It’s not that straightforward to separate unnecessary skin and bones from fish.
However, with the best fillet
So, what is the best fillet
With many
The reason being, there are numerous fillet knives with varying shapes, prices, features, and designs.
This article is here to make things easier for you.
After thorough research, we present what we believe are the seven best fillet knives for trout in the market.
Best Fillet Knives For Trout Fishing (Updated List)
- Razor Sharp Stainless Blades – All new KastKing knives utilize premium, razor sharp G4116 German Stainless-Steel blades with a beautiful black finish. KastKing knives will maintain their edge longer in both fresh and saltwater applications and make the job of cutting baits, filleting fish of all sizes, steaking large game fish and trim or remove meat and fish from the bone easier than ever before.
- The Right Knife For The Job - The 6”, 7” & 9” stainless curved blades have the perfect flexibility so the knife will follow natural contours for perfect fillets, is also an awesome ideal for thinner or more delicate cuts of meat such as fish or chicken. All These KastKing professional level knives will provide years of service and will quickly become your favorite tool for filleting fish, boning meet and processing any food.
- Non-Slip Super Polymer Grip - We use the most comfortable and slip-resistant, super polymer grips for your safety and comfort. These handles feel great in your hand and ensure that you always have a solid grip on your knife. These handles also clean up easily and stay looking good longer.
* A Serious Contender *
Related fillet
Buying Guide
Blade Material
Most fillet knives come with stainless steel, reinforced steel, and carbon steel blades.
However, high carbon steel and Titanium-coated steel tend to be pricier than typical stainless steel.
Regular stainless-steel blades are not just less costly but are easy to sharpen as well.
On the other hand, carbon steel is also easy to sharpen, more robust and retains the edge longer.
At the same time, some blades feature high-carbon stainless steel.
Steel with high carbon content is more substantial.
For that reason, knives with high-carbon stainless-steel blades are more expensive due to their excellent quality.
Handle Material
The handle is yet another factor to consider carefully.
The best choice for trout fishing should have a comfortable grip.
Moreover, the surface should also be slip-resistant.
With these two properties, you’ll achieve excellent control and flexibility as well.
You will come across fillet knives with plastic handles while others are boasting rubber and wooden handles.
All these handle materials are ideal. So, the choice is a matter of personal preference.
However, a rubber handle is excellent as it has odor repellant properties.
Blade size
What type of fish do you intend to prepare? That’s the question to answer as far as blade size is concerned.
A 6-inch plus blade is not necessary if you are dealing with small and light fish.
Similarly, you are going to need a longer blade if you are filleting big fish.
The reason being, big fish, tend to have more bones and meat alongside tough skin.
The best way to go around this is by using a fillet
We give these knives a quick twirl and review, and then we pass them on to a few lucky home chefs!
Product Reviews
KastKing (Best Choice)
- Razor Sharp Stainless Blades – All new KastKing knives utilize premium, razor sharp G4116 German Stainless-Steel blades with a beautiful black finish. KastKing knives will maintain their edge longer in both fresh and saltwater applications and make the job of cutting baits, filleting fish of all sizes, steaking large game fish and trim or remove meat and fish from the bone easier than ever before.
- The Right Knife For The Job - The 6”, 7” & 9” stainless curved blades have the perfect flexibility so the knife will follow natural contours for perfect fillets, is also an awesome ideal for thinner or more delicate cuts of meat such as fish or chicken. All These KastKing professional level knives will provide years of service and will quickly become your favorite tool for filleting fish, boning meet and processing any food.
- Non-Slip Super Polymer Grip - We use the most comfortable and slip-resistant, super polymer grips for your safety and comfort. These handles feel great in your hand and ensure that you always have a solid grip on your knife. These handles also clean up easily and stay looking good longer.
This one from KastKing is an ideal option for an average budget.
It features a razor-sharp 7-inch blade. What’s more, this
It then features stainless-steel with a striking black finish.
With this material, it can maintain its edge for a long time in both salt and freshwater use.
In other words, it is resistant to corrosion and rust.
Further, this comes with a super polymer handle.
It, therefore, assures enough grip for safe use and comfort.
As a bonus, it includes a
Besides protecting the blade, it also ensures your safety between jobs.
Our scores:
- Sharpness: 9.5/10
- Handling: 9/10
- Ease of maintenance: 9/10
Pros
- Available in 6, 7, and 9-inch options
- Corrosion and rust-resistant
- Durable stainless-steel material
- Comfortable non-slip handle
- Includes a protective
knife sheath - Reasonable price
Cons
- The handle is somewhat large.
