When you're on serious fishing expeditions, you can't rely on a fish pocket knife alone. However, you can use it as a backup in times of emergency, especially if you lost your fixed blade knife or it became too worn out to use.
A fishing pocket knife is more accessible to carry and more compact than a fixed-blade fishing knife. Besides, it is versatile, and you can use it even when you're not in the wild. You can use it for fishing, hunting, camping, survival, self-defense, and everyday carry (EDC).
Without further ado, here are some of our recommendations for the best fishing pocket knives you can choose from.
Top 9 Fish Pocket Knives
Benchmade Mini Griptilian 556 EDC
From the name itself, it is more than a folding fishing knife. Instead, Benchmade Mini Griptilian 556 EDC is a multifunctional knife with a stainless steel blade and a glass-reinforced nylon handle.
Its drop point-shaped blade is resistant to corrosion and rust. Benchmade, its manufacturer, also made sure that it has an axis locking mechanism to prevent accidents.
Its main feature, however, is its grivory handle. Benchmade Mini Griptilian 556 EDC's handle is designed for ambidextrous persons to keep it from slipping out of their hands.
Gerber Fastball Folding Knife with Lock Release
The Gerber Fastball folding knife has an interesting mechanism. It has Balls of Stainless Steel technology which takes advantage of a ball-bearing system for smoother deployment. As a result, you can deploy the blade with an easy finger flip.
Its three-inch blade is high-carbon S30V steel coated with black oxide and comes with an aircraft-grade aluminum handle with an ambidextrous three-position reversible clip.
With these features, Gerber Fastball folding knife with lock release will work on even the most challenging catch.
Smith & Wesson SWA25 Extreme Ops Folding Knife
By the looks of the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops folding knife, you can cut more than just fish with it. The 7Cr17MoV black oxide high-carbon stainless steel clip-point blade comes with an aluminum handle.
This black beauty will never slip from your hands because of its ambidextrous thumb notches and liner lock. Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops folding knife is perfect for tactical, survival, outdoor, and EDC.
Case Yellow Fishing Knife
The Case Yellow fish knife pocket knife has two Tru-Sharp™ surgical steel blades: a long clip blade and a fish scaler. The latter has a hook disgorger on the tip that helps you remove the hook from the fish's mouth.
This working knife features a smooth synthetic handle that has a classic Texas toothpick design. You can also choose from two handle materials: yellow synthetic or amber bone.
If you're a seasoned fisherman, then the Case Yellow fishing knife is for you. Other bonus features of this knife are the slip-joint locking mechanism and a hook-sharpening stone.
Siupro Tactical Multitool Pocket Knife
Siupro Tactical Multitool is a fly fishing pocket knife that has a multipurpose function. You can use it as a tool plier, bottle opener, screwdriver, needle-nose plier, and can opener.
How about its blade? Siupro Tactical Multitool pocket knife's blade is made from durable stainless steel. So, even if it's a comprehensive tool, you don't have to worry about rust and corrosion.
It has a safeguard locking mechanism that you push inwards to fold the blade. It also comes with a durable pouch so that you can bring it anywhere.
Grand Way Tactical Folding Knife
Although it is a rather large knife for this collection, the Grand Way Tactical folding knife is very lightweight. Its straight-back blade is made from stainless steel with a fiberglass handle.
It has an ergonomic handle that allows for quick, one-handed deployment. You can also attach a lanyard and a pocket clip through its hole.
Besides being a superb hunting and fishing pocket knife, the Grand Way Tactical folding knife is ideal for camping, hiking, and scouting.
Sterling Brooke Folding Fish Knife
You can never mistake what Sterling Brooke pocket knife is for because its design is the shape of a fish. The stainless steel blade has a clip-point edge and a water-resistant white oak handle.
You can clip this compact fish-shaped pocket knife onto your pocket or belt. And if you didn't know, Sterling Brooke gives a portion of its profits to American charities yearly. So you're not only buying for personal use but also supporting a cause.
GVDV Fishing Pocket Folding Knife
Another example with a unique design is the GVDV fishing pocket folding knife. Aside from being an excellent fishing knife, you can use it for survival, camping, outdoor, and minor repairs.
Its blade is made up of 7Cr17 stainless steel with no serrations. Moreover, it is titanium-plated, which makes it more durable and sturdy.
The GVDV fishing pocket folding knife's ergonomic handle is made of two materials: titanium and wood. It is easy to open and close with a liner locking system.
TAC-FORCE TF606WS Engraved Personalized Pocket Knife
Are you running out of gift ideas for your angler buddies? Fret not because here’s one that belongs to the cool fishing knives category. It is no other than the TAC-FORCE TF606WS Engraved Personalized pocket knife.
Palmetto Wood Shop, the manufacturer of this knife, allows you to write two lines of text into the wood using laser engraving. As for the blade, it is made from partially serrated stainless steel. One side of its handle is made from burl wood, and the other side has a pocket or belt clip for convenience.
TAC-FORCE TF606WS Engraved Personalized folding knife has three additional functions: a rope cutter, built-in glass breaker, and can opener. It is a nifty pocket knife indeed.
How to Choose the Right Fish Pocket Knife
It is really easy to add to cart the items above, but here are the factors you must consider when buying a fishing knife:
- It should have a sharp pointed tip to switch it from fishing to hunting pocket knife quickly.
- It has a flat, 90-degree-grind, single-edged blade perfect for splitting firewood or starting a fire with a fire-starting rod.
- Its butt has a solid pommel that you can use for light pounding or hammering.
- Choose either stainless steel or carbon steel blade material.
- Its blade thickness must be between 3/16 and 4/16 inches.
- It would be better if its deployment mechanism is a lock or a one-handed opening for ease of use and safety.
Although we did not include it in the list, it is best to mention knife handle materials. When picking one, ensure that you can still use it comfortably with sweaty or wet hands. The most common materials are polymer, rubber, nylon, cork, and wood.
Be Mindful of US Knife Laws
Each US state has varying knife-carrying restrictions, so better do your homework before purchasing a fishing knife. Here are the laws in some states regarding this type of knife:
- Arizona: It is legal to carry.
- Delaware: It is legal, but besides a pocket knife, you're not allowed to carry any other type of concealed knife.
- Florida: You can carry one even without a license.
- North Carolina: You can conceal-carry it.
- West Virginia: Make sure the blade of your pocket knife is three inches long or less.
As you can see, pocket knives are an exception. But it still pays to double-check so that you won't face any legal problems.
In Summary
Choosing a fish pocket knife is a matter of personal preference and depends on where you will use it.
You may go after branded knives regardless of how expensive they are. However, you should also keep in mind the criteria we've set above, such as the blade material, deployment mechanism, and handle material, to get your money's worth. After all, this is the knife you will use in case something goes wrong with your fixed blade knife. Therefore, it should be something you can depend on for a long time.