Fly Fisherman's EDC

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DaNuke95

Joined
Jul 28, 2013
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I've just started to really get into fly fishing recently and I've been doing a lot of research on purchasing some new equipment for myself when the money is available. ;)

I would like to pick the brains of those on Blade Forums that fly fish about what their typical knife-related load out looks like when they go out to fish. I would imagine that knives from Spyderco's Salt Series might be popular, along with various multitools.

I went fly fishing yesterday with my dad and a guide on the Colorado River for Brown Trout, and the only knife-related tool that our guide had with him was an Alox Victorinox Classic SD that was attached to a retractable lanyard on his vest. Maybe that's all you need for a knife?


Thanks!
 
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You don't need anything special, but I am a big fan of the Salt series. I use them daily in saltwater and can assure you the steel will never rust. That is less important flyfishing in rivers, but I have had rust issues when the knife stayed wet while wading rivers all day in summertime. I really like the Pacific Salt but the smaller salt 1 would probably be sufficient for fly fishing.
 
When fishing I usually carry my Griptilian and something smaller on my vest. Usually my Kershaw Shuffle or Kershaw Chive. Easy cleaning knives and I've had no issues with them over the years.
 
Thanks for the input! I've been looking at either a Salt 1 or a Dragonfly Salt to throw into my kit. What are your thoughts on small fixed blades? Has anyone found the need to carry one?
 
You are right about the SAK on the lanyard. For fly fishing itself you will be served better with served with the nail clipper type of cutters or small scissors for trimming the tag end of your knots. I do carry a knife when I fly fish, but have never used it while fishing. It is under my waders. One of the salt series would be perfect. Simms actually made a folding knife, but I think it is discontinued.

So I think any EDC type of knife would serve you well. The salt series would be optimal for its rust resistance. I would also suggest a small fixed blade (bird and trout from various manufacturers) that would be good for various camp chores, food prep and fish cleaning (if you keep any). Another suggestion would be a neck knife. Easy access for more emergency type situations, tangles, etc.
 
onojoe said:
I would also suggest a small fixed blade (bird and trout from various manufacturers) that would be good for various camp chores, food prep and fish cleaning (if you keep any). Another suggestion would be a neck knife. Easy access for more emergency type situations, tangles, etc.
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I'll have to look into that. I really like the looks of the Spyderco Enuff for such uses.
 
Unfortunately I have not been out lately but that said. I have a H1 Ladybug on my vest along with nippers and small scissors. Guess the SAK Classic fits the same bill in one tool.
The Ladybug is there more for more general cutting tasks and last resort emergency fire starting. I keep a small ferro rod a few tinder quick and a space blanket tucked into one of the larger vest pockets.
Last few times I also had a mini Griptilian zipped into my river shorts pocket (often no waders needed in Ca). That is just the plain old EDC habit.
 
My son is a guide and the only cutting tool that he needs are the scissors on a lanyard deal you discussed, don't think I've ever seen a fly fisherman without them! If it were me I would be looking for something similar to a mora type blade a little longer and narrow with a floatable handle just in case I dropped it, rust proof if possible.
 
The Dragonfly salt is a great little knife. I suggest the serrated version for its superior edge retention. As far as a fixed blade, Spyderco recently released a bird & trout based on Phil Wilson's design. I own the custom version and it is a superb knife.
 
A while back I bought a baladeo or badaleo I forget (baladeo, thanks google). It's a minimalist knife weighing only about an ounce, or under an ounce is you remove the clip.
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I do actually EDC it as a supplement to my principal knife which is currently a griptlilain. I only use the baladeo for edibles. As a Bird and Trout knife it's not bad. A nice flat chisel grind, well pointed and long enough to filet a trout (but it's no filet knife).

The downsides are it's held closed by friction (easily adjusted) and a small detent. I've tightened and loctited it and never had it open accidentally (but after owning a CRKT KISS knife I'm careful about which pocket it goes in). The grind is left-hand chisel, like japanese cooking knives, no big deal but a consideration.I paid around $20 CDN retail for mine and given that it's a 420 knife that's about what it's worth (the MSRP was around 50?!!!)

While a knife made for the corrosiveness of salt water would be better, fresh water isn't that damaging. Your own sweat is harder on steel and river water.

Just a thought, it's not a great knife overall but as a folding B&T knife it's not bad.
 
Surfingringo said:
The Dragonfly salt is a great little knife. I suggest the serrated version for its superior edge retention. As far as a fixed blade, Spyderco recently released a bird & trout based on Phil Wilson's design. I own the custom version and it is a superb knife.
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Just looked it up, it looks like some retailers are starting to take preorders for it. Thanks for the tip!
 