Bubba 9-Inch (2nd Runner-up)
This one from Bubba is nothing less than impressive.
It has a 15-inch overall length with 9 inches going to the blade.
With such a
Another key feature is its non-slip grip handle.
Alongside a trigger grip, it guarantees excellent security and control.
Its thin blade then features high carbon stainless steel.
Even further, it has a Titanium-Nitride coat. These materials make it rust-resistant.
Its safety guards protect you from both the blade and sharp fish spines.
Lastly, it includes a sheath with a convenient belt loop for easy carrying around.
Our scores:
- Sharpness: 9/10
- Handling: 8.5/10
- Ease of maintenance: 9/10
Pros
- Ideal for sizeable fish
- Durable high carbon stainless-steel material
- Includes a protective sheath
- Safety guards for extra protection
- Non-slip grip handle
Cons
- May arrive dull
KastKing Spartacus (Best for Durability)
Coming third is the KastKing Spartacus.
It boasts an ultra-sharp 7-inch stainless-steel blade.
It’s also worth mentioning the high carbon and Chromium content of the blade.
As a result, this
To bolster its corrosion resistance even further, it integrates a Cerakote Ceramic Finish.
Other than excellent performance, this one is also very durable.
The handle then includes Kraton G Polymer material.
Other than optimal grip, the handle is also UV resistant and comfortable.
It also features a
Our scores:
- Sharpness: 8.5/10
- Handling: 8.5/10
- Ease of maintenance: 9.5/10
Pros
- High carbon durable stainless-steel
- Resistant to corrosion
- Non-slip UV-resistant handle
- Includes a
knife sheath - Ideal for large fish
- Stylish design
Cons
- No reported cons
Calamus (Best for Comfort)
Are you looking for a stylish
If yes, this
It is available in a 7-inch and 9-inch option.
It features stainless-steel blades with a blue Teflon finish.
Thanks to its material, it maintains its edge and is corrosion resistant as well.
Moreover, it comes with a non-slip rubber handle.
Not only is the grip comfortable but also safe to use in both dry and wet conditions.
As an added advantage, this one includes a protective nylon sheath.
It, therefore, protects you from the blade while keeping everything secure.
Our scores:
- Sharpness: 8.5/10
- Handling: 9.5/10
- Ease of maintenance: 8/10
Pros
- Available in two options
- Striking blue Teflon finish
- Corrosion and rust-resistant
- Non-slip golf-style rubber handle
- Protective nylon sheath
Cons
- Not very sharp for some people
- It gets dull too fast.
PLUSINNO (Best for Precision)
- 【Professional Fish Fillet Knife Set】: Three models are offered(5",6"&7"blade lengths）, please choose the exact size model you need in the "select" section. All our fish knife use premium 5cr13 stainless curved blades having the perfect flexibility so the fishing knife will maintain its edge longer to make the job of filleting and steaking fish quicker and more efficient than ever before.
- 【5Cr13 Sharp Stainless-Steel Blades】：The fishing fillet knife is made of razor sharp 5Cr13 stainless-Steel blades with a beautiful black coated, durable and corrosion resistant, a perfect bait knife for precision cutting and slicing freshwater and saltwater fish or remove meat and fish from the bone.
- 【Comfortable Non-Slip Grip】：The textured-rubber handle features an ergonomic comfort design and made of slip-resistant, super polymer material, safety and comfort, providing a outstanding grip on the knife in both wet and dry conditions.
【Professional Fish Fillet Knife Set】: Three models are offered(5",6"&7"blade lengths）, please choose the exact size model you need in the "select" section. All our fish knife use premium 5cr13 stainless curved blades having the perfect flexibility so the fishing knife will maintain its edge longer to make the job of filleting and steaking fish quicker and more efficient than ever before.
This fishing fillet
It delivers maximum flexibility to allow you to fillet fish with excellent precision.
Besides, the razor-sharp blade features stainless steel material.
As a bonus, it features a black coat finish that makes it very striking.
Its handle, on the other hand, features super polymer material.
As such, it achieves a comfortable non-slip grip.
You can, therefore, use it in both dry and wet conditions.
To conclude, this one comes with a vent and lightweight, protective ABS sheath.
With a unique lock design, it perfectly locks the handle in for safety.
