10 Best Fly Fishing Knife
A fly fishing knife will come in handy for cutting fly line, helping with unhooking fish, filleting fish, or as a tool to fix other fly fishing accessories. How you plan to use the knife will determine the type of fly fishing knife to buy.
In this guide, we go through the 10 best fly fishing knives to consider based on cost, features, uses, and quality.
Contents
Selecting The Best Fly Fishing Knives
I went through many of the popular knives on the market to look at buying criteria including cost, quality of the blade and metal used, and different types of features such as fixed blade and folding, and the intended utility of the knife.
Below is a summary of the fly fishing knife options, then I dive into each of these options a little bit more.
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10 Best Fly Fishing Knives
Best Overall Fly Fishing Knife
Best EDC Fly Fishing Knife
Best Fly Fishing Pocket Knife Multi-Tool
Best Fly Fishing Zinger Knife
Best Fly Fishing Knife Tool Kit
Best Fly Fishing Fillet Knife
Best Fly Fishing Electric Fillet Knife
Best Fly Fishing Line Knife
Best Cheap Fly Fishing Knife Multi Tool
Best Cheap Fly Fishing Knife
Best Fly Fishing Kinfe Reviews
The best overall fly fishing knife means you can set up your lines and add the flies as you might need them. We have selected the Spyderco Salt 2 Wharncliffe ultra-corrosion resistant lightweight knife as one of the best options. It is made from a high-quality fiberglass handle and the unit has a solid back lock to keep the knife in place.
The unit is designed to be small, which means it can easily fit inside your pocket when you are not using it. Additionally, it doubles down as a utility knife and the utility design will allow it to be used for more than simply fly-fishing. We would recommend it for the quality of the knife, but it is also one of the more expensive options.
Pros:
- Durable handle
- Backlock features
- Designed for fishing
- Corrosion-resistant
Cons:
- Expensive
The drop point knife is one of the best for fishing and the design makes it possible to use it on the line without breaking it. Having the CRKT Endorser assisted opening knife will ensure you have the best EDC fly fishing knife. It features a solid G10 handle and the handle will allow you to flip it open in just a couple of seconds.
It has a solid construction and coating on the knife means that it has one of the best corrosion resistance. In terms of safety, the manufacturer has included a thumb stud that should keep your hands from slipping up the blade. The limited lifetime warranty will give you good value for your money and peace of mind.
Pros:
- Great for every day carry
- Corrosion-resistant
- Drop point blade
- Reliable construction
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Heavier design than other options
You might need a multi-tool if you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money on buying different accessories. The Marbles fly fisherman knife is the best fly fishing pocket knife multi-tool and it has some of the top features beginners could need. It will include all the smaller tools that are used for daily activities.
The unit is made from the most durable materials on the market today. It has been coated to ensure that it does not corrode when the unit is in contact with water. As for the functionality, it is one of the smallest options to use and store. Unfortunately, the blade might be too small for some of the anglers that are fly-fishing.
Pros:
- Small and portable
- Affordable
- Corrosion-resistant
- Multi-tool design
Cons:
- The blade is short
The SAMSFX fly fishing knife zinger tool is another one of the unique options on the market today and it has a small design that will allow you to store it and use it for small work that requires a lot of detail. According to us, it is the best fly fishing zinger knife, which includes a couple of smaller tools to make fishing easier.
A small retractor has been added to the package, which allows the user to connect the knife to their fly-fishing vest and you don’t need to keep it in your pocket. Once again, it is a bit too small for all the fishing ventures you might take. We would recommend it to most beginners and it is also an affordable beginner option.
Pros:
- Tools for details
- Includes a retractor
- Package deal
- Affordable
Cons:
- Very small, so not great as the ONLY knife. Better as a convinent option, with a larger knife as a primary.
If you don’t want to buy a knife for fishing, you might want to consider looking at the best fly fishing knife tool kit. The kit is stocked with all the tools and accessories that you will need to ensure you are ready for the trip. We have selected the Mossy Oak 4pc fishing knife tool kit as the top option available.
In terms of quality, all the components have been constructed from stainless steel and the stainless steel will ensure that it is durable. However, it is not corrosion resistant and we would recommend that you keep it away from water. It is also a large kit, which means you need to find some storage space in your fly-fishing kit.
Pros:
- Includes numerous tools
- Affordable kit
- Durable design
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not corrosion resistant, so it will require proper care and maintenance to extend its life
Gerber is one of the best brands in the outdoor niche, and it is one of the main sponsors for many survivalists. The Gerber Controller 6-inch fish fillet knife is what we would recommend to skin and fillet your catch. It is made from solid aluminum construction and the unit will make it possible to work in water and the wet.
Since it is the best fly fishing fillet knife, it is also one of the most expensive options, but due to all the features you are receiving, you will get some great value for your money. The 6-inch length is perfect for most fish. However, it is not ideal for saltwater fishing it could be prone to rust and corrosion in wet weather.
Pros:
- Reliable brand
- 6-inch length
- Good for freshwater
- Durable
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not for saltwater
When it comes to filleting your fish, it can be a tedious process, especially when you don’t have the skills to do it correctly. This electric fillet knife is one of the top options from the notorious Rapala brand. Many people consider it the best fly fishing electric fillet knife on the market today.
The unit is set up specifically for fishing and it will glide through any fish you are looking fillet. However, it needs an electric component and when you are in the wild; you might not always have access to an electrical plug. Fortunately, it can also be used without the electric component and there are numerous devices with batteries.
While there are many knives on the market today, you don’t always need a solid knife to set up the lines and change some of the components. The best fly fishing line knife is one of the best options to set up your fly-fishing line. We have selected the Gerber Linedriver fishing line multi-tool for the value of the design.
It has a small component that will make it compatible with most fishing lines and you don’t need a specific design to work for specific lines. Since the unit is considered a multi-tool, you will also have a couple of other features to work with. We would highly recommend it for the value of the design and durability it offers.
Pros:
- Specifically for fishing lines
- Multi-tool design
- Reliable brand
- Durable construction
There are many budget knives on the market today. However, you will need to find one of them that offers you value for your money. The Tactical multi tool pocket knife is by far the best cheap fly fishing knife multi-tool and it offers durable construction with a variety of different tools for different situations.
It has a fiberglass handle, which has been infused with plastic and the handle has a solid grip section to keep it from slipping out of your hands. The multi-tool design makes it one of the most versatile designs available. One of the best features is the price of the design and you will need to ensure that it is durable when using it.
Pros:
- Multi-tool design
- Affordable
- Solid handle
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Lacks durability
Since you might need a budget knife for your fishing experiences, we have decided to add the Rush Deer RG10 folding knife as the best cheap Ffy fishing knife to help you when you need it for cutting lines. It is one of the largest knives, but when you work with care, you should be able to control the knife and work with more detail.
It might be a budget knife, but the knife is designed to give you value for your money and to keep you safe outdoors. There are numerous aspects of the knife, including a seatbelt cutter for bad situations. While we have it as a fishing knife on the list, we would also recommend it as one of the best outdoor survival knives on the market today.
Pros:
- Survival knife
- Affordable price
- Corrosion-resistant
- Versatile design
