When you fish as a lot as I do you undoubtedly have a ridiculous quantity of filet knives in your endless assortment. If that’s the case, it in all probability additionally holds true that of the umpteen knives you will have within the drawer you probably proceed to succeed in for a similar 1 or 2 each time you must clear fish. There’s a motive for that, good knives are typically onerous to search out and even tougher to place down.
Just lately, I had the privilege to check out the brand new Water Assortment from Benchmade. WARNING…this stuff are SCARY sharp out of the field and keep that approach for fairly a while! Whereas fishing in Valdez for silver salmon final month I’m positive I gave a number of of the outdated timers one thing to speak about for some time with my “expertise” on the fish cleansing station. On the primary day we encountered an incredible push of fish with the in-coming tide, rapidly had our limits and had been off to wash up our bounty in brief order.
I broke out the model new, Fishcrafter, proper out of the field, and proceeded to chop by means of the spine on the primary three salmon I threw on the desk…..not on function. I’ve cleaned salmon earlier than, a variety of salmon, however I seemed like a whole noob and was for positive getting the aspect eye from the gang on the cleansing station. I rapidly recovered and made quick work of the remaining fish, however man was I blown away by the sustained sharpness of the Fishcrafter! In all that week, I cleaned over 100 salmon, and I NEVER took that knife to a stone to the touch it up, it stayed sharp all the time.
Along with the Fishcrafter we tried out the varied different blades for various functions all through the week. Under is a abstract of what was used and the perfect utility we discovered them to serve:
This was the work horse for the week, after knocking all of the salmon filets off I might rapidly circle again and begin taking the rib bones out for that good completed, desk prepared filet. I do know, I do know…you may simply filet salmon WITHOUT reducing the ribs out, however that is the way in which I used to be taught 100 years in the past, and what they are saying about educating an outdated canine new tips. The Fishcrafter is available in each a 9” and seven” configuration and can probably wager getting its personal drawer as I see this turning into my “EDC” to the fishing cleansing desk.
-Open Size: 13.94” or 11.89” relying on mannequin
-Blade Size: 9.05” or 7” relying on mannequin
-Blade Model: Trailing Level
-Blade End: Stonewash
-Weight: 2.84oz.
-MSRP: $260 for the 9” and $240 for the 7”
The Intersect is a good multi-purpose belt knife in all probability greatest suited to your reducing wants whereas within the strategy of fishing slightly than afterwards on the fish cleansing station. We used this for something every thing from reducing bait, trimming deal with, bleeding fish and many others. It comes with a pleasant compact sheath that makes it an incredible “fast to entry” reducing instrument. In a pinch this could possibly be used to take the ribs out of filets, however I see this one as extra of a utility participant on the sphere.
-Open Size: 6.55”
-Blade Size: 2.68”
-Blade Model: Drop-Level
-Blade End: Stonewash
-Weight: 2.36oz.
-MSRP: $200
One other utility kind instrument within the Water Assortment. We used this one very equally to how we used the Intersect. This one is a bit beefier for reducing larger bait, trimming heavier deal with and bleeding larger fish. Additionally comes with a tough molded sheath that sits properly on Grundens belt or different making for simple entry and fast use.
-Open Size: 9.44”
-Blade Size: 4.32”
-Blade Model: Sheepsfoot
-Blade End: Stonewash
-Weight: 5.38oz.
-MSRP: $250
The ultimate knife we used on our journey to Valdez was the EDC pocket carry. A pleasant addition to the lineup that may serve a large number of makes use of and is sweet at nearly every thing. This is available in two completely different sizes and is the one no-fixed blade folder within the assortment. Just like the Intersect and the Undercurrent it may be used as a utility instrument for any of your reducing wants whereas on the water or again on the dock.
-Open Size: 7.46”
-Blade Size: 3.21”
-Blade Model: Drop-Level
-Blade End: Stonewash
-Weight: 3.09oz.
-MSRP: $230
In abstract, Benchmade has put collectively a powerful assortment of Water cutlery to serve nearly any function you might consider whether or not you might be reducing rope or reducing gills. The Fishcrafter is the final word filet knife for bringing the ocean to the desk and the remainder of the lineup is on deck that can assist you with all of the wants up till that time. For extra data on the Water Assortment from Benchmade head on over to their web site and examine them out!
