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Hey guys,
I’ve been saying for years I need an electric fillet knife and I’m finally going to break down and buy one this weekend, they just seem so much easier and faster then a traditional fillet knife…..I saw the Rapala one at field and stream for $50 but noticed there are several different kinds at Walmart that seem to be a lot cheaper in price $20-$30. Is their something special about the Rapala one or will any electric knife work well for filleting crappie? Thanks!
Price range will usually be dependent on functionality, it depends on if you want a rechargeable or a plug-in Style. Personally I use a Mister Twister that I got from Walmart. It has served me well and just recently had to get a new set of blades which cost $8. It's like everything else it depends on how well you take care of it.
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The best one I have had plug in wise is the American Angler. I have had it a long time. Last year I used some gift cards I had saved up to get a Bubba cordless. I do like the freedom of take it anywhere
If you do remote fishing and need cordless then that's what you need to look for if not, there is not a ton of difference in electric knives. Me personally like a corded as in the past I have had issues with some of the battery powered ones. Right now I have a Rapala and it works well, for bigger fish I wish it had a bit longer stroke for the blades as the larger bones in bigger fish takes a bit to cut thru them.
It will take a while to get used to using electric destroyed a few fish figuring out how to use it.
Over my years of fishing, I've had lots of different types/brands of electric filet knives. What I've found is you get what you pay for. I agree with Jack on the American angler for plug in's. Last year, I bought a Bubba cordless and it is a game changer! Not only is it good for small fish like Crappie and bream, it does a great job with stripers and cats too. If you shop online you can find them for considerably less than the national chains have them for. Since using mine, now all my friends have one too! The first pic is the Bubba and the others are a very old American Angler that still gets the job done.
Mister Twister has always served me well and even better the Piranha series or version!
I use one from Walmart been using the same one for a couple years now... just can’t bring myself to pay for those high dollar ones when I can buy ten from Walmart for the price of one.... did try a rapala a few years back that thing was junk
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Still using my old American Angler.
Cordless bubba all the way. Never look back!
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My Rapala Heavy Duty 110 v is going on 3 years.
No problems. About 50$ online.
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Ive used American Angler, Mister Twister (yellow and green) and the Piranha (blue and white) Mr. Twister. All have worked OK and Ive worn out a few of the first two mentioned. I get the Piranha pretty hot at times cleaning limits of fish now. Ive had it a year. From reviews Ive watched on U-tube the Rapala Heavy Duty for @ $50 will be my next fillet knife. It's stated to be 3 times the knife of all the others mentioned. It's even rated better than the Bubba knives in a few of the reviews from commercial fishermen on U-tube. Time will tell..........
Its a shame I didn't read this 30 minutes ago. I just bought and used a B&D electric knife from Walmart. Hope there isn't a huge deference.
Have owed and wore out several!
I now have the cordless bubba and wouldn’t have anything else ! :twocents
Yep that will never work! :biggrinQuote:
Originally Posted by LazyKB
JK those kitchen version B&D's work just as good if not better than the ones they make to catch fishermen!
I tried one of those Walmart B&D models.Quote:
Originally Posted by keeferfish
I was not impressed. It was flimsy and under powered. They must vary by batch??
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cordless bubba nuff said!
All y’all high dollar folks. I buy mine at the goodwill, a couple of them were 3 whole dollars and last a few years. Can’t begin to tell you what brands. Sometimes they don’t last and some last a good long while. I hardly keep any fish anymore, much less a limit, and have gone back to the old standby Rapala knife. All kidding aside, I’ve never bought a good one but I will buy another one day. The cordless sounds like a good deal. But my knives from the goodwill, that’s the truth.
I haven't had much luck with electric knives. I usually cut too deep or something. I find the old time method with a sharp knife is nearly as fast cleaning fish as with the electric knife. Having to cut the ribs out after the electric knife is used just makes the process seem longer. But I am old school. Perhaps too old.
