Favorite line clippers?

[GaryO]

for fly fisherman? What say you? Thanks...

[johnsquires]

Could be an interesting post. The same question led to one of the longest and most heated threads on another forum. It will be interesting to see if this one follows the same course.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

AI clippers / Anglers Image is very popular.

I am sure there are too many to count.....

[Alosa]

I got a pair of Simms clippers as a birthday gift, but honestly a $2 pair of nail clippers from the drug store gets the job done.....

[cyama]

It is kinda funny I decided to test cheap nippers versus the Simms nippers ($30), have not tried the ultra expensive Abel nippers though. The cheap nippers were from Nippa Tool they have a rubber/foam coating ($6) at the same time purchased the Simms nippers. For some reason the Simms nippers seem to stick closed. A real pain in the ass… The Nippa tool has stayed sharp for over two years. The Simms nippers don't cut any better and are still sticking. Buy a nippa tool. http://www.caddisflyshop.com/nitoriflyfin.html

[mems]

Aloha, I use my teeth, but don't tell my wife or my dentist. Mems

[Terry Thomas]

Value: Anglers Image
$ not a problem: Abel (Orvis also has the Abel nipper with their name on it)

[EricO]

Dr Slick's 2" nippers.

And they have that invaluable pin/nail so I can push the
thread out of the way in the eye...the one I crowded while
tying my flies. :)

[loose_shoes]

Sports Tool.

Not a lot of places carry it (Kienes might?). It's got a retractable needle for clearing hook eyes. It's been my favorite for years. The cost around $16-$18.

11049

[loose_shoes]

---Could be an interesting post. The same question led to one of the longest and most heated threads on another forum. It will be interesting to see if this one follows the same course.---


I recall the thread of which you speak. It was hilarious that people could get so worked up over line clippers. So far, so good in this thread.

[johnsquires]

---Could be an interesting post. The same question led to one of the longest and most heated threads on another forum. It will be interesting to see if this one follows the same course.---


I recall the thread of which you speak. It was hilarious that people could get so worked up over line clippers. So far, so good in this thread.

There were no wrong answers, in my opinion. It's when the name-calling and tag-teaming came into play that it became ridiculous. Much more civilized on this forum.

[mar]

Aloha, I use my teeth, but don't tell my wife or my dentist. Mems

Yep, same here. Nothing wrong with these:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/mar224177/drake%20reports/teeth_zpswspckfkg.jpg (http://s255.photobucket.com/user/mar224177/media/drake%20reports/teeth_zpswspckfkg.jpg.html)

Pretty efficient too. Use my spit to wet the knot before tightening it, then cut the tag end with the sharp canine teeth. 2-in-1 tool.

[Baja Fly Fisher]

I found the perfect clipper, for me at least. Boomerang Tool Company has a clipper that will cut the finest mono to 100lb mono and will also cut braided lines. All my captains in baja use them, as long as they don't lose them :-).
I also use the cheap nail clippers that you can buy at Walgreens

[johnsquires]

All good suggestions (except for using your teeth).

I'll confess that I like lasts-a-lifetime (unless you lose it or it gets stolen) gear. So I'm a fan of such things as the Abel nippers and the Yeti coolers. I'm also a fan of finding ways (such as E-Bay) to get deals on such items. Buy a cheap sleeping bag and bring it on one of my trips and see how that works out. But clippers are different, it's true. Cheap ones work - and they also can cut your fingernails when you've been in the wild for a bit, something you can't do with the Abel nippers.

Something else I like about lifetime gear is you can pass it down to a grandchild. "Here, this is grandpa's beautiful Abel nippers he loved." Doesn't work so well with fingernail clippers.

[JWilli]

I agree with Jay. This Boomerang Snip is a great little tool that can handle most needs on any water. And it is cheap, too. I have passed many out to guides as gifts from CI to Baja.

John

[Mr F]

I use the cheap-o generic nippers from that bin on the counter at every single fly shop I've ever been to (it's next to the bin of bobbers, which is next to the bin of zingers, next to the cash register).

I can usually get through a season before they dull up. I buy a new pair every spring and keep last years nippers in my pack as a spare. At $1.50 a pop I can keep this up for 46.667 years before it equals the cost of one of those $70 nips that shall not be named. If I'm still fishing (and breathing) in 46 years I may consider buying a pair the luxury bling-bling "why drive when you can take the jet" nippers.

For large diameter line I use the scissors on my Swiss Army Knife. I seem to change rigs less when fishing the big stuff, so I don't mind digging the knife out a few times per day.

Nail clippers work exceptionally well, but line seems to always tangle on the lever (mainly because I usually forget to fold it down).

A few seasons ago I was feeling flush, so I bought some $14 Dr Slick nips (it was time to class up my lanyard). They dulled before the end of the summer and I went back to the cheap-o bin. I must say that the extra long pin was nice.

I tried Angler's Image once. They didn't seem as sharp as the cheapies. I think I accidentally dropped them in the river.

The Boomerang Snip: very intriguing. I may have to pick one up.

Once I chipped a tooth bitting off mono. I attributed it to operator error, but be warned: IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU (BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!)

Edit:

While browsing for Boomerang Snips I came across this:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Berkley174-Hot-Line-Cutter/1154604.uts

The Berkley Hot Line Cutter "Instantly cut and cauterize fishing line with a 1,200°F retractable tungsten tip."

Sure, you may accidentally light your fly on fire and burn down the forest but DAMN! That's some serious line snipping POWER! My 5x powerflex doesn't stand a chance! Take that Able!

[Baja Fly Fisher]

I use to bite leaders up to 70lbs, open coke bottles with my side teeth (young days in Hawaii) eat tons of corn nuts and now I'm paying the price. Most of my front top teeth are getting a make over. Crowns on 4 of them and a hefty price. That's why I'm using the Boomerang Snips, $4,000 compared to $9.95.

[johnsquires]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niqdYbhiCXo

[Bob G]

Anglers Image

[John Reese]

I use the cheap fingernail clippers. I usually lose them before they wear out