fillet knives Asking Help For Best Fillet Fishing Knife

[ATA]

I am looking for best large knife for fillet fish, The reason for asking large blade is, Because I catch lots of 5 to 15lb trouts and I need a filet knife that can handle large fishes, And I want the sharpest and the best because I want to be able to remove the rib bones without shredding the meet and destroying the fillets.

[Pat Brown]

Do you have a sharpening stone/wet stone?

 

I can make a butter knife razor sharp with one of those.   

 

Regardless of what knife you select I highly recommend a good wet stone and learning to use it!

[A-Jay]

I do not have one,

but I've seen several of these Bubba Knives show up in video's where folks are 

doing work on full size fish; both freshwater & saltwater species.

https://www.bubba.com/knives/?prefn1=bagRestType&prefv1=Fillet Knives

Reviews are mostly positive as well.

A-Jay

[ATA]

27 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Do you have a sharpening stone/wet stone?

 

I can make a butter knife razor sharp with one of those.   

 

Regardless of what knife you select I highly recommend a good wet stone and learning to use it!

I have electric sharpener and it is working, But a big fish is tottaly different.  also need longer blade to be able to make good cuts.

[gim]

I will only add that it needs to be sharp before use. Like razor sharp. Trying to cut anything with a dull blade just makes a mess.

[casts_by_fly]

If you’re planning to fillet trout and cut through the pin bones while cutting back the fillet, get yourself an electric fillet knife. Pin bones on trout and salmon will dull a knife quick and you’ll need to sharpen it every couple fish at best. An electric will make short work of them and give you the cleanest cut. 
 

rick

[looking45]

Watch a couple of videos and learn how to filet a fish without cutting through the bones. It’s easier and faster than trying to cut the bones away. Plus, you don’t need a big heavy duty knife, even for bigger fish 

[Catt]

Only one I use 😉

 

Even carved Thanksgiving turkey with it.

 

[RRocket]

My dad fillets fish almost every day. As long as I can remember. He's old and set in his ways. But when he finally tried an electric fillet knife, he's never switched back. I think he had a Rapala, but now uses a Bubba. I believe they have a blade for most sized fish.

 

Also, if you don't clean the fish immediately and the BEST fillet is top of mind, I STRONGLY suggest you learn "Ikejime" method of dispatching fish. You can easily see the difference in fillet quality. And it takes very little effort.

[Alex from GA]

Electric knife.  I carried a 12v one on my saltwater boat and fileted hundreds of fish.  For the ribs I sometimes used a paring or short filet knife.  New blades are fairly inexpensive and come in various lengths.

[TOXIC]

I’m torn on this subject.  I’ve used both and there’s pros and cons to each.  I’ve filleted literally hundreds of fish with my Cutco adjustable blade fillet knife.  Maximum blade length is 7 inches I believe and it has the right flex to be a premium class knife.  The adjustable blade is a plus and if you want to wear it via the belt loop, it has a line cutting area and knife/hook sharpening stone on the sheath.  The sheath also doubles as a fish gripper.  The main difference between electric and manual for me is the ability to fillet bone free.  With the electric I’m guaranteed to just cut through some bones because I can’t feel them.  With my Cutco, I can fillet around rib and other bones very easily.  Had a buddy fillet a bunch of walleye in Michigan with an electric and when I prepped them for cooking back home, I had to de-bone every fillet.  

[RRocket]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

  Had a buddy fillet a bunch of walleye in Michigan with an electric and when I prepped them for cooking back home, I had to de-bone every fillet.  

That's the person doing the fillets.

 

Dad uses electric primarily on Walleye and Perch and never a bone. Ever. 

 

So boneless are they that when we're bored, we'll say "I found a bone" just to get him going.

[TOXIC]

2 hours ago, RRocket said:

That's the person doing the fillets.

Maybe so but remember I said the same has happened to me and I’m no rookie when it comes to filleting.  I cannot feel the bones with an electric.  I’m sure I could if I was willing to sacrifice some meat, staying clear of the bones.  The vibration of the electric doesn’t allow me to feel the bones.  

[RRocket]

3 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Maybe so but remember I said the same has happened to me and I’m no rookie when it comes to filleting.  I cannot feel the bones with an electric.  I’m sure I could if I was willing to sacrifice some meat, staying clear of the bones.  The vibration of the electric doesn’t allow me to feel the bones.  

But do you leave the same amount of bones as your buddy does? My impression is you probably do a better job because it was noteworthy to you on how many bones there were. So I think people have varying degrees of touch. Myself? No touch at all.

 

As for my dad?  Maybe it's possible he did it for so long (almost daily) that perhaps he has a muscle memory of sorts re: bones.

[T-Billy]

Bubba. Stiff blade not the flex. I use my electric Bubba when I have a bunch to clean, and my 9" stiff blade when I just have a few.

[fishingram24]

I have always used a knife with 7-8" blade, Uncle Henry for 25 years and currently a Cuda, but my buddy has the Bubba blade electric and I think I'd have to get one it I cleaned larger fish. His works great on all sizes.

[Capt Steve]

As a retired saltwater guide I have filleted thousands of fish. (Shamefully). Most of us used the white handled Dexter Russell fillet knives. They're strong and tough plus fairly easy to sharpen if you have sharpening skills which you need no matter what knife you use. 

Electric knives are fine for filleting but they lack the fine point that is sometimes necessary. Plus you have the battery issue or the need to plug it in somewhere. They do fillet clean though. 
Bubba blades are good I'm told but I'm too thrifty (cheap) to use a $100+ knife that could get dropped in the water. But it would be a great gift. 
 

[ATA]

After watching so many clips and your help by reading your comments here, I end up getting a Cutco Fishermans Solution. The reason I got this one was their lifetime warranty. Plus we have a full set kitchen Cutco knives and going to buy some more of their product soon. It was very expensive on amazon(almost $200 after TAX), But I end up order one from their website with engraving $130. I really love the feeling in hand and plus it comes with fish grader and hook sharper and adjustable blade for when I have big fish and it is Made In USA. Thanks all for help.

On 1/4/2024 at 11:14 AM, TOXIC said:

Maximum blade length is 7 inches

the max is 9" , Thanks for recommendation.

[Mbirdsley]

I 2nd the cutco knife.  I don’t have one but want one. , my brother does have a cut co and  he swears by it for cutting up King salmon, coho, steal head and lake trout.  If it ever dulls you can send it in and they will sharpen it for you free of charge.  

 

if you really want to spend some money like $150-$200 check out rapid river knife works from da Upper Peninsula of Michigan near glad stone. these are made for outdoors men/women to be used and not displayed. 100% made in the USA.  Rapid river knives  are hand down to your kids type of quality.  100% life time guarantee and free sharpening for life.  even if you break the knife doing something stupid.  rapid river will take care of you. they won’t replace the knife but, they can fix it ( might be a shorter knife afterwards) as long as the owner hear’s it out of your mouth that you screwed up and broke it. Mike avery is always talking about  them on his show.  Rapid river knives are the best around.  the guy that owned rapid river started out at marbles in gladstone. 

[TOXIC]

Good choice.  I have 2 Cutco.  I have filleted hundreds of fish with mine.  I thought I lost my original and liked it so much, I bought another and then found it.  😂