09-12-2003, 11:08 PM
[cool]Here's a pic of my homemade particle board fillet table. Fits right over a sink or a couple of garbage cans outdoors. The electric you see amongst the other fillet knives and cleavers is an American Angler from Walmart that has probably filleted a thousand fish of all sizes up to 30 pound cats. I have a backup American Angler Ultra Pro model I have had unopened for about two years, expecting the original to die...but it keeps on chugging.
![[Image: SCOU1712CustomImage2235119.jpg]](http://web.ecomplanet.com/SCOU1712/ServerContent/MyCustomImages/SCOU1712CustomImage2235119.jpg)
I have used just about every kind of fishing fillet knife made...regular and electric. The old Mister Twisters work well for a season or two, but then they start smoking...and that's a bad habit. If you want to get good service out of an electric plan to spend at least $30, but you don't have to spend $100.
I like the pointed blades on my American Angler. I also like the two sets of blades. I use the longer ones for big fish and the smaller ones for smaller sunfish, perch, etc. I have a small diamond sharpener with a round shaft that fits perfectly in the grooves of the serrated blades and can touch them up once in awhile, although they hold up a long time without assistance.
I too have tried the 12 volt systems. For the most part I have found that they are better than regular knives, but do not have the power of the 110 volt. And, I do not think I would trust a rechargeable for anything other than a quick field fillet on just a few fish. A production line job on a big batch of white bass or perch...or big cats...would suck your battery dry before you got to finish the job...and would probably just make little ones out of big ones. You want plenty of power to keep those blades moving while you guide them effortlessly through the ribs and flesh.
Knives are right up there with lines, lures, baits and fishing spots. We all have our favorites...for our own reasons. I prefer electrics because I consistently get better fillets with less work than with regular knives.
I have worked at commercial fishing and learned how to keep knives razor sharp, and I have learned that the most dangerous knife is a dull one. You have to push harder and with less control...and that makes for slips and cuts...and sloppier fillets. The electric knives really take a lot of the hard work and fussy out of filleting.
By the way, how do you like my fillet table. Picked up the wood as scrap and just cut, sanded and finished it with a couple of coats of urethane finish. I also put a ruler along one edge of it. I'm not saying it is totally accurate, however. MY twenty inchers may measure slightly smaller on other rulers.
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I have used just about every kind of fishing fillet knife made...regular and electric. The old Mister Twisters work well for a season or two, but then they start smoking...and that's a bad habit. If you want to get good service out of an electric plan to spend at least $30, but you don't have to spend $100.
I like the pointed blades on my American Angler. I also like the two sets of blades. I use the longer ones for big fish and the smaller ones for smaller sunfish, perch, etc. I have a small diamond sharpener with a round shaft that fits perfectly in the grooves of the serrated blades and can touch them up once in awhile, although they hold up a long time without assistance.
I too have tried the 12 volt systems. For the most part I have found that they are better than regular knives, but do not have the power of the 110 volt. And, I do not think I would trust a rechargeable for anything other than a quick field fillet on just a few fish. A production line job on a big batch of white bass or perch...or big cats...would suck your battery dry before you got to finish the job...and would probably just make little ones out of big ones. You want plenty of power to keep those blades moving while you guide them effortlessly through the ribs and flesh.
Knives are right up there with lines, lures, baits and fishing spots. We all have our favorites...for our own reasons. I prefer electrics because I consistently get better fillets with less work than with regular knives.
I have worked at commercial fishing and learned how to keep knives razor sharp, and I have learned that the most dangerous knife is a dull one. You have to push harder and with less control...and that makes for slips and cuts...and sloppier fillets. The electric knives really take a lot of the hard work and fussy out of filleting.
By the way, how do you like my fillet table. Picked up the wood as scrap and just cut, sanded and finished it with a couple of coats of urethane finish. I also put a ruler along one edge of it. I'm not saying it is totally accurate, however. MY twenty inchers may measure slightly smaller on other rulers.
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