Which Are Best for Fly fishing Clippers or Nippers. Which is it?
Here’s one of those totally taken for granted pieces of equipment I believe we all must have with us when we’re fly fishing. I got thinking about this simple little tool I use all the time and how little attention is paid to it. Plus I had to decide which is best for fly fishing clippers or nippers.
Which are best for fly fishing clippers or nippers? You probably know them best as, the tool we use to cut toenails and fingernails. Yep, they’re the same tool we use to clip fishing line and are great to have. In fact, they are a must to have. They come in real handy on a creek, especially when it comes to fly fishing.
When I was a kid, clippers weren’t part of the “gear” I carried and for good reason at the time. In those days I had a built-in tool called “teeth”. Oh yeah, the best clippers you could find. They were capable of cutting through 4, 6, and 8-pound test line. Tippet material was no match at all against those built in scissors and so it was, that’s how you clipped your line. As a young fisherman, there are lots of things you don’t know about. The fun of fishing is learning along the way what is a helpful tool or technique that becomes a real asset.
As for the teeth thing, using them is a bad idea. Can’t you just hear your Mom “you’ll ruin your teeth” and there is truth to that statement. Anyway, let get to the point of this article and take a serious look at “clippers”.
Simple Ingenious Little Machines
When it comes to these simple ingenious little machines, to me, they’re like a cross between a pair of scissors, a knife and wire cutters. The most important thing with all of the aforementioned is, they need to be sharp.
Clippers or nippers fall basically into two types. Spring loaded and pressure clips. You’re familiar with the spring loaded type I’m sure as they are pretty common for the maintenance of toes and fingernails. These clippers have that little “lever thing” that folds down against the body of the clippers when not in use. It flips up and swivels around to create a “lever action” that allows for cutting.
The “pressure type” is simple in that two blades are pressed together to cut. These use the amount of force being applied by your finger squeeze instead of a lever. These are the ones referred to as “nippers”.
Yeah, I agree with you, they basically are doing the same, but how they do it is the difference. Hence, the difference in names. Let’s leave the technical 
debate to another time. But just so you know, I call them both clippers. You are free to decide what you will. But just so you know, if we ever fish together and you should say, “Hey, grab my nippers off the seat” I’ll know what you mean and I’ll hand you your “clippers”, fair enough? Ok then, let’s get to the important stuff about why I use these guys and why I have come to regard them as a necessity item.
The Difference Is A Matter Of Choice
So, which is best clippers or nippers? I use to use the spring-levered ones simply because they were and still are, relatively inexpensive. A favorite promotional product, they seemed to be everywhere around the house too. If I lost a pair or they became dull, they were easily replaced. But, I found with this type of clipper, I needed both hands to get them open for use.
Realistically, on a stream, you’re holding something like, a fly or line, whatever, so both hands never seemed to be available to flip open a spring lever. To compensate I would leave them open. However, this caused them to get caught on things. Often they just seemed to be in the way. That led me to start looking for an alternative, meaning, I need clippers to be simple to operate but not have anything “sticking out”.
When I found the “pressure” styled ones I liked them right away. Compared to the lever clips, these I can grab a hold of easily between my thumb and finger of one hand, squeeze, …boom….., the line’s cut and I’m done. They are sleeker, simple and don’t take that much of a squeeze to cut the line, as long as they stay sharp.
Speaking of sharp, this is one of those crucial elements needed for a good pair of clippers. A precision cut is one of the “little” things that can make a big difference. A well-trimmed tippet is one of those “little” things for me because it saves time.
Save Time With Clean Cuts
It saves time simply because a clean cut by the clippers allows the cut end of the line to more easily go through the tiny eye of a size 22 hook for example. As opposed to cutting a tippet with your teeth which frays the line. Those little strands of tippet make sliding through the eye very tough. In addition, some flies have a bit of tying materials surrounding the eye, blocking the hole a bit. A sharply cut tippet helps in this regard as it can be pushed through some of that material just a bit easier. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get a frayed tippet through a hook eye.
Also, when comes to knots, I’m pretty finicky about trimming off the tag end of a knot. I like it to be closely trimmed. Line sticking up in the air off a
knot looks to me like somebody tied a string to a hook, instead of smoothly blending the line into the fly. Blending makes things appear more natural and a good sharp pair of clippers helps with that a lot.
Going back to using your teeth, for example, you can never get as close to the knot as you can with clippers. Is it possible trout don’t pick up your offering because of a tag end sticking out? Great question, and honestly, I don’t know. But just the same, I’m trimming my knots close.
The Pin
Another item that many clippers today come with is a “pin”. I like having that attached to a pair of clippers. This “pin” is perfect for clearing out an eye of a hook clogged by head cement or fly tying material. I wouldn’t have a pair of clippers that didn’t have that pin thing, it’s that handy. Is there is an official or proper name for this object? I have no idea what it’s actually called but it is one of the most useful things. I have even used it to undo a few knots and untangling a leader without damaging the leader.
One more feature I look for on a pair of clippers is the attachment ring. This is used to tie a string or lanyard to, so you can, in turn, attach it to your vest or waders or whatever. I like an attachment ring that covers the pin but swivels out of the way when the pin is in use. Years ago I remember, I would duck tapped a straight pin to a pair of lever clippers. I cannot tell you the number of times I got stuck by that pin.
From that point on (no pun intended) I always look for clippers with a covered pin. I found too that clippers having a ring that swivels over the pin where you attach it keeps, the pin covered and you don’t get stuck. The point of the pin is always covered due to the way the clippers hang on the string or lanyard. It’s a simple thing, but believe me, you’ll be thankful if you’ve ever been stuck by a pin.
So What’s The Cost?
Clippers have come a long way since the earlier days of my discovering how useful they are. They are made from differing materials and come in many different styles and colors. They also range in price too. You can buy clippers anywhere from a couple of bucks to $100 bucks.
How much you’re willing to spend depends on what you want and need? It’s a personal choice of course and there is no right or wrong as to which clippers you like or how they suit your needs. I’ve heard some fisherman, might spend a little many times, or a lot a few times. What that really means is, clippers will dull over time and will need to be replaced. If you fish a lot and I do, changing flies and mending leader puts a pair of clippers through its paces. I’ve had them last a few years and others not make a season. But regardless, the one thing that is true, I will always be carrying a pair of clippers.
Well whatever you call them, clippers or nippers, would you consider them a necessity? Should they be a fundamental piece of your equipment?