Recommendation? Fillet Knives- What's your opinion?

[EngrSorenson]

Growing up I'd help my Dad clean fish. The tools of the trade always seemed to be some kind of Case Trapper and we never really filleted them- just kind of left them (mostly) intact. The few times I did fillet fish I just kept on with the Trapper spey blade and worked away at it.

Well, never being much of a fish eater, a bunch of time has passed and I've not kept a fish probably 2 decades.
Now my 4 year old fledgling fisherman son wants to eat a fish we catch, and reading up on fish prep.
I have zero hope that he'll actually enjoy the fish, but I feel like it's an experience I shouldn't stifle.

Fillet knives obviously exist for a reason and I'd consider getting one if fish eating becomes something we do. I might even have a few in a box somewhere handed down from someone to someone to me, provided I haven't tossed the box or the mice haven't appropriated them for their eventual uprising. I gotta be honest though- I've never been a huge fan of limited use cutlery.

What do you guys use for filleting, and what's been your experience? Game changer, or nice to have? What do you recommend?
Just for further information, we're freshwater fishermen and I wouldn't be expecting to catch a real lunker.

 

[Lee D]

 

[K.O.D.]

My dad used an ancient Rapala fillet knife for pretty much all fish. He also had an early 80's one from Cutco. I don't think there is really all that much special to it.

 

[ferider]

Thin, low height and 6" or longer. You can also use it - say - to cut out the fillet from a lamb/pork/beef rack, or cut up a turkey, etc.

If you want something not dedicated for this but more general purpose, I suggest a Leuku, or maybe a CPK UF2 ?

This one is my "Leuku" that works pretty well (Cheb. "Finish"). Also comes with CF scales if you are worried about it being wet a lot.

Roland.

 

[Chefget]

Always used fillet knives in the kitchen, not only for breaking fish but lamb rack, peeling tenderloin (seeing someone clean a tender with a chef knife screams of barbarism), trimming liver, etc. One of my very first knives is a fillet (Dexter, first picture), followed by a mid 90's model in O1(Doc Gunersen), with the last picture being my favorite fillet knife by our very own GL Drew

 

[Fonedork]

Need a new fillet knife

Hi folks, After years of service, my old rapala fillet knife has finally passed away violently (snapped)... Anybody got a good premium recommendation? I prefer to get a good one that'll last instead of a cheapie one from Walmart. Not really any requirements, looking for 6+ inches. Thanks...

www.bladeforums.com

Best fillet knife solution I've found

I've figured out the best fillet knife for my usage... And that includes cutting up everything from freshwater perch and bluegill, to Pike, to Scup, Tautog, Striped Bass, Tuna, Mahi, Jacks, Triggerfish, parrotfish, etc. I'm an angler and also a spearfisherman and clean, cut up and fillet a lot...

www.bladeforums.com

Go to Fillet knife?

anybody have a go to? It seems like a hard type of knife to invest too much into because they really take a beating. I did notice someone going through there Halibut like hot butter at the harbor today. I thought my knife was sharp but was not performing anything like the above mentioned.

www.bladeforums.com

Fillet Knife suggestions?

Happy Holdiays everyone. I was just thinking of what filet knife to get next. I've alwas used Dexters but am wanting something different. I fish Saltwater here in Florida, so sizes of fish range from Mangrove Snapper to Cobia. Maybe from one of our knifemakers here? Does anyone have any...

www.bladeforums.com

Looking for a couple fillet knives... Help!

This might be better off in the Hunting and Fishing subforum, but there doesn't seem to be much traffic there. :( I am looking to purchase a couple of fillet knives as a gift for my little brother who is an avid fisher/hunter. They need to fit some very specific parameters and I can't seem to...

www.bladeforums.com

Great video

 

[Boattale]

I have and use a Rapala just like the one earlier in this thread. a Mora filet that's about the same size and blade shape as the Rapala and a 9" Dexter wide blade filet for bigger fish. If there's numbers involved, I also have an American Angler electric filet knife that speeds things up considerably to take sides off, with either the Rapala or Mora used to debone and separate the skin from the filet.

