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About Fishing Knives
Fishing Knife Buyer's Guide
BEST FISHING KNIVES
Welcome to the comprehensive fishing knife buying guide! This buyers guide is a review of Blade HQ’s best fishing knives, types and styles, what to look for, laws, uses, and more! Let’s dive in, shall we?
Best Selling Fishing Knives
The Finn Bear is a more affordable version of Cold Steel’s Sisu. It is great from not only fishing, but hunting and camping as well. This knife will hold a good edge and is easy to sharpen. It makes for a great companion out on the lake or river! Learn More >
The Fillet from SOG comes in two different options, one for smaller fish and the other for bigger fish. The sheaths that come with the knives include built-in sharpeners, line cutters, and water draining holes. SOG hit the nail on the head with these fishing knives. Learn More >
The blade is flexible and perfect for many sizes of fish. The glass-filled nylon (GFN) handle boasts Kershaw’s exclusive K-Texture rubber overmold that is great for gripping in wet conditions. A blade protector is included for safe and easy storage. Learn More >
Myerchin is famous for making quality products to be used on the water. The Gen. 2 Crew is a more compact version of the Captain and is known to be one of the best rigging knives available. Some of the features are titanium handle, double frame lock, stainless steel blade, and an included nylon sheath. Learn More >
The Gerber Gator is a long, skinny knife with a stainless steel blade. It rocks a GFN handle that is grippy in all types of weather. The Gator is also available with a 6” blade, but the 7.5” blade is the most popular. Learn More >
CRKT makes one mean fishing knife with the Clark Fork. Part of the almost 6” blade folds inside the handle and the rest is covered by an extension that folds out of the handle. Tote this baby along on any fishing adventure. You know you want to. Learn More >
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Fishing Knife Types and Styles
What to Look for in a Fishing Knife
Like other knives, there are many things that set fishing knives apart. Keep the following in mind when searching for that perfect fishing companion.
Type
Do you want a strong knife that will stay with your fishing equipment. A fixed blade is best for you. Or do you need a more compact knife that’s portable? A folding knife is best. Maybe you want a tool to do it all and a nice fishing tool with a blade would do. The type of knife will suit the needs.
Uses
Most fishing knives are fillet knives that are used in cleaning and preparing fish. Then there are knives for scaling, baiting, gutting, and other things. Myerchin produces awesome all around knives that have a few different functions. Maybe you don’t want a knife and a good pair of fishing scissors/pliers (Splizzors) would do you some good.
Size
If you need a fillet knife, the blade will most likely be 4”-8”. Folding knives and multi-purpose tools sport blades in the 2”-4” category. If you are planning on carrying your fishing knife in a pocket, obviously a smaller blade is going to be easier and more comfortable.
Materials
Fishing knives are made for simple tasks like cutting a line or gutting a fish. This is why they don’t sport the most prestigious steels in the market. The most popular steels in a fishing knife:
The list isn’t exhaustive, but it covers the majority of fishing knives.
The handle is also a big factor in fishing knives. You need one that will allow a solid grip when wet. The most popular handle materials:
All of the above textured handles provide a solid grip and will be sure to last.
Fishing Knife Brands
Cold Steel produces knives of many varieties. Their models in the fishing game have proven to be quality knives offered at affordable prices.
CRKT prides itself on making a wide range of knives. Their fishing knives live up to the quality CRKT stands for.
Kershaw has a large lineup of fishing knives to choose from. Whether you want a curved or straight blade, Kershaw has it. Want a spoon on the end of the handle? They have that as well.
Gerber threw their hand in the fishing game with the Gerber Gator. The Gator is affordable, usable, and comes in two sizes.
Myerchin specializes in quality rigging gear and knives. Myerchin offers different models and styles of knives specifically made for fishing tasks.
SOG dates back to the Vietnam war. The inspiration of knife designer Spencer Frazer came after he learned about the tactical knives carried by a US special ops unit. Their fishing knives later followed suit after many other types and styles.
Havalon makes a large fishing folder that’s currently available in two colors. Havalon knives are sleek, comfortable, and usable.
Fishing Knife Laws
The thing about knife laws is they vary widely at the state level. Some states allow carry of any type of knife and others only allow knives of certain lengths. Other states have exceptions for fishing and hunting knives.
Check the fishing knife laws for your state. That’s the only way to know if you can buy that new fillet knife for your upcoming fishing trip.
Recap
A fishing knife is an important piece of equipment for any fisherman. Look for these specs when determining which knife is right for you:
We hope you found this buyers guide useful and wish you luck in catching those big ones.
Best Fillet Knives
Written by Blade HQ Staff Writer Logan Rainey on 08/07/2020
Processing fish and game is a whole lot easier with the right set of tools. A great fillet knife is a must-have for anyone who eats meat and cooks at home. Whether you’re a weekend fisherman or an avid duck hunter there’s bound to be a fillet knife for you. In this article we break down the Best Fillet Knives at Blade HQ and what sets them above the rest.
In addition to an overview of the specs and details of each knife, you'd normally see a product review from one of our awesome customers. Since many of these knives are newer and haven't been reviewed yet, feel free to let us know what you think about them, and stay tuned as reviews are updated.
