What would be a good electric fillet knife and in your experiences what are the advantages and disadvantages? I am considering one. Thanks

All I can say is that we have about 5 of them in the garage at the lake. They never get used. Each one may have been used a couple times or more after purchasing but no longer after that. They have been up there for many years, some longer than others. Next to the electric filet knives are about a dozen normal filet knives. Those are the only ones anyone ever picks up to use.
I've been to some resorts on Lake of the Woods for ice fishing where fish cleaning is included in the package deal. I've watched the resort guys filet, with nothing but a normal filet knife. They don't even use electric.
Come to think of it, I don't know anyone that uses one regularly but I know many that have them sitting around not being used. I think there was a time when everyone wanted one but soon learned it is just as easy, just as quick and with less clean-up after to use a plain old filet knife.

You might want to ask this question in the fishing forum as well.

First pass on a northern is a good use for them...IMHO
After that the standard blade comes out to finish the job.

I think technically electric filet knives are ban in the BWCA. I don't know if anyone really cares if you take one, I know I don't, but who knows how a ranger would react. Food for thought.

Can't see any reason that it would be banned they run on regular batteries like a flashlight, depth finder etc etc.

quote mutz: "Can't see any reason that it would be banned they run on regular batteries like a flashlight, depth finder etc etc."

Any machine that does work is banned, ice augers, chain saws, battery powered trolling motors, battery powered ice auger, portage wheels, etc...As far as I know a depth finder or flashlight doesn't really "do work". So I think a electric fillet knife may be in violation of the rules.

Personally if it is in violation I think it violates more of the letter of the law not really the spirit of the law. I would be surprised if some one got a fine for using one though, warning at most. It is possible I am wrong too.

T

Personally if it is in violation I think it violates more of the letter of the law not really the spirit of the law. I would be surprised if some one got a fine for using one though, warning at most."

I agree.

It is the motor in it that makes it illegal.

The law concerning electric motors in USFS Wilderness areas does not impose an absolute prohibition. There is specific exemption for small, battery powered devices:

36 CFR 293.6

In particular, note paragraph "(b) Motorized equipment, as herein used, shall include any machine activated by a nonliving power source, except that small battery-powered, hand-carried devices such as flashlights, shavers, and Geiger counters are not classed as motorized equipment."

It is because of this exemption that one can use flashlights, electric watches, flasher depth finders, and electric filet knives.

I have never seen an electric filet knife. But the fine control needed to do a good filet seems to me would sort of rule out electric power for the task.

Hmmm. So I viewed a video of a guy using one. I dunno. A nice sharp filet knife seems like it would do just as well.

A lot of people use them for crappies and other pan fish as they have a lot more bones then meat. Personally I have never used one, but say you had a whole mess of pan fish it may come in handy.

This is a decent option. Yes, I have used them in the past. However, I much prefer a quality regular fillet knife. I personally use one of these . There are circumstances where either can come in handy.

In the time it would take you to get the blades out, insert them and start using the electic knife, I can have the fish already filleted with a super sharp standard filet knife. If it takes you more then one minute to filet the fish with a standard knife you are taking too long. Time to pull up some Youtube vidios.

quote brantlars: "A lot of people use them for crappies and other pan fish as they have a lot more bones then meat. Personally I have never used one, but say you had a whole mess of pan fish it may come in handy."

They come in handy for me on a big mess of crappie or perch. That is the only time it is used.