Dr. Slick Cyclone nippers

Guy Gregory

Guy Gregory

Semi-retired
Forum Supporter
…or similar tools seem more available than in the past. I’ve used small dikes (aka side cutters) from Harbor Freight for a few years. They are chesp but have several disadvantages and I’m interested in an upgrade. Do you have experience with any particular tool, and an opinion?
 
I have a pair of the Dr. Slick Cyclone nippers. Pretty cheap compared to many of the nippers on the market. Several years ago, I bought an Abel nipper (got a screaming deal) and they are fine when I am cutting light line. Did not work well with 2x tippet and did not work well cutting knots. I also have an Orvis nipper (the large one) and I have not used it much. The few times I did, it seemed like I needed to exert a lot of force to cut line. I need to use them a little more to make sure that is the case. Right now, Dr. Slick nipper is my go to nipper. It cuts line well and I like the "handles." Dr. Slick also makes a pair of hemostats that have a built in scissor. Loved those until I lost them. I did not buy a replacement because I did not care for the flathead screwdriver on the one ring.
 
Not a great fan of the new cyclone Dr Slick nippers , find them a little awkward, getting in close on small dries . Not too bad on large streamers . The regular cheap nippers still seem to be my go to . I did get a little more used to them , but find myself going to the old nippers . I can say they are sharp , and cut well .
 
Porter2 said:
I love them. But I got the offset version. Straight on version not as useful to me.

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Was thinking about them to try also ,hang a pair off my pontoon gear bag . . Another thing I don't like it about them is like the standard nippers ,the Dr slick does not have that little needle to poke the glue out of the eye of the flies , so I still need the standard nippers with the needle , or I have use the point of a hook to clean the glue out .
 
Actually...the Abel nippers posted above was a joke...every time I see nippers being sold for anywhere fromm $100 to $400 it's simply unbelievable. Of course I now say the same about the fools who pay $1000 for a Sage flyrod, having been the fool who once bought a brand new Sage X which promptly fell apart shortly after purchase....fool me once.


I like the SA Tailout Nippers. Cost anywhere from $10 - 20, and are decent quality (carbide), have a needle, easy to handle with wet fingers, and hang nicely on a retractable lanyard on my PFD.
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I have the new cyclones. I bought them after trying to cut braid after a pair of Simms Pro nippers could not do it. The cyclones cut everything I have tried them with. I would not buy them to use with smaller trout flies as they leave a bit of a nub the way I am using them. They are also pretty big compared to others. But I bought them for my boat bag and for my gear setups. My first-string nippers for both steelhead and trout are still my first-gen Abels that I got when they first came out. Paid $40. Still going strong with everything from 6x to 40lb maxima to braid.
 
up2nogood said:
Another thing I don't like it about them is like the standard nippers ,the Dr slick does not have that little needle to poke the glue out of the eye of the flies , so I still need the standard nippers with the needle
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One thing I do is clip a small safety pin through its spring loop onto every zinger I use for nippers and hemostat-scissors. I use it to clean hook eyes and I use it to untie "wind" (poor casting) knots by working the pin through the knot and closing the safety pin so the knot can't slip off the pin. Working the body and tag of the leader or tippet back and forth against the pin will soon loosen and expand the knot enough for me to pull the knot open. But if a knot is tight enough to kink the tippet I replace it.
 
I have the Cyclones but haven't used them much yet. I don't like how the blades are recessed behind the housing. My favorites are small light Dr. Slicks with a sharpener fixed to one side.
 
Brian Miller said:
One thing I do is clip a small safety pin through its spring loop onto every zinger I use for nippers and hemostat-scissors. I use it to clean hook eyes and I use it to untie "wind" (poor casting) knots by working the pin through the knot and closing the safety pin so the knot can't slip off the pin. Working the body and tag of the leader or tippet back and forth against the pin will soon loosen and expand the knot enough for me to pull the knot open. But if a knot is tight enough to kink the tippet I replace it.
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Nice , I do get a wind knot on occasion , not as often it seems these days , no idea what I’m doing right . :) Safety pin it will be hanging off vest or whatever, thanks for the tip.
 
Tim L said:
SNH4G - Quit shopping/caring many years ago.
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Ditto, although I do carry cheap nippers too, prefer the ones that have a hook hone.
 
Brian Miller said:
One thing I do is clip a small safety pin through its spring loop onto every zinger I use for nippers and hemostat-scissors. I use it to clean hook eyes and I use it to untie "wind" (poor casting) knots by working the pin through the knot and closing the safety pin so the knot can't slip off the pin. Working the body and tag of the leader or tippet back and forth against the pin will soon loosen and expand the knot enough for me to pull the knot open. But if a knot is tight enough to kink the tippet I replace it.
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I’ve done the same for years. There is always a safety pin pinned on my wader strap.
 
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