I'm in CO as well and am also a Fly guy. The other suggestion I might make is to wear a neck knife. When you have waders on, are sitting in a boat, whether it be pontoon, belly, of otherwise, getting to a pocket knife can be impossible. Clippers are a necessity, but almost everything can be done with s small neck knife and they're easily accessible. I don't worry about stainless in CO, most of my knives are carbon, its so dry here that rust really isn't an issue unless you leave a knife in a pool of water for days. Brad
 
I'm a fan of the Spyderco Salt series but think the Alox Victorinox Classic is a much better choice. The scissors and screwdriver will come in handy and it's small enough to hang on a lanyard.
 
DaNuke95 said:
I've just started to really get into fly fishing recently and I've been doing a lot of research on purchasing some new equipment for myself when the money is available. ;)

I would like to pick the brains of those on Blade Forums that fly fish about what their typical knife-related load out looks like when they go out to fish. I would imagine that knives from Spyderco's Salt Series might be popular, along with various multitools.

I went fly fishing yesterday with my dad and a guide on the Colorado River for Brown Trout, and the only knife-related tool that our guide had with him was an Alox Victorinox Classic SD that was attached to a retractable lanyard on his vest. Maybe that's all you need for a knife?


Thanks!
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Hello, apart from nail clippers for your tippet, you only really neend a knife if your going to head and gut your fish. In that case anything will do, something corrosive resisant if your in the salt or in the fresh anything will do, as long as it's sharp,. I've used anything from a Skyline to a GEC 73 to a Buck 110 and lately a BM710,

So really don't be to concerned about having "Right" knife, just worried about the right fly, Tight Lines mate :thumbup:
 
Bradass80 said:
I'm in CO as well and am also a Fly guy. The other suggestion I might make is to wear a neck knife. When you have waders on, are sitting in a boat, whether it be pontoon, belly, of otherwise, getting to a pocket knife can be impossible. Clippers are a necessity, but almost everything can be done with s small neck knife and they're easily accessible. I don't worry about stainless in CO, most of my knives are carbon, its so dry here that rust really isn't an issue unless you leave a knife in a pool of water for days. Brad
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Most of my knives are carbon steel as well. I'll have to check out some neck knives to see if I'll want to integrate one. Thanks for the help!
 
KrisNZ said:
Hello, apart from nail clippers for your tippet, you only really neend a knife if your going to head and gut your fish. In that case anything will do, something corrosive resisant if your in the salt or in the fresh anything will do, as long as it's sharp,. I've used anything from a Skyline to a GEC 73 to a Buck 110 and lately a BM710,

So really don't be to concerned about having "Right" knife, just worried about the right fly, Tight Lines mate :thumbup:
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That's what I've been thinking as well. I would most likely only need a knife to clean fish, or for emergency cutting. Thanks for your input!
 
Spent vacation this past summer trout fishing in the Mammoth Lakes area of California. Fished Lake Mary almost every day. Used a Vic classic and a little Remington/Camillus peanut. The classic felt with fishing line and minor adjustments/maintenance on reels and the peanut did gutting/cleaning jobs.
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SAK on a lanyard to keep it from dropping in the river,, it's honestly all you need..
 
jackknife said:
Spent vacation this past summer trout fishing in the Mammoth Lakes area of California. Fished Lake Mary almost every day. Used a Vic classic and a little Remington/Camillus peanut. The classic felt with fishing line and minor adjustments/maintenance on reels and the peanut did gutting/cleaning jobs.
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rcb2000 said:
SAK on a lanyard to keep it from dropping in the river,, it's honestly all you need..
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I'm definitely going to pick up a SAK. Probably the same alox Vic. classic that my guide had!
 
You will mostly use clippers as mentioned for nipping your line or leader. But I carry a knife for odd chores. The Victorinox Tinker is the type of folder I'd suggest. The little tweezers comes on handy for removing splinters. Any EDC folder should do. You won't use it much. Another tool that might come in handy is a multi-tool with pliers for reel repairs in the field. Depending on how you fish, I would generally leave that at my vehicle and walk back if I need to. In a boat, yeah, take it along.

A small to modest sized needle nosed pliers will be quite useful for taking hooks out. Also invaluable if you foul hook yourself. It happens. Watch your face. Lures or flies hooked to your face really are not pleasant and you can't see to remove them.

You will discover that you accumulate the stuff you need and often the pockets in your vest may become a bit "filled" and stuff falls out sliding around on slippery rocks, "falling in" and so forth. Keep some jumper cables in your vehicle if for nothing else to help someone else out. Needing a boast seems to be something that happens to many folks out in the wild.
 
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