Best Filet Knife For Crappie And Panfish

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Breaking down fish is almost an art form, and for every type of art the artist in question needs to have the right type of tools.

When it comes to deboning and filleting fish, what you need is a really good fish knife. With that being said, there are so many different fish fillet nights out there that it can be really hard to choose the right one for you.

Out of the thousands of options out there, there is only a fraction that is actually usable. What we are here to do today is to help you find the best filet knife for crappie and panfish. We’ve got some great options for you to look at.

Best Filet Knife For Crappie And Panfish: Reviews

Let’s get right to it and help you find the best filet knife for crappie and panfish that the market has to offer at this time.

1. KastKing Fillet Knife

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Here we have a beautiful fish filet knife that comes in, complete in several sizes. Here you can choose from a 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 inch blade, so you can find the one that suits you best.

Now what really stands out about this particular knife is the fact that it is made out of high quality German stainless steel, G4116 stainless steel to be exact.

What is so beneficial about this particular kind of metal is that it can resist both freshwater and saltwater applications. In other words, this knife is extremely resistant to corrosion and rusting.

What you may also like about this particular fish filet knife is the fact that it has a razor sharp edge, combined with a very thin and flexible blade, thus making it ideal for deboning and fileting fish.

What also stands out about this knife is the fact that it comes with a non-slip super polymer grip that is ergonomically designed to fit your hand and to prevent slipping.

This knife also comes complete with a protective sheath, one that locks into the handle for safety while not in use.

Pros

• Various sizes
• Rust and corrosion resistant
• Thin and flexible blade
• High quality design
• Non-slip ergonomic handle
• Locking sheath included

Cons

• Edge retention could be better

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2. Rhinoreto Fish Fillet Knife

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Here we have a fish fillet knife that comes complete in several sizes, including a 5 inch, 6.5 inch and eight inch blade.

One of the things that really stands out about this particular fish fillet knife is the fact that it comes complete with a very ergonomically friendly rubber handle.

Not only is this rubber handle very easy to hold for prolonged periods of time, but it also provides you with a non slip grip to help keep you safe.

The blade itself here is made out of pretty basic stainless steel, which is perfectly fine in terms of rust and corrosion resistance, because when it comes to saltwater applications, stainless steel is one of the only materials that you want to use.

This knife does have a very sharp edge and it works well for two filleting and deboning fish, but that said, do keep in mind that stainless steel is not the best in terms of hardness or add retention.

This unit also comes complete with a lightweight invented sheath to help protect the blade and yourself while not in use, not to mention the fact that it also comes complete with the double sided sharpener.

Even if this knife doesn’t have the best add trip retention, you can just run it through the sharpener a few times before each use.

Now, perhaps the most impressive feature of this knife is the fact that the blade is coated in a nonstick coating to make sure that the meat easily slides off.

Pros

• Non-stick blade
• Stainless steel for rust resistance
• Comes in three sizes
• Flexible blade perfect for filleting fish
• Ergonomic and non-slip handle
• Sheath and sharpener included

Cons

• Could have better edge retention
• Quality of the sharpener is not amazing

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3. Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet Knife with Sheath

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are looking for a fish fillet knife that features an absolutely beautiful design as well as high quality materials, then this is a great option to keep in mind.

First of all, this knife does come in several blade sizes, including 4 inches, 6 inch and 7.5 inches, so you can find the one that works best for you.

Now, one of the most impressive features of this night is that it is made with high quality Swedish stainless steel, so you know that it is both rust and corrosion resistant, as well as quite hard and durable, yet flexible too, thus making it ideal for deboning and filleting fish.

Let’s not forget that this is a full tang blade, which means that the blade material goes all the way through to the bottom of the handle, thus allowing for even more durability and great balance as well.

Speaking of the handle, what you get here is a real and authentic Birchwood handle that has been polished to a very smooth finish.

Now, although this handle does have a very smooth finish, which is not the best in terms of slip resistance, it does have a very ergonomically designed shape that is easy and comfortable to hold.

This unit comes complete with a genuine leather sheath to help keep both the knife and you safe. In fact, it also comes complete with a sharp in it.

Pros

• Rust and corrosion resistant
• Comfortable real wooden handle
• Full tang for great balance and durability
• Comes in various sizes
• Hard yet flexible blade
• Very sharp edge
• Real leather sheath included

Cons

• Handle can be slippery when wet

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4. Calamus Fishing Fillet Knife

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are looking for a very nice 7 inch fish filleting and deboning knife, then this is an amazing one to keep in mind.

What is really cool is that this knife also comes in a 9 inch option (as well as two other sizes, although they technically aren’t fish filleting knives).

