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I finally found a decent electric knife, its rapala's heavy duty model, runs off of 110 and doesn't come with a case or extra blades. It was 49.99 on sale at gander mountain. buzzes through the big fish in no time. i purchased the regular model rapala last year and it had trouble with big fish and would get hot. it got the job done but not like this heavy duty model. I don't work for rapala or gander mountain and do not get commission, I was just really impressed with this knife.
Thanks for the info, i have tried 3 or 4 different knives and am still searching, may give it a try.
I beg to differ... I like Mr. Twister elect knives. $29 they are more flexible and replace blades are $10... my opinion
ive had mr twisters they work fine on the smaller walleyes and do an excellent job on perch, I burned up 2 on larger fish, I usually clean around 400 walleyes each year. I had this same post on ogf and one person replied that they buy the black and decker at wallmart for $13 and says they get the job done.
I'll wait to see how long the heavy duty lasts you, I am on the same page as you, I tried the regular Rapala that never did cut very well and died pretty fast and the Mister Twisters were terrible too, I also went through 2 of those. The best knife I have to date is the Hamilton Beech I confiscated from my wife. It was an older model and seems much better built than the junk they make today. She is still ticked at me for "borrowing" her knife and never returning it. That old thing has outlasted 3 that were supposed to be made to fillet fish!
I hope you are right about the Rapala Heavy Duty because I have a Gander Mountain gift card and that would be a good purchase.
I'll also wait on hearing how it holds up. Burned up 2 Mister Twister's this year myself including the Saltwater Piranha they claim to be heavy duty. I will be sending them both in for replacements under warranty until I can find something of better quality.
guys i hate to say it but I have the best luck with the old fashioned equipment. Just keep a good edge on the old girl and she zips thru all size fish from bluegills to perch to walleye. just my opinion though. i have also been told i am a bit of a dinosaur about some things.
I am partial to American made Products whenever they are available as an alternative vs. imported. This also applies to the electric fillet knife. Here is a link to some history about the American Angler Electric Fillet Knives.
http://www.knifesupply.com/american_...et_knives.html
I admit that I do not clean fish all that often any more when Cutcher will do it for $1.00 each. But I still have my American Angler Electric Fillet Knife and if I was buying a new knife today it would be an American Angler. Mine is 10+ years old and it is still going strong, it does heat up some after doing 10 or 12 eater size eyes and after 2 or 3 of the bigger 6lb+ or more eyes. But then again I am still using the original set of blades that came with it. I had burned up all of the other imported makes of fillet knives before buying American but my American Angler still gets the job done after all these years. In fact it had outlasted all of the others knives combined and that was prior to me taking most of my eyes to the cleaners.
Here is a link to the companies products!
http://www.douglasquikut.com/Default.asp
I've had a heavy duty since early last year and it still things strong. I run the 9" blades. It will heat up after around 15 or 16 straight fish depending on their size. If they are all big it will heat up after a dozen fish, but it runs much faster than the regular knife. I've maybe cleaned around 400 fish or so... guessing
Wakina, which model American Angler do you have? I see the newer model is supposed to have 2X the torque as the previous models. I am thinking about buying the one that comes with 5 sets of blades called the pro kit. The reviews I've read are great and it is made with metal gears and a heavy duty motor!
Thanks for pointing me to the American made product!
There is no name on it beyond American Angler, the numerical model number is 31600 0305. It has the 8" blade. I spray it with Pam or other no stick spray for blade lubrication during use.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyezcrazy
I don't know about today's AA knives but when I bought mine the cheaper model was imported and the top of the line model was made in the USA. So I will research the cheaper model to be sure and post my findings. I will contact the company directly and post their answer. I do not want to mislead anyone on this issue. But according to their web page it appears that all models are now made in their AR plant.
I bought the HD Rapala, for me that was a mistake. I used it twice while cleaning fish and had to switch back to older electrics to get the job done. Now it just sits in a bucket in the garage. I prefer the 10inch blades they sell, I have 3 different sharpeners, none do all that well. I've bought quite a few Mister Twisters over the years, for me the cheapest and actually work are the sunbeam $10 turkey knifes they sell at thanksgiving. When it comes to big walleye I prefer to have the 10 inch blades or go regular fillet knife. This method works pretty good when using a regular fillet knife.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyoK7...eature=related
I had an American angler it was great lasted about 6 years then burned up, I purchased another one and it didn't have the power like the first one I purchased, it now sits in a bucket. It wasn't the same exact model.
