Good Fillet Knife

[Al.Wichman]

It seems at least once sometimes twice every year I gotta buy a new fillet knife. I use the Rapala ones but they go dull fairly quick. I cant seem to sharpen them so I buy a new one. What is a good knife that can be shaprpened and used for at least a couple years? Before you say electric, where we do alot of our fishing is backwoods stuff, tent and sleeping baggin' so power isnt an option. I already got one of those that works great, need a field knife.

[CAMAN]

You need to learn proper knife care first, the best knife in the world won't keep an edge for ever.

Watch these...

[WalleyeGod]

Lot of rapalas out there. They are fine and Kershaw used to make a nice grip on their fillet knives and was reasonably priced but not sure if they still make those. Also add what CAMAN said. Will sharpen each time and sometimes in between depending on how many I am cleaning.

WG

[Cheers]

rapala sharpeners work well, don't buy the teflon knife

[laportian]

I used to commercial fish back in the day and I swear by the chicago cutlery fillet knife. I seriously have cleaned thousands of walleyes with my current one. They are cheap, like 11 bucks, and sharpen very easy. As far as sharpeners go a friend turned me on to a Smiths sharpener last year. It is one of those hand held pull through deals with three sharpeners. One is carbide for course, then it has steels for the medium and to get the fine part down it has a ceramic sharpener. Very easy and very effective. Like actually the only pull through one that I'd stand behind. And they are very inexpensive, I think i paid 10 bucks for mine at gander. I also use a cabelas master angler fillet knife from time to time, but I have to sharpen it with my lanskey sharpener as it has harder steel than the chicago. Therefor it gets used less because I actually have to take the time to properly sharpen it vs. the chicago that sharpens real fast with the pull thru smith sharpener.

[bobbymalone]

I have a Browning knife with a cork handle that I like a lot. It's cheap enough that if it goes bad on me I won't cry while tossing it. Seems to hold an edge better than the comparably priced wood handle rapala that everyone and their grandpa has. Still have to sharpen it though, it's not a miracle worker.

I can't afford one of those fancy $80 knives that someone will likely recommend.

[Cobra]

You need to get one of Don Canney's Leech Lake filet knives. You can buy them through Reed's in Walker and online on their HSOforum. Don used special alloys tco make a harder steel knife that doesn't lose it's edge as fast as softer metals. They come in two sizes... Perch knives which are great for panfish and smaller walleyes and pike or the standard size. You can use the standard size for panfish too.... I just prefer the smaller knife for that. I own 3 or 4 because if you are gonna catch fish in my boat and want me to clean them, you're gonna hafta put knife to flesh yourself! My daughter has two or three and my oldest granddaughter has one (she now loves to help me clean fish).

The back edge is also sharpened part of the way down so that when you make your cut around the gill plates you can then push forward along the spine with the front edge to make a sweet one move sweep of a cut. They cost a little more as any premium product would be, but it's well worth it!

Good luck!

[SkunkedAgain]

Watch these...

Great videos CAMAN

[Northlander]

I have gotten to the point that I use my electric for big jobs but just my plain old Rapala or Kershaw for smaller jobs. They all work fine if you keep them sharp. I sharpen before and after every use with the cheap hand held Rapala sharpener.

[BoxMN]

I got an electric sharpener a few years ago. Works great, and can put a factory edge back on the cheapy (but good!) Rapalas. Also does a good job on hunting knives, but not quite as good with a thick tipped hunting knife for some reason, does great on all but the tip.

I just did a bunch of Rapala knives yesterday at the cabin, after a season of crappies, sunfish and pike Ready for duck season now with the Raps, and hopefully my deer knives get dull this season again

I really like the black rubber handled Rapala kinves, but something about the cracking, finish gone, blade dwindling wood handles are some of my favs.

[titelines]

Just thought I'd toss this out there...

We had a drawer full of knives that we had acquired through the years, in various states of sharpness. I was going to get rid of most of them, but then I thought twice and invested in an electric sharpener from the "C" store.

Needless to say, it was a great investment. I now have a drawer full of super sharp, razor edged knives at the ready at all times. Serrated and non-serrated, fillet knives, bread knives, steak knives, work knives, utility, BBQ stuff, scissors etc.

Now, if one loses an edge, it takes about 20 seconds to get it back. Just a thought.