Just like one of the other blades that we looked at today, this particular knife is made using G4116 German stainless steel, which is one of the most rust and corrosion resistant types of steel out there.

While this blade is quite hard and flexible, thus making it more than ideal for fish deboning, and while it is also extremely sharp, do be aware that this kind of stainless steel does not have the best edge retention, so you will need to sharpen it on a regular basis.

What we do also really like about this night is the Nonslip golf style of rubber handle that comes included, which is extremely ergonomic and easy to hold for prolonged periods of time, yet also has a great texture or slip resistance.

What is also worth noting is that this type of handle is about 40% lighter than most others out there.

To wrap things up, you also get a protective nylon sheath to keep both yourself and the knife safe when use.

Pros

• Rust and corrosion resistant
• Flexible yet hard
• Very sharp
• Comes in a few sizes
• Glass breaker on the handle
• Ergonomic non-slip handle

Cons

• Will need to be sharpened regularly

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5. Kershaw Clearwater 7’’ Fillet Knife

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Right off the bat, what stands out about this particular fish filleting knife is the fact that it is made in the USA, something that we can definitely appreciate.

Moreover, do keep in mind that this knife features a 7 inch blade and no, it does not come in different sizes.

Now what is also quite impressive about this knife is the fact that the blade is made with 420J2 stainless steel, a special type of Japanese stainless steel, that is known for being extremely hard and rust resistant.

Thanks to the type of steel used here, you can rest assured that this knife will not corrode even when used for saltwater applications. And moreover, the blade is hard and sharp enough to deal with more or less any kind of fish.

It is stainless steel, so it’s not the number one most durable blade around, but it should perform just fine.

That said, you will need to sharpen it on a regular basis. Just to ensure that you are happy with the blade, it comes complete with a full lifetime warranty.

To help keep you safe and comfortable while using this knife, it comes with a copolymer, plastic, softer rubber grip that not only is ergonomically designed but also helps prevent slipping when wet.

It is also worth noting that this is an extremely lightweight knife.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Quite durable
• Razor sharp
• Flexible
• Won’t rust or corrode
• Ergonomic non-slip rubber handle
• Ideal for larger fish

Cons

• Not the best for smaller fish
• Edge retention could be better

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6. PLUSINNO Fishing Fillet Knife

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What’s cool here is that you can choose between a 7 inch and a 6 inch blade, as well as a 5 inch bait knife.

Now what we do really appreciate about this particular blade is the fact that it is made with a razor sharp 5CR13 stainless steel, which is a very special type of stainless steel that is known for being extremely hard, durable, and rust and corrosion resistant.

In fact, this is one of the best types of stainless steel that can be used for this type of application, especially when saltwater and corrosion are involved.

Once again, stainless steel is not the best in terms of durability or add retention, but it performs just fine, especially if you take good care of it.

We do also appreciate how this blade is extremely flexible, thus making it ideal for working with fish.

Moreover, the nonslip rubber grip that you get here is perfectly textured to ensure that your hands don’t slip even when the handle is wet, not to mention the fact that it is economically designed for comfort.

What you also get here is a vented, lightweight chief that locks into the handle, which helps to keep both you and the knife safe while it is not in use.

Pros

• Comfortable handle
• Non-slip
• Locking sheath
• High quality stainless steel
• Comes in various sizes
• Flexible yet quite hard

Cons

• Edge retention could be better
• Sheath is not the highest of quality

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7. KastKing Folding Fillet Knife

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Alright, so right off the bat what is so special about this particular fish knife is the fact that it is of course a folding knife.

Something that helps make it much more convenient and portable than anything else that we have looked at today.

All you have to do is unfold it to use it and then hit the button on the back to unlock it and fold it back up. For your convenience, it also comes complete with a special little carrying case.

Moreover, this knife comes complete with a durable nonslip grip that is made using rubber and other materials.

This has you to comfortably hold on to the night for prolonged periods of time without fatiguing, not to mention that it is great in terms of allowing for good grip even when wet.

Now the blade itself is a total of seven inches in length, which doesn’t make it ideal for most applications, especially when working with some of the larger fish out there.

Moreover, this blade is made with that same G4116 German stainless steel that is very hard and stain resistant.

Of course, this type of stainless steel is also extremely resistant to corrosion and rusting, which makes it ideal for saltwater applications.

As is the case with stainless steel knives, although they are rust and corrosion resistant, and although they are fairly hard, they are not the most durable blades in the world and they will need to be sharpened on a regular basis.

That said, this knife does come with an extremely sharp edge that is ideal for working with delicate fish.

Although folding knives are not always the most durable and this one is actually built using very high quality materials.

