I'm very particular about filleting them and cutting out any red/yellow ect. I'll also soak mine in water with a little white vinegar for a couple days while replacing the water. I'll admit channels aren't my favorite, I'd rather have big blue's or flatheads. I also grill and blacken a bunch of catfish as well. Very rarely I get a piece of bad fish, but when you do I know the taste…. Just like the river water it came out of.