The Best Fishing Knives - (UK Angling Top Knife Guide)

This lovely Elk Ridge knife is a brilliant companion on the bank. It has razor-sharp stainless steel blades that make any cutting task a breeze. This is a Gentleman's knife and contains two blades which can be really useful.

The design of this knife really makes it feel special. It fits lovely in the hand and has a sleek finish on the handle that will last for many years to come. Don't be fooled by the nice design of this knife, though. It is intended to be used on the bank and will stand up to a lot of use as well.

Both of the blades lock into position to keep you safe while cutting, and they stay sharp for a very long time. This is a beautiful knife made to be used in the outdoors. Keep this in your tackle box, and we're sure you'll find loads of uses for it.

Here is what we like and dislike about the fishing knife based on our own experiences...

Wolfcraft makes a lot of woodworking tools, and this knife was marketed to carpenters first. However, then we fishy folk got wind of it, and it quickly made its way to the lakes and rivers all around the UK.

Everything on this knife is metal, right down to the handle and the belt clip, which is aluminium. However, the design makes this knife very lightweight. The aluminium handle and the body of the knife have a skeleton-like structure.

So, there are holes all over the handle that keep the weight down. This also means if any dirt gets into the handle or locking mechanism, it is really easy to clean and remove it.

This blade comes very sharp and ready out of the box and has a serrated portion of the blade. While most anglers don't need to cut rope very often, if you ever need to, you can easily with this knife. You can do all the cutting tasks an angler needs to do with this knife and plenty more.

Here is what we like and dislike about the fishing knife based on our own experiences...

If you're an outdoor person, you probably know the name, Gerber. They have been making knives and other amazing quality outdoor equipment for decades. And while this knife wasn't designed for the fishing world, it may as well have been.

It is one of the best fishing knives we have ever seen and has plenty of features that will keep it working hard for you on the bank for years.

This knife is made from stainless steel. That goes for the blade, the frame, and the handle. Even the screws that hold the handle together are stainless steel. So, nothing on this knife will rust, even if you drop it in the lake.

It has a lovely thumb hold, so you can open this knife with one hand, as well as a brilliant lock to keep the knife secure when chopping.

The drop point blade makes chopping nice and easy as well. This knife feels wonderful in the hands and is sure to be in your tackle box for many years to come.

Here is what we like and dislike about the fishing knife based on our own experiences...

This knife is extremely popular with people who do bushcraft and camping, and it makes a wonderful fishing knife as well. This is so sharp, it could easily be used to gut fish if you needed it to, but just for a knife on the bank, it is a no-brainer. 

A lot of reviews say that this knife comes so sharp you could shave with it. Many claim you need to be incredibly careful when handling it. This is ideal when trying to achieve a clean cut on a material such as braid. 

So, for fishing tasks, this knife is brilliant. If you're just cutting up luncheon meat, this knife will probably stay sharp for years and years. And because it is stainless steel, it will hold up to any wet weather fishing you have planned. 

The holster that comes with this knife also means it is super handy (and safe) to carry around with you while you're on the bank. And, when you put it down on your bivvy table, it is nice and safe too. 

The price of this knife is just as amazing as the knife itself. Many are comparing this to more expensive knives from Mora and saying this outperforms them!

In summary, this is a knife that exudes quality and is one we highly recommend.

Here is what we like and dislike about the fishing knife based on our own experiences...

Who doesn't want a fishing knife that is in the shape of a fish? Especially a fishing knife shaped like a fish that is well designed. This knife is made entirely from stainless steel, but the handle has a brass colour that gives it a wonderful finish.

As the knife ages, the brass colour will still look wonderful for many years, though. Plus, as the whole knife is stainless steel, it won't rust in your tackle box.

The fish shape of this knife actually makes it feel really nice in the hand while looking awesome too. So if you're the angler that receives this as a gift, you'll quickly fall in love. 

This is a really compact little knife that won't take up much room in your tackle box and will be really handy during a fishing trip.

Here is what we like and dislike about the fishing knife based on our own experiences...

For the sea fishermen among us, give this one a try. While all the knives in this article up to now have been geared towards bank-related tasks, this one is ideal for gutting fish and filleting them right on the boat or shore.

This blade is just over 6 inches long and is coated with titanium. This is one of the strongest materials in knife-making which also stands up to saltwater nicely.

The blade's core material is stainless steel, so it won't rust. It is also nice and flexible, so you can quickly and easily gut fish and fillet them while keeping the knife away from the bones.

To finish this knife off nicely, it has a rubberised handle that stays grippy when it gets wet. It also doesn't react with UV, so the handle will last a good few years. Finally, it comes complete with a plastic sheath, which is always handy while sea fishing.

Here is what we like and dislike about the fishing knife based on our own experiences...

A multi-tool can be really handy and get you out of trouble when there appear to be no other options.

With this 14 in 1 multi-tool, you have screwdrivers, files, scissors, a knife, a saw, a torch, and pliers. So, you could fix your chair, your net, file your nails, open tins and so much more.

The reason this multi-tool made our list, though, is because it's compact and lightweight. So many multi-tools on the market are very heavy, so this being light makes it ideal for anglers who want a small amount of gear.

The rubber handles are also a great touch as you can still use all the tools with wet hands.

Here is what we like and dislike about the fishing knife based on our own experiences...

FAQs

If you still have some burning questions about fishing knives then please check out the following answers to some of the most common questions we get on the subject.

Do You Need A Knife For Fishing?

The answer is yes you do need a knife for fishing if you want to be efficient and organised.

Once you have fished with a knife in your tackle box for a few sessions, you'll realise how valuable it is. Whether you need to cut up bait, trim line or you just want to open up some stubborn packaging, a knife can do it all.

What Are The Different Types Of Fishing Knives?

There are plenty of different knives for fishing. You have the most obvious, which is a knife designed to kill, gut, and fillet fish. You then have small pocket knives that many anglers carry to open baits and cut them up.

And then you have multi-tools.

A multi-tool is many anglers' go-to when fishing because they are so handy for so many tasks. However, some fishermen like to keep things simple and prefer a compact pocket knife that can be kept in a small tackle box. 

The choice is yours, but having a fishing knife is always a good idea.

The best length of a fishing knife largely depends on what you are going to be using it for. For example, if you need a knife for filleting a fish, then the minimum recommended blade length is 6 inches.

If you need a small knife compact to fit into your tackle box, then the best length is around the 3-inch mark.

How Do You Keep Fishing Knives Sharp?

A fishing knife is no good to you if it is dull. No matter if you're using your fishing knife to fillet fish or simply trimming some fishing line, it needs to be sharp.

Sharpening a knife can be very tricky, and using whetstones or diamond stones is basically not practical on the bank.

So, we'd recommend the use of a knife sharpener. These are incredibly easy to use. Just run your knife through the block a few times, and it will be ready to go again.

How Do You Sharpen A Fishing Knife?

Sharpening a fishing knife for filleting is slightly different from sharpening a normal knife. This is because a fillet knife is slightly flexible.

The following video provides some great information on how to sharpen a fishing knife for filleting fish.

Final Thoughts

The best fishing knives need to be sharp, water-resistant, and compact enough to fit in your tackle box or pocket.

There are some amazing fishing knives on the market today, and we hope that this article has helped you find the perfect knife to suit your fishing circumstances perfectly.

Thanks for reading

Tight lines!