Forget Everything You Think You Know About The Scott G-Series Fly Rod

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Photo by Louis Cahill

Photo by Louis Cahill

By Louis Cahill

The new G-Series fly rods, from Scott, are a unique and refreshing offering.

The package arrived at my door with a note taped on the outside, saying that I couldn’t tell anyone about what was on the inside. On the one hand, I’m pretty happy to be on that mailing list, but on the other, it has not been an easy secret to keep. I knew this fly rod was something special the moment I picked it up.

It has been widely rumored that something big was coming from Scott this year. With the flagship models, Meridian and Radian, still pretty fresh, there’s been a lot of speculation about what Jim Bartschi has up his sleeve. I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t a new G-Series rod. The first word out of my mouth was, “Brilliant!”

The G rods were first designed in the 1970s. That’s the Jurassic period of graphite fly rod design. The G-2 was introduced in 2006 and I have two of those rods, still in rotation. Eleven years later I assumed that the G was an evolutionary dead end. Like the Neanderthal but with a smoother action. Reviving this rod series at this point in time is both brilliant and refreshing.

The original G rods were cutting edge in their day.

It was actually the first 9’ 4-weight ever made. They were also the first rods to have internal ferrules. The G series rods have always been the mid-speed line from Scott. By today’s standards the 2006 G-2 is frankly slooooooow. It’s a beautifully casting rod and as good a tool now as ever but the action is more what you might expect from a modern fiberglass rod. They are great technical dry-fly rods, and I love them, but I have always struggled with them on a couple of points. They are not especially good with wind or weight, and for an all-around fly rod, that’s a problem.

Well, the new G-Series rods have nothing to do with that. This new rod looks almost identical to the G-2. Same natural graphite finish with brown and gold whipping. Internal ferrules like the G-2 and the classic grip. Once you slide the sections together and start to flex it, the new G tells a completely different story.

There is a boatload of technology in this rod and it comes together in a completely unique feel.

The new G-Series flexes deep and really talks to the caster, by which I mean you know exactly what your line is doing by the feel of the rod. The recovery rate, however, is completely unexpected. This rod will stand up at whatever pace you cast it. If you like a slow, relaxed stroke, no problem. The G is right there. If the wind picks up and you need to step up the pace, boom! It’s right there with you.

The G-2 was a delicate technical rod that made lovely presentations, out to about fifty feet. After that, well you seldom need to cast fifty feet to a trout anyway. The new G-Series rod makes that same lovely presentation for me consistently at eighty feet. Not that you need the distance, but that extra power can be used in a couple of other ways. Like a hard stop-and-drop presentation, for example. Available in 2-6 weights and lengths from 7’7”-9’, theres a G that suits your needs.


Some Tech Talk

G-Tech•The new G-Series rods are one of the most complex multi-modulus ever made.

•ReAct technology combines an X-Core design with a new material and taper system to reduce unwanted vibration and enhance distance, control and accuracy.

•ARC- Advanced Reinforced Carbon for reducing torque and increasing strength. 

•X-Core design use fast taper mandrels with low-mass thin-walled blanks to create rods that have feel, stability and sensitivity. 


 

Here are a couple of ways the new G-Series excels.

Screen-Shot-2017-07-06-at-10.33.37-AM•Delicate presentation. The new G rods do not compromise presentation for distance. An all too common trend these days. This rod will land your flies nice and soft.

•OMG accuracy! The blank is extremely stable. Not only does it track perfectly, it has very little residual vibration, which means an extremely controlled loop. A controlled loop always delivers a fly more accurately.

•This rod makes a tight loop. Mine is the 8’4” 4-weight and the shorter length helps to compress the loop, but the recovery rate of the material is where the real difference lies. Everything about a tight loop is good. More distance, more efficient in the wind, more accurate, there’s no downside.

•It loads very easily. That means a couple of things. It’s more forgiving if your cast is not perfect. It also means that it will make a loop and deliver an accurate presentation with a very short line. So, it makes a better presentation where it counts.

•It’s a perfect small stream tool. Fly fishing small streams has it’s own unique challenges, especially here in the Southeast, where I live. Often these streams are chocked with obstacles meaning you have to make accurate presentations with very little room to cast. The new G is wonderful in this environment. A side-arm cast can easily build enough speed to keep the line aerialized just a couple of feet above the water. I can kneel and throw a laser tight loop deep under stream-side cover, even on a short cast. That catches fish!

•Surprising power. You may not need it all the time but should the wind pick up, or you need to add some weight or, God forbid, a fish rises a solid eighty feet past where you can wade, the new G has you covered.

With so many of today’s fly rods pushing speed over actual fishability, the new G-Series rods from Scott are like a sip of aged whisky at a frat party.

Just what I needed. This rod is a finely tuned fishing machine, whose performance will put you on fish other rods just can’t. I guess that’s what happens when you take eleven years to think about it.

I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating. I love that Scott doesn’t chase the market, putting out five or six new rods every year, valuing new over better. Like the old angler who keeps his mouth shut and wears the fish out. When he does have something to say, everyone listens, and when Scott updates a familiar rod series for the first time in eleven years, you’d better believe it’s worth stopping by the shop and casting one.

Louis Cahill
Gink & Gasoline
www.ginkandgasoline.com
hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
 https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/hosted-trips/
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13 thoughts on “Forget Everything You Think You Know About The Scott G-Series Fly Rod

  1. Louis, thanks for this. I am a Scott guy, through and through, so I congratulate you on the “scoop” as it appears you are the first to make all this public, on the net anyway. So, here is my question…any word on price, yet? Seems like a sweet stick, and I may have to get one just for the sake of my addiction, ergo second question; are they available now? Thanks for always keeping your readers in the know. Enjoy IFTD; can’t wait for your videos/interviews/product showcases.

  2. Pingback: Scott G Series Fly Rods | Fly Water Outdoors

    • They are very different rods. I would put the Air in the same category as the Radian. Of course, we are talking about 3 of the best fly rods made, so you can’t go wrong. The G is finesse rod. Think small streams, spring creeks, 7X tippet. The Air is more powerful and a great all-arounder. I hope this helps.

  3. This rod is beautiful, and some of the new rods are ugly. I’m interested in knowing if it will throw a nymph rig. I don’t need it to be a 5wt I have one, but how serviceable is it on mountain stream days? I want an all around mountain 4 wt; medium action rods mend and roll cast like nymph rods should. Can it carry a rig though? Thanks buddy.

    • I have the 885 and it should handle smaller nymphs no problem. could probably even handle a poly indicator.

      I used it this week on the Delaware for dries and wets. It’s a deceptive rod because it feels faster than it is. It’s similar to the BIIIX in the respect that you absolutely cannot over power it. However, once you get into rhythm with it it becomes very clear that it’s a special rod. I almost want to say the 885 is like a heavier TMF. It’s also an absolute joy to play fish on.

    • If this rod is anything similar to the G2 it should be excellent for mountain streams. My G2 is my favorite rod for many a western tailwater near me and I have had no issue landing large fish with it. However it struggles with the super heavy stuff. (Streamers,.large stones ect) Usually I’m just running small nymphs with minimal splitshot. It also excells in Alpine enviroments(high lakes and streams) Hope this helps

  4. Pingback: 3 Dynamite 4 Weight Rods for Small Stream Fly-Fishing | Fly Fishing | Gink and Gasoline | How to Fly Fish | Trout Fishing | Fly Tying | Fly Fishing Blog

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