Filet Knives And Filet Techniques

[slonezp]

So, I've been using the Rapala wooden handled filet knives since I was a kid, and just running the blade along the bones while pulling the meat away, for a 99.9% boneless filet . As I'm getting older, I am starting to dread cleaning fish, especially if I have a ton of crappies or gills. Are the electric filet knives any good? I've also seen ads for a Bubba Blade. Is this knife any good? Can I get all the meat off a fish and a boneless filet using either of these knives? Can I use the electric knife on panfish or do the fish need to be larger?  It seems I would just cut thru all the bones, remove the filet and then cut out the ribcage, correct? Any suggestions on electric knife brands to look at or stay away from? 

Thanks

[Catt]

Black-N-Decker @ Wally World, under $20!

Works great on fish & the Thanksgiving turkey

[tomustang]

This should be in a cooking section

[stk]

Properly fileting a fish is a lost art. I would advise teaching someone else to help with the work. My buddy and I split up the catch and makes it easier. I have seen the electric knives and you just waste more meat, just my two cents.

[martintheduck]

Saltwater fisherman of 24 years checking in - 

 

Not going to be useful for smaller fish - perch or BG. Used to use them for cleaning speckled trout (12inches+ and 2lbs+) however: you waste a good bit of meat, they are dangerous if you're wore down from fishing all day, and they burn out CONSTANTLY. I went back to a filet knife. I will say the most helpful tool I've found is an AWESOME EXPENSIVE knife sharpener. 

 

I thought I had a sharp knife all those years, but no... no... my knife was horribly dull.

[slonezp]

This should be in a cooking section

You mean the one we'll never get? No matter how many times it gets brought up. I can't forget to mention "scrapple" to make it complete

[Nice_Bass]

I only use an electric knife now.  Cut behind the gill threw fin down to back, and then over to tail, flip the filet over and while tail skin still attached cut down skin to remove. Once down with both sides I use a small hand knife for removing ribs.  100% boneless and about 20 seconds per fish.

I am with you, I would dread fileting if I had to use a hand knife for it all.  

I use it on all sizes of fish, especially panfish...

 

I like the mister twister brand- also have a rapala but do not like it as much.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

For gills/perch I usually just cut off the head, pull out the guts and cook them with the bones in. Not good if you are serving children, but for me it's easier to remove the bones when eating them than before cooking.

[Catt]

The Mister Twister is made by Black n Decker!

You pay more for the name & color

[Jig Man]

I like to clean mine at the lake in the parking lot and leave the carcuses behind for the catfish so I use a cordless electric.  I have gone through a few over the last 20 years and now have the Rapala Ion with the lithium battery.  I have used it for over a year and cleaned several hundred crappie, white bass and walleye with it.  It is pricey but so are most of out fishing related toys.

 

As far as wasting meat, I can get as much with this knife as I can my old Rapala which I carry as a backup.

[derekxec]

i use a very sharp filet knife that bends pretty easily...i sharpen mine with stones and such always so they stay very sharp and it makes it a ton easier and faster then its super sharp

[martintheduck]

i use a very sharp filet knife that bends pretty easily...i sharpen mine with stones and such always so they stay very sharp and it makes it a ton easier and faster then its super sharp

 

 

I'm telling you - properly sharpened knives make all the difference in the world.... like a hot knife through butter (almost)

[Nice_Bass]

The Mister Twister is made by Black n Decker!

You pay more for the name & color

I have paid less than 20 for each. ;-)

[derekxec]

if you have ever been on a drift boat and seen those guys filet fish lol it takes only a couple secs per side and they usually have a big stone to sharpen them all the time

[tholmes]

I'm telling you - properly sharpened knives make all the difference in the world.... like a hot knife through butter (almost)

X 10,000^ Take the time to learn to properly sharpen a knife (another lost art) and filleting gets a LOT easier. I use a Lansky sharpening system to hone my old Rapala knives to surgical sharpness.

 

Tom

[bigbill]

With cat fish we just gutt them and put them on the grill with wood mixed in with the charcoal. They taste awesome. I'm not sure how the bass taste but I heard crappies taste better.

[martintheduck]

With cat fish we just gutt them and put them on the grill with wood mixed in with the charcoal. They taste awesome. I'm not sure how the bass taste but I heard crappies taste better.

 

Skin n' all?

[merc1997]

 

So, I've been using the Rapala wooden handled filet knives since I was a kid, and just running the blade along the bones while pulling the meat away, for a 99.9% boneless filet . As I'm getting older, I am starting to dread cleaning fish, especially if I have a ton of crappies or gills. Are the electric filet knives any good? I've also seen ads for a Bubba Blade. Is this knife any good? Can I get all the meat off a fish and a boneless filet using either of these knives? Can I use the electric knife on panfish or do the fish need to be larger?  It seems I would just cut thru all the bones, remove the filet and then cut out the ribcage, correct? Any suggestions on electric knife brands to look at or stay away from? 

Thanks

if you change your method of cleaning and begin cutting through the guts cutting through rib bones, you will not like the taste. cutting through the guts of any fish is a no-no when it comes to the taste of the meat. once you cut into the guts, there will always be that "fishy" taste to the meat. i have proven this fact to many friends over the years. electic knives will work, but do not cut through the ribs. go around them.

bo

[J Francho]

Just cut through the ribs, and remove them with a fine fillet knife.  Much faster this way.