So the OOOLD hand me down fillet knife took a crap on me and I am in the market for a new one. Figured I would ask the experts here at BFT before I commited to one. It looks like there are only a hand full of brands out there that are electric:
Repala
Kersha
Mister twister
American Angler
I’m thinking the Repala that has the 12v adapter but want to make sure that it will hold up. Also what do you guys think about the rechargable, are they worth the extra money and are they as durable?
Thanks for you help!!
I just got my second Amer. Ang. for my birthday - the first one kicked the bucket after about 10 yrs. The batteries died in the first one and my wife thought I needed a new one. They work great as long as you charge them correctly - I’m hoping the newer version is better on battery life and I think it will - at least with the new one the battery is removable to charge and you can get a second battery if you plan on long fish cleaning sessions - one battery is supposed to last 40 minutes. Get the longer blades - easier to use than the short ones IMO.
I would check out the different models - a motor in back works better IMO - I often use the kitchen knife for this reason - the balance is better. Its hard to beat the handiness of a fish cleaning station and the battery power though if you don’t want to do it at home inside.
Last year at Lake Powell we had an electric fillet knife contest and out of all that were there, the $12 turkey carver bought from the local supermarket won hands down. I like my scientific angler cause I can charge it and use it away from an electrical outlet, but I would use a turkey carver every time I am at a cleaning station or at home.
We have a few and we use them for fileting large Tuna and they all work good. The Tunas are usually half frozen and the fileting knives go right thru them. When I get home I will find out the names for you. These still work after 100+ 200lb Tunas.
I’ve had a few, (including the rechargeable - which I have loved to hate) and have settled in on the rapala with the adapter that you mentioned. I think you’ll find it is quite the workhorse. Comes with a couple of blades.
I cleaned LOTS of stripers at powell this spring with it and never had a problem.
I have used many, many electric fillet knives over the years for both work and home use. The best, most economical, durable, and convenient one is called the Browning Flexible Fillet (which allows for THREE different options of power: A110 volt plug in, 12 volt battery clips, as well as a cigarette lighter plug too!) It comes with the blade and a nice plastic case. The wires are about 15 feet long, so you have a lot of flexibility of where you plug it in. The blade it comes with is a 8" blade but you can buy any other brand of blade and they will fit it too. I got mine from Bass Pro Shops and it was about $30-40.
We bought one of the deluxe Rapala knives with an attachment for the car battery as well as a normal outlet. It works very well 
and has very long cords. I would recommend!. However, we use a regular fillet knife to get the skin off.
However, we use a regular fillet knife to get the skin off.
Why? My Rapala electric does it way faster and easier then any of my manual filet knives, and I have three different brands that are VERY sharp.
But then again, to each his own.
I have the rechargeable Rapala. It has two batteries and does a great job. I will never be without one again. I just got done using it. I stopped on the way home and caught a limit of perch at Yuba, from the shore. The only thing that mine doesn’t have that I wish it did is a cord to run it off of 110v. That would be really nice.
I have a quite old American Angler with the DC “lighter” plug. I like this option because, with the proper adapter, I can hook it up to battery clips and then use it with the small 12v battery I use to power my fishfinder on my toon/tube. I’ve yet to run out of juice yet. And if I do, I have a 2nd battery anyways!
Majja has a much newer American Angler (I think?) he bought on clearance recently. It’s the 110v AC version. It broke after only a few uses because of its plastic guts.
So now you have two very different opinions on the same brand in the same post.
I’m surprised that 'ol T.D. hasn’t chimed in on this yet. I followed his advice a long time ago and bought an American Angler. I went ahead and bought the one that has the clips to hook up to the 12v fishfinder battery and got the one with titanium (or something tough like that-not sure 'cause I’m at work) gears and have been more than happy with it. It rocks!! It has two blades. One shorter for panfish and one longer for those big catfish, etc. Got it at Cabelas for like $30 or $40 bucks with a Christmas giftcard. I can’t say enough good things about that knife.
If I remember correctly, T.D. has had his for like 10 or more years and has filleted thousands of fish with his. That should tell you something…
Yes, I still have and use an American Angler I got several years ago, while in Arizona. It has filleted a BUNCH of fish…of all sizes and species. Three years ago I suspected that it might be about ready to die…like most of the other electrics I have owned over the years. So, I bought a replacement…just in case. Another AA.
Last year I took the new one out of the package to be able to have one at home and one in my “traveling fillet bag”. The old one still gets a lot of use and is still humming. The new one also works fine.
I also have a cordless electric…not even sure what make. It does a decent job when I cannot hook up to power, but is a terrible design that requires you to push two buttons simultaneously…and they are really in awkward places. I epoxied one button permanently in place.
[left]thanks,
[left]I have found a few for cheap on ebay. I will give um a try.
In my knifes defense what Wasatch801 failed to mention is that he pressed the blade release button mhile operating the knife. That is waht caused the failure. I have yet to take it apart and see what is actually wrong and if it can be fixed. I do like the knife a lot. Will hold judgement on if it was a good one or a bad one.
**Very few pieces of equipment will hold up if there is a “loose nut on the handle”. **
That sounds like a good option to have the three attachments!! I will have to have a look at them.
Thanks!
In MY defense… the release button is right where your thumb is supposed to be. It’s a poor design…end of story! I’ll give you mine if you think I mis-used it. Wait a se, mine runs on batteries and yours are never charged! [:p]
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