South Australian Angler – June 2018

knives for cutting up bait and then
store them in a bait board or knife
holder somewhere in the boat. Of
course, this isn’t going to make them
last long at all. Instead of using your
good fillet knives for cutting bait, there
are many alternatives. Nearly every
knife manufacturer also makes knives
specifically for cutting bait. This way
you can keep your good knives looked
after without having them destroyed by
hacking into fish that’s going to be used
for bait.

KINFE HANDLES

The type of handle on your fillet knife
is just about as important as the blade
itself, and while you may not think so,
the right handle can make the filleting
process much smoother.
Firstly, when choosing your knife, it
is good to have a comfortable handle –
something that almost moulds into your
grip the second you grab it. Handles
can be made from varying materials,
however a soft, non-slip ergonomic
handle is best. This is because when
filleting fish, there is often a lot of
moisture about, and when your hands
are wet, losing your grip can cause
serious injury.
When choosing a knife, pick it up,
put it in your hand and apply a little
pressure to see how well you grip it. If
it feels right, it’s the right knife for you;
otherwise, keep sampling until you find
the right fit.

SHARPENING

Equally important as choosing the right
knife is keeping it sharp. Having the right
sharpener is paramount, as some can
do more harm than good to any knife.
Sharpening knives should be done with
precision and care to get the right edge
that will last. Rushing the job and using
the wrong sharpener will damage the
blade, making it a lot harder to get the
edge back.
When it comes to buying a sharpener,

Sharpening steels tend to use an

industrial diamond, however for a

finer edge, a ceramic material is used.

Ceramic rods are harder than steel and

designed for maintaining a perfectly fine

and sharp blade, while stainless steel

rods are available in a fine grit or ultra-

fine grit to leave the blade as if it has

been polished.

Diamond sharpeners are the next

level above steels, and are used for

the sharpening process. Diamond

sharpeners are available in stone and

hand-held versions, with both also

available in a variety of grits. Diamond

rods are the hardest and most abrasive

used for sharpening. On the other hand,

diamond stones, due to their size, tend

to make the sharpening process faster

than using a rod.

Electric knife sharpeners certainly

there are many different options available

• from stones to steels and both electric
  and manual sharpeners.
  Honing might be a term some
  people are familiar with; it is a process
  that produces a precision surface by
  scrubbing a honing tool or steel along
  the edge of the blade. After you have
  sharpened your knife using a specific
  stone or other sharpening implement,
  a honing tool or steel can then be used.
  Honing the blade straightens the steel
  of the knife to bring back the edge,
  keeping the knife sharper for longer.
  It is sometimes thought that a steel is
  actually used for sharpening, when in
  fact it should be used after the blade has
  been sharpened to bring back the edge.
  Hand-held steels are used in the
  same manner – after the sharpening
  process has been completed.

Steels come in different shapes and sizes

High end stainless steel is vital in a decent knife

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