Recently I commented that the fly fishing industry is squarely within the “build a better mousetrap” stage of technological advancements. There are very few new things that are entering the long rod, thick line, tiny fly space. That is all fine and good. But it does breed some skepticism from consumers who are being presented with the latest and greatest. I can appreciate that. A new coat of paint or some imperceptible engineering jargon is not worth hundreds of dollars; dozens might even be a stretch.
But there are plenty of people within fly fishing who are trying to tweak and tinker with what they have because they want better. Scott Wilday, the man who created and runs Lid Rig, wants a better mousetrap. His mousetrap just so happens to feature magnets and a design meant to keep one of an anglers’ most important tools right at hand all the time.
Although Lid Rig has churned out other products, most significant being other magnet-based fly and tool storage options, it is the brand namesake nipper that is getting another upgrade. Having fished with earlier models, I can say that the Lid Rig 3.0 was not created because the 2.0 failed. With hands on experience and a conversation with Wilday, it is evident that his desire was to push a good thing to be better.
Only using a quick side-by-side comparison, the 3.0 appears to be slightly less than 20% larger than the previous model. This still makes it smaller than most other premium nippers. However, the size is just about perfect for pinching between the thumb and forefinger, generating enough pressure to snip just about anything you can fit in the jaws. Those jaws are new and improved, as well. Not only do they now protrude past the frame of the nippers (allowing more visibility for a precise cut), they’re also removeable. Yes, this does mean that one could replace blades if necessary. But a much more reasonable use of this feature is a quick removal and sharpening or deburring to boost performance.
The magnets that allow the Lid Rig to always be at hand also provide another quality of use purpose. Instead of a spring or tension built into the bend of the nipper itself, these rely upon opposing rare earth magnets. Basically, the same magnets in the nipper that allow either side to hold fast to any metal surface also are constantly pushing away from each other. This is not a new aspect to the 3.0, but the axis the two sides of the nippers rotate on does feel smoother than what the older models used.
The other important features on the Lid RIg are an anchor point and hook eye cleaner. Having the recessed needle point to remove cement from fly eyes is vital. And the space to wrap a small carabiner or length of paracord is nice if you either want added security or if you don’t have the Lid Rig 3.0’s companion piece.
That companion is called the Stash Tray. It is a magnetic plate on a clip designed to attach to your vest, wader strap, or, of course, your hat brim. The Lid Rig nests inside of the Stash Tray. Small ridges will keep your nice nippers from being forced off. It can hold flies as well, providing a nice dock for bugs while you’re tying and trimming a multi-fly rig. The larger plate and the ridges make it an upgrade from the clip that came with the older model. The tray still features a groove for sharpening hooks. Having this right by your nippers is a good, simple reminder to pass that hook point through a few times before making your first cast.
The whole package comes in at just under $100. This is more than cheap nippers but less than other, name brand models that feature much fewer clever facets designed with anglers in mind. The nippers themselves, however, cost less than $60. If you have a metal surface, they’ll snap to that just as well as they will to the sold-separately Stash Tray.
While some fly fishers will swear by dollar store nail clippers, others do choose to spend their own money on something with a little more going for it. With the update to thee third version, the Lid Rig is perhaps the best choice that angler can make.
Find the Lid Rig, the Stash Tray, and a handful of other thoughtfully designed products on the company’s website.
