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Scissors are one the absolute essentials to have in your tackle box, you are going to need them a lot from setting up, changing rigs and dealing with the occasional line tangle or snag. It’s wise to invest in a decent, sharp pair that will last a long time and most importantly get the job done well.
In a rush? We recommend the Rapala Super Line Scissors (available at Amazon).
I was surprised of the amount of options online but after hours of research we have narrowed it down to these 5 as the best scissors for cutting braided fishing line. But first let’s look at the 5 essentials to lookout for when buying fishing scissors;
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Contents
5 Features Of Good Fishing Scissors
Before you go out and buy fishing scissors to cut braided line, there are a few key features and factors that you want to keep in mind, so let’s go over the most important ones right now.
1. Serrated Blades
The absolute most important thing to look out for when buying fishing scissors is that they come with serrated or micro serrated blades.
Fishing line can be a bit slippery, so you want serrated blades that can really grab and hold onto braided or mono line, to keep it in place while you cut. Sure, serrated blades can be hard to sharpen, but this is what you need to cut fishing line.
2. Stainless Steel
When it comes down to it, you always want to look for fishing scissors that feature stainless steel blades and nothing else. Even better is when those stainless steel blades are titanium bonded or plated.
The point here is that stainless steel is highly rust and corrosion resistant, which is exactly what you need for cutting fishing line, because it is probably going to be wet. Moreover, if you can find ones that are titanium plated, they will be more durable than stainless steel alone.
3. Full Tang
Although having full tang scissors is not totally necessary, it does help add to their durability. A full tang means that the blades go all the way down into the handles, which means that the blades and handles are bonded and joined much better, thus increasing overall durability and toughness.
4. The Handle
You do want to look for fishing scissors that have an ergonomically designed handle, something that is easy and comfortable to hold. A part of this includes having large finger holes, as this will make the handle much easier to hold.
If you can, you should go for a pair of fishing scissors which feature some kind of rubber grip and a pattern on said grip, just to make them more comfortable to hold and so you have a secure grip too.
5. Some Extras
Some fishing scissors will come with lanyards so you can easily tie and attach them to your gear, some come with serration on the outer edge for fish scaling, and some come with shot crimpers too. Any of these extras are nice additions that will serve you well.
5 Best Scissors For Cutting Braided Fishing Line
Here is a rundown of our top 5 picks that we personally feel are some of the best for cutting both fishing line and braid;
1. Gerber Neat Braided Line Scissors
Here we have a great pair of scissors for cutting braided fishing line. The Gerber Neat Freak Braided Line Cutter features micro serrated blades, which create a surface that can easily grab onto braided line and hold it in place while you make a cut.
The stainless steel blades are very sharp, and they hold their cutting edge for a long time, but be sure to note that due to the serrated design of the blades, they can be a bit hard to sharpen.
We do like how these things feature a full tang construction, which means that the blades go all the way down in the handles, and this makes the Gerber Neat Freak Braided Line Cutter very durable. The handle is not coming off the blade here.
The Gerber Neat Freak Braided Line Cutter features an ergonomic bear hand grip for comfortable holding and good control, which is also true thanks to the precision paddle, which provides you with an extended leverage point for your finger, which helps when cutting or using the shot crimper.
Yes, these fishing scissors do come with a shot crimper, plus they also include a lanyard so you can easily attach them to your body or fishing gear so they don’t go missing. These things are made to be comfortable, ergonomic, easy to hold, and to provide you with maximum leverage.
Pros
- Very durable.
- Micro serrated blades.
- Ergonomic handle.
- Good leverage.
Cons
- Blades can be hard to sharpen.
2. Rapala Super Line Scissors
This is a much simpler and more basic pair of fishing scissors than the ones we just looked at, but they do still get the job done.
The blades here are also made of stainless steel, which is always nice because stainless steel is very tough when it comes to physical damage, it holds its cutting edge for a long time, and it won’t rust or corrode either.
The Rapala Super Line Scissors do also feature micro serrated blades which help to grab and hold braided line to make it much easier to cut. Once again, do keep in mind that micro serrated blades are fairly hard to sharpen, but these things do start off quite sharp and it will take quite some time before they need sharpening.
The Rapala Super Line Scissors do just have a basic plastic handle, which is not the most durable in the world, and they do not feature a full tang design either.
However, what can be said here is that the handles here do feature oversized fingerholes for comfort, and the handle itself is quite ergonomic as well. They don’t have any super special features or anything like that, but they do get the job done just fine.
Pros
- Durable stainless steel blade.
- Serrated to grab braided line.
- Comfortable handle.
Cons
- Handle is fairly cheap plastic.
- Serrated blades are hard to sharpen.
3. Booms Fishing S1 Braided Line Scissors
Here we have another very basic and simple pair of fishing scissors to cut braided line, much like the scissors we just looked at above. What we do really like about these Booms Fishing S1 Braided Line Scissors is that the blades are made out of special titanium plated stainless steel.
In other words, the blades on these things are about as tough and durable as can be, they won’t dent or crack, they stay sharp for a heck of a long time, and they definitely won’t rust or corrode either.
