Ford...Chevy...Dodge? Just like vehicles, anglers tend to prefer what they have already owned...good or bad. And it's difficult for a newby to electric knives to know what the real "issues" are. In truth, most on the market will remove fish fillets faster, easier and more efficiently than a hand-held standard fillet knife. Usually. When I worked on California fishing boats I learned to use regular knives pretty efficiently. But I now use electric and would never go back...at least for recreational angler use.
Over the years I have used just about every make and model of electric fishing knife...in the quest for the absolute best. I have had heavy duty 120 volt, 12 volt and rechargeable battery models. Some of them worked great. Others were disasters ergonomically...requiring pressing and holding two separate buttons at a time to fillet...and almost requiring a double jointed hand to operate them.
Boiling it down to necessary, nice for nice or non-essential...budget is important. Don't buy the absolute most expensive just because you want the status. There are some very good electric knives on the market in the price range you are suggesting. And you have had some good suggestions. Just be sure to hold one in your hand and make sure it will be comfortable for you to use for an extended period of time. You don't wanna end up hurting more than the newly filleted fish.
Me? I learned a long time ago that good things ain't cheap and cheap things are often not good. And I burned out a few of the lower end fillet knives proving that theory. For the last 20 plus years I have been (heavily) using the American Angler line of fillet knives...both 120 volt and 12 volt...with a heavy duty motor. And I have never had to retire one...even after I bought a new one in anticipation that the old one would die. It didn't.
Early last year I had some credits and bought a Bubba Blade electric...120 volt. Not sure if I would have spent the bucks (well over $100) if I had to pay full retail. But now glad I got it. It has super power and great blades...and it just glides through the heavy rib bones on cats and wipers. And it comes with several blade options for a wide variety of filleting needs. And I know one of the best and most successful anglers on Willard Bay, who fishes it almost every day of the year and probably catches more walleyes than any other 10 WB anglers. He has the cordless rechargeable Bubba Blade electric. I have seen him go through a big double limit of walleye like they were hot butter. True, he has skills. But the quality, power and ergonomics of that knife make it much easier.
Over the years I have used just about every make and model of electric fishing knife...in the quest for the absolute best. I have had heavy duty 120 volt, 12 volt and rechargeable battery models. Some of them worked great. Others were disasters ergonomically...requiring pressing and holding two separate buttons at a time to fillet...and almost requiring a double jointed hand to operate them.
Boiling it down to necessary, nice for nice or non-essential...budget is important. Don't buy the absolute most expensive just because you want the status. There are some very good electric knives on the market in the price range you are suggesting. And you have had some good suggestions. Just be sure to hold one in your hand and make sure it will be comfortable for you to use for an extended period of time. You don't wanna end up hurting more than the newly filleted fish.
Me? I learned a long time ago that good things ain't cheap and cheap things are often not good. And I burned out a few of the lower end fillet knives proving that theory. For the last 20 plus years I have been (heavily) using the American Angler line of fillet knives...both 120 volt and 12 volt...with a heavy duty motor. And I have never had to retire one...even after I bought a new one in anticipation that the old one would die. It didn't.
Early last year I had some credits and bought a Bubba Blade electric...120 volt. Not sure if I would have spent the bucks (well over $100) if I had to pay full retail. But now glad I got it. It has super power and great blades...and it just glides through the heavy rib bones on cats and wipers. And it comes with several blade options for a wide variety of filleting needs. And I know one of the best and most successful anglers on Willard Bay, who fishes it almost every day of the year and probably catches more walleyes than any other 10 WB anglers. He has the cordless rechargeable Bubba Blade electric. I have seen him go through a big double limit of walleye like they were hot butter. True, he has skills. But the quality, power and ergonomics of that knife make it much easier.