[harvey lee]

I was looking for a darn good fillet knife and a buddy told me he uses the Cutco Fillet fisherman.

The knife is very good, high quality also.

It comes with a Forever warranty no matter what you do to the knife. Drop the knife and nick the blade, no problem, send it in and you will get a new one back no charge.

They will also sharpen it for you for free if you send it back to them.

I send mine in once a year so I always have a razor sharpe knife.

I use this for cleaning fish and cutting up deer meat.

best knife hands down I have ever owned but they do run abvout $70.00.

All of our household knives are Cutco and we have been more than satisfied with all of them.

[reinhard1]

they are the best, none better in my opinion. good luck.

[TravP]

Manual=Leech Lake Knifes

Electric=Berkley

[FWA]

Wowsers!! Those Leech Lake knives are $100!!!

[delcecchi]

Wowsers!! Those Leech Lake knives are $100!!!

American hand made knives with pretty handles are expensive. Heck you can spend 100 bucks on a run of the mill german chef's knife. Good japanese made kitchen knives can easily run several hundred and up.

Walk into Williams-Sonoma some time and look at the knives. And those aren't the expensive ones.

[harvey lee]

I think one has to remember that with any of the more expensive knives, one does get a knife blade with better steel or I should say harcer steel and those will hold an edge much longer than a less expensive one.

As it has always been, one gets what one pays for.

I have used the Cutco brand for years and would never go back to a cheapo even if the price went up.

I have friends who own the Leech lake knives and they simply love them.

[Jim Almquist]

Wowsers!! Those Leech Lake knives are $100!!!

See if you would have bought one 10 years ago it would have only been $70

Great fillet knife but like any of them they will get dull. I like the little crock sticks to touch up the blade before and while I am filleting fish.

[Walleyehooker]

Ginsu.... Just kidding. I use an electric most of the time and a trusty Rapala still isnt a bad knife for the price. Like any knife the big key is knowing how to keep it sharp esspecially if you are cutting threw the rib cage bones.

[picksbigwagon]

This spring I picked up a Kinves of Alaska filet knife. It is a firmer blade so it took some practice getting it to down right, but I really enjoy using it. I plan on using it this winter for processing deer. I still keep a couple rapala knives for times when I need on. I went with the firmer blade because I was using the shorter rapala knife all the time and leaving the longer ones at home....

[fishdale]

I have a victorinox, Gerber, Chicago Cuterly, some sort of Cabelas, a rapala and a couple of no names. I have no real preference just grab the first sharp one I find.

Tried a freinds leech lake knife and I do not like the 2 sided blade on the top. Just ended up cutting myself with it. Joke was at camp they should come with their own box of band aids.

[upnorth]

If you can get your hands on the old and I mean the 30 year old Rapalas they are very good. I have one that is probably 32 or 33 years old and will hold an edge way better better than the could that I have that are only a couple years old.

And like mentioned before, keep the blade sharp, you are cutting through bone and it takes the edge off pretty quick. A few quick swipes across the stone or whatever your sharpening tool will go a long way toward making that knife work better longer.

[Drail1313]

I have been buying every "SO-CALLED SHARP" fillet knife since I was 10 and have a drawer full of knives. Two years ago I got a Leech Lake knife. YES the back of the knife is SHARP!!! but that is for the first cut into the fish, so you do not dull the front blade that you use to clean the meat off the skin.

BONUS is that you bring your knife into the sportshow in the spring and they sharpen it for free!!! (as if you need one more reason to tell your spouse you need to go to the show!!)

[titelines]

On larger fish, I use a Rapala rechargeable-battery-powered fillet knife. I like it a lot, but you only get 3-4 fish per fully charged battery. Good thing they come with 2 batteries so you've always got a charged one.

Otherwise, I use a couple old fillet knives that were hand-me-downs. One is a Rapala and not sure what the other is. As I mentioned above, I use the electric sharpener on them and they've always done a great job for me.

[Trapper J]

cant go wrong with the cutco fishermans solution fillet knife.quality knife,they back it up ,adjustable length blade,awesome.probably going to use it later this fall to skin critters also.

[lovetoicefish]

Another vote for the Cutco! I like the option of 2 blade lengths in one knife. Like Harv said, Cutco will sharpen for FREE and it only takes about 5 working days to get it back from them. Bought a set of kitchen knives and also the hunting knife. Wouldn't have another brand for any use! Good luck!