Our scores:
- Sharpness: 8.5/10
- Handling: 9.5/10
- Ease of maintenance: 8/10
Pros
- Available in three sizes
- Flexible stainless-steel blade
- Non-slip comfortable grip handle
- Lightweight and vent ABS sheath
- Lock-in design for safety
Cons
- The blade is somewhat weak.
- Poor quality cover
Rapala (Best for Beginners)
The Rapala Superflex comes with a 6-inch stainless-steel blade.
Even so, it’s also available in two other lengths; 7.5 inches and 4 inches.
Its blade is extra flexible and thin.
As a result, it gives you control to make smooth and clean cuts.
It then features a non-stick coating that makes filleting fish easier.
Its handle comprises of hand-rubbed baked birch wood.
Through this, it assures comfort and excellent grip.
When not in use, you can keep it in its genuine leather sheath.
The sheath also includes a belt loop for attachment that makes it easy to carry it around.
Our scores:
- Sharpness: 8/10
- Handling: 8.5/10
- Ease of maintenance: 8/10
Pros
- Genuine leather sheath
- Non-stick stainless-steel
- Non-slip wooden handle
- Corrosion and rust-resistant
- Available in three size options
Cons
- The handle may fall apart.
- It tends to dull fast
Rhinoreto (Best for Speed)
Finally, we have the one from Rhinoreto.
Unlike most models, it’s available in two blade size options; 6.5 inches and 8 inches.
The blade is flexible and features stainless-steel with a non-stick coat.
Consequently, meat slides off quickly, making the entire filleting process effortless and fast.
Also, the material makes it corrosion resistant hence ideal for both saltwater and freshwater fish.
It then includes a non-slip rubber handle.
Besides being safe, the handle is also large enough for all hand sizes.
There is also a lightweight vented sheath.
The cover assures protection while making it easy to travel with.
On top of that, this filleting
It’s easy to use, allowing you always to keep your blade sharp.
Our scores:
- Sharpness: 8/10
- Handling: 9/10
- Ease of maintenance: 8.5/10
Pros
- Flexible stainless-steel blade
- Two blade size options
- Corrosion and rust-resistant
- Non-slip rubber handle
- Lightweight vented sheath
- Easy-to-use sharpener
Cons
- May arrive with a dull blade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tools are best for sharpening a fillet knife ?
You can use a worktop sharpener, a whetstone, sharpening steel, or an electric sharpener.
What is the best way to use it?
Always ensure the blade is sloping sideways to achieve a clean cut along the fish’s spine.
What is the essence of it?
It is perfect for setting aside bones and skin from fish meat.
Can you wash your knife in a dishwasher?
You can. However, it’s best to wash it by hand in hot soapy water for it to last long.
What blade size is the best for filleting?
If you plan to fillet small fish, opt for a short blade not exceeding 6 inches. On the contrary, filleting big fish is more manageable with longer blades ranging between 7 and 9 inches.
What materials make the best fillet knife for trout?
Go for a
How is a fillet knife different from a boning knife ?
Most boning knives have straight blades. Fillet knives, on the other hand, have their edges curving slightly.
Then again, fillet knives tend to be more flexible and thinner than boning counterparts.
Conclusion
Trout is a favorite freshwater fishing game primarily because a lot of lakes are stocked with this particular fish.
It also has a very delicate flavor that is perfect for a whole lot of dishes – smokes the whole thing with butter or cheese, steams the tail with ginger and green onions, sautee chunks of it with tomato and shallots, or simply pan-fry a fillet then drizzle with lemon juice!
But the best thing about the trout is that it’s pretty easy to prep, especially filleting. Now, all you need is a proper
Two pieces from KastKing have earned a spot on our list.
KastKing’s filleter made from G4116 German stainless steel is a huge favorite among anglers and fishmongers because of its blade’s amazing flexibility and its non-slip contoured handle.
The Spartacus fillet and boning knife is the second KastKing enumerated here. Made from the high carbon 8Cr14 steel, this has a slightly harder blade that stays sharper for a longer period. It also has a ceramic coating that prevents corrosion.
You could also try Bubba’s 9-inch fillet knife that has several features of KastKing’s products and more. Many prefer this because of its safety guards that keep your hands from slipping into the blade.
Further reading:
18 Best Trout Streams in the Western U.S. and Canada
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Ryan Leavitt
Hi my name is Ryan Leavitt a Marine Corps Veteran and currently an over the road trucker (Long Haul). I am no expert chef but am enjoying preparing my own meals on the road and testing all the different knives.
We give these knives a quick twirl and review, and then we pass them on to a few lucky home chefs!
