Whether it's your cooler full of fish that's been sitting at the campsite for three days or that fish you just lugged home from the grocery story, the question remains the same "Is that fish good to eat?"

Old wives will spin yarns about color of the eyes, the feel of the scales and other freshness tests. But there is only one sure fire tool that you have with you at all times, your nose.

That's right, hold your nose right up to the fish, you shouldn't smell anything but a slight water smell. If it's a salt water fish, and it smells slightly salty -- like a beach -- you know its good.
If you smell anything offensive, ammonia or a 'fishy smell', you are in possession of something fowl and its time to toss it.

Some other helpful hints:

• Keep whole fish on ice with good drainage. The fish should be sitting on the ice not in water. Crushed ice is best.
• Fillets go on ice as well, but put them on a pan or in a some other storage container.
• Keep it cold, don't let it sit out if you aren't going to cook right away.
• When in doubt, throw it out.

When I'm fishing, I like to keep my cooler right on the boat full of ice. Catches go right in. No bucket, no strings, and no plastic bags.My grandfather might have only used a bucket to lug his catch home but times are different. Play it safe and keep it on ice.

Next time you are buying fish, ask to smell the fish first. If the fish monger looks at you weird, he doesn't know fish, move on to a better market.