My review of Shakespeares Utility/Bait knife can be found at:

http://iknifecollector.com/profiles/blogs/the-modern-bait-knife-con...

If you're looking for a new, inexpensive fixed blade for the tackle box, that is around 10 inches over-all, it might be one to consider

Name:  5 inch Utility Knife
Brand:  Shakespeare
Country of Manufacture:  China
Pattern:  S2UTIL
Blade Steel:  420
Length, overall:  10 inches [25 cm]
Length, blade:  5 in [12.7 cm]
Blade Style:   Multi-function spear point.  Fine serrated main edge course serrated spine
Tang:  Partial
Handle:  Molded Hard Rubber (sure grip)
Lanyard hole:  Yes
Sheath:  Gray injection molded plastic with belt attachment

That was totally bizarre, Jan!

Looks like the current took the hook down to the open water area where the duck thought it had found a meal. Hopefully it recovered from being drug underwater all that way, (not to mention having a treble hook stuck in it's feathers).

Well, the guy didn't get skunked, at least he caught something!

A couple other reviews of bait knives on my blog:

The R. Murphy Fisherman's Pal.

http://iknifecollector.com/profiles/blogs/the-modern-bait-knife-con...

And the Buck Clearwater Bait Knife:

http://iknifecollector.com/profiles/blogs/the-modern-bait-knife-con...

T^wo very different knives.  One an old school utility knife using old school material and craftsmanship.  The other a modern look at the Angler's need using modern materials and design concepts.  The Buck  is my utility fishing knife of choice -- which is strange as I'm not a big fan of Buck Knives!

Above the R. Murphy Fisherman's Pal

Above:  The Buck Clearwater Bait Knife.

You can read my full review of Buck's Mr Crappie Slab Shaver at:

http://iknifecollector.com/forum/topics/my-take-on-buck-s-mr-crappi...

I received the knife as a Christmas present.  I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with it.  Some jerk on Amazon slammed the knife giving it one star  simply stating "It's made in China, need I say more?"  My reply back to him  was "yes, you do."

I've also posted a similar review of the knife on Amazon the link to it is:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1O8P790NSVUSO/ref=pe_1098610_1377162...

The short version of the review is:

The blade is 420j2 which came razor sharp but will need frequent sharpening compared to Buck's 420HC steel.  The scabbard is really nice with a minor flaw, and the grip on this full tang beauty is superb. 

If you're a week-end angler that is more prone to catch and release and only occasionally keep and fillet your catch then this knife will probably be more than adequate for fish cleaning chores.

If you process 20 or more fish every time you go fishing and you fish all the time, then I'd say spend the extra $10 and get the Slab Slinger.  you'll be sharpening this one more often than you like.

Anyone go fishing recently?   It isn't just for summer, you know!  The ice hasn't arrived in Chicago yet but we still went fishing the day after Christmas.  We were at ... somewhere where the perch were biting! 

The temp hovered around freezing and there was light misting rain but we were protected from the wind.

My brother in law and my nephew.  Always bring the little ones along so you can pass along the joy of fishing (and double your legal limit!)

We caught quite a few perch

Seven in the bucket at the time of the photo.  We ended up with just 16 keepers. Well below our legal limit of 60 for the four of us.

The dink of the day award went to my other nephew.  He was fishing with an ice jig and landed this monster!

Yes we threw it back and saw him happily swim away.  (the perch, not my nephew!)

Go fishing!  The fish don't sleep in the winter.  They're out there waiting for you!

Loved your post, Toby!

I'll bet that monster that your nephew caught put up one heck of of fight! Give that lad a big atta boy for me, will ya!

Happy New Year, my friend! 

Ron, for the record he also caught the biggest fish of the day!  He is quite the angler.

It was 8 degree here this morning, but I am thinking about fishing. I am bound North to Alaska in August to fish my heart out.

Sounds like a fantastic trip Ken!  

Pretty sure where I fish, a sabiki rig would be limited to just two hooks per rig.    I've used a crappie rig which is kinda-sorta the same thing ( just not ice fishing yet).

John, it looks good for ice fishing.  Makes a  lot of sense.

John,

We used Sabiki rigs all the time in Florida for bait.  The first few you use will tangle terribly, the you will get used to them.  I found they were excellent for bait catching but without a sabiki rod they were disposable, at the end of the catch we just threw them away because the tangles after being put in the tackle bax were not worth the pain (literally) of trying to separate them again

I can only imagine the mess of the that many hooks and lines.  The crappie rigs I use only have to hooks and can be a pain if not stored carefully.   I have a foam tubes I wrap mine around.  I'll need to take a pic.

Ice Fishing

Jigging with a Lindy vertical darter.  Note the ice forming on the line from the jigging.