 

[EngrSorenson]

Need a new fillet knife

Hi folks, After years of service, my old rapala fillet knife has finally passed away violently (snapped)... Anybody got a good premium recommendation? I prefer to get a good one that'll last instead of a cheapie one from Walmart. Not really any requirements, looking for 6+ inches. Thanks...

www.bladeforums.com

Best fillet knife solution I've found

I've figured out the best fillet knife for my usage... And that includes cutting up everything from freshwater perch and bluegill, to Pike, to Scup, Tautog, Striped Bass, Tuna, Mahi, Jacks, Triggerfish, parrotfish, etc. I'm an angler and also a spearfisherman and clean, cut up and fillet a lot...

www.bladeforums.com

Go to Fillet knife?

anybody have a go to? It seems like a hard type of knife to invest too much into because they really take a beating. I did notice someone going through there Halibut like hot butter at the harbor today. I thought my knife was sharp but was not performing anything like the above mentioned.

www.bladeforums.com

Fillet Knife suggestions?

Happy Holdiays everyone. I was just thinking of what filet knife to get next. I've alwas used Dexters but am wanting something different. I fish Saltwater here in Florida, so sizes of fish range from Mangrove Snapper to Cobia. Maybe from one of our knifemakers here? Does anyone have any...

www.bladeforums.com

Looking for a couple fillet knives... Help!

This might be better off in the Hunting and Fishing subforum, but there doesn't seem to be much traffic there. :( I am looking to purchase a couple of fillet knives as a gift for my little brother who is an avid fisher/hunter. They need to fit some very specific parameters and I can't seem to...

www.bladeforums.com

Great video

Cool, so I take it you feel like you need a fillet knife?

 

[Dergyll]

I used to have an old Rapala that I use, but it got sat on and the blade broke lol. I think it was on sale at Cabelas for 20$.

Now I use this guy. I go all out lol you know this. If I'm on a boat, I use my spyderco waterway since it's rust resistant and has a plastic sheath.


Does it cost 15x as much as the rapala? Yes. Does it work 15x better than the rapala? Not really.

But it looks awesome.

 

[EngrSorenson]

Does it cost 15x as much as the rapala? Yes. Does it work 15x better than the rapala? Not really.

But it looks awesome.

I really appreciate this honesty.

 

[l1ranger]

my mother in law is a cutco fan girl and she got me a "fishermans solution" one year for christmas - its extendable, has a good grippy handle and the sheath doubles as a gripper and has a built in sharpening stone that isn't terrible. The knife itself is very handy.
like you - most of my fishing is freshwater and I don't do a lot of fillets. but this knife has been very handy.
prior to that I'd used any of the Rapala variety of fillet knives.
for most of my fishing we just remove head and guts - and a bird and trout or similar style fixed blade is a good option for that type of fish cleaning

 

[EngrSorenson]

for most of my fishing we just remove head and guts - and a bird and trout or similar style fixed blade is a good option for that type of fish cleaning

I was hoping someone would mention a "bird and trout" knife.
I've seen some of our handy makers on here make a few I really like that seem handy for a bunch of things.
I'm guessing the filleting ability becomes a little diminished.

 

[shane45-1911]

What's my opinion? Fillet knives are good for filleting.

Considering the amount of fishing I used to do (and still do when I can make time), I surprisingly never ended up with any expensive fillet knives, like some of the examples in this thread.

That said, I own several inexpensive Rapala and Cutco knives. As mentioned, they work just fine.

Point to note - I have filleted fish with many other types of knives, the most extreme probably being a Khukuri. Not the most efficient, and definitely left a lot of meat around the spine/ribs. Blade flexibility is the key to a fillet knife's success, of course. But it can be done with other tools.

 

[Dergyll]

If you want an inexpensive all-arounder, try the spyderco bow river. I really wish they'd put anything other than 8cr13mov in it, but it shouldn't need to hit anything hard so should be okay.

Now if somebody were to sell me a Sprig (without an Ebay markup), I think I'd s*** my pants . It'd replace my waterway.

Edit: I definitely would not recommend any folder. Can you do it? Sure.

 

[shane45-1911]

If you want an inexpensive all-arounder, try the spyderco bow river.

Yup, that is also one of the non-fillet knives I've used to successfully skin and fillet with.

Note that while this knife may have a similar profile to a fillet knife, the blade is not flexible at all.

 

[MolokaiRider]

More flex filet is my go-to. I even use it for cutting up venison as well.

The Marttiini is a bit more flexible and lighter, and actually a bit better at the chore, but I have found over time the blade will corrode and break at the tang. The sheath is nicer though.

That said, I would not hesitate to recommend either.

​

 

[EngrSorenson]

The Marttiini is a bit more flexible and lighter, and actually a bit better at the chore, but I have found over time the blade will corrode and break at the tang. The sheath is nicer though.

Well I was in Cabelas today browsing more lures and came across the Marttiini. Screw it- I’ll buy the knife and see how I like it. I’ll also try filleting with my Mora #2 just to show myself why fillet knives exist. Thanks everyone.