What brand fillet knife to buy

[chad austin]

I am looking to buy my first "quality" fillet knife and was wondering if I could get some feed back on how you all like your fillet knives. I am looking to spend around $75.00. I am NOT looking for an electric knife or any info about them.

I currently have a 9" rapala and like the length but if a more flexible blade is available I think I would like that, is more flexible better?

The species of fish that I clean the most in order:

Crappie

Walleye

Northern

[Walleye Guy]

Leech Lake

Wustof

Cabelas Advance Angler

Good Old Rapala

Then buy a Chef's Choice's Sharpener

[Hory]

I have a Leech Lake knife along with the deluxe electric Rapala fillet knife. The Leech Lake knife is THE top of the line in my opinion.

[matthothand]

I can't help on the knife choice. All of my non-electric fillet knives are cheapies but I keep them sharp with the three stage chefs choice sharpener. In my opinion a good sharpener is better to have than a good knife... that will eventually need to be sharpened.

[Hory]

Keep in mind that Leech Lake knifes can be sharpend for free by sending them to the company. The directions with mine said to NOT sharpen their knifes on your own, seeing as the edge on the backside hook of the knife would be nearly impossible to sharpen without damaging.

[chberry]

Leech will also sharpen their knives at the sportshow for free if you bring it in. I've had mine done once a year since I bought it in 1995. BEst knife I have ever used.

[harvey lee]

I have owned a Cutco fillet fisherman for about 5 years.

This knife is simply awesome and holds a edge great.

If one needs it sharpened, I either take it to the butcher in town or Cutco will sharpen it for free.

Never worry about braking a tip on the knife as it has a FOREVER warranty, yes they will warranty the knife forever, no mater who owns the knife.

I don't believe there is another knife sold today with a warranty like that.

[al jr]

I have used nearly all of the aforemetioned brand/styles of knives. I got a Leech Lake as a gift and love it, but if i was to spend my own money, a Dexter Russell is the only way to go. They may be hard to find in stores, but you should be able to find what you want online. Dexter Russell knives are commercial grade, and made in the US. If you want to spend $75 buy both a Dexter Russell fillet knife and steel. If you look hard enough, you may be able to find a kit that contains both.

[Beast26]

The best knife for under $30 I have found is the Rapala flex blade knife. It keeps it edge pretty well and is easy to sharpen. I also agree that Cutco is the way to go if you want to spend a few more $$$'s.

[bdafisher]

I am a big fan of the cabelas advanced angler series above all the other "cheapies", but they do need to be sharpened regularly. But if I were to buy a more expensive I would go with the leech lake if it only needs sharpening once a year. That would be amazing.

[Chode2235]

The leech lake or the wustof. I have both, and go back in forth between the one I like better. I think the wustof holds a better edge, but the leech lake knife is so beautiful and I love the sharp blade on both sides.

[mikemac]

+6 Leech Lake Knife. Simply a work of art.

[timk]

i got a leech lake as a gift this year and as sead before a work of art cleaned 11 eyes with it so far and it works great

[Jesse Drummer]

I use rapala electric all the time so I can't help with a standard knife.

I think the rapala flex blade is the most flex I would ever want in a blade, I have used others that are more flexible and its really easy to mess up a cut or a whole fish .

[Gissert]

Most of the good names have been mentioned already. Cutco, Leech, Wusthof etc. - all excellent cutlery.

If you can find them anymore, the green handled Schrade knives were some of the best quality for not too much $$$. Very good steel for an inexpensive knife. They hold an edge very well.

If you want a real Cadillac of a knife, check out Dunn. I was turned on them by an old trapper who did a lot of skinning. They also make fillet knives, but they'll set you back about $150.

[fishingmedic]

I recieved an Alaska Knife as a gift and it is simply the best knife. It has a ridged backbone, great curved tip, hand grip fits almost perfect and again they warrenty it for life.

[crappiekid]

in fisherman hands down. Cleaned hundreds of fish with mine. So ood that i might switch professions and become a surgeon ???

[hydro]

My all time favorite is the good old birch handled Rapala knife. For less than $20 it has what I like for tapered flex, holds an edge well enough (I can sharpen knives so that's not an issue) and if something happens to it it's no big deal. I have cleaned thousands of fish with them. Buy one, the $80 that you save and buy bait!

[Zoob]

My all time favorite is the good old birch handled Rapala knife. For less than $20 it has what I like for tapered flex, holds an edge well enough (I can sharpen knives so that's not an issue) and if something happens to it it's no big deal. I have cleaned thousands of fish with them. Buy one, the $80 that you save and buy bait!

I have this very same one, the Normark Rapala.

It's insanely sharp, and has held its edge for years for me (of course, all I ever use it for is cutting lines off leaders/lures).

[JBL21]

I used to have a few really good knives that I liked (don't remember what kind now) but after leaving one on the tailgate and "loaning" the other out I stick to the rapala wood handled. Just keep 'em sharp and they work for me.

[deadeye]

I guess I don't know what I'm missing, I'm still using the original rapala knife I got in 97' when I was a kid. I sharpen it each time I use it and it does the job just fine.

I am kinda curious what people are running for electric fillet knives. I watched a couple vids on youtube or people doing northerns and its amazing how fast they are. I got a gift card for fleet farm and was thinking about getting one of those rapala electrics.

[BrdHunter01]

the rapala electrics are overpriced IMO. I have the "cheaper" electric knife from FF. I forget what brand it is but have had it for years and years.... As long as I can remember. Never needed to be sharpened and extremely fast when coming off the lake with multiple limits of wallyes.

[motley man]

I buy the cheap ones around 5 bucks, from bass shop and have no problem. For electric I use regular household for the kitchen that cost $10.00 . Some of my fillet knives are years old.

[minnbowhunter]

I have used nearly all of the aforemetioned brand/styles of knives. I got a Leech Lake as a gift and love it, but if i was to spend my own money, a Dexter Russell is the only way to go. They may be hard to find in stores, but you should be able to find what you want online. Dexter Russell knives are commercial grade, and made in the US. If you want to spend $75 buy both a Dexter Russell fillet knife and steel. If you look hard enough, you may be able to find a kit that contains both.

I just won the bid for a 8in Dexter Russell on the big auction site for 6 bucks

[chad austin]

Well, after tracking down Bob from Leech Lake (I found him in Las Vegas) I put my order in and sent him a check.