lower than 200 degrees. So things tend to cook a little faster than I might otherwise want them to. But it could be that I need to open the vents up a little more. But that then lets out the smoke and that's the whole point of having a smoker. But I cook some killer smoked salmon in it and it turns out perfect every time. __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy.....

08-24-2016, 10:22 AM	#2
farreola Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Calexico Posts: 134	I have a portable smoker from Green Mountain. It's a pellet smoker and works great. It is on the small side, but like i said it works great. I can smoke two 8 pound pork butts in it. I can also smoke 5 rack of ribs using a rack. I'm in the process of buying a rack to smoke more fish. Look into it!!!

08-24-2016, 12:54 PM	#3
Lipripper92592 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 516	The smaller smokers from HD or Lowes work just fine, except they heat up. Not exactly what you want for smoking fish. Heat cooks fish....cold smoke....smokes fish. The small set ups will work for both fish and other meats. Use the burner set up for smoking butts/racks/brisket etc, then use a cold smoke generator to smoke the fish. Youtube has great example of how to make a cold smoker. Pretty much its an aquarium pump, and a metal container using the venturi effect to push the smoke from the tinder box to the smoker while keeping the heat to a minimum. AS far as set and forget.......you will be spending some coin for that luxury. There are a few auto pellet feeders out there, which are tied to 110v outlets, and have heat/burner control built in. I think they start out around $600 for just the burner.

08-24-2016, 01:11 PM	#4
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	My next smoker will be something like this http://m.lowes.com/pd/Masterbuilt-JM...d-8926ca7f6de5

08-24-2016, 02:04 PM	#5
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,358	I use a Weber Smokey Mountain right now with GREAT results. You can get accessories for it that make it set & forget, or control from your smartphone. I have not gone that route yet. Yet. Consist of a blower & temp probe. My next addition will either be a Traeger from Costco or a Cookshack.

08-27-2016, 12:04 PM	#10
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	Freakin Traegers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ExJrfgJ8zU

08-31-2016, 07:34 AM	#11
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Yeah those traegers are pretty cool, a bit expensive...but in this case I would say it's totally worth it...cause It's for cooking MEAT! Looks like the cheapest model is about $429.00, not bad. That being said the ol' propane cabinet smokers are good as well too. I just did a batch of yellowfin tuna on monday and it was insane! You'll probably have more capacity vs the traeger, having multiple racks and all. You also need one of these.... __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

08-31-2016, 01:40 PM	#12
farreola Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Calexico Posts: 134	Have you checked out the Green Mountain Grills?

09-05-2016, 12:19 PM	#13
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	About to pull the trigger on a Traeger, but I'll check them out.