Proper Sharpening Techniques for Your Fish Knife
If you are an avid fisherman, you know how important it is to have a sharp fillet knife to make the best of your catch. A dull knife will make your job harder while also ruining the meat, so it is essential to keep your fish knife sharp. Fortunately, sharpening a fish knife is not hard, and you can do it at home with the right tools and methods. Here is how to sharpen a fish knife properly and safely.
Tools You Need to Sharpen Your Fish Knife
Before learning the sharpening techniques, you need to gather the necessary tools. To sharpen a fish knife, you will need:
- A sharpening stone or a honing rod
- A lubricant such as oil or water
- A towel to clean the knife
- A pair of gloves to protect your hands
Sharpening Your Fish Knife with a Stone
Using a sharpening stone is the most common method of sharpening a fish knife. Here are the steps:
- Wet the stone with oil or water as instructed by the manufacturer
- Hold the knife at a 20-degree angle against the stone
- Slide the blade back and forth along the stone, using a circular motion
- Repeat the motion on the other side of the blade, keeping the same angle
- Alternate sides until you have created a burr on both sides
- Flip the knife over and repeat the process on the other side of the blade
- Finally, remove the burr by stroking the blade against the stone once or twice
Using a Honing Rod to Sharpen Your Fish Knife
If you prefer a honing rod, here are the steps:
- Hold the honing rod vertically and place its tip on a surface
- Hold the knife at a 15 to 20-degree angle against the rod
- With gentle pressure, slide the blade down the rod, starting from the base to the tip
- Alternate sides until your blade is sharp enough
How Often Should You Sharpen Your Fish Knife?
The frequency of knife sharpening depends on how frequently you use it. For a regularly used fish knife, you need to sharpen it at least once a month, but if it’s not used frequently, sharpen it twice a year.
