Several years ago I received one of the first Boomerang line cutting tools, called “The Snip.” The first thing I thought was, “Great, not another fishing gimmick I will never use.” That thought was reinforced when I took it out of the package and the built-in light didn't work. Without giving it a second of doubt, I threw it in the bottom of my milk crate and there it sat for several months.
I’ve always been a scissors man, or just a plain pair of fingernail snips. Since the advent of braids, finding something that will cut them has become increasingly difficult. I ran across some scissors from Ohero that cut braid very well, but they didn’t cut heavy leader, so you would need another pair of snips to cut the leader.
As it often happens with kayak fishing, I lost my scissors out on the water. Remembering that I had the Boomerang Snips in my crate, I dug them out and started using them to re-leader one of rods. “Man, where have these things been?” I thought. “They are awesome!” And just like that, I was hooked.
L to R My first pair of The Snip and newer The Snip
Now after a couple of seasons under my belt using The Snip, I’m a won-over convert. It cuts braid and heavy leader like a hot knife through butter. As you can see in the photo above, the one on the left is showing some signs of heavy use in salt water. The attaching split ring has rusted, as well as some of the small screws that enable you to change the battery for the built-in light bulb. The one on the right does not have those features, so there are fewer things to corrode. The aluminum carabiner used for the tether will last in salt water with the proper care. I have had these corrode at the pin that allows it to open and close. The cutting blades are extremely sharp, and have stayed that way since I took them out of the package.
I ran into the Boomerang folks at ICAST 2012, and talked to them about some the new items they have coming out in 2013. The first one is “The Snip XL”. Very similar to the regular size The Snip, this one lives up to its name. It’s extra-large for cutting heavy duty braid and more importantly, heavier leader material. It even has a built in pick-like device that could be used for picking out wind knots.
(If you look real close, in the lower right you see a new pair of scissors that will be out in 2013)
They also have a newly designed pliers. Pliers have always been a sore subject with me, as in years past a pair that would last for more than a year, at a reasonable price, was really hard to come across.
Current models feature a retractable leash, and so will these. A built in stainless steel cutter give these pliers a dual function capability. Rubber inserts on the handle give the pliers better grip ability. I hope to get a pair of these when they become available to anglers next year. Boomerang also makes water tight containers for all sorts of devices you wish to keep out of the water.
My overall impression of “The Snip” is outstanding. It’s great tool to have on the kayak. I wish I had started using it much, much earlier. With the retractable leash, it can be easily attached to your PFD, milk crate or anyplace on the kayak that you need it. I keep mine in a fanny pack attached to my milk crate. I like to keep everything “clean” on my kayak, so there is less chance of anything getting tangled.
Give “The Snip” or any of the other great Boomerang products a try - I think you’ll love them.
