I’m not going to lie; I’m getting to that age where I don’t mind paying a few extra bucks to have someone else fillet all those walleyes I like catching. However, when I am taking a fishing trip to some remote waters – sometimes I got to fillet some fish for lunch!
One type of fillet knife that I really like for those remote trips or anytime I want a fillet knife that is easy to carry is a folding fillet knife. So, that begs the question – what are the best folding fishing fillet knives?
What are the best folding fishing fillet knives? The CRKT Clark Fork Folding Fillet Knife, the Buck Knives Silver Creek Folding Fillet Knife, and the Rapala 5″ Folding Fillet knife are the three best folding fishing fillet knives.
Please keep reading below to see a very detailed review about all the great fishing folding fillet knife options that are out there!
Table of Contents
Quick Best Folding Fishing Fillet Knives Reference Chart
In case you want to see a very quick ranking of the best folding fishing fillet knives – you are in luck – here you go! Below this quick reference chart is a much more detailed review of each one; plus, some links we think you are going to like!
A quick list of the best folding fishing fillet knives.
Columbia River Knife and Tool Clark Fork Folding Fillet Knife
The Columbia River Knife and Tool Clark Fork Folding Fillet Knife (also known as the CRKT Clark Fork Folding Fillet Knife) is the number one folding fishing fillet knife on our list!
Why is it number one on our list of folding fillet knives? Part of the reason is going to be the unique tail-lock system that keeps the blade of the knife firmly in place when in the open position. When dealing with a folding fillet knife you need to be able to trust the blade to stay locked into place – and this system delivers.
Other major selling points to why this fillet knife is number on our list includes:
- 6-inch blade length
- Made from 5Cr13MoV Steel
- .06-inch blade thickness – making smooth & clean cuts possible.
- Overall Length when open: 10.94 inches
- Length when closed: 7.13 inches
- Weight: 1.80 oz.
- Satin Blade Finish
The handle is glass-reinforced nylon with a plastic insert. It also comes with a nylon sheath, and storage is nice in simple when this knife is in its folded position.
We always need to give credit where credit is due – so this knife was designed by Ken Steigerwalt in Orangeville, Pennsylvania – and you will not be sad when you add it to your fishing gear collection.
Other major buying factors include a limited lifetime warranty that covers any defects in materials or workmanship of the fillet knife.
Plus, you have the cost factor. This knife is going to cost you under $30! You got to love that for everything you are getting.
You can see why this is the best fishing folding fillet knife and this knife also was high on our list of the best fillet knives!
Buck Knives Silver Creek Folding Fillet Knife
When you have the CRKT folding fillet knife number one – you can’t have the Buck Knives Silver Creek Folding Fillet knife far behind. Which is why we have it at number two.
This really is a great fillet knife. One of the big selling points is going to be the grip. It has a rubberized anti-slip grip that will make sure you keep complete control of the blade, even when wet or dealing with the rain. You are also going to love the blade lock system which keeps that blade from slipping when cutting.
Here are some of the other big selling points:
- 6.5-inch blade
- Blade is made from titanium coated 420J2 Steel
- It has a large lanyard loop for extra control
- Length when closed is 7.25 inches
- It is 6.0 OZ. in weight
- Blade Thickness is .075 inches
- The handle is Glass Reinforced Polypropylene with TPE Rubber and a Stainless-Steel Guard
All those things are going to lead to a very high-quality fillet knife. The grip is awesome, the blade is awesome, and you get something that is easy to store and easy to use.
It is also priced right around $40 – which is just a great price for a folding fishing fillet knife of this quality!
Rapala 5″ Folding Fish Pro Fillet Knife
I think we can all agree that Rapala is one of the most well-known names is the fishing gear world (which is why you have seen their products on other lists we have done like the best electric fillet knives & the best northern pike fishing lures).
So, it would only make sense that they would have a fillet knife listed on our best folding fillet knives list. And their entry is the Rapala 5″ Folding Fish Pro Fillet Knife.
This knife is designed with an easy to use lock-back system that keeps the blade locked into place when in use. Like the name implies, it has a 5-inch blade that is made from hand-ground Japanese steel – which provides that sharp-edge that we all expect a Rapala Fillet knife to have.
The handle is also very easy to grip and will provide you with that control you need why filleting fish. The handle is very durable and will survive those annual fishing trips to far away places.
And with a price normally under $25 – will it is hard to beat that!
Kershaw Folding Fillet Knives
Just missing out on the top three is the Kershaw Folding Fillet Knives. This is another folding fillet knife that uses a back-lock system to keep that blade secure during use – and it does it very effectively! You will not have to worry about that blade slipping.
The handle is also great on this knife. It is a glass-filled nylon handle with rubberized grip. This keep the knife firmly in your grip even during wet conditions. These materials also make sure you won’t have to worry about your grip wearing out on you.
