When it comes to heavy braided line, getting a clean cut with no fraying can be a real pain. Using dull or poor-quality blades can result in torn, frayed ends that are difficult or impossible to thread through eyelets and tie effectively. Good fishing line cutters will give you the ability to quickly and cleanly cut braid, mono, and fluorocarbon line in seconds.
Most are also compact and designed to fit in a small pocket or clip to your vest – so you won’t be stuck fumbling around inside your tackle box when you need them most.
Recently, manufacturers have been stepping up their line cutter game – with some impressive cutting-edge features that make them a valuable addition to your kit. Let’s take a look at some of the best fishing line cutters, snips, and clippers available now!
Quick Answer: 5 Best Fishing Line Cutters
- Best Overall: Boomerang Tool Original Snip Fishing Line Cutter
- Best Fishing Scissors: Gerber Neat Freak Saltwater Fishing Scissors
- Large Shears: Cuda 8″ Titanium Bonded Snip
- Best Line Clippers: TXIN 3 Pack Stainless Steel Fishing Line Cutter Nippers
- Also Consider: Cuda Large Braid Shear
Types of Fishing Line Cutters
There are plenty of different implements out there for cutting fishing line – everything from micro-scissors to shears to snips can all work well for cleanly slicing through fishing line. The right one for you can depend on several different factors.
Snips
Snips may be the most compact cutting tool out there – making them perfect when you want a cutting tool that takes up a minimal amount of space. These cutters have small cutting surfaces, making them perfect for cutting through braided line, but not great for heavy-duty cutting tasks like cutting rope or chopping bait.
Snips can be attached with a lanyard to your vest or belt, so they’re always within arm’s reach when you need them.
Scissors
We’re all familiar with scissors. They work well for a variety of different tasks and have the backbone for more heavy-duty cutting tasks if necessary. Most fishing scissors feature micro-serrations for gripping fishing line as you cut through – resulting in a smooth, clean cut.
Shears
Shears are generally the most heavy-duty cutting tool for fishing use out there. They cut through heavy-duty line like butter, and also have the backbone to cut through netting, rope, fish fins, and bait.
They’re heavier and larger than other cutting tools, so they’ll take up more space in your tackle box than other line cutters.
Nippers
Nippers are small line cutters shaped like nail clippers. They’re ultra-portable and are popular with many fly fishermen. Most don’t possess the same cutting muscle as proper line cutters – so don’t expect to cut through heavy-duty braid as easily as traditional shears.
Best Overall: Boomerang Tool Original Snip Fishing Line Cutter
Compact, feature-packed, and well-made, these retractable line cutters are the perfect solution when you need to cut line in a hurry. They come with a built-in carabineer and 36” retractable nylon tether – so you can clip them to your vest or belt for easy access. The retractable tether also prevents accidentally losing the tool if you drop it in the water.
The razor-sharp 420 stainless-steel serrated blades cut cleanly through braid, mono and fluorocarbon line. An integrated safety feature allows you to lock or unlock the blades with a small slide of the blade handles.
The tool design is easier to handle than full-sized scissor-style clippers – even when your hands are cold or soaking wet. Like other fishing gear, you’ll want to give it a nice rinse in freshwater after use, as well as an occasional anti-rust spray coating.
Key Features
- Compact, retractable snips are practical for nearly any angler
- Built-in 36” retractable nylon tether
- Razor-sharp 420 stainless-steel serrated blades
- Cleanly cuts through braid, mono, and fluorocarbon line
- Snip the fishing line and let it go, the built-in 36 Tether retracts back into place until you need it again
- Clip it to your hip or vest with the carabineer so its always handy and never lost
- Cuts clean and precise through 50 pounds - Braid, mono, and flour fishing lines.
- High quality 420 stainless steel serrated cutters are corrosion resistant
- Important: rinse with freshwater after each Use. Occasionally, treat your snip with an anti-rust spray, such as WD40 or boeshield T9. Wipe with cloth and air dry. This will help prevent spotting on stainless steel blades and screws.
- Department name: Womens
- Included components: Original snip grey
- Material type: Polycarbon
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best Fishing Scissors: Gerber Neat Freak Saltwater Fishing Scissors
Gerber’s taken simple fishing scissors and turned them into something spectacular. They’re optimized to withstand harsh saltwater environments but work just as well for freshwater use. Micro-serrations are ground into the blades – creating a surface that grips braided line and keeps it in place for a precision cut.
Thick blade material means they can cut through thicker line just as easily as lightweight line. The high-leverage grips are ergonomic and easy to use for prolonged periods without wearing out your hand. Full tang construction means you’ll have rock-solid handles that can’t come loose from the blades.
Gerber also makes a freshwater version of the same scissors, but for just a few bucks more, the added corrosion-resistance of the saltwater version makes sense. Also keep in mind that no lanyard or case comes included, so you’ll want to pick up something to secure it while you’re on the water.
Key Features
- Micro-serrated blades for gripping braided line
- Blunt-nosed tip
- Bottle opener and split shot crimper included
- Corrosion-resistant coating for saltwater usage
- Optimized to withstand harsh saltwater environments with added corrosion resistant protection
- Bearhand Control employs a cohesive system to provide the user with greater comfort
- The blades create a surface that grabs ahold of the braided line and holds it in place
- Generous forefinger pad is placed where the fingers fall for a natural grip
- Strengthened with full tang construction so you won’t be able to rock the handles off the bla
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Large Shears: Cuda 8″ Titanium Bonded Snip
If you’re looking for a larger pair of snips capable of cutting through line, rope, netting, and bait – these spring-loaded snips make an excellent option. Micro-serrations in the blades make cutting through braided line a breeze, and will also cut through mono and fluoro like butter.
