Fly Smith fly tying tools

Brian Smith (aka The Fly Smith) is a fly-tying social media sensation from Virginia, USA. If you’re familiar with such platforms, you’ll be impressed by his 1.7 million Likes and 157,100 Followers on TikTok. If not, trust me, that’s a substantial audience. Brian’s meteoric rise has recently spurred the creation of Fly Smith fly tying tools, two of which caught our attention.

Gold-plated scissors: precision from the Fly Smith fly tying tools range

His gold-plated scissors may look similar to other fly-tying scissors, but once you hold them, their superior design and quality is evident. The finger loops are large enough for the chunkiest fingers. The blades, crafted from scratch-resistant tungsten carbide, are nearly indestructible. However, it’s the scissors’ intimidating sharpness that sets them apart. We recommend keeping the protective rubber sheath on the tips when not in use to avoid accidents.

This sharpness has clear advantages for fly-tying. Not only can you manoeuvre the fine points into places typically difficult to access and trim precisely (for example, tapering yarn on a Klinkhamer Special) but also the adjustable blades slice through gel-spun threads. The tension is easily adjusted via the screw mechanism and stays in place once set.

You might wonder: why are they gold-plated? According to Fly Smith, the inert gold coating facilitates the removal of glue, varnish and resin. I’ll take his word for it, as it feels almost criminal to risk defacing a pristine pair of new scissors.

Fly Smith gold-plated tungsten scissors, £39.99

Dark Midas bobbin holder: form meets function

My second pick is Fly Smith’s Dark Midas Bobbin Holder. With its striking black-and-gold finish and ample weight, this tool is as attractive as it is functional. The tube insert, through which tying silk is threaded, is made from zirconia stone. This is a synthetic material renowned for its hardness and durability. It ensures that it’s far less likely to wear when working with tough threads, such as gel-spun (for example used in the Bead-head Wire Nymph and Fussy Dun).

The bobbin holder’s sprung arms can be adjusted to fit your preferred bobbin width, holding it securely in place, while the knurled barrel provides enhanced grip.
Simple and well-made, the holders come in two sizes: 90mm for tying bulkier predator and saltwater patterns, or 60mm for standard trout and salmon flies.

We would have loved to test the top-of-the-range Pinnacle Bobbin Holder, which features a tension-adjusting nut, but the UK’s sole supplier, UpAvon Fly Fishing, sold out almost immediately. That speaks volumes.

Dark Midas bobbin holder, £29.99

Contact: upavonflyfishing.co.uk