Derrek Sigler 05.11.21
There are two kinds of anglers out there – those that are strictly catch and release, and those who like to bring home some of their catch for a tasty dinner. No offense to the former, but I definitely fall into the carnivore category. I love to eat fish. And for those of use who eat our catch, that means another piece of gear becomes vital to our fishing list – a good fillet knife. Fillet knives come in handy for lots of things, but you have to have one for cleaning fish. Other knives just don’t cut it. I’ve used many fillet knives over the years and I have several that have found a home as my list of best fillet knives to clean your catch. I’m sure there are other knives out there that are really strong contenders, and trust me, I’ll get to them eventually.
Fillet knives are characterized by a couple of things. They tend to have thinner, more flexible blades, with an elongated tip for precise cuts. They also are made from a corrosion-resistant steel, as they will be around water much of the time. This includes salt water, so the best fillet knives have an extra coating to ensure long life in salty environments.
Cover image by author
Table of Contents
1. Buck Silver Creek – Editor’s Pick Single Knife
I was researching knives for another article and came across the Silver Creek Fillet knife. Since I’m a sucker for fillet knives, I had to have it. I mean, why wouldn’t I want it? It has a Titanium-coated 420J2 stainless steel blade that gives just the right amount of flex for a great fillet knife, with enough backbone that you don’t make the wrong cut. The handle is fiberglass reinforced with textured molding over the top and a stainless-steel guard. The blade metal peeks out of the end enough for a wrist loop to be fastened. This is a nice feature for anglers trying to cut bait on the boat as the waves are pitching back and forth. Trust me – I know!
Another nice feature is the molded plastic sheath with a drain hole at the bottom and a clip to let you adhere it to anything, including drawstring shorts. There are two sizes of the fixed blade version, a 6 ⅜ inch and a 9 and ⅜ inch. I loved the feel of the handle and ended up buying both. There is a folding version of these knives that is nice, but I prefer fixed blades. The folder would fit into a tackle box much easier though.
Pros/Sharp with a titanium coated blade and a great handle
Cons/A rubbered handle might slip less, but so far so good on that front
Bottom Line/If you’re in the market for a single fillet knife, one of these is the best I’ve tried recently
2. Outdoor Edge ReelFlex Pak – Editor’s Pick Knife Set
Of course, I had just bought myself two fillet knives, but didn’t mention it to my wife. Yeah, I know; I was playing with fire. However, instead of it turning bad, it actually turned in my favor. My wife saw a set of fillet knives and bought it for me because she had heard me say I needed a new one. That’s how I got my hands on the Outdoor Edge ReelFlex Pax, a set of 3 sweet fillet knives, a sharpener setup for them, and a nice, latching plastic case to carry them and keep them together.
The knives are made from 4116 stainless steel and have rubberized TPR handles. The blade lengths are 9.5 inches, 7.5 inches and 6 inches, so you’re completely covered for whatever cut you’re making, or fish you’re catching. This set is perfect for cleaning panfish to walleyes and salmon, which is a big bonus to me, as I always strive to catch a few of those every summer. The sharpener seems to do a great job of restoring the super sharp edge they come with, something the brand is well known for.
Pros/The set completely covers your fillet knife needs, regardless of what you catch
Cons/Would have liked to have more flex in the shorter blade for panfish, but it’s fine
Bottom Line/Easily the best fillet knife set I’ve tried so far
3. Rapala Deluxe Falcon – Budget Pick
Most all of us have at least one Rapala fillet knife. I have a couple, including a slightly older version of this one that has a different colored handle. I’ll admit right off that this fillet knife isn’t all that remarkable. It has a 4-inch stainless steel blade and a polymer handle that does a decent job of helping you make your cuts without slipping. The knife comes with a resin sheath, too. There are, however, some really nice features to this fillet knife that definitely help it make this list. For one, the price is hard to beat. I found this knife for under $9! Another plus is, it works pretty good. In fact, it works better than you’d expect for the price.