Like many other Cuda brand tools, the blades are titanium bonded – making them 3 times harder than untreated steel and ensuring they stay sharper longer. An integrated wire cutter comes in handy when you want to cut through heavy wire without risking damage to the blades.
At 8-inches long, the snips are the perfect size for general use tasks, making them far more useful around the house than compact fishing snips. Cuda’s patented scale pattern grips provide a sure grip no matter how slippery it gets out there, while the full tang construction means they’re built to last.
Key Features
- Full-tang, stainless steel construction is tough and durable
- Titanium coated blades are three times harder than untreated steel
- Built-in wire cutter for quickly cutting through heavy wire
- Cuda scale pattern grips provide sure hold no matter what the conditions are
- Included Components: Cuda Snips
- Titanium bonded blades stay sharper longer
- Cuts fishing line, rope, netting and fins
- Visible full-tang, stainless steel construction
- Non-slip Cuda scale pattern grips
- Titanium bonded blades stay sharper longer
- Cuts fishing line, rope, netting and fins
- Visible full-tang, stainless steel construction
- Non-slip Cuda scale pattern grips
- Micro-serrated ed
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best Line Clippers: TXIN 3 Pack Stainless Steel Fishing Line Cutter Nippers
While they might look similar to the nail clippers in your bathroom drawer, these stainless steel clippers will cut through most fishing line like butter. They’re suitable for both freshwater and saltwater use and includes a convenient connect retractable lanyard for wearing them on your fishing vest.
These stainless steel cutting blades are capable of cutting both mono and fly fishing line. They’re the perfect addition to any fisherman’s tackle box. They’ll cut through most braided line cleanly, although braided line less than 30lb test can be a little trickier to get a clean cut with.
Key Features
- Made from tough corrosion-resistant 420 stainless steel
- Rubber-coated grips
- Included lanyard, blade, bottle opener, and pick/jig buster
- Cuts through most line with ease
- ✔ Made of sturdy stainless steel in high precision and reliable quality, no rust, no distortion, can be used longer and repeatedly. Simple operation and high efficiency.
- ✔ The fishing line clipper with stainless steel cutting jaws capable of cutting mono and fly fishing line. It is a great addition to any fishermans tackle box.
- ✔ The fishing line cutter comes with retractable line, easy to attach to belt loop. Great gift for fishing whether you wear fly vest,fishing wader or backpack, you can always carry them easily.
- ✔ Size: 6 cm x 2 cm/2.36 in x 0.79 in. Nipper:The blade can be repeatedly polished and sharpened to last long. Package includes 3 pieces fishing line clippe
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Also Consider: Cuda Large Braid Shear
Another fine pair of line-cutters from Cuda, this 5.5” long pair of fishing scissors is ideal for slicing through braided line, mono, and fluorocarbon. They feature dual serrated blades that grip and slice through heavy-duty line like butter.
Titanium-bonded stainless-steel blades ensure long term performance, while full-tang grips provide excellent durability. Oversized non-slip bow grips give you total control while your cutting and allow folks with larger hands to use them comfortably.
They’re also some of the cheapest line cutters on the market – so you’ll get terrific value for your dollar.
Key Features
- Made from tough corrosion-resistant titanium bonded stainless steel
- Cuts through all types of line – including heavy braid – like butter
- Compact 5.5” overall length
- Oversize non-slip bow grips give you a solid hold
- Heavy-Duty Scissors: Our 3’’ mini scissors are professionally made, portable, and specially designed to cut through various kinds of fishing line
- Durable Construction: The ultimate fishing line cutter, our small scissors feature titanium-bonded stainless steel blades that stay sharp and provide superior rust and corrosion-resistance
- Versatile Cutting Action: Three times stronger than steel, titanium-bonded blades feature dual micro-serrations designed to securely grip and cut braid, mono, and fluorocarbon line
- Oversized Comfort Grip: Oversized bows feature a unique Cuda scale pattern designed to provide an incredibly secure and comfortable grip in all environments and conditi
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
How to pick the right fishing line cutters
Choosing the right fishing line cutters can be a tricky task. With so many different manufacturers, designs, and features, picking the right one for you can be a challenge. Let’s take a look at some of the key features to keep in mind.
Micro-serrations
Most good-quality fishing line cutters feature some form of micro-serrations on the blades. These serrations work by ‘gripping’ line in place as you cut – so you get a clean, no-fray cut every single time you use them.
Grips
Good grips are a must for any pair of fishing line cutters. Look for grips with full-tang construction – which means the metal material extends all the way through the grips. These are far more durable than partial tang construction – and feel more solid in hand while your cutting.
Good grip material is another key feature – so you can keep the cutters from slipping out of your grip when they get wet.
Corrosion Resistance
Anytime you’re using metal tools around water – especially saltwater – you’ll want to make sure they have a decent level of corrosion-resistance. Titanium coated stainless steel works well for this, but there are several different coatings that can provide excellent corrosion resistance.
Extra Features
Beyond just cutting fishing line, many line cutters have several extra features that make them highly useful all-around fishing tools. Let’s take a look at some of these in more detail.
Wire cutters: Wire cutters are a great feature to have, and make setting up wire leaders a breeze. Instead of wrecking your line cutters trying to power through heavy-duty 100lb leader wire, you can nip through them effortlessly.
Lanyard Hole: There’s nothing worse than dropping your brand-new pair of fishing cutters in the water and watching them sink to the bottom of a lake! Attaching some form of lanyard will give you the peace of mind to keep your cutters close by without worrying about losing them.
Split Shot Crimper: A split shot crimper is another handy feature to have – and will eliminate the need for a dedicated crimper tool in your tackle box.
