The Best EDC Small Knife for Fly Fishing? A Look at the CRKT Biwa.

How a neck knife solves the fly fishing pocket problem when wading.

The CRKT BIWA neck knife is always within easy reach. | photo by Thomas Barzilay Freund

I'm a big fan of carrying pocket knives. The motivation is part practicality and part pure enjoyment. A good pocket knife is functional art, a blend of design, history, and utility that gives me satisfaction when I hold a good one in the hand.

A Knife for Every Occasion

I have pocket knives for different occasions. If I'm dressing up, I'll carry a slim-profiled "gentleman's knife" — a bulky survival knife would look out of place in a suit pocket. When I'm traveling, I carry a Swiss Army-style knife in case I need a wine opener or a screwdriver. You have no idea how good you look when a wine bottle needs opening and there is not a wine opener to be found.

How to Keep Your Knife High and Dry—And Easy to Access

But fly fishing has been a challenge when it comes to finding the right knife. The problem is the waders. They block access to my pant pockets, where I usually carry my knife. Most waders come with pockets, but mine are usually jammed with fly boxes and other gear.

A neck knife gives you easy access. | photo by Thomas Barzilay Freund

A Practical Solution for Your EDC

A neck knife is the solution—a small knife housed in a sheath at the end of a lanyard worn around the neck. It hangs upside down just below chest level and stays secured until you pull it free.
I can wear it inside the waders to keep it out of the way or outside my waders when I know I'll be using it often.

The CRKT Biwa, a simple, well made knife. | photo provided by CRKT

The CRKT Biwa – Well Designed, Good Looks, and at a Great Price

The neck knife I carry is the CRKT Biwa fixed blade. This knife is an excellent tool at a reasonable price. In fact, the price made me pause—I assumed it was too cheap to be well-made. I was wrong because there are so many things that are right about this knife.

Extremely sharp and easy to maintain. | photo provided by CRKT

Why I Like the CRKT Biwa

• Sleek design. It has a smooth, simple, slim profile.
• G-10 handle. A textured surface that’s easy to hold and with an attractive, subdued coloring.
• Perfect blade size. It could pass as a Bird & Trout knife. I don't hear of these knives as much as I did when I was a kid. A bird and trout knife is a small, fixed blade designed for hunters and anglers to process small game and fish. It's also useful for light carving, whittling, and food preparation.

• Extremely sharp. Be careful, I already drew blood from being careless.
• Affordable. Last time I checked, the CRKT website had it listed for $48.

Wear the sheath around your neck or on your belt. | photo provided by CRKT

A Versatile EDC Knife

It comes with a sheath that you can hang from your neck or attach to your belt. I prefer wearing it around my neck and tucking it inside my waders or rain bibs until I need it.
This is a solid little knife that will earn its keep over time. KB

A sharp knife is an essential piece of gear for the outdoors. | photo provided by CRKT

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          "The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” - Herbert Hoover

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The gear reviewed in this article was provided to me at no cost for evaluation. The views and assessments presented are my own.