Cleanin Walleye

[Jess]

Another question. I live at a place that has fish cleaning houses with electric plug ins etc and the whole bit. I kinda pride myself in cleaning fish the old fashioned way and I know I do a great job on my fillets. (so do most of the guys w/ elec knifes)I would never sacrifice quallity for speed but I want to be faster. The guys with the electric knives blow me away and on work days my cleaning time is cutting into fishing time. Dose anyone know how to clean fish lightning fast (or how to learn) with a knife? Or do I need ta give in and get an electric? I realy don't want to use an electric knife. I once saw an old salt on TV clean a cod in like 5=10 seconds ! It was ausome ! he was goin nuts using his teeth and everything to skin em! I've always wanted to be able to clean fish like that. Can anyone help me? I live in NW Ohio. Also I presently use buck fillet knifes. Is there any advice on some professional fillet knifes?
Thanks,
Jess

I reposted cuz it wouldn't come up on the reports

[JJ]

Cleaning them with an electric knife is defenitely the fastest, but with a VERY sharp fillet knife, you can do it the same way. It just needs to be sharp enough to cut through the ribs without tearing the meat up. I did this for a season till I decided to finally break down and get the electric knife....I never should have waited that long.

[curt quesnell]

As long as your knife is sharp you should be able to keep up with
the electrics. (or nearly keep up)

As far as getting the job done quicker, check your process of cleaning
step by step and see which parts you can spend less time on.

One of the real slow parts is taking the rib cage out

Another one is pealing the skin off with the fillet and then going
back later to get the skin. This can be done in one quick step instead
of two.

Not knowing how you clean fish now specifics are tough to give.

But how bout this. If you do a good joh and get a good looking fillet
at the end, put the time in and take pride in the outcome

Good fishing

curt quesnell

[buzzer IA]

Hey Jess,
I was stubborn too, but after gettin' smoked by my buddy all the time, I gave in and learned how to use the electric knife..Once you have got it down, it is sooooo fast AND efficient..When i get done, you can see light passing through the carcass that's left over..I even use the electric to cut out the cheek steaks on the larger fish..
Once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder why you didn't switch over sooner..
buzzer IA

[Pitts]

I don't believe an electric can keep up with me but I would like to see some one try:)


Pitts

[eye_guide]

Being a guide I needed to make up some time anywhere I could if I wanted to get home at a decent hour. Come perch time on Devils Lake a guy can end up with a real large batch of fish at the end of the day. I went way too long thinking that the electrics weren't as efficient. I could clean very fast with a regular fillet but after getting used to the electric theres no comparison. So much faster, easier on a guys hand and just as efficient, if not more, so in the hands of a guy who has it mastered.

The one thing I would tell you though is do not buy one of the ones in the fishing section. Most of them run in the mid $20s to mid $30s. Go to the household section at Wal Mart or a similar store and get the Black and Decker electic. The single blade is under $15. The B&D has a slimmer design which I really like and I have had them last alot longer than the other brands.

[Fish-on]

I actually had a contest one time with a guy with an electric knife. I filleted five 15-17 inch walleyes in 15 seconds each, including taking the rib bones out. That's with a super sharp 8-inch Chicago cutlery fillet knife. try to do that with an electric. Having said that, I do use an electric quite a bit because they do save your energy. I worked at a butcher shop all through high-school and learned that a sharp knife and technique is the key. Plus I confess that very few 1-3 pound walleyes go back when they come into my boat, and it seems like all my buddies are offering to clean up my boat, or cook, or put things away while I clean their fish. The way to get fast is to have a system and do it over and over. Doesn't really matter if it's an electric or a conventional knife. I like both, but if you want a contest, I'll reach for the old Chicago Cutlery every time. Bring 'em on.

I have skinned muskrats in 27 seconds too. Thousands of them back in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to brag!

[bob oh]

15 seconds each, you musta been scaling them too huh?? That's way too long just for filleting and skinning!!

[RANGER]

All, and I mean ALL, of the men/women I fish with have gone to electric knives either/both 12 volt and 110! We all were manual fillet knife users for many years, but, no more. It saves a ton of energy and shortens the time between boat and cabin at days end.

My preference, and most of the others, is for the American Angler knives. I have big hands and that knife fits it very well. Plus their motors are strong and durable.