Light action rod with 6 lb braid on a 1/1 reel.  Going after perch with waxworms.

My brother in law using with a spinning reel and wax worms.  Also striking out.

That's why it's called "fishing"  and not "catching"

Yikes! Being a native Californian my idea of "Ice Fishing" is having to reach for a package of fish sticks in the frozen foods section of the supermarket. When it comes to Ice Fishing I think I'll trust the Gorton's Fisherman for my seafood fare...

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Tobias

Looks like fun! I am a california native as well as Ron but where I live we do have a couple lakes that freeze over enough to ice fish. It's been many years for me but I do remember the trout we caught under the ice was the best tasting trout I ever ate! Thanks for bringing back some great old memories!

I'm curious, Toby. How thick is that ice y'all were sittin' on? And what do you use to drill a hole that size - Some giant auger? 

Ron, the ice was six inches thick that day (seven inches in some areas).  We were using my brother in law's brand new power auger but also used a typical  ice auger as well.   Pretty sure we were using an eight inch auger.  If the blades are sharp even the hand augers work fairly quickly (but not as easily as a power auger!)

Here is a stock photo of the Ion auger with auto reverse

And your typical hand ice auger, which come in 6, 7, and 8 inch models. 

And the hand ice auger

Get a wooden dowel, wrap and glue  some Velcro around it and you've got the solution to tangled lines/hooks

Thanks, Toby! I knew it had to be a big auger. I had just never seen one. How apropos that the one says "Eskimo" right on it.

Having never been on a frozen lake in my life (Intend to keep it that way, too!) my greatest fear would be cracking the ice and falling in. I doubt that that would be any fun! Brrr! Makes me shiver just to think about it! 

The general rule is  four inches is recommended for ice fishing.   We prefer five or more.  Some crazy people will go at 3 inches.   Occasionally you will see the ice crack or hear moaning sounds or even see the occasional air bubble but if the ice is four inches thick you should be safe.

Here is a general guide for safe ice:

Most people carry little hand spikes (Ice Escape Life Preservers) in case you do fall through.  The ones below are worn around your neck  with the spikes being inserted into the handle holes.

How to escape from the water if you fall through the ice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KDqEJlwclg

It looks very exciting all this ice fishing especially the falling in part !

Subscribe to Scuffedthumbzfishing my fishing channel you might see a knife to as well lol.

Also Ice fishing vids!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7b3jZdcZAI

My best video so far some awesome ice fishing! subscribe for more like this!

hi my name is ANDREW, and i should visit his site more often!!! i love the world of fishing, it is the only place that i KNOW of that TRULY understands me with NO EXPLANATIONS!!!,, HERE ONE THAT YOU WILL REALLY LOVE!!! I LOVE MAKING "KITES" ALL SHAPE AND SIZES!! AND I USE MY "SURGEON" REEL FULL OF FISHING LINE!! AND CAST AWAY THE SHALL FLY, AND I WILL CAST THEM THE HOLE REEL OUT TO FLIGHT!!!!!  IT IS SO MUCH FUN!!!   ANDREW

Got this picture while at the Tar Heel knife show.

My youngest had bought her a fishing pole.

Trouble is, she misread the regs.  She didn't realize that "under 16" didn't include 16.

It's all good now.  She is officially licensed, and ready to go.

Grant me patience, it's been more than a few years since I've been fishing...

One of the groups we love to support and help out is The Door in the Wall, Inc. Programs for people with a disability

I love the fact that they regularly take people that normally would not be able to go go fishing...fishing!

I wanted to share with you the May tournament for Anglers on Wheels

So if you are an EBay person, check out the knives and other otems that help support this group  http://stores.ebay.com/The-Door-In-The-Wall-Inc?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

That's a nicew looking shark!  What type is it?

Me latest fish knife -- A Cutco 1763 Fish Knife.   I'm very impressed with it:

What a great looking knife, Tobias. If you are impressed with it, it must be a great one. 

Made it out to Round Lake near Dowagiac Michigan. While others in my party were using a variety of tackle I pretty much kept it simple.

I used  Zebco Dock Demon with a 30 in medium rod and spinner preoaded with 6lb mono.  My second rod was the Zebco 33 Micro Triggerpin Ultralight prespooled with 4lb cajun line. The rod is 5 ft. This was a birthday present from about a year and half ago.  A great little ultralight. this one goes for under $30

I targeted sunfish using nightcrawlers, I crappie rigged the  Dock Demon and bobber fished with the ultralight. I was averaging 40-50 sunfish a day. This is light years ahead my luck last year!

