The dirty work - knifes for cleaning fish etc...

[Shuya]

Hi folks,

back from my last holidays this years (with fishing of course) I have a question in mind regarding cleanability of knifes and what you use.

I used a Boker Gents Scalpel for cleaning perch, and on other trips with larger fish I take a simple Mora in SS.

The Micarta handle of the Boker was hard to clean off the fishy smell, and thats why I usually take cheapos to fishing, not wanting a 200-300Euro knife to stink.

Is it just me? What knifes / handle materials can you suggest? Or do you just dont care?

Someone here higly recomended the Buck 102, having an eye on it already.

Please share your experience.

Michael

[Shuya]

Noone? 

[comis]

I don't hunt or fish much due to my urban location, but from feedbacks of my friends, I would say skeleton knives are popular choices.  No gaps or texture to pickup smell at all. 

[Aloha]

I would think one of those Rapala fillet knives would fit the task?  I don't fish but I was hoping our resident fisher men and women would chime in.  Steve? NK? 

[cody6268]

Mora; or any other knife with a plastic handle and plastic scabbard/sheath. Easy to get fully clean. My tackle box does include a Rapala in a leather sheath, but I haven't used it yet. May replace it with either a Fiskars from the '90s (Finland-made too, but plastic sheath; which also has a ceramic sharpener built in) or a Mora.  Last time I fished, I didn't even own a fillet knife. Used the Fiskars my friend had. I did a lot of the cleaning with my Bahco Carpenter's Knife (which is more or less an older Clipper that Mora continues to make for Bahco). Now I have an EKA Swingblade (as a backup) and the Rapala as well as a beat-up imported Schrade LB-7 in there.

[nate j]

Not something I regularly do, but logically:

• A fixed blade will be easier to clean than a folder.  (And if you must use a folder for some reason, a slip joint will be easier to clean than a locking knife.)
• Handle material should be something impervious, e.g. steel, plastic, micarta, etc.
• Finish on both handle and blade should be smooth and polished.
• Most fishermen seem to prefer long, thin, flexible blades for cleaning fish.

[Gerhard Gerber]

• Handle material should be something impervious, e.g. steel, plastic, micarta, etc.

I used a Boker Gents Scalpel for cleaning perch, and on other trips with larger fish I take a simple Mora in SS.

The Micarta handle of the Boker was hard to clean off the fishy smell, and thats why I usually take cheapos to fishing, not wanting a 200-300Euro knife to stink.

I can't see micarta retaining the smell? 

I was part of the dull knife club along with my family and just about everybody I know for the best part of my life, especially my younger years fishing rock & surf on our coast.

The tackle box/bait knife was generally used for everything including cleaning fish, and they were mainly thin blades with wood handles....cheap knives like Tramontina.

[AimlessWanderer]

My away from home foodprep knives include:

Rapala fillet knife
Mora HiVis (stainless)
Outdoor Edge Wedge
Boker TUF
Cold Steel Roach Belly

The last two have a big step between handle and blade, rather like a cook's knife, letting more of the blade be used on a chopping board, wich is how I prefer them.

[Greg Jones]

For fish prep I'm another voice for the Rapala, I use a Mora Companion to cut bait

[SteveC]

Rapala fillet was always knife of choice around here. I catch and release these days so it's been a while since I filleted a fish.

[derek_d]

Another vote for Rapala. I have used the Rapala more than any other fillet knife, and it was what I grew up using.
Try to get one made in Finland - these are extremely good.

[Pacu]

I had to bout use a chainsaw to clean those Redfish from Louisiana back in September. Not sure what fixed blade I would have used as I used an electric knife.

[zoidberg]

Couple pannies from the last few weeks.

[zoidberg]

Trevelly, Snapper and Kahawai, all caught off the beach.

[zoidberg]

These two were bin rescues.
The black Giesser just needed sharpening and has worked well since.
The white Tramontina was very bent so I cut it down to use as a boning knife.

[zoidberg]

Current bait knives.
The Bahco is good for scaling but the part rubber handle smells and it doesn't hold an edge long.
Is also pretty good for gutting fish.
The Victorinox serrations are pretty good for cutting bait.
However it is a small light knife so doesn't work well on bigger fish.
Older versions of Mora with the full plastic handles are great.
Wish mine hadn't gone walkabout.

[zoidberg]

I wouldn't want to go fishing without my Williamson pliers.
They will chomp through hooks that the BlackTip can't.
And they are a lot less expensive.

[cody6268]

Current bait knives.
The Bahco is good for scaling but the part rubber handle smells and it doesn't hold an edge long.
Is also pretty good for gutting fish.
The Victorinox serrations are pretty good for cutting bait.
However it is a small light knife so doesn't work well on bigger fish.
Older versions of Mora with the full plastic handles are great.
Wish mine hadn't gone walkabout.

(Image removed from quote.)

Interesting you mention the Bahco's edge retention. I wonder if Mora uses a cheaper steel to make it? Because my Companion (the replacement to the Clipper the Bahco was based on) seems to hold an edge better--and it is stainless as well.

[zoidberg]

Interesting you mention the Bahco's edge retention. I wonder if Mora uses a cheaper steel to make it? Because my Companion (the replacement to the Clipper the Bahco was based on) seems to hold an edge better--and it is stainless as well.

Quite possibly yes.
Without using them side by side though it would be difficult to say for sure.
I can say that:
- it was super cheap
- even after modifying the blade shape and grind that I would never use it for anything other than beating on/loaning out
- cutting bait on sand is brutal on any blade edge
- scaling fish is brutal on any blade edge
- salt water is brutal on any edge
- other people will almost always use your knife in a way that is brutal on any edge
- it is a rough life being a bait knife
I have no issue with using cheap knives that work but I don't think I would buy that Bahco again.

[frankieSD]

I use spyderco waterway, rustprof and confortable to use . Maybe a bit pricey but u dont buy them every day....