Go cheap. I bought a 12V American Angler over 25 years ago and it still works. Never changed the blades and could not count the number of fished I've cleaned with it. I also have a 120V DC I recently bought from Academy. It was also a cheap-o model and seems to work fine. Only had it a year but it works great for now. I use the 120V when I'm fishing from base camp with my RV. The 12V I use at home when just driving to and from fishing. Just plug it in to the boat and clean the fish in the backyard next to the shop. More convenient than running an extension cord. Just keep the motors dry and don't try to clean to large of a fish with large bones with them (like 20 lbs red snapper or such.) ;)
Thanks for all the feedback guys, very helpful…..that Bubba electric knife looks really nice and impressive but that’s way more then I’m willing to pay. I didn’t want to spend a whole lot just something that will get the job done without hassle. I ended up buying a Hamilton beach electric knife from Walmart for $32. Came with a 9” and a 5” blade. Great reviews on Amazon but I’m sure majority aren’t cleaning fish with it LOL. It says it has a “powerful 120 watt” motor….but who knows, all I’m going to clean with it is crappie. If it stinks I can always return it, but do you all think this will do the job?
What you've bought will work and probably last for a few years with light use and good care. What you're getting with the more expensive higher powered options in the ease of use and speed. The cordless knives can be used anywhere and drop cords/outlets being available are removed from the fish cleaning equation. The more expensive higher powered knives also make the job easier thus saving you time and making you less tired at the end of the day. The old adage of "you get what you pay for" is very applicable to most tools and this is a tool to perform the fish cleaning task.Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenEYESfromOHIO
I understand your thought process and I did the same thing when I first turned to electric knives. I weighed price more heavily than other factors and purchased several cheap knives only to find they didn't work great and didn't last long. I've had the Hamilton beach, Black and Decker, Rapala, etc. The Rapala was by far the worst I had. Hopefully the HD model is better for those who choose it.
My experience may be different than yours as we clean hundreds of stripers and quite a large number of catfish each year along with the crappie/panfish. That makes my experience a little tougher on knives than the hard core crappie only angler.
At the end of the day use your own judgement and learn from your own fails/wins. Hopefully my fails can help the rest of you. :banghead
Chris
I had a Bubba 110V knife. The gears in it stripped out after only 200 fish. Less than impressed for the money. Went back to a $50 Rapala heavy duty. They last one I opened was the cheaper Rapala and it lasted 6-7 years.
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Here is my American Angler 12V. It also came with an adaptor with alligator clips for the cigarette lighter to hook straight to the battery terminals if you don't have the plug in on your boat. I purchased this knife in 1995. I don't know how many thousands of fish it's cleaned over the years. These are the original blades also. I've cleaned crappie, speckled trout, redfish, king mackerel, and black fin tuna with it. It did get a little warm after cleaning about a dozen black fin tuna so I haven't used it for large boned fish since. It still cleans small fish like crappie, bream, speckled trout, etc., as fast and easy as it did when it was new. I paid $12.99 plus tax for it at Academy Sports.
Attachment 427700
Attachment 427701
This is my newest one. It's a 120V Ozark Trail. $14.87 at your local wally world ( I thought it was from Academy but looking at my receipt it was Walmart). Seems to work fine. Had it a year now. The trigger is the only issue. If you don't press it just right it doesn't come on. Not a big issue yet. I think it's just the length of the trigger. If you press on just the back end it doesn't engage. When squeezing in the middle or front works fine.
Attachment 427702
Best bang for your buck is the mister twister. I've cleaned well over 1000 panfish with mine and it still works great.
I got a fancy cordless bubba knife for Christmas and I like the mister twisted better. Seems to have much more power since it's corded. Bubba would be great for remote camping but if you have power I would highly recommend a corded knife
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it was a gift :biggrin
Mister twister
I got an Old Timer cordless fillet knife that I have been using lately. With work and highwater I haven't used it much, but so far so good. It was in the $60 range.
Did anyone recommend the American Angler
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I believe it has been recommended several times. Mine has been a real workhorse
For the corded models, American Angler is the best I’ve ever had.Quote:
Originally Posted by DockShootinJack
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My Mister Twister from Walmart has served me well for over 18 years and still going strong. I use it on Crappie, Bream, and my wife uses it on Steaks and roasts.
Mike
All y’all got me wanting one now. I do it the old fashioned way still.