I also managed to haul several large mouth bass, crappie, and  perch, including the biggest perch for the three days I was there.  Others were targeting perch yet I was still catching more perch going after bluegill.  Fish are finicky like that. The bass were running from 9-13 inches.

The Dock Demon - not just for small kids Great for over the side of the boat or in tight spots.

Zebco 33 Micro Triggerspin Gold Ultralight. I really like this ultralight. Looks great and is very forgiving.

The first LMB I hauled in with thwe Ultralight. Just shy of 12 inches.

A good size Pumpkinseed caught on a crappie rig.  The second hook from the rig got stuck in my shoe when the fish started flopping around on the boat! If you can notice, the barb on the hook has been smashed down to allow easy removal and less damage to the fish. It also made it easier to take out of my canvas deck shoe!

Perch with the Ultralight.  Big enough to keep!

another day, Another Pumpkinseed. (up here, almost any sunfish of this variety is called a bluegill!)

Looks like you had some really good fun Tobias!

Hat Creek Rainbows

OH John...That is some fine looking dinner right there!

Tobias,

I like the dock demon!!  I am a fly or ultralight when not trolling for the big guys.  The fight of even a small bluegill becomes a great fight on 4lb test!

I guess it seems like have been gone fishing for quite some time.   The truth of the matter is I wish I could go fishing and I also wish I could be more involved with the group. I have been limited in my connection ability, especially when it comes to up loading and view images.   With luck, thing will turn around September.

So I went fishing a few weeks ago and decided to try out a couple fillet knives.  Both were Bucks.  The first was the folding Silver Creek with a six inch blade. 420 J2 blade with a titanium coating.   I was fillet perch, blue gill and crappie.

The blade has good flex but the knife is a tad heavy.  I used it back around Easter  to slice cooked ham and it could easily slice the ham  thin enough for sandwiches. (1/8 inch or so)  Blade pretty much glides through fish and raw chicken.  But the 6 inch blade was too long for the perch  and blue gill.

A couple pictures of the Knife below.  They go for around $25.  Made in China.  As I mentioned it is sort of heavy as it is has steel liners and very positive lock back. The handle is a soft grip.  I like it but it is too big for the type of fish i normally catch.   Maybe when i go Steelhead fishing.  (For comparison, The bottom photo has a Buck five inch folding fish knife also pictured.

Good to see you back Tobias, I too wish you had said you were not on much because you were enjoying the fishing!!

The silver creek looks like it would have served us well in the Mahi Mahi days.  To tell the truth I never gave a thought to a folder for the big fish...hmmmm, makes me wish I had

After the Buck Folding fish knife proved to unwieldy for Crappie and Blue Gill and broke out the Mr Crappie Slab Slinger. Buck makes two lines of Mr Crappie knives.  The Slab Slingers are USA made  and are in 420 HC steel.   The Slab Shavers are made in China using 420J2 steel.   I have a 6 inch shaver and a 4 inch Slab Slinger.

Both knives offer excellent flex on the blades and are razor sharp.  I opted to use the 4 inch Slinger for some Perch, Crappie and Blue Gill.  the 4 inch blade was superb and went through the fish like butter.  Really happy with it.  I've partnered it up with my  5 inch Buck Clearwater Bait knife.  The different colored handles makes it easy to know which  knife I'm grabbing.

The tip of the blade is extremely sharp, including the top edge of that point.  Really good for making that first cut in the fillet.  And as you can tell. the molded scabbard has excellent drainage.  The knives also securely snap in to the sheaths and the grips are extremely comfortable.   Again very happy with the knives.  The bait knife aint too shabby for a a light trail/camp knife.

A knife fishing story. - I've picked up a few fishing knives over the years, but there is one that stands hard in my memory.  I can only tell you was a stockman of forgotten make with a colorful handle.  Why it sticks in the memory - In the way back machine 6 decades ago, when I was 5, my Dad gave me the old knife before I went fishing with a close neighbor and his family.  As kids will sometime do when the fishing is slow, I started picking up pebbles and skipping them out into the river. Well  you know that the last skipper was my pocket knife.  Long has been the regret.  As time moved on Dad and I exchanged quite a few knives at Christmas over the years.  I cherish them all. :-) 

Bill, 

Although it may have had no humor in it when it happened...I got a giggle out of imagining your face when you realized what you had just thrown in.  I can almost hear the wheels turning on the...do I go get it? question

:-)  Jan,  I was pretty sick, kinda like the time I broke the storm door playing with a hula hoop LOL  But there really was no option the river was cold and pretty swift when it happened. But life goes on and I've given dozens of knives away as an adult without the least bit of regret.  In fact the fun of passing a good knife on as I'm sure you know is pretty addictive.  Thanks again for the chance for a Christmas Knife.