Scott rods

[ROLLCAST86]

For those that own scott rods what are your favorite one's. I currently have a couple of A3's but I am really interested in the G2 line,and the S4 line of rods. Any info would be great

 

[cingras53]

Most of my rods are Scott-saltwater HP rods for stripers, a 12 1/2 foot shooting head special also for stripers and one S3 for trout; the other trout rods are the G series. I love them all. I do not own an S4 or G2 but I would like to.

 

[mbwmn]

I'm somewhat new at this, so an application of a few grains of salt may be required...

I have (had) an A3 8ft 4wt. The wife has claimed it as her own. Scott lists this as a "medium-fast" action (let's use this as a baseline).

I have an S4 9ft 4wt . Scott calls this "fast". It is. Very. I find I really need to concentrate on EVERY cast w/ this rod. It has become my go-to rod. It will throw dual-fly setups as well as (if not better) than the A3. It will throw almost any single fly a mile. It will occasionally remind me that I'm still a newbie by wrapping ALL of my leader and tippet COMPLETELY around the tip of the rod.
Compared to the A3 my impressions are:
-it is (significantly) lighter in swing weight,
-seems to track in the vertical (z) axis better resulting in a more acurate cast,
-it is much more sensitive to subtle strikes when nymphing,
-the increased sensitivity made me miss strikes until i adjusted
I got mine used, so it cost about the same as a new A3. Considering how much use I get out of it I should have just gotten the warranty. Scott will repair, but a broken butt section will put me back to the MSRP...

In general I would not hesitate to purchase another, and will be very interested in throwing the S5 if there is one in the next few years.

No beer drinking when using one of these; you will injure yourself.

I'll give you my G2 and A2 impressions later.

hth

 

[jholland]

First a major disclaimer: I sell Scott rods. That said, I own three of them. The A3 is a nice rod, I particularly like the 8'6" 4wt. I agree with the previous points on the S4, I use an 8'6" 5wt for Jersey streams fishing it most often in the winter when I do the bulk of my high stick nymphing. Both myself and others are amazed at how light it is and it casts very well although I agree with the point of its lack of forgiveness. I also own two G2's, an 8'8" 5wt and an 8'4" 4wt. My overall favorite rod for our local streams is the G2 because I like medium action. I would have to say that they are not whippy rods and have more power than you think. Once I stopped pushing my casts with both the G and the S series, life was good.

 

[mbwmn]

I fished a Scott G2 3wt (7'7"?) on the Flatbrook last weekend. I can't get the distance w/ the 3wt G2 as I can w/ either the S4 or A3 4wts. I suspect someone who is a more capable caster than me would get closer.

Really quite different from the A3 and S4. I would say the S4 is closer to an A3...

I think of the G2 series as a "presentation" rod for those who fish primarily dry flies. It (like the S4) is a bit more of a "special tool" for me than the
(all-around) A3.

The G2 is absolutely a joy to cast! Precision just comes to it.
There is absolutely no thought required for me to get a good result casting the G2. It appears to suit what little casting "style" I have very well. My only difficulty w/ it is when I try to push out a dry/dropper or dual-nymph setup w/ it. I think a dual-fly setup is a lot to ask of any 3wt!
It does an ok job w/ smaller nymphs in smaller water, but it does not excel in this area. I would take either 4wt (S4 or A3) if I were planning a nymph day. I can't honestly say if it's just a 4weight thing or not...

I recently had the opportunity to cast jholland's G2 5wt at Shannon's.
WOW.
I walked in asking about a 5wt 9 or 10ft rod w/ a little backbone (stiff) for nymphing.( I recently sold an Orvis ZG mid-flex 5 wt...) Now I'm totally confused. Take all my positive comments about the 3wt G2 and add 50 feet! It really felt like I could put a fly inside a coffee cup at 40feet, and do it w/ a good quite presentation...

I also have an A2 6wt that I've only lawn-cast. If you needed a backup rod, or didn't want to take your $$$ rod out in a canoe the A2 is certainly a good value while dealers clear out old inventory. It's not as 'lively' as the A3, and is not nearly in the same class as the S4 and G2.

If I had to choose just one....
If I were going dry fly fishing in summer/fall (low water) conditions I would bring a G2 (like I did last week on the Flatbrook).
If I were going out in winter or spring, and was only expecting a single, short dry fly hatch, or if the water was looking like it was going to be high I would bring the S4.

I have limited experience w/ a few other manufacturers' rod, including an 8wt sage Xi2, a 5wt Helios, and a 5wt Orvis ZG.

I think you need to trade your A3 to me, and get one of each from Shannon's!

 

[Sesro1978]

How was the feel of the rod with a fish on (the 7'7", 3-wt.)? Is it a stiff rod or does it have a fairly deep flex?

Thanks,
S

I fished a Scott G2 3wt (7'7"?) on the Flatbrook last weekend. I can't get the distance w/ the 3wt G2 as I can w/ either the S4 or A3 4wts. I suspect someone who is a more capable caster than me would get closer.

Really quite different from the A3 and S4. I would say the S4 is closer to an A3...

