A comment on the red rods thread reminded me that I am genuinely confused and (at least until enlightened) dismayed by $80/$110/$170 nippers. It actually makes me feel like A(company) is actively mocking me, and for that reason alone I wouldn't even look at one of their reels. To my mind that product pretty neatly sums up much of what keeps folks from joining our ranks. Any ideas?

I bought the plain black Abels a few years ago. I got 'em for 50, but now I see they're going for 85. Guess I got a heck of a deal! In all seriousness though, they're completely unnecessary in the grand scheme of things, but it's one less thing I have to worry about not working properly and they'll probably outlive me.

Explain a $695 reel or an $800+ shop built Epic 686 (current price on their website). What about a $3-4,000 bamboo rod? Would I buy those nippers? Probably not, but mainly because I have a tendency to drop tools in the water when I'm fishing. Watched a $150 pair of sunglasses get swept away in some fast current once . Heck, what about that. Good pair of sunglasses can run well over $200. Can't imagine anyone new to the sport looking at those nippers and saying, if I have to buy those, I'm not gonna fly fish. And that's the point right there. You don't have to buy them. Plenty of lower cost options on all the gear we use. Brings up the debate of you get what you pay for.. What's that old saying, "The bitterness of poor quality remains, long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten".

The explanation I have been waiting for is why high priced fishing tackle annoys people so much whether they have used said item or not?

+1 on " man jewelry "

My kids bought me the black Abel nippers for my birthday some years back, and think $50. That is about their dollar limit, and they are running out of things to get me (I have lots of stuff, okay too much). They do work great, very high quality, will last hundreds of years (unless dropped, lost, etc,), but my front teeth worked very well also - too well in fact. I have stopped with my teeth and use my Abel nippers now, and can think of the kindness of the gift from my kids.

Heck, look what people pay for fly rods which don't even have any fiberglass in them!

Whatever folks are willing to pay. The price of fiberglass rods have gotten wonky due to increased popularity. Probably for the best as it forces me to assess what is necessary and what is extra baggage. Oh finger nail clippers...

I definitely have some stuff in that category. If only I could sort the bargains from the junk.

Need to add this though----caught a personal record last week



Rod: FF 807, $45
Reel: Pflueger Medalist 1495 $32
Fly: Big Y Wooley Bugger $0.65

Catching a 26", 7 lb rainbow on gear which cost less than nippers: Priceless.

Basically because tackle mskers see fly fishing as a richer man's sport. Same reason fly shops push thousabd dollar rods on newbs, same reason good waders cost $3-500 per pair. Because they can.

Even if I became Bill Gates' and Donald Trump's adopted love child I would still buy $2 nail clippers and $1 hemostats. But I would probably buy $2000 shotguns and thousand dollar rods... theres always a market. Besides - how many $100 nippers does one need to sell to make the same profits as the conpany selling $1 nail clippers?

I'd buy one of those! But you know Campy doesn't put their name on crap. And few things elicit joy the way a newly opened bottle of wine does.

Beautiful fish!

Do the $20 nippers come with fries and a sandwich at least? I could see spending that for a really good lunch occasionally.