Sometimes it takes a torch

[old sarge]

So today I am smoking salmon for the first time.  And using Alder from Fruit-a-wood also for the first time.  I split a nice 1 3/4 ounce piece into two so the lid would close. Salmon in at 160.  Got wispy smoke around 140, and by the time it reached 160 zip, zero, nada. Well I let it go. At a time of 0.6 I opened the smoker and pulled the box, very little char.  Rearranged the wood and put a torch to it for maybe 5 seconds, closed it up and smoke.  But I think my fix came too late into the process.  We shall see.

 

[old sarge]

And 20 or so minutes later, the smoke is no more.  Just going to let it ride till I get an IT of 145.

UPDATE:  Salmon, after 2 1/2 hours never got to 120.  Just a hint of smoke.  Wife liked it. And the wood?  Half charcoal and half relatively untouched.  Next time I am splitting into chips.  I don't think 160 was hot enough to keep the wood smoldering while in chunk form.  So splinters and chips on the next go-around.

 

[DivotMaker]

Yeah, Dave, hard to keep chunks going at that temp.  If I'm going low, like that, I split my chunks into slivers, and it works fine.  I've never used chips, but lots do, and they'd work great at that temp.  But hey, as long as Mama was happy, everyone's happy! ;D

 

[old sarge]

Going to give it another shot another day.