I think of the G2 series as a "presentation" rod for those who fish primarily dry flies. It (like the S4) is a bit more of a "special tool" for me than the
(all-around) A3.

The G2 is absolutely a joy to cast! Precision just comes to it.
There is absolutely no thought required for me to get a good result casting the G2. It appears to suit what little casting "style" I have very well. My only difficulty w/ it is when I try to push out a dry/dropper or dual-nymph setup w/ it. I think a dual-fly setup is a lot to ask of any 3wt!
It does an ok job w/ smaller nymphs in smaller water, but it does not excel in this area. I would take either 4wt (S4 or A3) if I were planning a nymph day. I can't honestly say if it's just a 4weight thing or not...

I recently had the opportunity to cast jholland's G2 5wt at Shannon's.
WOW.
I walked in asking about a 5wt 9 or 10ft rod w/ a little backbone (stiff) for nymphing.( I recently sold an Orvis ZG mid-flex 5 wt...) Now I'm totally confused. Take all my positive comments about the 3wt G2 and add 50 feet! It really felt like I could put a fly inside a coffee cup at 40feet, and do it w/ a good quite presentation...

I also have an A2 6wt that I've only lawn-cast. If you needed a backup rod, or didn't want to take your $$$ rod out in a canoe the A2 is certainly a good value while dealers clear out old inventory. It's not as 'lively' as the A3, and is not nearly in the same class as the S4 and G2.

If I had to choose just one....
If I were going dry fly fishing in summer/fall (low water) conditions I would bring a G2 (like I did last week on the Flatbrook).
If I were going out in winter or spring, and was only expecting a single, short dry fly hatch, or if the water was looking like it was going to be high I would bring the S4.

I have limited experience w/ a few other manufacturers' rod, including an 8wt sage Xi2, a 5wt Helios, and a 5wt Orvis ZG.

I think you need to trade your A3 to me, and get one of each from Shannon's!

 

[mbwmn]

How was the feel of the rod with a fish on (the 7'7", 3-wt.)? Is it a stiff rod or does it have a fairly deep flex?

Thanks,
S

It's FUN!
the G2 has a reasonably stiff butt section. i suspect that's one of the Scott "traits".
i love using ultra light equipment, and the G2 3wt is ultralight.
yoy really need to go see jim @ shannon's when you're ready and cast some. you won't be dissappointed in the S4 or the G2. you just need to be aware that the S4 (for me, anyway) is like a racing motorcycle; very light, very fast, and it requires a serious concentration level, or it will spit you off and you'll crash and burn. the G2 is much more forgiving...either in a 3wt will land almost any trout i've seen in NJ.

 

[Sesro1978]

Decided to give the Scott 7'7" 3-wt. (G2) a try. I'll be fishing it tomorrow on a local small-stream. I'll let you know my impressions afterward.

-S

 

[Pete]

Last December, I found a (now discontinued) Scott V2 at a bargain price.
I didn't particularly like it...
V2 906 - Fly Tying Database!

As I read the above posts, I get the impression that the Scott fans like it for the same characteristics that I didn't like.

eg:

.....No beer drinking when using one of these; you will injure yourself.....

I like beer...
I like bourbon even more ...

 

[ROLLCAST86]

thanks guys for all the info i think im going to have to cast a g2 and an s4. do you guys think that the scott rods are better that winston and sage rods?

 

[mbwmn]

thanks guys for all the info i think im going to have to cast a g2 and an s4. do you guys think that the scott rods are better that winston and sage rods?

i've never cast(ed?) a Winston, tho the BII-MX looks really interesting.
the only Sage I've cast is my 8wt Xi2. It was a pleasant surprise on the lawn. i may have a different impression after 12 hours of heaving 7-9inch flies... It looks like Sage makes a rod for everyone...they have quite a few models...

i'm quite happy w/ the 4 Scotts i have, and would not hesitate to buy another.
i'm also quite happy w/ my Sage 8wt, and i will be looking at a 9wt VT2 because it's in my price range.
i am a little disappointed in the 6wt st croix legend legend elite, but it came to me at an excellent price. it is st croix's fastest action rod, so i would expect i will really start to appreciate it in fall winds on the Delaware or LBI. i would not let the minimal time i've spent w/ it stop me from purchasing something else from their line. i like the pricing, and they have a great reputation.

i don't know that you could say if any of the 3 you mentioned would be "better" than another. someone might say a particular manufacturer's action suits them better, but they are all top rods from a manufacturing standpoint.

 

[ratmatt]

just picked up an S4 in 8#.. it is a rocket launcher... I have a sage xp in 5# but I like this Scott better. I can feel the rod load better witch helps in getting a better cast. The S4 is a very fast action rod, so I would not recomend it to a novice it requires a short compact stroke to really fire the line.. I am very impressed with this rod it is as good or better than the sage, I have never casted a Sage in an 8# so I can only assume....

 

[smittin]

I use a G2 9 foot 4 wt. and use it for nymphing most of the year. I love working a drift with this rod you can feel the bottom of the river or stream really good , and when I want to fish a dry it's a good rod for that too. I think many people overlook this rod for nymphing I saved up for a year to get it.