Some of the other major highlights of the Kershaw Folding Fillet Knives include:
- The blade is made from 420SJ Stainless Steel
- 6.5-inch blade
- Comes with a Sheath
- Has a limited lifetime warranty
This is a great folding fillet knife that can be used for a very long time on your fishing adventures.
Opinel Slim Series Folding Fillet Knives (NO. 15) (6-Inch Blade Length)
The Opinel Slim Series of Folding Fillet Knives is a little bit different than the other fillet knives on this list. We also need to note that there are different Numbers in this series of knives, and we would recommend purchasing number 15 – because that will give you a blade length that will be able to handle most species of fish. The other options in this line are small in terms of blade size.
The handle of this fillet knife is going to be wood – making it harder to grip in wet weather and poor conditions than the other synthetic handles these other folding fillet knives have.
These blades are going to made from 12C27 Sandvik Stainless Steel – and have a sharp edge. We recommend the number 15 option because it has a 6-inch blade.
When open, the dimensions of this knife is 12.75″ x 1″ x 1″ – and the cost is suprisingly affordable.
We recommend this fillet knife if you want something that looks a little more traditional and has a killer wooden handle. It looks sharp and will turn some heads when your fishing buddies see it in action.
Gerber Controller 6-Inch Folding Fillet Knife
One of the newest folding fillet knives to be released would be the Gerber Controller 6-Inch Folding Fillet Knife. This Gerber Controller Folding Fillet Knife review will show you why it belongs with the rest of these fillet knives that have already been mentioned!
The blade is what make this knife special. Obviously, it is 6-inches in length, and it is made from 9Cr stainless steel. The edge is sharp and fine – plus it has relief etching making it durable, strong, and sharp as heck. The blade also has a mirrored finish to help prevent erosion.
The grip is also really well designed. It helps prevent slippage when using this fillet knife in wet conditions. The size is also very compact when folded – allowing this knife to be easily stored in any tackle box.
The Gerber Controller 6-inch folding fillet knife was designed to withstand the harsh conditions of saltwater fishing as well, making it a great fillet knife for saltwater anglers!
And with a price right around $45.00 – it is tough to beat this knife! That is why we have to rank the Gerber Controller Folding Fillet Knife as the best saltwater fishing folding fillet knife.
Sarge Knives Riverwood Folding Fillet Knife
Another quality folding fillet knife that is normally under $25.00 is the Sarge Knives Riverwood Folding Fillet Knife. The handle design of this fillet knife is really neat – with it being made with a pakkawood design.
For those unfamiliar with pakkawood, pakkawood is a wood/resign composite material that still looks really good like a real wood handle but holds up better and is more water resistant than traditional wood handles. It is a very popular handle choice for good outdoor knives!
The blade itself is 5 and 7/8-inches in length, and when open, the entire blade/handle combo is 13-inches in length. When closed, the blade is 7 and 1/8-inches in length.
The blade is made from 440 stainless steel which gives it a very nice edge. The knife does come with a lifetime warranty from the company, and the blade/handle combo should provide a long-lasting fillet knife for your fishing gear collection!
Outdoor Edge 5″ Folding Fillet Knife
Another classic folding Fillet knife option would be the Outdoor Edge 5″ Folding Fillet Knife. Generally, this is going to be the most affordable option on this list, and is great for anglers that fish from time to time – but maybe aren’t out there filleting fish every week.
The blade is going to be 5-inches of 440A Stainless Steel. When the knife is fully extended and locked into place, the blade is going to be 11.3-inches in total length. When folded it will easily fit into your pocket or tackle box, and it even comes with a pocket clip and a belt sheath!
The handle has a rubberized material that helps you grip it even during tough weather conditions. You can easily fillet bass, walleye, crappie, and many other species with it as well!
Overall, it is a nice fillet knife – not as fancy as many of the other options – but it should help you get the job done!
Final Thoughts and Links of Interest
These really were some great folding fillet knives – with your best overall choice being the Columbia River Knife and Tool Clark Fork Folding Fillet Knife – with the Buck Knives Silver Creek Folding Fillet Knife & Rapala Folding Fillet Knife not to0 far behind!
And of course, you got to mention the Gerber Controller 6-Inch Folding Fillet knife as a great saltwater choice!
If you are in the market for a folding fillet knife, you might also want to check out this article on: The Best Fillet Gloves for fishing. You can never be to safe when it comes to your hands & knives!
We would also recommend checking out this great article on Hunting Knife Sheaths and Knife Sharpening stones to make sure you keep your knives in the best condition possible!
And of course, we always want to hear about your amazing outdoor adventures as AmazingOutdoorAdventures.com – so follow us on Social Media and let us know what is happening!