Just like the other options we have looked at there today, the Booms Fishing S1 Braided Line Scissors come with micro serrated blades. The micro serrated blades featured here are perfect for holding and grabbing onto braided line, to keep it in place while you cut it. Although, once again, do keep in mind that serrated blades to pose a particular challenge when it comes to sharpening.
The Booms Fishing S1 Braided Line Scissors do feature a half tang design, so the blade does partially go down into the handles, which helps with durability, but do keep in mind that the handle on these things is made with fairly cheap plastic.
However, we do like how these scissors come with oversized finger holes for good grip and easy holding. They are fairly basic and simple yes, but they do have the perfect blades for cutting braided fishing line.
Pros
- Very good cutting edge.
- Super durable blades.
- Comfortable handles.
Cons
- Handle is not the most durable.
- Hard to sharpen.
4. Cuda Titanium Bonded Micro Scissors
When it comes to scissors for cutting fishing line, especially braided line, these Cuda Titanium Bonded Micro Scissors might just be one of the best options out there. What is nice about these things is that they are super small and lightweight.
You could easily fit a whole bunch of these into a single pocket. It is just convenient that they don’t take up much space at all, but with that said, being so super small may also make them easier to lose or misplace.
Either way, the Cuda Titanium Bonded Micro Scissors are designed to cut both braided fishing line and monofilament fishing line with ease, and this is thanks to the micro serrated blades which they feature.
Yes, the micro serrated blades are perfect for grabbing and holding fishing line in place while you cut it, which is always a bonus, although yes, they are a bit hard to sharpen due to their serrated design.
With that being said, the blades on the Cuda Titanium Bonded Micro Scissors are also made with titanium bonded stainless steel, which means that they will not rust or corrode, they are very durable in terms of physical damage, and they also retain their cutting edge for a long time too.
Now, the finger holes on these Cuda Titanium Bonded Micro Scissors are a bit small, so you are only fitting one finger through each, which can make things a bit difficult.
On the other hand, the handles here feature soft rubber fish scale grips, which provide a lot of traction and make them very easy to hold, precise, and fairly comfortable too.
Pros
- Handle has good grip.
- Good for braided and mono line.
- Durable and sharp blades.
- Rust and corrosion resistant.
Cons
- Serrated blades are hard to sharpen.
- Finger holes are a bit small.
5. Cuda Detachable Marine Shears
When it comes to a fancy pair of scissors for cutting all kinds of fishing line, and accomplishing other tasks too, these Cuda Detachable Marine Shears are a fantastic option to keep in mind. Now, one thing we do want to get out of the way here is that these things are a bit large. They come in at 8 inches in length, so they are not exactly the most space friendly option around, but they are not huge at least.
Something we do like here is that the Cuda Detachable Marine Shears come with a really good handle design, one that is ergonomic with large finger holes, and is therefore quite comfortable and easy to hold.
The handles do feature a so called fish scale rubber grip pattern, which provides you with an easy to grip surface and therefore accurate cutting. Do also keep in mind that these scissors can be taken apart at the axis for easy cleaning and storage, which can be seen as a bonus, although detachable scissors like this do sometimes suffer from some connection and durability issues where said axis is concerned, AKA where they come apart.
That said, these are high quality scissors, which can be seen by the full tang construction, which means that the blades and the handles are firmly attached and integrated with one another, so they are not coming apart anytime soon.
Moreover, the blades here are made with titanium bonded stainless steel, so they are very tough, they hold they cutting edge for a long time, and they won’t rust either. Moreover, the blades here are serrated, which is great for cutting braided line, although they are hard to sharpen.
The Cuda Detachable Marine Shears also come with a serrated fish scaling edge as well as a bottle opener too.
Pros
- Very sharp, durable, and corrosion resistant.
- Detachable for easy cleaning.
- Come with a fish scaler and bottle opener.
- Great for mono and braided line.
- Very nice grip.
Cons
- May have some trouble where they detach.
- Serrated blades are a bit difficult to sharpen.
How To Cut Fishing Line Without Scissors
Something that you should probably know, just in case you don’t have fishing scissors, your old ones break, or you just lost them, is how to cut fishing line without scissors. Guys, it’s really not all that hard so you should not be too worried, as there are a variety of tools and items that you could potentially use for this purpose.
- A good hunting knife, Swiss Army Knife, or any other such kind of sharp knife should get the job done here. Just hold the fishing line against a hard surface, and use a very sharp blade to firmly press down against the fishing line. Press hard enough and the fishing line will cut no problem.
- A pair of needle nose pliers that come with a sharp tip or a wire cutter will also do just fine here.
- Remember that you can use a normal pair of scissors to cut braided fishing line, but they just won’t work quite as well as scissors intended for this specific task.
Related: Can fish actually see braided line?
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of good pairs of scissors out there for cutting braided fishing line. Just ensure that you get a pair with good stainless steel blades, serrated blades, and a comfortable handle, and you should be just fine. Cutting braided fishing line is not all that hard, but having the right pair of scissors does make all the difference.
Photo Credit: 350z33 at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
