Recently, I had the opportunity to fish the new Scott GT. My first impression was that, like all Scott fly rods, it’s a finely crafted piece of gear. Based in Montrose, Colorado, Scott is well-known for producing durable, beautifully finished rods capable of achieving maximum line speed.
I own several Scott Centrics and Sectors, but I had only fished the G series a handful of times. They were all loaner rods from friends. So I was extremely excited to test out the GT. The G series has been fished worldwide and has been passed down through generations of anglers. The GT builds on everything that made the G series great—it’s lighter, more responsive, and provides incredible feedback, all while protecting light tippet.
The improvements start with wall thickness and Scott’s X-Core design approach. GT rods are the first in the series to feature the latest version of X-Core design principles, resulting in the thinnest-walled blanks Scott has ever created. New multi-modulus layups combined with ARC2 multidirectional fibers enhance recovery and line speed, giving the rods greater stability and accuracy. Scott also redesigned their signature hollow internal ferrule, making it up to 20% lighter and more in tune with the flex of the blank than ever before.
GT rods feature milled aluminum reel seats with Type 3 hard coat, complemented by beautiful cocobolo wood inserts and Flor-grade cork grips. They also include titanium-framed Zirconia no-tangle stripping guides, paired with Snake Brand universal snake guides.
The rod I tested was the Scott GT 8'10", 4-weight. Like many slower-action rods, the GT performs best when paired with its true line weight. I loaded one reel with SA Trout GP and another with Rio Gold, and both lines delivered exceptional results. Short casts of around 20 feet were effortless, while 30–40-foot casts remained precise and controlled. The rod’s recovery was remarkable, yet it still retained Scott’s signature progressive action.
The moment I hooked my first fish, the feeling was pure “wow.” Every head shake, pull, and run felt like a natural extension of the rod in my hand. The rod flexed deeply, and even with 4x tippet, a 20-inch brown trout came to the net with ease. I couldn’t have been more impressed.
I was primarily casting foam hoppers and small caddis fly patterns. Regardless of which fly, I was able to throw tight loops and thoroughly enjoyed the accurate, delicate casts, flex profile, and recovery speeds. I must admit, I've been a big fan of the Winston Pure series and short bamboo rods for my dry fly needs over the years. However, fishing the new Scott GT has me genuinely reconsidering my preferences. The rod blends power and precision in a way that feels effortless—every delicate presentation and subtle mend feels controlled, yet the backbone is there when you need it. It’s rare to find a rod that excels across such a range of dry fly situations, and the Scott GT delivers on every level.
The new Scott GT are available in the following sizes: 7'4" 3-weight, 8'4" 3-weight, 8'4" 4-weight, 8'10" 3-weight, 8'10" 4-weight, 8'10" 5-weight, 8'10" 6-weight, 9'8" 4-weight, 9'8" 5-weight.
Browse available Scott GT models here.
