Rockport Report

[TubeDude]

I have been using electric knives to fillet since I took my moms carving knife out of the kitchen for a test spin over 40 years ago. There were not a lot of options back then. Now, as mentioned above there are lots of good ones. Both battery and plug in models. I have used most all of them. You can also buy inverters to plug in to cigarette lighter (harbor freight has some for under 10 bucks, so you can use your plug in model in boat or by vehicle or anywhere you have an adapter to plug it into. ( you can buy those adapters to put on portable batteries as well.)
One of my favorites is still the Green and Yellow Mr. Twister Electric fillet knife. Not too spendy and I have had them last for years, I have burned through only a few of them over 30 years, since I got the first one from the Store where I worked, but many thousands of fillets over many seasons before they give out. I use them on Bottom fish from the ocean, Stripers and all of the fish in Powell down to small panfish. The newer Mr. Twister ones have a sharpened chisel tip that is great for starting the cut on heavy scaled fish like stripers and works great for popping out cheek meat on walleye. Once you get good at it even small panfish are no problem and you can make short work of a big pile of fish.

I have a video from a while back a buddy and I made, I can't get it to load to post it here. In a nutshell the clip is 54 seconds long and 3 walleye were filleted in that time. We often have one person fillet and skin with an electric and the other take ribs off with a regular fillet knife, it is easy to take the ribs off with electric as well.
I can go through a batch of 40 perch in under 15 minutes no problem. Once you get the hang of it is a great way to go for panfish and other fish. About the only time I use a standard fillet knife  anymore is for Kokes, they are so easy and quick no need for the electric although it works fine for that too.
Try it you will like it once you get good with it, It only takes a little practice.
Mildog out

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All of the Mister Twisters I destroyed were earlier models.  I'm sure they have improved since then.  On the other hand, It took me over 20 years to finally kill the first American Angler I got.  Used it for light salt water and heavy fresh water.  It lasted for another five years after I bought a replacement...thinking it would probably die soon.  I have 3 American Anglers now...one over 10 years old and two others that are a young 5 years old.  One of them is 110 and the other a 12 volt.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cutting power of the 12 volt was almost equal to the 110 volt.

That video you tried to post is over 6 mb.  Too large for our "new and improved" website.  If there is anyway you can post it elsewhere...like Utube...and provide a link, I am sure other members would like to see it.

[Tin-Can]

 jig_fisher said:

 "I have a rapala electric and it comes with 2 blade sizes. Both blades have their uses depending on the size of the fish.  It is a 12 volt that has a 110 volt adapter.  In my opinion that is the only drawback.  I wish it would just plug right in to the outlet instead of the adapter, then the outlet.  BUT, if you are camping and there are no electric hookups, it is nice to just hook it up to a battery and do the dirty work on the spot.  I've had it for about 10 yrs now and have not had any issues.  I don't even use my regular fillet knife for fish anymore."

 I have same knife.  I use it at Willard anytime I keep the Cats I catch. The cleaning station (at least at the south marina) has 110 outlets available at least when it's open during he season.  
I have also used it up on the Bear River where there isn't any electrical available. The set has an adapter that will plug into any 12 volt outlet and the cords are long enough for me to plug the 12 volt adapter into the truck, then the knife cord into the 12 volt adapter, and still reach back to my tail gate when I'm cutting up a carp for bait.  My set also has an adapter with "gator clips" that can be connected to  battery posts.  Has 2 sets of blades that have done the jobs well on anything I've used them for.   
I also have an American Angler with one set of blades that is a straight 110 volt knife. I used to use it at improved cleaning stations such as Willard, but found the cord not quite long enough so had to carry an extension cord all the time. It has been reliable for 15 years. But I have semi-retired it to the house kitchen and use it a couple times a year, maybe, for holiday ham and turkey carving. 
Both types have served me quite well.  I guess it just depends on how you want to use them, how often, and how far away you may be from electrical power. 

