Fiddleback for Fishing

Cdmayhem

Cdmayhem

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2013
Messages
709
Hey Everybody! I'm wondering what Fiddleback that you have dedicated for taking with when you go fishing. I know that there is the F2, but those seem to be few and far between. I had read that a couple people use a Hiking Buddy, but I am wondering if that has changed since some of the new models have come out. Any suggestions and reasoning behind it would be much appreciated.

Just a little context: I'm not a fisher, but I am looking to learn with the family. My wife and I are taking on a small piece of property up in the northwoods from her mom, and it has a class 1 trout stream in the back that I know the kids would love to fish.

Thanks in advance!
 
I think the Hiking Buddy in CPM 154 or a mid tech Hiking Buddy in CPM S35VN would be a great choice.
 
Stainless steel cpm154 Ladyfinger!
I fish weekly and my lady has filleted a few fish😁
 
mistwalker said:
I think the Hiking Buddy in CPM 154 or a mid tech Hiking Buddy in CPM S35VN would be a great choice.
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NUTRAMAC said:
Stainless steel cpm154 Ladyfinger!
I fish weekly and my lady has filleted a few fish😁
Click to expand...

Thanks, guys! I think that stainless will be the way to go. I have been wanting to try out a Ladyfinger, so this is another good reason to get one. Plus it is always nice to know that the production HB is a good option that is readily available.
 
I would agree with CPM S35vn hiking buddy. I use it bass fishing and for cutting bait while surf fishing
 
I have the patch knife and the handyman. I have not been able to use them on fish as I have been out of town for the last several months. But I have no doubt that they will be great fishing knives.

Edit: Here is a small review of the Handyman by Uncle_P. The handyman seems to be a good fishing knife for him.
Also, the handle configuration of his knife is by far my favorite Fiddleback configuration.

Handyman pics and simple review
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1341881
 
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Cdmayhem said:
My wife and I are taking on a small piece of property up in the northwoods from her mom, and it has a class 1 trout stream in the back that I know the kids would love to fish.
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No idea on the knife, but I envy your trout stream. Sure wish I had one. :D
 
rcartmell3 said:
I would agree with CPM S35hvn hiking buddy. I use it bass fishing and for cutting bait while surf fishing
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:thumbup: Definitely on the shortlist.

Bali-Flipper32 said:
I have the patch knife and the handyman. I have not been able to use them on fish as I have been out of town for the last several months. But I have no doubt that they will be great fishing knives.

Edit: Here is a small review of the Handyman by Uncle_P. The handyman seems to be a good fishing knife for him.
Also, the handle configuration of his knife is by far my favorite Fiddleback configuration.

Handyman pics and simple review
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1341881
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link! I had forgotten about that. I'm adding the handyman to the shortlist, and I would be interested to hear if anyone uses a Patch and how much he or she likes it.
 
I agree with Mistwalker a Hiking Buddy in CPM is a good choice as that was my first go to fishing knife I got, but they are also far an few between in CPM. CPM steel is the way to go for a fishing knife. I used a Hiking Buddy the year before last and it was a great fishing knife. I felt it was just a tad to big for some of the cleaning and other stuff I was using for it. Then I picked up a Esquire an now thats my go to fishing knife now. Its a bit smaller an pointier then the Hiking Buddy also for me I like a grippy handle for a fishing knife. So for your handle choice Id recommend on one of the Shadetree Burlap handles. They are very grippy when wet or covered with blood. Unlike G10 or wood handles they tend to be a tad slippery when wet for me an may not for others. Now keep in mind its up to the user to what they like the best. For me when Im picking a knife for fishing or hunting I go for a grippy synthetic handle. Good luck on your hunt as it took me a while an many, many Fridays an constantly watching the Flea market find the one for me.
Chuck
 
My Handyman works great for me. I'd say the thinner the better, though this is not a huge issue. That stream looks outstanding. I'd love to have a home away from home.
 
Te handle texture being grippy was as much a reason for suggesting the mid tech Hiking Buddy as the corrosion resistance of the CPM S35VN blade. Having spent several years commercial fishing, it is the knife I have chosen for fishing and small game hunting.

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Another factor is the cost of the mid tech HB versus the cost of a CPM 154 Hiking Buddy with Shadetree burlap micarta, which would be the hand made Fiddleback of choice for me for the same tasks.

Now if you would be cleaning steal head the size of the ones I saw in northern Michigan, I would suggest a Woodsman, preferably in CPM 154, but I am not even sure I have seen one of those.

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Southern Gent said:
I am so jealous!!! A SS Ladyfinger is at the top of my list just for that reason. Post a pic.
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The top knife is the one stainless Ladyfinger I had, in CPM154 with a bolstered padauk handle. I sometimes wish I had it back, but was hoping to one day replace it with a stainless ladyfinger with a synthetic handle.

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Bali-Flipper32 said:
Cdmayhem, here are a couple of threads on the Patch. They may be of some interest to you.
Patch Knife Review
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1207655

Patch Knife to the Rescue (Bambi Butchery)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1343621
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Thanks! I will definitely check them out.

crazyfingers said:
I agree with Mistwalker a Hiking Buddy in CPM is a good choice as that was my first go to fishing knife I got, but they are also far an few between in CPM. CPM steel is the way to go for a fishing knife. I used a Hiking Buddy the year before last and it was a great fishing knife. I felt it was just a tad to big for some of the cleaning and other stuff I was using for it. Then I picked up a Esquire an now thats my go to fishing knife now. Its a bit smaller an pointier then the Hiking Buddy also for me I like a grippy handle for a fishing knife. So for your handle choice Id recommend on one of the Shadetree Burlap handles. They are very grippy when wet or covered with blood. Unlike G10 or wood handles they tend to be a tad slippery when wet for me an may not for others. Now keep in mind its up to the user to what they like the best. For me when Im picking a knife for fishing or hunting I go for a grippy synthetic handle. Good luck on your hunt as it took me a while an many, many Fridays an constantly watching the Flea market find the one for me.
Chuck
Click to expand...

Thanks, Chuck! So what is the type of steel and its thickness on the Esquire that you ended up finding?

Redbird777 said:
Man Caleb, that would be a great place to relax! Looks peaceful buddy!
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Thanks, Corey! It seems like it will be. It is going to be a lot of work and a totally new experience for me since I have never been an outdoors person (no one in my family was). Recently I have become very interested in learning more and passing on those skills and knowledge to my kids, and this will wonderfully force me to do that.

This property had been my father-in-law's. He and his best friend had purchased one lot and ended up splitting it and building hunting shacks on each. When he died unexpectedly of a heart attack six years ago, my mother-in-law didn't know what to do with it, so she ended up putting it on the market. I don't think that she felt right dropping the price much further than she already had out of respect for the best friend, so it never sold. My wife (also not an outdoorsy person) suggested to her mom that we take over caring for it and keep it in the family.
 
mistwalker said:
Now if you would be cleaning steal head the size of the ones I saw in northern Michigan, I would suggest a Woodsman, preferably in CPM 154, but I am not even sure I have seen one of those.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the further info! :thumbup: However if I caught something like that, there would be a good chance that I just throw the fishing pole in the water and call it a day. :)
 
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