Fillet Knives for Fishing Outdoor vs Kitchen

Who doesn’t enjoy a good day out on the water fishing? There’s something about getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and trying your luck out on the water. Whether you’re looking for a mess of bluegill to throw in the pan, good walleye chop, or a trophy northern pike in the lakes of Ontario, there’s a lot to love about the fishing life.

That said, if you want to enjoy fresh fish tossed right into a frying pan you had better have an excellent knife.

While there’s a lot to be said for electric fillet knives, especially if you’ll be catching a big mess of fish at once, if you are going off the grid then you don’t want to go with a knife that creates power source issues. A regular fillet knife is the way to go, and you don’t want to go cheap.

Outdoor Fillet Vs. Kitchen Fillet

Although the knives are often similar in design, you want fillet knives that are specifically designed for the rigors of outdoor life. Kitchen fillet knives don’t tend to hold up as well, especially if you go cheaper. You want the fillet knives that are created with anglers in mind.

This means you’re looking for fillet knives that are:

– One piece, not two

– Generally longer with extremely sharp blades

• From a reliable manufacturer

Anglers can often find a good selection at their local Turner’s Outdoorsman or Bass Pro Shop but there are also plenty of options for buying online at places like Knife Depot.

You will also want to make sure to have at least two fillet knives on hand (if not more) when you make your trip. Always be prepared in case even the most reliable of knives gets dropped in the water, lost, or even broken.

A one piece knife is one where the handle is fitted around a long blade. That means the blade doesn’t stop at the hilt but actually extends into the handle (usually half way or sometimes all the way through). This provides much more stability to the blade, a better cut, and is frankly safer.

There are a few brands that tend to stick out as being top of the line, such as Morakniv, Rapala, KastKing, and DALSTRONG. These have been consistently among the most popular. Part of this is because they are outdoor brands, so they’re made by companies that understand the real world challenges that these knives need to be able to endure.

Finally, consider the size of your knives. Extra long fillet knives can be useful with bigger fish like pike, muskie, or lake trout while you may want a smaller one on hand for smallmouth bass, walleye, or panfish. The type of fish you are going after when you go off the grid makes your choice of blade length all the more important.

Anglers can often find a good selection at their local Turner’s Outdoorsman or Bass Pro Shop but there are also plenty of options for buying online at places like Knife Depot.

Consider Your Options

There are many options when it comes to knives, but they’re not necessarily created equal. When you are trying to find the right knife you need to take all factors into account. If you are going into isolated areas make sure to bring along two.

The best knife for an off the grid fishing trip is going to be sharp, reliable, and designed to stay sharp and stable despite multiple uses. Keep this in mind, get two or more to cover everything you could possibly need, and you will be much happier with the end results.