[fish_fear_me2]

Nice job on the perch! I used to hate the knife work until I got an electric.  Now I can buzz through a batch of panfish pretty quick.  They fillet easier than most other varieties and you know the tasty results.

Looks like ice fishing is going to have some big perch to pursue at a few different lakes this year.

Do you (or anyone) have a favorite type of electric buzz saw for fillet work? I was pursuing online and the offerings are numerous, but I think  its time I join the modern era.

I have been a solid fan of the American Angler knives...110 volt and 12 volt portables...for quite a few years.  I got a Bubba Blade electric the first of this year and in my experienced opinion there is no finer.  A bit spendy but in terms of strength, efficiency, multiple blades, comfort and ergonomics it is superior in every way.  I got the 110 volt but know some serious anglers who got the rechargeable battery models and they love theirs too.

I once worked both in commercial fishing and on party boats in California.  I learned to swing a "regular" fillet knife pretty well and can still go through a stack of fish in short order.  But once I got used to letting the electric knife do most of the heavy lifting it was faster and more efficient.  Less effort and better end results.

Maybe we can do a meetup on Willard or some other water with a fish cleaning station sometime.  I will be happy to demo three different models of knives I use.  Anybody who likes perch or other panfish will giggle when they see how fast and efficient it is to zip off those small fillets with an electric.  Ditto for strong boned fish like catfish.  You can get a hernia (hisnia) from trying to hack through the tough ribs of a kitty with a regular blade.  But the electric just glides through them like nothing.

Pat isnt kidding about his skill with an electic fillet knife. Take him up on the offer if you get a chance.

[fish_digger]

I will second Pat's endorsement of the electric Bubba Blade, great minds think alike  . It is the best one made. I have an American Angler, and a Rapala Heavy Duty. I have filleted hundreds of fish with all 3, including lots of big stripers at Powell. Big stripers are a true test for any fillet knife. The Rapala Heavy Duty is a good unit, especially when paired with the American Angler blades. The power cord on the Rapala is horribly stiff and made out of stinky Chinese plastic. I can run the American Angler off of a cheap 200 Watt 12V inverter on my boat.

The ergonomics of any of the Bubba Blade knifes are fabulous. In addition to the electric I have a couple of the regular serrated Bubba Blades and I really like them.  I use them when I only have a handful of big boned fish, and they make for short work.

What ever you do, take care of the blades and don't abuse them and always have a spare. This spring at Powell, my friend was filleting a fish with his electric Bubba Blade and didn't see a fish hook embedded in the side. By the time he realized what was wrong, the blade was toast.

[troutguy101]

Finally got back to Rockport.

Went in the evening off the west shore, just before sunset. Still a lot of power boats playing. This was to be our second test with the Pugly Perch Bugs and with hanger shots (per Pats instructions) rigged dropshot style with bigger perch and smallmouth as the plan.

I left all the hanger shots on the table - so we went to an area that I knew had some less rocky base out past the rocks and used split shot as the drop shot weight. Lures were strictly Pugly Perch bugs tied to be about 4-9 inches off the bottom and tipped with a small piece of crawler. 

Cookie had the best success with a yellow body bug that had some sparkly bling as legs. I fished a beetle, black shell with cream body and yellow or black legs. We both caught well over 30 perch before sunset. Cookie caught two honest 12 inchers and we both caught some 11 and 10 inch perch - it was sure nice to see some real size for a change. Of course the ,majority were in the 6-9 inch range. It was a great evening. I actually kept perch and ate them. I love eating them but hate the knife work to get enough fillets. 

depth was 9 ft to 32 ft - I did not write down the temp

We caught them just letting the bug sit and a bit of wave action to create movement, but Cookies best fish, and mine, were caught doing a very slow reel in dragging and bouncing the bugs. Hits were very aggressive. No light biting perch today.


No smallies showed up. Wave action was pretty high with power boats running hard but the perch did not seem to mind. 

