X2 on hard to mess up a knife with the work sharp. I don't work for them and not affiliated with Em but I have let a lot of people use mine that have went out and bought one after using mine lol.
I hand sharpen with Arkansas Sharpening Stones and honing oil. Have for the last 35 years. I get my blades sharp enough to shave the hair off my arm, literally. When I can shave, they are sharp. I've tried just about every method out there, nothing gets close to a whetstone.
Great thread, also reminds me its time to sharpen the kitchen knifes.
HOI Crappie Club
Where family and friends come to compete for a little more than bragging rights.
Quick, someone teach me how to fish so I can win this tournament!!!
X2 on hard to mess up a knife with the work sharp. I don't work for them and not affiliated with Em but I have let a lot of people use mine that have went out and bought one after using mine lol.
My favorite was always the Normark folding fillet knife, good high carbon stainless blade and very handy. Just fold it up and put it in your pocket. I think you can still find them on Ebay. I always lose the ones with the sheaths. Any Rapala or Normark are good. The Dexter and Forschner are very good knives. I hit my knives on a Dexter butcher's steel every now and then to keep them sharp, vey fast and easy.
The best electric is the new American angler.
Best fixed is a Randall knife
I was going to ask how everyone sharpens there knives, but I see it has been talked about. I nomally use one of the hand held sharpers between filleting duties, then found out My local hardware store that I love sharpens knives, so I had them sharpen my BPS knife it has serration for cutting through the rib cage, and My Rapala, well they came back duller then when I took them in. I used to sharpen knives on a stone, but just dont have the patience and steadiness anymore.
I'll save you some time:
Dexter Russell Sani-Safe S115F-6MO Softgrip Flexible Boning knife
$15, cheap, good, buy two. I've got the $100 Cutco, but this is the knife I reach for to clean crappie.
I really like my Dexter Russell sold through American Legacy
American Legacy Fishing Co. - World's Best Fillet Knife - G Loomis Superstore
I use it for all my fish and haven't used an electric since I bought it.
The Black & Decker electric from Wal-Mart will last forever, and is very sharp. I'm going on 6 yrs now with mine !!!!! Fixed blade it's hard to beat the old standard Rapala.
I fished with a guide (Jim Doom) that specializes in the rivers below Ky and Barkley dams. He probably fillets around 50-100 lbs of cats and white bass a day that he guides.
He uses an electric knife off an inverter on his boat battery. I asked him what the best electric knife is. He held up a white Hamilton Beach electric knife and said "$25 at Wal-Mart"
He said he gets 6 months to a year out of one.