Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

[TwoWatt]

I found out last night that my fileting knife needs to be replaced. <br />I thought of buying one of those electric filet knifes I've seen at Wally-Mart but wonder if it's overkill for the fish I catch & actually keep (bluegill/crappie/perch)<br />Anyone have experience with these knifes? If so, do you think it'd work ok on smaller fish?<br /><br />(After I post I will do a search here, I forgot... )<br />Ok. I'm safe. Can't find it already being discussed.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

I know several people that swear they will never go back to a regular knife after using them. Having watched them use them they do a good job but none of them can fillet a fish as fast as I can As for me I'm stickin with a regular knife, but I have heard good things about them.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

I have one and love it. But I generally don't use it for smaller fish or those with thin scales like speckeled trout.<br /><br />Its great for large scaled fish and I don't know how I survived without it for so long especially cleaning snapper, amberjack, and redfish.<br /><br />Well worth the money IMO.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

Oh dear... The real thing has more feel than the electric and wastes less. Buy yourself a decent filet knife with a flexible blade (the cheap Rapela works great) and keep it sharp. You don't see professionals on boats or packing plants using an electric...<br />Sort of like using a chain saw on rose bushes....sort of like using a vibrator, instead of ....sure, the real thing takes more care, but isn't it worth it all in the end???

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

I guess there are different ones. My husband bought me an expensive one with two blade sizes and they are extremely flexible. I waste nothing.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

I saw the mates on head boats use Gerber filet knives and bought one for myself.IMHO nothing beats it.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

I've seen a couple being used.<br />The best one was fully rechargable, or could be used with 12v or 110v. The guy said it was about $80. Seen them used for cleaning large fish like walleye and northern pike.<br /><br />I don't think it would work very well for panfish.

 

[ddaigle]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

Ive used electrics since I was a kid living in Loisianna where we filleted lots and lots of fish. They take some getting used to especially with small or thin skinned fish because you can mangle them up really easily. But once you become proficient youll never go back. I have a 12 volt model that I carry on my boat and can fillet the fish on the water at the dock when there are no cleaning facilities, which is most of the places I fish.

 

[cjones4@hvc.rr.com]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

I was given an electric (12v , not rechargeable) filet knife as a Christmas gift 2 years ago. To be honest I wasn't thrilled with the gift at the time as I was very happy with the old filet knives I had. Now after 2 seasons of using the electric in my boat on Striped Bass, I love it. Quick and easy with no waste. Go for it!

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

i might go to electric, after these other posts. but back when i tried them, i was not impressed at all. but even then, i saw a use for them on bigger chunx of meat. we used them for turkey carving. but since i'm usually only filleting crappie, bream & perch, i didn't like the thought of 2 blades rubbing together vs 1 super skinny flexible blade.<br /><br />maybe the new electrics really are flexible to match the shape of the fillet- the old ones weren't.

 

[hack_62863]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

i use an electric knife to filet all my crappie,blue gill.catfish and any other fish i clean and i don't see how you will waste less meat with a regular filet knife.all you do is cut behind the head about half way through turn the knife and cut through the ribs along the backbone, stop before you get to the tailfin lay the slab over and cut the meat from the skin. then slide the knife under the ribs and remove them

 

[chippy]

Re: Electric filet knife - - Worth Buying?

I got a 110 volt one. I used it once in florida. It works great on the fish. The only thing is It got a little warm. It may have been me tring to go to fast. But it worked great.