Filleting question.

[catchin30]

I use an electric knife, and cut straight across the fish. I then take scissors and cut out the rib cage. Beside the eye of the fish a good chunk of meat is left and I cut it out also. call'em crappie nuggets, they are good

[slabbandit]

We use a cheap elec. fillet knife from Wal-Mart. One of us will fillet while the other one will "rib" with a paring knife. If you have one of the elec. knives with the cutting tips on the end of the blades you can also rib with them.

I've also learned that it is very beneficial to teach your partner how to use the elec.knife ....The only down side to that is sometimes I get home and my boat is gone!

[Chartboy]

I fillet the fish and rib cage with an electric knife and then cut the ribs off the fillet. I try to leave the small strip above the ribs.

[jlaughlin72]

I use an electric knife also and cut through the ribs, then afterwards use a filet knife to cut the ribs out.
As for sharpening electric filet knife blades, I have never done it, seems like too much trouble for what it costs to replace them. But if I was to try and sharpen them, I would use a Dremel tool with a small stone bit on it and try to keep the same angle that the factory had on them.

[Minnerman]

I'm with eat sleep and fish.I 'v been doing it just like that for a long time.
Electric knife,then a sharp filet knife for the rib cage.Now for catfish I go over
the ribs and leave them on the fish.I'v riuned some good blades trying to go through big catfish ribs.Is there a good way to sharpen electric knife blades??
Thanks and good luck.

Use a flat honing stone and sharpen the flat side of the blades. This will bring the edge back to the serrogated edge.

[GRIZZ]

Thanks everyone. Thats good info. I was especially interested in how the guides who have to do it every day get it done quick.

Slabbandit, that a sweet cleaning station you have there. Is that your own?

[bobberdown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqCoph-C6Jo
Above is a link to a instruction video that was posted here a few months ago.

[slabsrus]

I leave the ribs on the fish. I have found that for me it is just as quick.

[TapOut64]

Having just recently switched to an electric knife it opened my eyes to how soon the crappie start to develop their eggs and I keep finding very large (as big as 4.5"-5") minnows in 13" crappies stomach. So, though more messy, I've learned more about the crappie.

[fingerlicken]

I always cut the ribs with meat, and cut the ribs out later. Its faster for me that way but ,I also use an electric knife and it makes things faster.