Had a mister twister electric knife years ago and it burned up cleaning some big fish. Bought an American angler electric knife about right after and its still going strong, however still use the mister twister blades from the knife on it. I did buy a cordless Rapala Knife with the ion batteries on sale from gander mt this spring to use at the camper until electric gets turned on in May and i am quite pleased with it so far. I did buy the longer thinner blades for it though. I cut through 36 fish with it one day and 24 the next on one charge over Memorial day weekend.
Response from American Angler Knives about where they are made at. I have removed my email address for security reasons.
quote
"Pat Brewer ([email protected])
12:14 PM
To: XXXXXXXXX@XXXXXXXX
Cc: April Noell
Yes the knives are made in our factory in Arkansas.
Some of the internal parts are made in China.
Thanks,
Pat Brewer
Customer Service Rep
DOUGLAS QUIKUT
118 East Douglas Road" unquote
I bought one of the Rapala gander specials last year and it is definitely wearing down after a few hundred eyes and a couple sets of blades. Motor heats up a bit after 5-6 fish and if it gets wet (like you could keep it dry cleaning fish) you get a small shock every now and then. So I bought a Mister twister Piranha and it has performed very well so far this year on both eyes and perch, crappies, bluegills with the original blades so far, and the Rapala is left for my buddies when they forget their knife at home. :)
When I first was instructed on how to clean walleyes I was given an American Angler model 31000 to use and keep. I learned why it was given away. It was ok for about 6 eyes but the motor fan blew the hot air fwd that vented into the palm of my hand and it got too hot to use. At a yard sale I bought a small tackle box for 50 cents for knives and blades storage and the seller insisted I take an American Angler knife model 31000 for free if I wanted the box. Both knives are now lenders to fellows who forgot their equipment. I bought a black & decker electric kitchen knife at a yard sale for $1.00 and it lasted 2 1/2 seasons. Thinking a $1 knife wouldn't last long but I liked the design, I had already purchased 5 more B&D electric knives @ Walmart for $9.99 as the total cost was about the price of a single high priced filet knife. Hot air blows out the cord end of the B&D knife and it is very comfortable to use. I have cleaned up to 29" eyes and it is slower going but does the job on big fish. This is the 3rd season for the 1st $9.99 B&D I purchased . This year Walmart has them at about $14.00. I clean about 200 eyes and 500 perch a season.
I don't know what brand of knife that he uses but Cutcher is cleaning fish with what appears to be a regular electric kitchen knife. He is in the business of cleaning fish so it must be somewhat dependable and durable. He probably cleans as many on a good weekend as any of use regular fishermen clean all season.
Wal-Mart Black & Decker kitchen electric knife $12.99. Buddy told us about it a few weeks ago and we love it - buzzes right through big Walleye. Had a Mister Twister and was buying replacement blades 2 to 3 times a season at $9-$10 a set. We are only weekend warriors. Our Buddy has had his for over a year and still as sharp as when he bought it and he cleans a lot more than us. Worth a try for $13!!!!! More expensive is not always better.
You guys are killing me! Just when I thought I made a decision you guys are making me second guess. Ugh! I don't mind paying the money for a quality knife but some of you are making some good arguments for the B&D. I would at least have to buy it somewhere besides Walmart.....I despise their practices.
I will check with Cutcher this weekend and let you all know what knife he is using. It looked like a regular electric kitchen knife for carving hams, turkeys and standing rib roasts. Like I said I cannot imagine him using anything that is not reliable and durable. I think the B&D knives are also available at Meijer in Sandusky.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyezcrazy
I have 4 American Angler electric knives and I haven't wore out any of them. The first one I bought about 10 years ago and it still works fine. When you clean them you need to keep water out of the inside of the knife motor. I use a rag w/ rubbing alcohol to clean the knife. My fishing buddies have gone through several Mister Twister knives they only last about 2 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by penalty box
The American Angler knife has the shark blade which goes through a walleye like a hot knife in butter. The blade is very thin and has hardly no drag when going through a walleye.
DON'T BUY A RECHARGEABLE!!! I bought an American Angler rechargeable and it was a total piece of $hit. It had no power and I couldn't even fillet 2 walleye before it went dead. I got so pissed off because it was the only knife I had with me, the rest of my knives were @ home. I slammed the POS into the concrete @ my marina and it busted into a couple hundred pieces. It felt so good to do that but there went $56 I would have gotten if I took it back for a refund.
Cutcher's uses a regular $15 Black & Decker electric kitchen knife from Wal-Mart. I've watched him clean walleye with it several times. He keeps several new ones on his shelf and says after a few thousand fish if one breaks or gets dull he just tosses it in the trash and breaks out a new one. He dips the blades in water between 3 or 4 fish.
American Angler used to have a model that was labeled "MT" which stands for metal transmission. I still have a couple of them and have clean lots of fish with them. They were way more durable than the newer ones that have plastic gears. When these stop cutting I will just by a couple of the B&D Wally World specials.
