Topic: The Best Fillet Knives of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 31 times)
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Topic: The Best Fillet Knives of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 31 times)
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Why It Made the Cut: Four blade options and two rechargeable lithium ion batteries makes the Bubba Pro the best cordless electric fillet kit for cleaning a wide range of fish.
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If you find yourself cleaning a wide range of fish, this knife is a great option for you. With four blade choices from thin and flexible to wide and stiff, this knife will handle everything from panfish to the largest saltwater quarry. Dual batteries and fast charging times mean you always have plenty of power on hand. The Bubba Pro co*es in a hard carry and storage case that safely stores the knife and keeps all batteries, chargers, and blades in one place.
Why It Made the Cut: The powerful motor, long cord, and co*fortable grip on the Old Timer 110V means you can stay at the cleaning table until the job is done.
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If you normally skin your fish where power is available, the Old Timer 110V Electric Fillet Knife is an excellent choice. It features a nicely curved, flexible 8-inch blade that fits most fish cleaning needs and co*es with an 8-foot cord for extra reach at the cleaning station. The knife has a patented lockable trigger and co*es with a self-draining carrying case to keep the knife dry between fishing trips.
Why It Made the Cut: The Gerber Controller 8 is durable enough for large saltwater fish, yet flexible enough to clean smaller fish like whiting or speckled trout, and the HydroTread texture on the handle provides a great grip in the messiest cleaning situations.
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For this test, I enlisted the help of Captain Doug Chason, a guide based out of Apalachicola, Florida, and Wade Patterson, a professional fish cleaner at Lynn’s Quality Oyster seafood store in Apalachicola. Both were immediately impressed with the Controller 8’s grip shape and texture. “It took a minute to get used to the finger groove in the grip, but once I did, it felt really good,” Patterson said. Captain Chason was also a fan of the easy to hold grip and said that the blade left a smoother cut of meat on some big snapper he cleaned than other co*petitors. The ergonomic handle on the Controller allows you to keep a firm grip no matter how much fish slime and water build up on the knife. Gerber claims the HydroTread texture on the grip actually sheds water and keeps the handle dry during the cleaning session.
Why It Made the Cut: The stainless blade is flexible enough for finesse filleting but has a stiffer base for tougher cleaning tasks, which makes it the best fillet knife for small to medium sized freshwater fish.
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This Kershaw 7.5-inch Narrow Fillet knife is my choice for a live well full of crappie or a stringer full of trout. The stainless steel blade is hard enough to hold an edge but resharpens easily, and it’s flexible enough to both remove meat from the bone, then slide easily between the fillet and skin. One of the best features on this knife is the over molded K-Texture rubberized grip. While it’s firm enough to hang onto, the soft grip makes it easy to grip the knife in even during the messiest fish cleaning conditions. The knife also co*es with a slide on blade protector to keep the edge sharp and prevent unwanted cuts.
Why It Made the Cut: The slim, folding design takes up little room in a bag or tackle, and Gerber’s SaltRx technology means the blade can endure even the harshest saltwater conditions.
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When space is at a premium, a good folding fillet knife is the way to go. The Gerber Controller 6-inch folder takes up less than 7 inches of space when folded into the handle. Fold it out and lock the 6-inch stainless blade into position, and you have a full size knife capable of most fish cleaning needs. With the same HydroTread grip material as Gerber’s other fillet knives, this one is easy to hold during cleaning, and the mirror polished blade features Gerber’s SaltRx technology to keep it looking great in either salt or freshwater conditions.
Why It Made the Cut: The Bubba Multi-Flex Interchangeable blade kit features a non-slip, rubberized handle that houses any of the four blades, and the different sizes can handle anything from small panfish to saltwater giants.
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If you regularly find yourself fishing for panfish one week and the largest saltwater fish the next, the Bubba Multi Flex kit is a great option for you. It offers blade options that range from narrow and flexible to heavy duty. There’s even a nine inch serrated blade for heavy duty cutting chores. Simply squeeze the easy blade release tabs on either side of the handle to remove and replace the blades. While the easy blade release tabs are convenient, they’re harder to use when your hands are covered in slime or water. This kit also includes a handy carrying case that features a removable tray for easy cleaning and magnetic inserts to hold the blades in place.
Why It Made the Cut: At just 2.5 ounces, the Opinel No. 15 folder offers a full size fillet knife that packs easily and offers a razor sharp edge right out of the box.
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The lightweight Opinel No. 15 folder features a six-inch, fairly stiff stainless steel blade and a lightweight wooden grip. The folding knife locks open or closed with the twist of the built-in locking ring.
At just 2.5 ounces, this Opinel #15 folder is perfect for trips where you need a lightweight fillet knife. The knife features a slim handle and a six-inch, stainless steel razor sharp blade that locks in the open position with a simple twist of the locking ring at the top of the grip. Besides the light weight and out-of-the-box sharpness, this knife is aesthetically pleasing to look at and has a nice curve in the wooden handle.
Why It Made the Cut: The Outdoor Edge Reelflex Pack is a handy kit that features three traditional fixed-blade fillet knives with blade lengths of 6, 7.5, and 9 inches that can handle anything you catch.
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