Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades your philosophy on fillet knives?

Had Dale Howe make this beauty several years ago, never seen a boat, and never will.😎

Thin for the win!

Sweet knife and sheath!

Thanks PARD!! It really is, pretty much a work of art, and it’s filleted a couple salmon.😎

Just not on a boat!!😆

I remember that one and still envious. What scales/liners?

I really hope that this isn't the future!

I filet a lot of fish. I keep a few friends and neighbors supplied with all the fish they want, always have Not so many salmon, but I have blades that will handle them. Those blades are long and bendy. Most of the fish I filet are easily handled by a 6-6 1/2 inch blade, and they tend to be bass and walleyes with a few large sunfish thrown into the mix. Bass over about three pounds, I tend to throw back. So, I do not really need a long blade.

I talked Tim into making me a 6-1/2 incher stiff, out of S35VN. That knife is the best one I have ever had my hands on the for bass and walleyes. On both of those species, you always wind up with the odd pin bones and what Tim made me is perfect for flicking them out . After cutting scales and bone for a year I still haven't needed to sharpen it. I am doubtful it will need sharpening before 2024 for that matter. This knife is by far the quickest knife for fileting those fish I have ever had. I have an almost identical knife made by Dale Atkerson of Oklahoma that's CPM 134, but I need to sharpen it once in awhile.

If Tim is really going to get out of making fish knives, you would be well advised to get one in S35VN before the end. What I have is actually more like a boning knife.

Favorite knife for salmon was a dexter butcher. Like this:

https://www.grainger.com/product/DEXTER-RUSSELL-Butcher-Skinning-Knife-6-in-2TLN5

I have often thought of trying this Leech Lake knife

https://www.scheels.com/p/leech-lak...id=fishing-cleaning-and-cooking#start=24


I am just doing panfish so I haven't spent the money. Just sticking to the ole rapala.

I’m in the saltwater 100% and use dexter russell and have for at least 30 years. Theres been a few rapalas along the way. I usually lose knives them over the side or some calamity. Easy to sharpen. At home I use a bubba fillet knife. Its ok but I am having a hard time getting used to that huge handle on the bubba. Dang sure will fillet a seatrout or a redfish.

Hey Jack, dyed camel bone, tapered tang, and red liners. Badass for sure!👊🏻

screengrab

Few I gathered up, the big one works great for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon etc. little ones for smaller fish.

Is the big knife on left a Forsschener/victorinox 40630?
Its my absolute favorite blade for Salmon/steelhead/Etc
I have a pair of em that have butchered lots of kings, coho, steelhead etc. Had a good run at em for lotta years

I like the Howe alot. Does he make a mini version? Say 4” or so.

Yep, got 2 of em, good leverage for bigger fish.👊🏻

Dunno about the shorter fillet. Shoot him a pm, goes by mtnman1 on here, great man, easy goin, sure you guys can work something out.

Il do that, Thanks

Hell ya! Post er up when ya get er.👊🏻

I probably average 30 salmon a year, a dozen or two rockfish and some halibut. The Dexter Russel fillet knives have worked fine over the years and add one of their diamond hones to touch up the blade every few fish. For trout the Rapalla 5" folding filet knife is the ticket. I've had a few cheaper fillet knives that are crap and won't hold an edge. My fillet knives get a fair bit of abuse so I can't see spending on a high dollar knife when a $25-40 knife will do the job and I won't cry if it falls overboard.

I'm a bit of a knife collector so this is hard for me to admit; but... Electric knives are a lot faster for many people once you get the hang of it. Once, long ago, a friend and I caugnght a bunch of bluegills. To dress them, I was using a custom fillet knife. He was using Electric. Didn't take long to see which was faster.

I was wondering who would bring up electrics first! For fishing on the rivers where I fillet the fish before they go in the backpack any decent fillet knife will work. But if the fish make it back to my house whole, electrics rule the roost. Bet I can fillet a catfish or panfish three times faster with an electric vs old school.

If speed is sooo important, maybe fishing with dynamite or going to the meat counter
would be better use of time.
Just kidding. I know the electrics work slick as heck, but I do not have one. Don't have a
thing against those who use them.
I still use a stiff bladed filet knife personally.

What he said