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Fishing Media => Fishing Pictures => Off-Topic Pictures => Topic started by: bigredfishing on Jun 16, 2005, 10:41 PM

Title: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: bigredfishing on Jun 16, 2005, 10:41 PM
I have been experimenting with different ways of cleaning fish.  My interest is to get the fish filleted in the shortest period of time, while at the same time losing no meat over the conventional knife method.  I think i have found a way to do it.

I'm using an average walleye for the pics (17")
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv655%2Fbigredfishing%2Fdsc8325rs.jpg&hash=26f4a7edfd7867b70ea65cac4dc609bb)

I start with the fish on the fillet board, and i cut straight down to the spine (but not through it) right behind the pectoral fin, and at the base of the skull
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv655%2Fbigredfishing%2Fdsc8326rs.jpg&hash=4344fc8eb4d2095ce985bca7451383b9)

I then turn the knife to parallel the spine, and allow the knife to ride along the spine while putting enough pressure on the knife to put a bend in the blades.  I follow all the way down to the caudel fin (tail), leaving a very small margin of skin still attached.
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv655%2Fbigredfishing%2Fdsc8327rs.jpg&hash=b918fbb4e49f5de2479036d91e3bbc2c)

Using the small portion of skin remaining on the body to hold the fillet, i hold on to the fish, and ride the knife against the skin, seperating it from the skin.
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv655%2Fbigredfishing%2Fdsc8328rs.jpg&hash=bbfde36ec458ed34364a8ec2eea236fe)
While i am doing that, i am again putting pressure on the blade, enough to put quite a bend in it.
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv655%2Fbigredfishing%2Fdsc8329rs.jpg&hash=ab142977789c8ef480b09302ef37758e)

Once the skin is seperated, the ribs remain.  I simply ride the knife against the ribs to remove them cleanly from the flesh.
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv655%2Fbigredfishing%2Fdsc83211rs.jpg&hash=3296932e11ca942be0978b496ae5b859)

Once you are done, there shouldn't be any meat left on the fish
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv655%2Fbigredfishing%2Fdsc83210rs.jpg&hash=ecfba36a8a178f839bc64b7dc24f20a6)
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv655%2Fbigredfishing%2Fdsc83212rs.jpg&hash=052eee63efc220bb833d9d758fb4503b)
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: trapperdirk on Jun 16, 2005, 11:17 PM
Great post Bigred . I've never tried an electric knife yet but your doing a great job of convincing me . ;D

                              TD
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: TGF on Jun 16, 2005, 11:44 PM
Electric knives work great. Excellent job there big red.
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: Deposit on Jun 17, 2005, 04:36 AM
I don't have an electric knife yet but this just may convince me. Good post
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: devil-man on Jun 17, 2005, 04:59 AM
Great series of pics, BigRed.
You can call me old-fashioned, but my Rapala blade is fast enough for me.
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: ol crawdad on Jun 17, 2005, 07:46 AM
I fillet my eyes the same way BigRed, but I also like the Rapala knife like devil-man.  I would like to try the electric sometime tho, or watch someone do it.  How does it work on th cheek meat?! ;D
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: bigredfishing on Jun 17, 2005, 12:08 PM
  How does it work on th cheek meat?! ;D

i dont like that chewy stuff! ;D

I had been using my rapala knife, but the electric knife saves me at least 10 maybe 15 minutes when cleaning a limit of eyes, and that time saved doesnt cost me any meat, so its a win win situation!
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: ol crawdad on Jun 17, 2005, 12:49 PM
Cool.  I am going to look into one then.  Usually when I go fishing with others, I end up filleting everybodies fish.  I think wally world has them in the fishin' section. 
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: bigredfishing on Jun 17, 2005, 01:22 PM
if you get one, i would not suggest a cordless model.  The one that i have has the battery in front of the grip, and that leaves the unit completely off balance, and its pretty much worthless.  I just sits in its case, while i use the old black and decker unit.
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: ol crawdad on Jun 17, 2005, 01:40 PM
thanks for the info bigred
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: bussman on Jun 17, 2005, 02:08 PM
Great tutorial Bigred. That is exactly how I do all my fish from Eyes to Pumpkinseed. The more you do it the better you get.
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: dwaytkus on Jun 17, 2005, 08:03 PM
Big Red I do it the same way but I have learned a little tip that gets a little more meat and only takes a extra 10 seconds.  My first step is cutting off the fins on the top of the fish going from the direction of tail to gill.  This gets more of the meat on the top of the back , especially on small fish such as gills and  perch.
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: reubenpa on Jun 17, 2005, 09:57 PM
awesome lance, I have been wanting to post pics like that but never got around to it.  I use a rapala electric knife and it saves me hours in the panfish filleting department.  And like you said you don't have to waste any meat.  They are slick... thanks for posting that
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: bigredfishing on Jun 17, 2005, 11:51 PM
Thanks guys!!

Big Red I do it the same way but I have learned a little tip that gets a little more meat and only takes a extra 10 seconds.  My first step is cutting off the fins on the top of the fish going from the direction of tail to gill.  This gets more of the meat on the top of the back , especially on small fish such as gills and  perch.

I like the idea and am going to have to try that the next time i get some fish. thanks
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: crappie66 on Jun 18, 2005, 02:30 AM
Great series of pics, BigRed.
You can call me old-fashioned, but my Rapala blade is fast enough for me.

I am with you on this one.  I have the 4 inch blade for crappie and bluegill, and the 6 inch blade for everything else.  I don't see how an electric knife would save any time or meat.   I give my knife a few swipes across the sharpening stone before each use, and it stays pretty sharp, the knife goes through the fish like a hot knife through butter.
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: USMC130FE on Jun 19, 2005, 02:26 PM
Great series of pics, BigRed.
You can call me old-fashioned, but my Rapala blade is fast enough for me.

  I don't see how an electric knife would save any time or meat.   I give my knife a few swipes across the sharpening stone before each use, and it stays pretty sharp,

Thats what I thought, but beleive me....once you use the electric, its hard to go back to the knife.

Steve
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: carpcatcher on Jun 21, 2005, 03:15 PM
All you guy's that never tried an electric knife are still in the stone age. The only reason to use a regular knife is if there is no power. I have used a black & decker slim grip from wal-mart for 6 years and never had to do anything to the blades. There isn't a point on them to poke yourself if your not paying attention and the only time they cut is when you have the trigger pulled in which is a big plus if you have a 3yr old sitting on the counter beside you learning.
        Jim
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: Reelmaster on Jun 22, 2005, 10:06 AM
Great post. Awesome pics that explains everything perfectly. Good work Buddy. ;D
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: rendo on Jun 28, 2005, 08:29 AM
 have two of them one on the boat and the other one is at home. Use the one at home more as its a carving knife for turkey and so but does great filleting walleye
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: icechip on Jun 28, 2005, 09:20 AM
Great post there bigred ;D
Title: Re: Bigred's electic knife boneless fillet method
Post by: gillmaniac on Jul 12, 2005, 11:07 AM
very nice pics bigred!!

gill