Avid perch fisherman here, families choice on the perch, but considering moving to an electric fillet knife. Is it worth my money or do I stick with my manual knives ?? I do all my own cleaning so what is everyone's opinion ?
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Avid perch fisherman here, families choice on the perch, but considering moving to an electric fillet knife. Is it worth my money or do I stick with my manual knives ?? I do all my own cleaning so what is everyone's opinion ?
[QUOTE=Ole fisherman;80329]Avid perch fisherman here, families choice on the perch, but considering moving to an electric fillet knife. Is it worth my money or do I stick with my manual knives ?? I do all my own cleaning so what is everyone's opinion ?[/
Spend the dough and give it a try. I’ve gotten fast with good sharp knives but have been cleaning perch with electric lately. Make sure you use the correct size blade. I prefer electric knife over battery operated.
Thanks for your thoughts....I am pretty good with my manual knives, but arthritis in the hands is make by it more difficult, thus the electric idea. What brand do you use/ recommend ?
I started using electric knives and it is so much easier than manual. On smaller fish you have to be careful and not cut thru the back bone, but you get better with practice. I first started using electric knives I had my wife pick up at yard sales. She would get them cheap and they work pretty good. I got a mister twister and it works pretty good but when the blades get dull you can buy another knife almost as cheap as buying the replacement blades. My dad bought me a Rapala electric knife and it came with two sets of blades and it works really well. The cord is way too long but the blades are sharp and it works really well cleaning walleye. I find the knives with the blades that come to a point work better than the ones with broad flat tips but both will work good, basically your own preference. Once you get used to using electric, you'll never go back to manual.
Thanks for your input...been using manual blades for so long that it has become second nature....just a little gun shy about spending the money if I don't like it. Next big decision is which one ? How much of the reviews are actual and real ? Leaning toward a non battery unit, but...which one ?
I use an American Angler electric fillet knives. It has held up well. I think I have used it for 5-6 years and no issues yet. I probably clean around 200 walleyes a year or so. Just like stated previously you have to find a blade you like. I actually use the Mister Twister blades in mine. The reason I don't use the Mister Twister knives is the gears go out. I have ran a Bubba blade and I didn't like it.
We’ve used the mister twisters for 30+ years and the gears go out for sure. I bought a BPS lithium battery one a few years back, three sets of blades. We’ve cleaned 30-40 fish at a time and not had the battery even begin to slow down. Cuts right through 5lb walleye when we’ve got them. Less than $100 on sale and it’s been worth every penny.
Thanks for all the replys, keep them coming as I am not sure which to buy. Pros and cons on each one you have tried. Being mostly a perch cleaner, some come with 9 inch long blades which seem to long in my opinion for perch....so what works best ??
I have been cleaning walleye with electric knives for about ten years and am on my second Rapala. Gears went out on the first one after about six years. I think the 5+ pounders take a toll on the gears. Thought it was the blades at first, bought another set, no better. Plastic gears I assume. Got another Rapala. Said DELUXE. Hope it lasts longer. Makes cleaning fish really fast. Four passes and a couple rib scoop cuts in between and you're done. Best thing I do is bleed them out when caught. Meat is white, not pink. Tastes better too. Never used it on perch, drop them off.
Always looking for better products for the next one
they are costly but the Bubba knife in either lithium battery or corded is my choice for electric knives. the battery knife seems to stay at full power after cleaning 12 fish in the 3# to 4# class and cuts through them without any problems. I can't really speak from personal experience on the corded knife but from here say.
From those I have spoke with the Bubba and Rapala seem to be the most popular choices. I only get a few walleye each season so the higher catch numbers with Perch is my question. Is the electric really worth the expense to clean 25-30 perch each outing? Is it really faster? I don't scale my perch as I cut the skin off after filleting. Getting thru those scale on the initial cuts are one of the issues.
Does an electric make a difference? Does the longer blades on electric make them more difficult to handle? Again...thanks for any suggestions or recomendations.......
A few years ago we made a trip out in September and got a good mess of perch. I had no problem cleaning them with my electric and an 8 inch blade. I am right handed so I always wear a Rapala glove on my left hand that is holding the fish.
Good to know that longer blade works well. How does it cut thru scales or do you scale your perch first
It will cut right through the scales. I will add that I use a manual knives to take rib bones out on both walleyes and perch. I think a save more meat that way. If possible I would learn to use an electric on some nice eyes to get the feel of it. Then move to perch.
you can get the Bubba off eBay for just over 120.00 but I did find one listing for 90.00. make sure you get one with 2 lithium batteries and either 4 or 5 blades in a case or pouch if you go this route. and I've been using electric knives for about 25 years and tried them all. I started with cheap carving knives from Walmart which worked great for a while. I've used Mister Twister but upgraded to American Angler knives, I even tried the Pirana knife which was a good knife and the Mister Twister blade worked on it. but after seeing the Bubba cordless in action I think it is the best choice.
At those prices on Ebay, are they used or new ?
Thanks for the reviews !
Just ran thru the EBay ads, those priced at 90 bucks and under were Chinese copies, not real Bubba knives, at least the few pages I went thru.....just gonna sit back and watch the sales coming up I guess.
For a very long time. The first powered knife was a mister twister that wore out. I have used Rapala electric and battery powered fillet knives. The electric setup is great if that power source is desired. However the lithium battery powered fillet knife set with extra blades and a second battery is my favorite. It and cleaning gear live in my truck.
Both of these system are excellent for cleaning walleye and perch. Get a good electric or battery set and learn to use it. In the winter take the batteries inside where warm.
Get a Rapala glove for your fish holding hand. You still need to be careful.
Hope this will help and you like the setup.
Thanks for your opinions....I think I am going to go 110v over the battery. Lots of experience with Lipo type batteries and think the cord would be better for me. I typically fish alone and do my cleaning at home, so portability is not an issue. From all my research and recommendations it looks like it will come down to a Bubba or a Repala with the 6" blade option as most of my cleaning is perch
I butterfly all my perch. Is it possible to do that with an electric knife?
I used to butterfly mine as well but heart doctor says they are much healthier for me to skin them. Not sure how easy it would be to butterfly them with electric...
the mister twister is the best electric to use on perch, not walleye it wont hold up. the best i've found for walleye is the rapala heavy duty for about 50 to 70 bucks.
For perch I use a cheap Proctor Sylex electric I think I paid 12 bucks several years ago for it. The blades are a little less aggressive & that helps not cut through the back of the fish.it has worked very well. I use it to fillet & skin the fish. The next guy cuts the rib cage out with a manual knife. This process helps us keep as much meat as possible. I use it on average walleye as well anything over 20” I use my mister twister. As the proctor struggles to get through the larger fishQuote:
Originally Posted by penalty box