50th Anniversary Rods

Harry Wilson founded Scott Fly Rods in 1974. He built a name for himself and the brand by making some of the most coveted light line multipiece fiberglass fly rods. When the typical fly rod was a heavy clunky 8 foot 6 weight 2 piece, 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 F703/4.

When graphite arrived on the scene in the mid 70’s, Wilson’s light bulb moment was to envision 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.

Not to be deterred, he forged ahead. After many challenges and attempts, Scott released the first 9 foot 4 line graphite rod. It changed fly fishing.

Anglers had a new tool to fish long leaders and small flies on technical rivers like the Henry’s Fork, Hat Creek, and Paradise Valley spring creeks. Anglers could control drag, fish light tippets, and engage large trout like never before.

To this day, the G904/4 is named among the finest light line fly rods ever built.

The ARC series of salmon and steelhead rods

were the first rods to deploy ultra-light weight 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 us to make some of the lightest and smoothest double handers of their time. Gone were the days of heavy lumbering two handers that tired anglers out after a half day of fishing.

The 1287/3 is still one of our most searched for salmon and steelhead rods.

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 multi-directional lay ups and took materials alchemy a step further utilizing the first multi-modulus blank designs.

Anglers who have followed our history fondly remember Scott’s ‘Jet Ski era’ and 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 909/3 is considered the crown jewel in this transformative series.

Like the G904 forty 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 our 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 R905/4 is the most coveted historical Scott rod model.