Here is the video.

https://youtu.be/gIde9ed_5IM




upload image online

Great Job you guys, Rockport has great perch! I was there yesterday and last thursday for a couple hours before the sun went down and i got my fair share to fillet. I do use a different method i love jigging for them with a 2.5''-3'' white pearl tube jig with an 1/8 oz jig head!!!

[Cowboypirate]

Finally got back to Rockport.

Went in the evening off the west shore, just before sunset. Still a lot of power boats playing. This was to be our second test with the Pugly Perch Bugs and with hanger shots (per Pats instructions) rigged dropshot style with bigger perch and smallmouth as the plan.

I left all the hanger shots on the table - so we went to an area that I knew had some less rocky base out past the rocks and used split shot as the drop shot weight. Lures were strictly Pugly Perch bugs tied to be about 4-9 inches off the bottom and tipped with a small piece of crawler. 

Cookie had the best success with a yellow body bug that had some sparkly bling as legs. I fished a beetle, black shell with cream body and yellow or black legs. We both caught well over 30 perch before sunset. Cookie caught two honest 12 inchers and we both caught some 11 and 10 inch perch - it was sure nice to see some real size for a change. Of course the ,majority were in the 6-9 inch range. It was a great evening. I actually kept perch and ate them. I love eating them but hate the knife work to get enough fillets. 

depth was 9 ft to 32 ft - I did not write down the temp

We caught them just letting the bug sit and a bit of wave action to create movement, but Cookies best fish, and mine, were caught doing a very slow reel in dragging and bouncing the bugs. Hits were very aggressive. No light biting perch today.


No smallies showed up. Wave action was pretty high with power boats running hard but the perch did not seem to mind. 

Here is the video.

https://youtu.be/gIde9ed_5IM




upload image online

Great Job you guys, Rockport has great perch! I was there yesterday and last thursday for a couple hours before the sun went down and i got my fair share to fillet. I do use a different method i love jigging for them with a 2.5''-3'' white pearl tube jig with an 1/8 oz jig head!!!

Them white jigs will catch just about anything, my problem is I often catch perch that are 2.5-3" - seems hardly sporting to drag them in on a bait bigger than they are - maybe I need to change my method to 6" jigs and up my game a bit  - maybe we will see each other around and can swap stories. I plan on hitting Rockport again next week (mostly cause my bride wants to up her PB on a smallmouth)

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Nice job on the perch! I used to hate the knife work until I got an electric.  Now I can buzz through a batch of panfish pretty quick.  They fillet easier than most other varieties and you know the tasty results.

Looks like ice fishing is going to have some big perch to pursue at a few different lakes this year.

Do you (or anyone) have a favorite type of electric buzz saw for fillet work? I was pursuing online and the offerings are numerous, but I think  its time I join the modern era.

I have been a solid fan of the American Angler knives...110 volt and 12 volt portables...for quite a few years.  I got a Bubba Blade electric the first of this year and in my experienced opinion there is no finer.  A bit spendy but in terms of strength, efficiency, multiple blades, comfort and ergonomics it is superior in every way.  I got the 110 volt but know some serious anglers who got the rechargeable battery models and they love theirs too.

I once worked both in commercial fishing and on party boats in California.  I learned to swing a "regular" fillet knife pretty well and can still go through a stack of fish in short order.  But once I got used to letting the electric knife do most of the heavy lifting it was faster and more efficient.  Less effort and better end results.

Maybe we can do a meetup on Willard or some other water with a fish cleaning station sometime.  I will be happy to demo three different models of knives I use.  Anybody who likes perch or other panfish will giggle when they see how fast and efficient it is to zip off those small fillets with an electric.  Ditto for strong boned fish like catfish.  You can get a hernia (hisnia) from trying to hack through the tough ribs of a kitty with a regular blade.  But the electric just glides through them like nothing.

Cookie just bought me the Bubba Blade rechargeable set - got to love a wife that loves to play fishy as much as I do - look forward to catching up for a skill session