Manual vs electric fillet knives

[Ohio fisherman]

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.

[Ole fisherman]

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

[cheeseheadinohio]

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

[sherman51]

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.

[Ole fisherman]

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.......

[Goosechaser]

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.

[Ole fisherman]

Good to know that longer blade works well. How does it cut thru scales or do you scale your perch first

[Goosechaser]

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.

[penalty box]

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.

[DeBaited]

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 fish