Pros

• Very durable for a folding knife
• Portable and convenient
• Locking safety mechanism
• Easy to use
• Very sharp edge
• Rust and corrosion resistant

Cons

• The hinge is a weak spot
• Limited edge retention

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8. Huntsman Outdoors Fillet Knife

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Here we have a fish knife that comes in with a 6.25 inch blade, which is a rather ideal size for most applications.

This blade is made out of 3CR13 stainless steel which is extremely resistant to rusting and corrosion, as well as durable and flexible too.

The flexibility that this knife offers is perfect for working with fish. Not to mention that it’s corrosion resistance means that it can be used for saltwater fish applications as well.

The course as is the case with stainless steel. It could have better edge attention, but as long as you sharpen it on a regular basis it should be just fine.

This knife does come complete with a non slip rubber grip that has plenty of texture, which is designed to allow you to hold onto it once he’s even when wet, not to mention that it also has a very ergonomically friendly design that’s just comfortable as is.

The fact that this knife comes with a lockable sheath is just an added bonus.

Pros

• Fairly durable
• Quite flexible
• Good size for most applications
• High quality stainless steel
• Rust and corrosion resistant
• Comfortable non-slip handle

Cons

• Sheath is not the best in the world
• Edge retention is not the best in the world

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Best Electric Filet Knife For Crappie

What is really cool is that there are also some really nice electric fish filet knifes out there that can help make your life a whole lot easier, ones like the BUBBA Li-Ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife.

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is a really cool option to go with because it is of course electric, and it features a reciprocating blade, one that is very sharp and is easily able to make its way through any kind of fish out there.

The dual rivet blades are coated with TiN stainless steel for durability and corrosion resistance, not to mention that the base metal used here is actually awesome in terms of hardness and edge retention.

What’s cool is that here you get a 7 inch, 9 inch, and a 12 inch blade included for free.

Let’s keep in mind that this model is battery powered, but the battery life is pretty decent, and it does come with the charger included.

We do like the really ergonomically friendly handle that it comes with, as it’s easy to hold onto and doesn’t allow for much slippage when wet either.

All of that said, this thing is quite heavy and cumbersome.

Pros

• High quality steel
• Takes the hard work out of breaking down fish
• Many blades included
• Ergonomic handle
• Good battery life
• Charger is included
• Comes with a transportation case
• Blades can be removed for easy cleaning

Cons

• Relies on batteries
• Not the best for precision work

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How To Clean Crappie And Panfish

Before we call it a day, let’s teach you how to use that money to clean crappie and panfish in general.

1. Insert the tip of the knife into the abdomen of the fish and then pull backwards towards the tail. Here you are aiming to make an incision right in the middle of the abdomen, back towards the tail so you can remove the guts. With the underside of the fish cut open, you can now use a pair of gloves to pull out the guts. At this point, you want to give the fish a thorough washing, especially on the inside where you just took the guts out.
2. Lay the crappy down flat on the cutting surface. Make sure that the tail of the fish is on the same side as your dominant hand.
3. Insert the tip of the knife between the back of the gill plate and the pectoral fins to make a vertical cut just behind the gills. Continue making the cut into the backbone, but do not suffer the backbone.
4. Now that you have made contact with the backbone, make sure to turn the blade sideways towards the tail.
5. With the blade turn sideways along the backbone, moved the blade along the backbone to the tail. Make sure to hold the head very firmly and then drag the knife steadily down the length of the fish. If you’re close enough to the backbone, you should be able to feel the contours of it.
6. Using the edge of your knife inserted between the meat of the fish and the skin in order to separate the meat from the skin. Do this with the skin side facing down and make sure to keep the blade pointed slightly downwards to prevent the meat from being cut. With that being said, crappy skin does get nice and crisp when you fry it up, so you can always leave it on if you want to.
7. Toward the head of the filet, you will find a rib cage and you do want to remove this with your knife.
8. Now you want to repeat this whole process on the opposite side of the fish (besides step 1 which does not need to be repeated.

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What Size Fillet Knife For Crappie And Panfish Is Best?

If you are targeting any kind of panfish, whether crappie or otherwise, the best blade length to go for it’s a 6 inch blade.

Using a blade that is 6 inches long will ensure that it is short enough to be maneuverable, and so that you can use it on a small fish, yet also large enough so you don’t have to make several passes in the same spot.

Now, if you are also going to be working with bass and small trout, then you might want to go for a 7 or 7.5 inch blade. It really depends on what your exact applications are.

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Conclusion

There you have it folks, everything you need to know about cleaning crappie and panfish, as well as what the best fillet knifes for crappie and panfish are. Now that you know what the best options are, you can make your own informed decision.