[ex-firstMatey]

As an ex first mate on Erie, I found that using a sharp filet knife was more efficient than the electric, for me. The electric will def. save your energy but I did a better job and got it done quicker with the filet knife. Once you get into a rhythm, you can go pretty good with the manual knife. Having cleaned thousands of walleyes didn't hurt either.
PS - I use an old black handled Normark Rapala filet knife that is fairly stiff and always razor sharp.

[Fshngyd]

Here's my 2 cents for what its worth. Also being a guide, I needed a quick and easier way to fillet, being stubborn, it took me awhile to switch to electric, but since I did I will never go back. The thing is, the debate between electric and manual is preference, if you fillet alot of fish, then get efficient at the electric, if you don't do alot of fileting, then stay with the manual method. I am very fast with the manual method also, but it takes a toll on your hands that could possibly cause problems at an older age, the guys that are manual filleting fish in 10 seconds or so are putting alot of stress on their hands, and could possible bring on arthritis, Karpletunnell and so on, after many of years doing it that way on large quantities of fish each year. I am no doctor obviously, but I sure felt the pain in my hands after many days on end filleting fish, and this was with a very sharp knife.

[Fishingdog]

I would have to put a vote for "change to electric". I have used them for 2 years and unlike a manual filet knife that needs to be sharpened virtually ever other time you use it, the electric uses much less maintanance.

I also must add that I froze my hands years ago and cold weather makes it very difficult for me to hold onto a regular knife. The electric's big handle allows me to cruise in cold weather and my filets are clean and quick. I do know people that have experience as a butcher and they know how to work a blade and how to sharpen it. I for one could never keep a good edge on my filet knives for a very long period which has made the electric a god send for me.

[Jess]

Thank you to everyone. I'm gonna have to try both and see. I presently clean fish by going down the back.. throught the anus then filletting the fillet away from the ribs. I "butterfly". I new it wasn't the fastest but I could never keep my knifes sharp enought do clean the way I believe most of you do. If I have it right the fishermen who say they can beat the electric are cleaning their fish in the same manner. behind the gill plate to the backbone...turn 90 degrees then along the backbone to the tale.. leaving the tail end attached ...flip the fillet over and skin the fillet. Is this right for the knife cleaners as well? I'd sure like to be able to do Walleye in under 15 seconds. I do clean a lott of fish. I live right near my boat which is docked on lake Erie.
This also leads me to another question. Is there a concensus on knife sharpening techniques here?
Thanks very much everyone,
Jess

[Chad]

Yup, That is how I was taught. Dont forget about removing the rig from the fillet

[Marble Eyes]

I use Steels, and only Steels to sharpen my knifes.... (unless the wife decides to use one to Chop Bones). Then I will put the blade to a stone.


Once you get used to using a steel You will stay away from the stones, atleast I did.

I spend years skinning Coon, muskrat, fox, coyote. You need to keep a sharp blade, and I found the Steel was the fastest way.

[Fish-on]

I use a steel to keep my knife sharp, but since I cut right through the rib bones and all, I also use a stone to get the edge back every so often. The steel just puts the razor edge on, and if you lose your edge altogether, you'll have to go back to a stone and then steel it. I grab the fish by the head and cut across the backbone, through ribs and all to the tail, being sure to leave a small amount of skin attached to the tail, then flip the filet and remove it from the skin, flip the fish and do the other side, then romove the rib bones from both filets. Like I said, I have done 5 walleyes in a minute and 15 seconds but that's not an everyday thing. When I'm casually cleaning walleyes, I do use the electric a lot of the times.

[Paul]

Jess,

This website holds the answer to your question. I'm sorry I don't have it in hyperlink form for you, I just haven't mastered that ability yet. After looking at the preview, I guess I did. First positive thing for today.

http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/fwb/fish/iafish/insider/insider.htm

[CJHughes@Norstan.com]

Fishon I was just about to comment on speed of skinning a muskrat ,You beat my best by 3 seconds . At a nickel a piece a young kid could fly through them . We gave the skinner a second off his time if he had the eyeballs left on the skin. I miss the musk smell of December Muskrats , those were the days Trap all day skin and flesh all night . I also use a fillet knife not a electric . I fillet all of them first then I skin them then I cut the rib meat out . For best results you should bleed them as soon as you catch them and keep them cold . Keeping them cold also speeds up the cleaning part , I think.

[Jess]

Hey thanks a lott everyone:)