Most modern bait knives are distributed through Tackle Companies.  While several knife companies make fillet knives, very few knife companies offer a specially made fish-utility or bait knives.  The excuse is there isn't much demand for one or that fisherman haven't quite decided what they want in a bait knife.  One of the exceptions is Buck Knives.  While I'm not the worlds biggest fan of Buck, I give them a big thumbs up when it comes to the USA made Buck Clearwater Bait Knife.  It proved extremely useful and versatile during last year's fishing season.

Above, the Buck Clearwater 021 Bait Knife, newly purchased and ready for a summer of fishing!

Buck Clearwater Bait Knife

First impressions: 

I paid $34 for the knife.  To date that is the most expensive Bait Knife I have bought.  It is also one of the longest!  Unlike most of my other modern Bait Knives, this one is made by a knife company and not distributed through a Tackle Supply Company.  The knife is made in the United States. (Buck also offers a Chinese made Silver Creek Bait Knife.  Stay tuned for the review)

Above:  I've rigged my Buck Clearwater to my Fishing Vest. The blade looks pretty good after a summer of fish guts and various other outdoor cutting.  It remains as sharp as  it was when I first got it!

The Blade: 

The blade is approximately five inches long.  Buck uses  420HC stainless steel , making this probably the best steel found in any of my modern Bait Knives.   The blade is essentially a modified skinner with the tip of the blade have a slight clip,  The main cutting edge is a fine edge and the spine has a small section that is serrated for heavier cutting chores.  There is no line notch.  The blade has absolutely no flex and is probably the thickest of all my Bait Knives.  It has a  hidden tang that runs the length of the knife forming the lanyard hole found at the pommel.  My only real complaint is the serrated area seems a little too short.  I wish it ran up the spine about another inch or so.  I also feel the slight clip at the end of the spine is unnecessary.   I’m not sure it improves functionality.  A similar clip is used on the Buck Clearwater Fillet knife.

Above:  The serrated section is about 2 inches long.  I would have liked a longer portion.  It is also very close to the tip but it doesn't seem to effect the integrity of the blade. My original thought was the blade tip had been broken, however this is indeed the profile Buck gave the blade!

The Handle:

The handle is over molded soft-grip nylon.  At slightly over five inches it is larger than most grips and fits the hand quite well.  I also like the finger groove molded into it. The red/grey-green contrasting colors also looks very stylish. Holding the knife upside down  was a little awkward at first when using the serrated spine for cutting but I quickly adjusted.

Above:  A closer look at the nylon over molding and the lanyard hole.  The lanyard hole would come in handy if you wanted to use a snap link to attach a large float in the event of the knife going overboard.

The Scabbard:

The Scabbard is described injection molded rigid plastic. It does hold the knife securely but the knife is going to rattle around a bit inside.  This really isn’t much of problem, at least not to me -- I'm not trying to sneak up on the fish! It just means the air will circulate in the sheath and water will drain more efficiently.   There are drain holes cut in the sides and the end is also open.  The molded belt loop is big enough to fit most belts that will bit through the belt loops on blue jeans.   There is also a  hanging loop on the top of the scabbard so you could also secure the lanyard with that or attach a buoy to it.  The knife snaps in quite securely; perhaps a tad too securely.  It takes some effort to remove the knife once it is in the scabbard, especially when it is worn on the hip.  Even after a full season I need to hold onto the scabbard and give the knife a good pull to remove it.  On the bright side -- it isn't going to easily fall out and get lost or worse!

Above:  A better view of the scabbard.  It fits the MOLLE vest easy enough but the pass through belt loop does not open so a velcro strap is used for securing.  Note the large hole in the top that can be used fora lanyard or tie-down strap.

End of the day:

The Buck Clearwater is a solid, well-made knife.  It is going to cost you three to four times more that your typical bait knife but it will also hold an edge better and can double as a light to medium duty camp knife. It only major drawbacks are it is somewhat large for a bait knife and the issues discussed concerning the scabbard.  These are minor considering the overall quality of the knife.  The fact that it is made in the United States is going to be a major consideration for some people.  For me, the forever warranty is more important.  Either way, at $34 the knife was well worth the asking price. 

I have been so impressed with this knife that it has become an integral part of my tackle.  The knife has also proven quite resilient. I actually used it to cut one my favorite lures out of bramble bush that somehow got in the way of my perfect cast.  I was able to hack my way through half inch thick green limbs with no problem.   It has also made quick work of cutting small fish for bait/chum as well as cleaning and gutting fish.   In short, it could be used for a light duty camp knife with little or no problem.  I also like that the scabbard is skinny enough that it will slide easily through the  standard MOLLE attachment straps found on  fishing vest.   It is my favorite modern bait knife.

Specifications:

Name:  Clearwater Bait Knife
Brand:  Buck
Country of Manufacture:  USA
Pattern:  0021 RDS
Blade Steel:  420HC
Length, overall:  10.5 in [26.7 cm]
Length, blade:   5 in [ 12.7 cm]
Blade Style:   Modified Multi-function skinner - fine edge, serrated-scaler spine, 
Tang:  Hidden Push Tang
Handle:  Over Molded Nylon, tactile feel
Lanyard hole:  Yes (knife and scabbard)
Sheath: Molded Hard Plastic