Pros/For the money, a really good knife
Cons/While good, it doesn’t hold an edge as well as higher quality blades
Bottom Line/If you need a good, budget-level fillet knife, grab one of these
4. Bubba Ultra Flex – Most Flexible
I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a Bubba Blade fillet knife. These are super-high quality fillet knives with what may be the best handle material out there. It is a contoured, rubberized grip pattern that simply does not slip. Period. One of my good buddies uses the larger Bubba Blades for cleaning salmon. He also uses this knife for deboning the fillets, and for panfish. I have used it for getting boneless fillets from northern pike, too. This is a sweet fillet knife with an 8-inch high carbon-steel blade with Bubba’s titanium coating for durability and corrosion resistance. It is thin and highly flexible, which helps with delicate cuts. Oh, and it’s razor sharp and holds the edge well. If you are thinking about getting a Bubba Blade fillet knife, this one is a great option, but really, you can’t go wrong with any of them.
Pros/Highly flexible, sharp and durable
Cons/These fillet knives are pricey, but honestly, worth it
Bottom Line/There is a reason these knives are widely considered among the best fillet knives out there
5. Gerber Controller – Mid-Level Pick
Another brand you’d expect to see in one of these lists is Gerber. The company is well known for high quality knives and the Controller Fillet Knives are no exception. Gerber designed this knife, not with a preconceived notion of what a fillet knife should be. They talked to hardcore anglers from all over North America like you and I, about what we want in a fillet knife. This knife is the end result. The Controller has a contoured non-slip grip. The blade holds an edge while being able to withstand the abuse anglers can dish out. Gerber uses 9Cr steel, widely known for being tough and corrosion resistant. These knives are kind of a sleeper pick. Some people don’t know they exist, but those that have them love them.
Pros/Gerber quality and attention to detail in a knife with a great handle
Cons/Not as easy to find (but we’re here to help with that)
Bottom Line/A really great fillet knife with great feel, a sharp blade and a decent price
What to look for in a fillet knife
There are two main things I look for in a fillet knife – It has to feel good in my hand, and it has to have a quality blade that will do exactly what I want it to do. Because of this, I have a wide range of fillet knives I use for different fish species and uses. If you’re working with big fish, look for a fillet knife that has a longer blade, preferably curved, so you can make as few cuts as possible for a smooth fillet. If it’s a straight blade, make sure there’s some flex to it and it has to be extremely sharp.
You want several fillet knives of different lengths to match differ sized fish. If the blade is too long, you’re not going to make a precision cut. I like a lot of flex to the blade for the smaller fish, like panfish and crappie. Build your own set based on what you want and you’ll have the best fillet knives for every fish you catch.
Keeping your fillet knives sharp
This is such an important thing, as you need a sharp knife to get the right cut and not waste any of the delicious protein from your catch. Here are some tips to help keep your fillet knives sharp.
- Always store with the blade covered so it doesn’t get bumped around
- Clean after every use and store dry
- Never use the dishwasher – always hand wash
- Use a quality knife sharpener – I like the WorkSharp motorized unit
- Try not to use it for other uses – keep another fillet knife or two for that
I like to use fillet knives for processing my game meat, but I don’t use my fishing fillet knives for that. I keep a second set of knives for things like deer and birds. I will also add that using a proper cutting board for cleaning your fish will help you save the edge on your fillet knife. Take good care of them, and your fillet knives will last a long time.
How do I find a good fillet knife?
Finding a good fillet knife means looking at blade type, handle type and what the blade is made from. You want a fillet knife that will hold an edge while cleaning your fish, and one that won’t slip easily from your hand.
What fillet knife do I want for walleye?
Since walleye are popular table fare, getting the best fillet possible is important. Look for a knife with a 7.5-to 9-inch blade for most eating-size walleye, and if you’re not used to cleaning them, take your time.
About the Author
We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works.