When is someone going to come out with a good electric knife. I'd pay 150.00 if you could fill et fish with it for 10+ years. I have also burnt up piranhas. Mr. Twisters. Rapala. Rapala lithium battery style..Etc ..sad there isn't a professional model out on the market.
Boss it's by 10 of the $15 Black & Deckers. I'm sure they will last at least a year each. Do the math...
ReelTime,
I get it, just surprising that you can buy everything else in this world from low end to high end, but in electric fillet knives there are only low end.
sounds like the b&d are a no brainer
hey I started fishing Bula with Larry and we got a lot of big eyes over the weekend, My HD rapala knife was left in huron so we purchased a B&D for $12.00 at Walmart, It got the job done but really struggled on fish over 25 inches, you could feel the blades flexing and the knife got hot. The HD I purchased for 49 bucks on sale regular price 59 bucks performed 3 times faster than the B&D on larger fish and didn't get warm. We had a few walleyes in the 22 inch range and the B&d worked ok. If your not in a hurry to clean fish and don't use it a lot the B&D is a great option. I personally would buy the HD rapalla. The regular rapalla model that comes in the deluxe kit for 79 works no better than the B&D knife.
http://www.navytimes.com/article/201...odels-compared
Check out this article I found. Its a fairly comprehensive comparison
I can filet walleye faster with a good regular knife. However, I still use an electric knife when there's a bunch of fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyezcrazy
Mr. Twister (blue & white) heavy duty are just as junky. Went through 2 last season and the blades are not worth $10.
Last week my father and I where at Hi-Way Bait and he knew the electric knife was burnt up. He wanted to buy a new one. I told him that I wasn't interested.
He comes up with this orange American Angler knife that was marked down to $99.00! He was all impressed with the blades and how the blades where so good... He couldn't stop talking about the blades, so he bought it and an extra aggressive blade for the big bones.
I wish I could say it wasn't worth it. I will never consider using another Twister or Rapala or Berkely... All of which I have.
I had never heard or seen American Angler until last week, bought it without any input, and its the best electric knife I've used, which means better than Berkley, Rapala, or Twister.
Oh, and the blades are pretty amazing.
That was a good link you posted Bosshog! That is the best review I have seen to date, too bad they couldn't review the American Angler knife. I'll tell you one thing.....I'd never make a good Judge....I can't make a decision to save my life! Lol......glad you posted that info on the American Angler too Madd Matt. If you are sold on the regular fillet knife and you are that impressed with the AA ....that speaks volums to me!
What I REALLY liked about it was that it had a great blade that also had a nice pointed tip. I could go right down the whole fish and stop at the end and then skin the entire filet with ease while it was still attached to the fish, then the tip was perfect to take the ribs out with almost no meat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyezcrazy
So many of the other knives where good with being flexible and pointed tip like a real filet knife, but didn't go through the large bones.
Then the HD blades weren't that great at goin around the ribs.
I cleaned a 9" blue gill (we caught our first ever in 40 years on the Lake) that we caught out in the middle of the lake and I actually filleted it like I would have with a regular knife... But I used the same blade as I would for the large bones in a 30" walleye.
I have a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. As a chef, it is hard for my to pick up an electric knife... Let alone admit that I do. As a chef though, and someone who is very VERY picky about knives, if I am going to use an electric knife it will be an American Angler.
Madd Matt the regular rapala is not good the HD model is one of the best I have used, they just came out with it recently. I had an old American Angler it was great lasted 8 years. I purchased a new American angler junk, I'm sure it wasn't their best model available it was like $60 bucks.
I Have both, HD Rpla and the american ang.- orange. The HD is a far better knife especially cleaning the bigger fish.
i thought the best one I have had is the saltwater piranha, but it is done so I am going to go with the HD and see how long it takes to burn that up.
I will however try my Piranha blades in that HD
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...nnhablades.jpg
These have worked better than any others I have used.
I have not tried the Rapala HD. I'll have to test one out. My American Angler (actually my dad's, but whats his is mine) is only 2 weeks old now and only cleaned a single cooler of fish... It just really impressed me.Quote:
Originally Posted by penalty box
Thanks for distinguishing the difference between the 2 Rapala models.
-Matt
I bought the Rapala HD earlier this year (due to recommendations), while filleting the second walleye I gave up on it and went back to an older electric fillet knife. I'm beginning to think most of these electric knives are hit/miss, there are so many responses to both sides of every brand. Your lucky if you get a good one. I know I would not try another Rapala HD, as the one I bought really is a pos.
See why I can't make a decision...lolQuote:
Originally Posted by ebijack