Nippers

[outsider]

I'm in a real quandary here. I can't decide between the Abel nippers which sell for $69.95 plus shipping or the Hatch Premium nippers which sell for $99.95 plus shipping.

Any thoughts, comments?

 

[fisherboy3]

I have the abel nippers. They actually will slice right through your finger if you arent careful. I can cut through those tough to get off the line without breaking split shots as well. Worth the 70$ in my opinion.

 

[InCahoots]

I'd go with the $99 Hatch nippers. Trout appreciate a nicely trimmed improved clinch on a fly and are more likely to strike. One wouldn't want to put an old belt on a new pair of pants so why match a 99 cent nail clipper off the CVS counter with an $850 rod and $800 pair of chest waders?

 

[poopdeck]

I only nip mono with my nippers so the ones for a dollar at the counter work perfectly for my needs.

 

[outsider]

Well, I just got my Social Security Check so I have money to burn.

Seriously, until I received a catalog from Feather-Craft a few days ago, I never knew nippers sold for this much money. I just wanted to read your comments and reactions.

 

[InCahoots]

Outsider, I meet you once on the Tully so I suspected you were being facetious with your original post. Depending on one's type of fishing, there is probably a need for quality nippers. And I won't tell anyone how to spent his money or how to enjoy his sport. But I shouldn't tease. There is absolutely nothing humorous about $100 nippers.

 

[RCFetter]

I have Orvis nippers that are about 12 yrs old. If I had to replace them, I'd spend $15 to $20 but I can appreciate someone wanting to buy high end nippers. If you're going to spend $400 to $500 on a reel, you may as well spend $50 on nippers. It's a tool that's used very often.

Don't know about Hatch, but I think Abel replaces the blades for free when they wear out.

Abel

I like Fishpond stuff but I don't like the design of their barrel nippers.

 

[JackM]

I have a pair of fishing "forceps" that have a scissor blade below the jaws. I have had no need for anything else that may be called a "nipper." I do think I have one of those small finger/toe-nail clippers buried deep in one of my vest-pack pockets as a backup should my forceps become lost. Incidentally, you can see them hanging on a zinger ($0.99) in the middle of my chest in my avatar.

 

[outsider]

Ain't gonna apologize for the sarcasm in my post. There is always point-counterpoint when it comes to the price/value of equipment. The high price of some rods (note the opinions recently about Sage rods) is a good example. Way back when, I paid the premium for Sage rods. And I don't disagree when someone pays a high price for a good reel (especially for big game fish).

But $100 for nippers? My opinion was stated via a bit of sarcasm. And I will not disrespect anyone's opinion on the subject. Have to add I do like to stir the pot once in a while.

 

[fisherboy3]

Well i bought my 60$ nippers because i also always cut braid with them at work. And abel will replace them for free before the first 2 years. Why do guys on this site always rag on high end gear? I dont get it. So what if you have a 500$ real. Or 60$ nippers. Im sure you work hard for the money you spend on pricey items, i know i do.

 

[outsider]

60 bucks with a warranty for replacement jaws? I can understand that. But $100? What next? I certainly get your point about braided line. It is a beotch to cut. But Feather-Craft targets people who fly fish, and I don't know many people that use braided line for fly fishing.

 

[steveo27]

Ive been using these for over a year now -

http://www.walmart.com/ip/SuperFly-Nippers-with-Nail-Knot-Tool/17130419

 

[WildTigerTrout]

I like Fishponds nippers and have had the same pair for the last 5-6 years. I think I paid about $20 for them and I thought they were expensive! Wow $70 to $100 make mine look cheap, I mean less expensive not cheap!

 

[poopdeck]

fisherboy3 wrote:
Well i bought my 60$ nippers because i also always cut braid with them at work. And abel will replace them for free before the first 2 years. Why do guys on this site always rag on high end gear? I dont get it. So what if you have a 500$ real. Or 60$ nippers. Im sure you work hard for the money you spend on pricey items, i know i do.

I can tell you why I do. Because they are nippers and for most people they simply cut mono. I'm also willing to bet that 75% of the people with 60 and 100 dollar nippers are the people complaining about the cost of education and why they can't retire. Just saying.

 

[ryansheehan]

I just bought a knife for $80, my wife looked at me and said all you do is cut stuff.....oh well. I definitely understand the desire for sharp precise tools, but the ones I carry I picked up from orvis for $15, I replace them every 4 years or so because they dull and that drives me crazy.

 

[lestrout]

yo rya

next time dull nippers threaten to drive you crazy, pull out a drill or maybe even a Dremel and use a sharpening stone bit to sharpen up the tool.

Yo poo - Not to go too far off topic, I wonder if 75% of peeps in general complain about the cost of education and why they can't retire. (re: " I'm also willing to bet that 75% of the people with 60 and 100 dollar nippers are the people complaining about the cost of education and why they can't retire. Just saying.")

 

[AFISHN]

Speaking of nippers.........A certain forum member here who is on my Facebook friends list,and also a FF guide,recently posted that he broke his tooth while using his teeth to bite off leader material. He vowed to buy a nipper after all these years!!
He is now trading a $500 ?tooth repair job for the cost of from $3 to $100 for nipper.
This is a good lesson for me,because every once in a while(especially if fish are rising),even though I have nippers on my vest,I actually bite off extra leader material with my teeth.

 

[troutbert]

I use the 99 cent drug store ones, but the ones I've bought were dull. It's more like "gnawing" through the tippet than nipping.

Maybe I should try a different drug store?

Or, I'd be willing to spend more for better quality. I'm no cheapskate.

I'd be willing to pay TWICE as much!

 

[RLeep2]

Here you go, Dwight...

http://www.thefishguy.com/other_tools.htm

Scroll down to item 862A, I think it is.

I buy these 5 at a time and distribute the spares around my vest pockets. I lose far more nippers (and zingers) than I ever wear out. I catch them on brush and don't notice they are gone until they are, well, gone. Anyway, they're OK and are a good fit for what I am willing to spend on nippers ($2 apiece..).

Plus, Les (The Fish Guy..) seems a decent sort and has lots of other decent deals on stuff that is of at least acceptable quality.

 

[fisherboy3]

Crap i used to bite my line all the time. I dont mean 3-7x tippet i mean 30-40 lb test. I bought the abel nippers simply because i have had nippers get cuts in the blades. And free blade replacement for 2 years is a pretty good deal.