Some fly rods leave an indelible mark. Sometimes on the industry or the sport as a whole, other times just in the minds or hearts of many of the anglers who fish them. Most, but not all, manufacturers have a few of these rods amongst their pedigree. Colorado-based rodmaker Scott, who is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has more than a few. To celebrate a half-century of rod building, Scott is doing something new by bringing back the old — offering anglers the chance to get their hands on brand-new builds of a handful of its greatest blasts from the past.
Even as materials technology and design advances, many of these “old” rods — those built by Scott and other rodmakers — continue to perform, or in some cases outperform, their modern descendents. It’s for this reason that you can find used versions of many of these heralded rods selling online and in fly shops for three quarters or more of the price they were originally stamped with.
But to find a brand new rod originally made a decade or multiple decades ago? Well, you’ve got to have a major stroke of luck—a fly shop that finds a dusty box in a forgotten corner of a storeroom, an individual buyer that for whatever reason purchased a rod they never took the cork wrap off, or what have you. That is, until now.
The team at Scott has hand-picked five of its most celebrated rods from the last 50 years — the designs of Harry Wilson, Larry Kenney, and current Scott rod designer and Scott Fly Rods president Jim Bartschi — and is producing them again for anglers to purchase. Not entire series, mind you, but individual models—five rods in total. Scott is building the blanks for these rods to their original specs, while using updated build methods and modern, best-in-class components to finish each rod. Each will also be adorned with a 50th Anniversary inscription on the blank and engraving on the reel seat.
Here is Scott’s rundown on what’s old that’s new again:
Scott F 703/4
When Harry Wilson founded the Scott Fly Rod Company in 1974, he built a name for himself and the brand by making some of the most coveted light-line multipiece fiberglass fly rods. At a time when the typical fly rod was a heavy, clunky 8-foot 6-weight two-piece rod, Scott’s light-line multipiece rods opened up new opportunities for anglers fishing cold, clear streams with dry flies by providing light, responsive, and smooth rods for the task. Advanced tapers and the Scott hollow internal ferrule were central to accomplishing this feat. No model exemplifies this better than the F 703/4.
Scott G 904/4
When graphite arrived on the scene in the mid-1970s, Wilson envisioned a long, light-line rod using the new material. When he told friends in the fly-fishing community about his idea, they said it couldn’t be done. After many attempts and challenges, Scott finally released the first 9-foot 4-weight line graphite rod. It changed fly fishing. Anglers had a new tool to fish long leaders and small flies on technical rivers like Henry’s Fork, Hat Creek, and the Paradise Valley spring creeks. With the graphite rod, anglers could control drag, fish light tippets, and engage large trout like never before. To this day, the G 904/4 is named among the finest light-line fly rods ever built.
Scott ARC 1287/3
The ARC series of salmon and steelhead rods were the first to deploy ultra-lightweight, unidirectional graphite laid up off the zero-degree axis. Now found in many premium fly rods, it was a major innovation when introduced. The material and construction breakthrough allowed Scott to make some of the lightest and smoothest double handers of their time. Gone were the days of lumbering two handers that tired anglers out after a half-day of fishing. The ARC 1287/3 is still one of Scott’s most-searched-for salmon and steelhead rods.
Scott STS 909/3
The STS series put Scott on the saltwater map. Widely adopted by Florida Keys captains and saltwater anglers around the globe, they were introduced at a time when saltwater fly fishing and travel to new destinations in the tropics were taking off. STS built on the success of ARC by using multidirectional layups and took materials alchemy a step further, utilizing the first multi-modulus blank designs. Anglers who have followed Scott’s history fondly remember the company’s “Jet Ski era”—images of casting from the wing of a submerged aircraft and lifting cinder blocks with the rod from the top of a poling platform. By a wide margin, the STS 909/3 is considered the crown jewel in this transformative series.
Inscription on the “new” Scott Radian 50th Anniversary edition (photo: Scott Fly Rods).
R 905/4
Like the G 904 40 years earlier, Radian rods fundamentally changed the angling experience. Through material and design innovations, Radian rods solved the dilemma of bringing together fast action with feel. They also showcased a new approach to components that set new standards and made them even more endeared to anglers. When considering which rod from Scott’s recent past to offer as an anniversary edition, the choice was clear. Sworn by many to be the finest fast rod of all time, the R 905/4 is the most coveted historical Scott rod model.
Scott’s 50th Anniversary series rods are available immediately from Scott authorized dealers. MSRP ranges from $995 to $1,395.
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