For me, November isn’t about beards; it’s about crappies. It’s the month I enjoy catching crappie for the family. We eat quite a bit of baked fish, so I like to chase those cold-water crappies that are easy to catch with a jig if you know where to look. More about that is here. But then comes the cleaning part. I’m pretty adept with an electric fillet knife. However, I’ve been wanting a good cordless one for a while.
BUBBA sent me their latest Lithium ION Cordless Electric Fillet Knife a few months ago, and it has been put through its paces since early October. I’ve cleaned a heap of crappie, yellow bass, white bass, bluegill, and even a sauger with it. I believe that anyone serious about cleaning a significant amount of fish throughout the year should consider these BUBBA Lithium ION Cordless Knives.
The kit includes a padded foam case that houses the BUBBA knife, four sets of blades, two lithium-ion batteries, a charger, and an instruction booklet.
During my research on the knife, the two most common questions or comments I came across were about the battery life and some people having difficulty adjusting to their unique blades when filleting smaller freshwater fish.
For my initial test, I charged both lithium-ion batteries and went straight to cleaning fish. I managed to clean 12 crappies on the first trip, followed by 20 on the next, and another 20 the day after. That’s 52 crappies, and the battery was still at about 3/4 charge, according to the convenient LED indicator on each battery. The next trip didn’t happen until four days later, so I was nine days into that charge. I cleaned another 18 crappies, and then 20 more the next day. That’s 10 days with 90 crappies cleaned, and the charge was still at two bars. I let it sit for another week before the next use. I cleaned 20 and then assisted in cleaning 40 on consecutive days. The charge still showed two bars, but I figured it was about to drop to one, so I decided to recharge it. But getting three weeks on a charge and cleaning multiple limits during that time with charge remaining speaks volumes about the durability and longevity of these batteries. It’s the best I’ve seen on a cordless knife.
This kind of battery life represents a significant improvement over older cordless electric knives. Being able to fillet fish for an extended fishing trip without needing to recharge is a welcome relief for anglers. With two batteries, a charger, and plenty of blades on hand, you’re set for processing hundreds of fish in the near future.
The size of the Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife is just right. Bubba designed the grip to resemble their fixed-blade knives, so it fits comfortably in your hand. The trigger features a guard and a lock to prevent accidental engagement of the blades when replacing or removing them. The blades are easily interchangeable with a quick-release switch on the backside of the handle.
The blades oscillate quietly at a lower speed, offering more torque as you cut through skin and rib bones while filleting your catch. The kit comes with a versatile selection of blades to meet all your filleting needs. It includes 7-inch and 9-inch E-Flex blades for precise, flexible cuts, and 9-inch and 12-inch E-Stiff blades for more robust, sturdy filleting tasks. Personally, I find the 7-inch E-Flex blades ideal for small panfish like bluegills and the 9-inch E-Flex blades perfect for larger crappie.
While I’ve come across a couple of online reviews expressing dissatisfaction with how the knife cuts, I didn’t find that to be the case. It oscillates at a speed that some people might not be accustomed to, especially if they’re used to cheaper knives that oscillate at high speeds but quickly wear out. The Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife utilizes an advanced ventilation design to enhance motor efficiency, thereby delivering impressive torque to the blade. The blades move at a slower pace than some other knives, so it’s important to move the blade smoothly through the fish for a clean cut.
Once I got used to those E-Flex blades, I could clean a fish in under a minute. The other day, I cleaned 20 crappies in just 12 minutes, including rib bones. So you can efficiently process your catch with this knife. It’s efficient, quiet, and long-lasting, boasting the longest runtime of any cordless electric knife on the market. Its iconic nonslip grip and comfortable ergonomics make it an excellent tool for avid anglers.
The blades have a special coating that facilitates easy cutting while minimizing the risk of rust. Replacement blades cost $14, but it’ll take quite a while to go through the four sets with this knife. Offering additional blades, spare batteries, silent operation, and extended battery life, this knife undoubtedly outperforms lower-end electric knives.
As an additional note to my review, I’ll share a mishap I had that truly impressed me about this knife. I was cleaning fish late one evening about a week ago, outdoors on a portable table. After finishing, I cleaned up, properly disposed of the remains, and went inside to shower and eat, forgetting that I had left the knife case open on the boat. It rained that night, and the next morning, I found to my horror that the knife, batteries, and blades were all submerged in water. The case was completely filled with water. I was dismayed because I thought that was the end of it.
I disconnected the knife from the battery and left both to dry on my workbench. I took everything out of the case, removed the knife sleeve, and dried everything out, laying it all out for the day. To my surprise, I reassembled everything the next morning, and since then, I’ve filleted several dozen fish, and it’s been running perfectly. I can’t believe it survived my mistake like that and didn’t miss a beat. You truly get what you pay for with this knife kit.
See more photos of this knife in action below:
Compact Case for Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless Knife
The Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless Knife swiftly handles crappies with ease.