1. CRKT Big Eddy Fixed Blade
The Big Eddy is a heavy duty filet knife designed by world famous hunting and fishing guide Russ Kommer. It is outfitted with a dual grind blade that has a hollow grind on the top side and a taper grind on the bottom side. This unique blade profile lifts the skin without dragging against the body, making this the perfect fish knife. The handle is made from textured black polypropylene with finger contouring and a lanyard hole. Item includes an injection molded sheath with a belt loop.
- Overall Length: 12.00”
- Blade Length: 6.75”
- Blade Material: 420
- Handle Material: Kraton
- Weight: 8.00 oz.
- Country of Origin: Taiwan
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2. Morakniv Fishing Comfort Fillet
Mora knives are robust and economical tools with a strong reputation. This Mora of Sweden Fishing Comfort Fillet is a must-have on any fishing expedition big or small! It features a long trailing point blade of flexible Swedish cold-rolled special stainless steel with a high polish finish and flat grind. The patterned high-friction grip handle with easy to see neon green accents is easy to clean along with the sheath. A great fish fillet knife: budget-friendly, sharp and rugged!
- Overall Length: 10.50”
- Blade Length: 6.00”
- Blade Material: Stainless Steel
- Handle Material: Rubber
- Weight: 2.51 oz.
- Country of Origin: Sweden
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3. Kershaw Narrow Fillet Fishing Knife
Make your life easier with the right knife for the job. The 7.5" Narrow Fillet Knife is perfect for a wide range of fish sizes, and if you had to choose just one, this would probably be your best choice. It has a flexible, highly corrosion resistant 420J2 steel blade. The handle has a glass-filled nylon handle with Kershaw's exclusive K-Texture rubber over-mold for great grip in wet conditions you'll encounter. For easy storage the knife includes a blade protector.
- Overall Length: 12.75”
- Blade Length: 7.50”
- Blade Material: 420J2
- Handle Material: Rubber
- Weight: 3.20 oz.
- Country of Origin: China
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4. Havalon Baracuta-Edge Pro Fillet Knife
The Havalon Baracuta-Edge Pro Fillet Knife has the same great concept as the Havalon Piranta Series— razor-sharp disposable blades on a ultra-lightweight knife, but with a larger and longer profile. The Baracuta-Edge features a razor-sharp stainless steel fillet blade, rugged Zytel handle with orange rubber grip inlays, ambidextrous thumb studs, an open back for easy cleaning, and liner lock construction. Comes with a removable tip-down pocket clip and nylon holster. Includes 5 additional #127XT stainless steel 5" blades. Fits #115XT blades as well.
- Overall Length: 11.00”
- Blade Length: 5.00”
- Blade Material: Stainless Steel
- Handle Material: Zytel
- Weight: 2.62 oz.
- Country of Origin: India and Taiwan
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5. Buck Silver Creek Folding Fillet Knife
Safe, reliable and durable, the Buck Silver Creek folding fillet knife has a titanium coated blade designed for added flexibility and corrosion resistance, a rubberized anti-slip grip and a stainless steel safety guard. The convenient size when folded makes this knife convenient to carry on any fishing trip! Its slim blade profile helps it slice and cut with precision. Whether you’re prepping a fresh caught fish, or trimming poultry from the grocery store, the Silver Creek is worth picking up. Check it out below.
- Overall Length: 13.75”
- Blade Length: 6.50”
- Blade Material: 420J2
- Handle Material: Thermoplastic
- Weight: 6.00 oz.
- Country of Origin: China
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6. CRKT Clark Fork Fillet Folding Knife
Life is better with a knife that is suited to the task at hand, which is why the Clark Fork Fillet Knife is an easy choice for fishers everywhere. This Ken Steigerwalt design benefits from a long flexible stainless steel blade and glass-reinforced nylon handle for easy cleaning. The Clark Fork features a tail that folds into the handle to lock the blade open and folds out to cover the long blade tip. Includes a black nylon sheath for storage.
- Overall Length: 11.00”
- Blade Length: 5.94”
- Blade Material: 5Cr13MoV
- Handle Material: GFN
- Weight: 1.80 oz.
- Country of Origin: China
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7. Bubba Blade Tapered Flex Fillet Knife
Built for fishermen by fishermen. The Bubba Blade Tapered Flex Fillet Knife is a rock solid fillet knife built for fishing and processing your catch. Outfitted with a 7-inch 8Cr13MoV blade and a no-slip rubber handle, this knife is made to withstand the rigors of day-to-day fishing trips. Full tang construction and a non-stick blade coating give this knife rigidity and longevity. Rounding things out, this knife comes standard with a black synthetic sheath for secure carry.
- Overall Length: 13.00”
- Blade Length: 7.00”
- Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV
- Handle Material: Rubber
- Country of Origin: China
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Wrap-up
Whether you’re home in the kitchen or out at camp, having a solid fillet knife will prove valuable time and time again. Each fillet knife has its own unique flavor and gives users something different. When it comes to choosing a fillet knife, it’s important to decide when and where you plan on using it and what you’ll be using it for. A great kitchen fillet knife doesn’t necessarily make the best camping fillet knife and vice versa. Check out our full selection of fillet knives by clicking below.
Now you've got all our recommendations, but Blade HQ has got way more knives than those featured here. Give our wares a browse, and find the perfect knife to suit your needs!
