1) Get a pair of cheap ($5 or less) Amazon or Harbor Freight trauma shears

2) Cut off the blunt tip with a dremel and round the bottom jaw with a grinder or belt sander 

3) Add a lanyard to keep them around your neck because you'll use them for everything

 

Trauma shears are a type of scissor designed for emergency personnel to cut clothing or seat belts without catching the skin of the person wearing them.  The angle of the jaw allows them to develop great cutting force.  Modified as above, they make fantastic fishing tools.  You don't necessarily have to remove the blunt tip, but they are not as useful with it because you can't get the front edge of the scissors close enough to anything to snip. 

 

Since I made these a few months ago, I've have used them to cut braid & mono, fin spines off bait fish chunks, hopelessly snagged hooks, clamshell packaging around baits, wire and tubular nylon backpack straps that were in the way, modify soft plastics, and remove branches blocking my casting path.  They have not chipped or bent or shown any signs of rusting or dulling. 

That sounds like a great idea. I'll have to try that. Especially with braid being so hard to cut cleanly. 

Wal-Mart kitchen shears for $.88. They cut braid, mono, fluoro, clam packs, fish spines, thin wire, thin limbs or bushes to retrieve errant cast, whatever you need. When you lose them or break them, buy a new pair for a dollar and go about your life. 

 

Kids craft scissors are great for cutting braid too. 

I prefer my pocket knife

I have a Boomerang Line Cutter.  You can find them on Amazon for $10 or less often.  Been using my same pair for half a decade and they're still super sharp.  It has a retractable lanyard and it's very light weight.  I keep a pair on my fishing vest.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BWW9A4/ref=twister_B07HFQSPYF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

16 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Wal-Mart kitchen shears for $.88. They cut braid, mono, fluoro, clam packs, fish spines, thin wire, thin limbs or bushes to retrieve errant cast, whatever you need. When you lose them or break them, buy a new pair for a dollar and go about your life. 

 

Kids craft scissors are great for cutting braid too. 

 

Got a link? I can't find anything under $5 on their site.

 

Not sure saving $5 is worth being screwed one day when your cheap scissors break on the water.

you can also buy the rapala super line scissors for $2.96 at walmart .

mine are 3 years old and still cutting. they also fit in one of the slots on my boat console.

7 hours ago, schplurg said:

 

 

Got a link? I can't find anything under $5 on their site.

 

Not sure saving $5 is worth being screwed one day when your cheap scissors break on the water.

They aren't listed online, but they're in every story I've ever been in. 

I use trauma shears at work.  I am an ER veterinarian.   They will cut anything.  I have a pair in my kit.

 

I keep a needle driver with cutting blades on a lanyard around my neck.  It can take a hook out from deep down and will cut most lines.  If you are getting needle drivers, get German Stainless with carbide tips if you can.  Pakistan made instruments suck.  I also have a boomerang, aluminum pliers with cutters, a pair of braid scissors.  I guess I overdo it, but I like to be prepared when I take a guest.

14 hours ago, Russ E said:

you can also buy the rapala super line scissors for $2.96 at walmart .

mine are 3 years old and still cutting. they also fit in one of the slots on my boat console.

The Rapala scissors have always worked great for me. 

If you need to cut something, trauma shears will do it powerfully.  I've cut pennies in half with the pair in the work truck just playing around with them.

 

Thanks for the tip, Chris. 

Just curious, if using the trauma sheers as line cutter, why do you have to alter them/remove the blunt end etc.?

2 hours ago, bagofdonuts said:

Just curious, if using the trauma sheers as line cutter, why do you have to alter them/remove the blunt end etc.?

You don't. OP only mentioned removing the blunt end if you want to use them like snips.

Great post, we have them at the Fire Department but I never thought about using them in this capacity. BTW, these will blow the doors off any kitchen scissors or line snips. I'd like to see those kitchen scissors cut through nails, seat belts, or a good strong hook for that matter. 

$14 pocket knife or cheaper discount store scissors work for me but I better those shears are really handy in the boat.

18 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Great post, we have them at the Fire Department but I never thought about using them in this capacity. BTW, these will blow the doors off any kitchen scissors or line snips. I'd like to see those kitchen scissors cut through nails, seat belts, or a good strong hook for that matter. 

Are you saying they will cut nails and hooks? I have my doubts? My vote for a line cutter, however, is the Boomerang tool.

Great idea. They look like they could cut the barb off a hook if needed.

 

I use Kastking scissors. I bought their pliers, fish grippers and scale as well. The scissors are pricy and no better than the Rapala super line scissors but come with a nice sheath. My OCD kicked in as I wanted all my tools to match that bright orange they are known for.

I use these:

 

6 hours ago, Crestliner2008 said:

Are you saying they will cut nails and hooks? I have my doubts? My vote for a line cutter, however, is the Boomerang tool.

Rescue shears absolutely will.

7 hours ago, J Francho said:

I use these:

 

    Ooooookaaaaay .... and what are those?  Didn't see anything like them on TW or FishUSA.   jj

Hemocuts. 

On ‎2‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 8:57 AM, redmeansdistortion said:

I have a Boomerang Line Cutter.  You can find them on Amazon for $10 or less often.  Been using my same pair for half a decade and they're still super sharp.  It has a retractable lanyard and it's very light weight.  I keep a pair on my fishing vest.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BWW9A4/ref=twister_B07HFQSPYF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

+1 ... Best I ever used , handy and better than scissors !!