Minnesota Outdoorsman

Fishing Forums => Fishing gear-Electronics-Boats-GPS and everything else => Archived Fishing Gear => Topic started by: FishThumper on October 10/27/23, 08:04:09 AM

Title: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: FishThumper on October 10/27/23, 08:04:09 AM
When it comes to filleting fish I’m a little old school in that I’ve not got into using an electric fillet knife yet. I just like the way they turn out better using a traditional fillet knife. Over the years I’ve tried and owned a fair amount of them. There are 3 of them that seem to get used the most by me.
The 1st one is one made by Browning. I don’t think they make it anymore. What I really like about this one is it has a serrated portion on the leading edge. This makes making that 1st cut behind the head real easy and does not dull the edge like on non serrated blades. It also has a few rubber inserts that have cuts and bumps to allow a real good grip
The Second one is made by Wustof. The main thing I like about this one is how sharp it stays and how flexible it is. I really like this one for removing the skin from the fillet. The flexibility allows it to get real tight to the skin without tearing it.
The final one is a smaller Rapala one. I also have this same one in the 6” size. The thing I like about this knife is that they are fairly inexpensive. I own several and keep them various places. Don’t let the small size fool you. I have done some rather large fish with them. They are really nice when filleting panfish.
Let’s hear what are of your favorite choices are.

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Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: mike89 on October 10/27/23, 08:10:40 AM
rapala and leach lake here...
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: LPS on October 10/27/23, 08:14:49 AM
I have a real old wooden handled Rapala but the one I use the most is about 15 years old and is like your small Rapala in the pic but bigger, has a black plastic sheath. 
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Scenic on October 10/27/23, 08:19:58 AM
I have switched to mostly electric and for that I still like the MisterTwister knife the best.  A person can burn through a limit of fish pretty quick with some practice.

Hand knives I still have a Rapala but it gets used very little these days.
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: roony on October 10/27/23, 08:23:30 AM
I have an electric but I never got the knack of it. I felt I was wasting meat.
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: FishThumper on October 10/27/23, 08:30:38 AM
Side question here. Anyone own a Dalstrong fillet knife or any of there knives for that matter? I recently found a ad for them and after looking into them, I’m thinking about ordering one. Just curious if anyone here has looked at or used one.
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: glenn57 on October 10/27/23, 08:32:42 AM
I'm also old school. No electric for me at this point. I've been accused of having a knife fetish. :scratch: :rolleyes:  :rolleyes:

Leech lake and rapala. A few others and some odd balls that have long flexible blades for skinning my big fish. :sleazy:
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: mike89 on October 10/27/23, 08:34:59 AM
have not heard of that one but looks like a good knife...
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: glenn57 on October 10/27/23, 08:41:56 AM
Morey's cleans boar's fish  :happy1: he doesn't have fish cleaning knives. :rotflmao:  :rotflmao: :surrender:
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Sharon on October 10/27/23, 08:44:04 AM
Rapala was always my go-to until I got a Leech Lake knife for my birthday years ago. Both great knifes!

Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Bobberineyes on October 10/27/23, 08:46:05 AM
We are all electric but do have hand knives in about every drawer at the cabin. We keep a hand knife or 2 in the boat for " bleeding " fish out before we haul em up. We have mainly Rapala electric although the kid has a bubba and the neighbors love there mister twisters.
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: deadeye on October 10/27/23, 08:50:47 AM
I have an assortment of knives (regular and electric) but probably don't know the names or brands of them. My favorite usually is the one that is the sharpest.  :azn:
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: HD on October 10/27/23, 10:01:22 AM
Still old school......
I use the same knife I use to process deer (the most). Victorinox boning knife.
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Dotch on October 10/27/23, 10:12:51 AM
Still have my Normark fillet knife that I got over 45 years ago. Hasn't seen a lot of use recently (mostly C&R these days) but when it does, it still works great. Last time I used it, watched a friend make sunfish & crappie fillets into hamburger with an electric. I carefully removed the rib bones & left some actual meat on what I did. Think I'll keep it sharp & keep using it.  :coffee:
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Jrasmussen on October 10/27/23, 10:30:37 AM
I love my Electric filet knife for walleye, but when it comes to pan fish I still scale them and filet using a old school knife. I have the older Rapala, plan on replacing it with the new version soon. My buddy has the Bubba and likes it.
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: mike89 on October 10/27/23, 11:10:55 AM
Still old school......
I use the same knife I use to process deer (the most). Victorinox boning knife.

forgot I have one that too...   :happy1:
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: FishThumper on October 10/27/23, 11:17:32 AM
I'm also old school. No electric for me at this point. I've been accused of having a knife fetish. :scratch: :rolleyes:  :rolleyes:

Leech lake and rapala. A few others and some odd balls that have long flexible blades for skinning my big fish. :sleazy:

Its nice to hear that I am not the only one who's been accused of that. That and Flashlights
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: FishThumper on October 10/27/23, 11:20:16 AM
Rapala was always my go-to until I got a Leech Lake knife for my birthday years ago. Both great knifes!

The Leech lake one is one I've thought about getting for a long time now. Not sure how true it is, but hear lots of people say the newer ones are not as good as the older ones were. Also hear that the free sharpening service on the is not as easy and quick as it once was.
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: FishThumper on October 10/27/23, 11:22:50 AM
Morey's cleans boar's fish  :happy1: he doesn't have fish cleaning knives. :rotflmao:  :rotflmao: :surrender:
Ouch !!! Now there is a shot across the Bow on a Friday morning !!!
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Scenic on October 10/27/23, 11:43:41 AM
I have an electric but I never got the knack of it. I felt I was wasting meat.

Once you get the knack of using them you will never look back.  At least I have not.  It did take a bit but I feel I actually get more off of them using electric now.  Biggest thing is to let the knife do the work.  I have seen several people try to use and electric and they cutting back and forth like they are using a manual knife.  Let it slide itself along the bones with very little pushing. 
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: glenn57 on October 10/27/23, 11:44:06 AM
Morey's cleans boar's fish  :happy1: he doesn't have fish cleaning knives. :rotflmao:  :rotflmao: :surrender:
Ouch !!! Now there is a shot across the Bow on a Friday morning !!!
:happy1: :rotflmao: get used to it, it's an everyday occurrence with him and I. :rotflmao:
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Gunner55 on October 10/27/23, 12:19:53 PM
I still use my dad's old knives that he used when he worked at Hormel. A good share of his 37 years there he was boning hams, making Cure 81 hams. Back then, they let 'em take their knives home when they were worn out. I believe they're all Chicago Cutlery that are at least 45, maybe 50, years old. :cool:
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Jerkbiat on October 10/27/23, 02:05:55 PM
I still use my old Normark I have had since I was a kid. I have 4 of them now. My Dad bought me the Rapala lithium rechargeable electric for my 50th birthday. I do like that too. So if I have a lot of fish to clean the electric gets the nod. Otherwise 8t is the good old Normark.
Title: Re: Your favorite Fillet knive
Post by: Leech~~ on October 10/27/23, 02:32:00 PM
Have about 8 but use the Rap and Leech lake the most.  Had a battery op one but it didn't work well for me in the winter and fish still a bit frozen. It just zipped off chunks.   :undecided: