I am looking to buy a new knife for when I go fishing on the kayak and just to have when I go out. I have an uncanny ability to catch the maddest sting ray around and I never seem to have a knife out there when I need one. I am looking for something pocket size in flip out form. I also want something that is spring assisted so I can easily open it if I only have one hand available. I have been looking at the sog line of knives but am looking for suggestions from experience anyone has had. the sog is about the price max I want to spend but I just want to know if they are worth the money or if you know of something comparable for less. Also if anyone has a sog spring assisted pocket knife, how do you line it? Thanks for any insights.
I have a small SOG assisted open and don’t care a lot for it. It is too stiff for me. I love the Kershaw Leek. It is assisted open and they are great. I usually use a custom made knife, but Benchmade, Kershaw and others have nice fixed blade knives. The Sog may be OK, I just never handled one.
I have a small dive knife in a hard sheath on a piece of paracord I wear around my neck so it is accessible. If by “spring assisted” you mean an auto blade like a Benchmade, those are only legal for LE and military. I have a Benchmade and a SOG Trident. Both good knives but, I am not sure how well they would hold up in saltwater and they are pretty pricey to use a fishing knives. Dive knives are meant to get wet/salty. Just my .02.
Assisted open and autos are different.Autos open by a button release. Assisted open knives have to have energy directed to the blade itself, as if you were normally opening the blade, and the spring then takes over to open the knife. They are quite legal and quite handy.
Any blade made from ATS 34, CPM 154, or similar stainless steels, will work fine.
That is why I said “auto” blade.
I always go simple +++++
West marine has boat knives SS serrated edge - last forever small fits in your pocket and light weight pocket knife
I use it to even cut frozen bait, holds a good edge
$9.99 can’t beat it
For safety reasons I always carry a knife in my pocket while on the water
Capt Dave
Fishing Kayaks SC
Thanks or all the suggestions. I am starting to consider sheathed knife because I can’t really find a folding one I want to take fishing or overnight camping on the yak. I have a stainless steel folding knife the is rusting on the inside even though I wash it after each outing. I hadn’t considered DFreedom but that is something I am looking at now. A fixed knife seems like a good idea and I may even get a small survivalist knife just for the wife’s piece of mind. The way I am looking at it now is the fewer moving parts the better. Thanks again for the insight.
–It is impossible to have a bad day fishing, because no matter what you still got to be on the water.–
Ride 135
Didn’t realize you were looking for a folding knife. I carry a Benchmade 710 everytime I go. No rust at all. I think it is an ATS 34 blade. About $110, I think.
I’ve had good luck with some of the CRKT knives in folders, just clip the “money clip” to the lash tab on your PFD or on the edge of your pocket. The M16 series is solid and relatively cheap. A lot of our customers buy the CRKT bear claw, and the Stolhquist/Deep-Sea Squeeze lock knife. Both of these are easy to attach to a PFD or to the boat, and are in the $40 range.
DD
Annoy a Liberal, Work Hard and Be Happy!
I’ve used a Buck Rush for several years. Simple, one-hand operation and impervious to salt water or anything else I have found thus far. I wash with dishwashing liquid and hot water, put a drop of oil on the pivot point, and drive on. Holds a pretty good edge too. Also has a good strong pocket clip.
Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115
Pungo 120I go through a lot of knives in the guide service. $2 one on the counter at Haddrell’s get the job done until a client drops it into the drink. i’ve been carrying Gerber for a while now. The river shorty or river mate are good sheath knives. I have mixed feelings about the paraframe. It holds and edge well, shoes minimal rust, but the lock tab broke in the first month.
Who’s Ready for a Sleigh Ride? www.KayakFishSC.com
I’ve got a Kershaw Blur Tanto. I wear and use it daily. Spring assist works very well. Too nice for me to take a chance losing in the yak.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kershaw-Knives-Tanto-Blur/5127449
For yak fishing, I keep a serated folding knife with a thumb stud in my life vest pocket. I leave it in there so I never forget it. I don’t recall the brand. lightweight with plastic grip and stainless blade.
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles. ~Doug Larson
Malibu X-13
WS Pamlico 120 Angler
You can never go wrong with a Benchmade…! I never leave home without mine, fishing or otherwise… They can be a little pricey, but it will last you a lifetime IF you take care of it…
Yeah, I think my problem has been I am looking for too much from one knife. Forgot the motto that there is a tool for every job. I wanted something small enough for the kayak and something big enough to help me out when I take overnight camping trip, on or off the yak. I think I have decided to just get two knives, one for each job. Leaning toward a small dive squeeze dive knife or a CRKT MUK for on the yak and still undecided on the bigger camping knife. When I get something for the kayak I try to always consider the size restriction and ease of access. Thanks again for all the info.
–It is impossible to have a bad day fishing, because no matter what you still got to be on the water.–
Ride 135
Just a thought here on a knife, but way back when I did a little white water kayaking, a river knife was standard on any life vest. We all had them. There are all styles of them too. The one I had was like a spoon on the tip and on one side but the other side was sharp enough to cut open a white water kayak if needed. It was dull on the one side so you could run it up againts your body to cut rope if needed. They would clip into a holder on your vest and you could grab it as quick as you needed it. I dont see why one would not work as a fishing knife. They hold up in the salt too because mine was on my vest even when we used to surf the kayaks at the beach.
But as much as I like a good knife, the elcheapo one works as long as it is sharp and when you drop it over the side, its not a big deal.
I just saw where West Marine has a decent looking 440 stainless folding knife (straight or serrated) on sale for $9.99. Might be worth checking out.
A good pair of nail clippers and some small surgical scissors are really good to have too. I keep the scissors tucked inside a clothes line clip wrapped in a rubber band. I keep them and a small lock blade on a laniard with a whistle around my neck when I’m in fishin mode.
at hadderalls and the angler they have a rapala knife with a reg blade and a serrated part. Plasic handle and plastic sheath. i keep it in a cloth tackle bag, its an all purpose knife even used for bait. no rust, 4.99 cant beat it!
19ft sea fox 125 merc
13ft red kayak!
[quote]Originally posted by yakman72
at hadderalls and the angler they have a rapala knife with a reg blade and a serrated part. Plasic handle and plastic sheath. i keep it in a cloth tackle bag, its an all purpose knife even used for bait. no rust, 4.99 cant beat it!
19ft sea fox 125 merc
13ft red kayak!
This is what you need. dont want to loose a 100 buck knife in the ocean.
- I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.