In my short time in the industry, I can't say that there's ever been a more anticipated rod release than the Scott G-Series. Scott is truly at the top of their game - it seems like they are more in demand than ever! The G-Series (also known as the GS) replaces the G2 as Scott's medium action, dry fly line of rods. It's like the heart and soul of the Scott lineup. Today, I cast the 9' 5wt and the 8'8" 4wt. Why two rods? Well, they are different enough that it's really worth talking about them both, separately, but also in how they compare to one another. OutfitsScott G-Series 9' 5wt Fly RodLamson Litespeed #2 Fly ReelSA Amplitude MPX WF5F And... Scott G-Series 8'8" 4wt Fly RodHardy DD Fly ReelRio InTouch Gold WF4F Fit and FinishLike all of the USA made boutique rod makers, Scott rods look great! In all honesty, the GS looks pretty much just like its predecessors. Very classic. One thing that has changed is the reel seat. It's now a black anodized aluminum with a Micarta insert. I think it matches the rod well, but let's face it, I would have preferred some cocobolo. Like my desk. WeightThe 9' 5 weighs 2.85 oz with the top 3 sections weighing in at being .9 oz. It's a very light feeling rod. The 8'8" 4wt is nearly the same (.05 oz less on both). DistanceNo champions here, however the 9' 5wt is actually not too bad at longer distances. AccuracyBoth of these rods are amazingly accurate in close. At 30' you'll be hard pressed to find a better 5wt or 4wt. Deadly. At 45', the story doesn't change much. Both rods are fantastic! I will say that with Rio InTouch Gold, the 8'8" didn't perform its best at 45'; I think something like Wulff Triangle Taper would work better. Nevertheless, I found the 884 to be more accurate than the new Hardy Zephrus Ultralite that I cast along side it. Just for grins, I cast the 905 at 60' and I was pleasantly surprised how, on a nice calm day, well it cast! It really demonstrates just how versatile the rod is. Flex & FeelThis is where you'll see the biggest difference in the two rods. The 5wt feels like a really sweet medium-fast rod. It reminds me a lot of the Sage Circa. Lots of bend, but still recovers fast and very progressive. Comparing this to the G2, it's a much faster more useful rod. What struck me the most about the 9' 5-weight is how easy it was to cast. I think it will be the go to 5-weight for many Scott fans, particularly those who found the Radian a bit too fast for their liking. The 884 has a completely different feel. It's really stayed very true to its G-roots. It's a pure medium action dry fly rod and much softer overall than the 905. Buyer beware: you may need to slow down your stroke a bit to make this rod perform as you'd like it to. NymphingYou're not going to want to throw any BB split shot on, but the 9' 5wt is totally versatile enough to do some light nymphing, particularly if your casts are in close. WarrantyI bet you can guess... Price: $845 Conclusion The all new Scott G-Series doesn't disappoint, though, I think they missed an opportunity to name it the O-G-Series. If you were a fan of the G2, Scott has made (at least) some modest improvements to the shorter and lower line-weight rods without really changing the feel of the rod. I'd be interested to cast the new GS 884 side-by-side with the older G2 884 to see how big the difference really is. The 905, on the other hand, is just want the doctor ordered. It's buttery smooth, packed with performance and a great compliment to the Scott lineup which was missing a high performance rod in between the Radian and the F2. ProsSuperb accuracyClassic look and feel that stays true to its roots ConsCasters used to faster action rods will still find that they'll need to alter their stroke for the 884.
