For Mitch, fishing has never been just a hobby. It has been a lifelong connection to family, friendship, food, and the lakes of central Minnesota.
Born and raised in the Brainerd Lakes Area, Mitch was introduced to fishing by his dad almost as soon as he was old enough to hold a rod. With two brothers, a sister, and a mom who made family camping trips a regular part of childhood, many of Mitch’s earliest memories involve long days on the water, fresh fish cooked over the campfire, and stories that grew a little better each time they were told.
Fishing traditions ran even deeper on his grandparents’ side of the family. Mitch’s great-grandparents lived on a lake where they had operated a resort during the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s. He also spent countless hours fishing the Gull River near Brainerd with his grandpa, catching and cleaning panfish before bringing them home for Grandma to fry. Grandpa especially loved fresh sunfish for breakfast—a simple family tradition Mitch still remembers fondly.
His dad was the driving force behind many more adventures. There were trips to northern Manitoba and Ontario with Mitch’s brothers, Steve and Sam, where they fished for walleye and lake trout for seven full days and nights. Fresh fish regularly found its way into the fryer or onto the Weber kettle, sometimes beginning first thing in the morning.
His dad even had secret code names for their favorite lakes. The real names were rarely shared, just in case a young Mitch happened to tell his classmates where the fish were biting.
Winter break did not mean sleeping in or staying inside. Mitch’s dad was a schoolteacher, and nearly every day off—aside from Christmas—was open for fishing. The family spent much of that time on the ice at Mille Lacs, continuing a tradition that began when his dad first fished the lake in high school. Those trips brought together family, friends, plenty of fish, and enough encounters and mishaps to fill a book of their own.
One especially meaningful tradition was a recurring trip to Portage Lake with two other families. Adults and children alike spent their days fishing before everyone gathered for a large Saturday-night fish fry. Decades later, the people who were there still tell stories from those trips.
The tradition continued through every stage of Mitch’s life. During college, he may have occasionally spent more time fishing than studying. Friday-night fish fries became a weekly event, often drawing six, eight, or ten friends together—especially during the winter months.
As Mitch’s family grew, he passed that love of fishing on to his five daughters. They grew up on the water and became skilled anglers in their own right. Today, his grandchildren share the same excitement, and Mitch gets them out fishing whenever he can. What began with his dad and grandparents now stretches across several generations.
Food has followed a similar path through Mitch’s life. He has spent his entire career in the restaurant industry, gaining a deep appreciation for good ingredients, dependable quality, and the way a shared meal can bring people together. Over the years, Mitch developed his own fish fry mixture—the one he reached for when it was time to cook the day’s catch for family and friends.
That longtime mixture became the inspiration for Mitch K’s Fish Fry.
Working with a close friend and professional chef (Chef to Cabin, Troy Trettel) Mitch took the flavors and qualities he had always loved and helped refine them into a premium, consistent recipe. The result delivers bold, savory seasoning, bright citrus notes, and a light, golden crunch that complements fresh fish without overpowering it.
Although it was born from generations of Minnesota fish fries, Mitch K’s is made for far more than the day’s catch. It brings the same dependable flavor and crunch to chicken, shrimp, cheese curds, onion rings, vegetables, and countless other favorites.
At its heart, Mitch K’s Fish Fry is not simply a breading mix. It is the continuation of a story that began in fishing boats, lakeside cabins, ice houses, campgrounds, and crowded kitchens. It represents generations of family, lifelong friendships, secret fishing spots, fresh fish breakfasts, and meals shared after a full day on the water.
Because the best fish fry's have never been only about the fish.
They are about the people gathered around the table, the stories told along the way, and the memories that remain long after the last bite.
From the first cast to the last bite.
Simple. Bold. Perfect Crunch.