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.