Introduction:

While not as “flashy” in their marketing as other fly rod manufacturers, the Scott Fly Rod Company has quietly been making high quality rods in the U.S. since 1974. Scott made the first 5-piece back-packing rod, the first 9’ 4 weight fly rod, and are renowned for making some of the most iconic fly rods in recent history (G Series, Radian, Sector, etc.). This dedication to making a “better fly rod” has been the ethos of Scott ever since the company’s inception, and it applies to EVERY rod Scott makes-no matter the price point.

It’s been a handful of years since the Scott Fly Rod Company has offered a mid-price rod in their catalog, and there has been a noticeable gap in the Scott rod line-up since the Scott Flex stopped being available. During that time, there has been an increasing number of anglers looking for a high quality, American made fly rod that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Enter the Scott Session, the newest rod in Scott’s fly rod line-up, offering high-end performance for $675. Some people may grumble that $675 is still a significant chunk of change for a fly rod, but in a world where premium graphite fly rods are now $1,100-$1,300, being able to get a great rod for literally half the price of a premium rod is nothing to sneer at.

Rods Purpose/ Rod Models / Specs:

Like the Radian (Scott’s previous flagship, multi-purpose, fast-action fly rod), Scott describes the Session as a fast-action rod “with feel”, and was built to be a multi-purpose, multi-species, freshwater fly rod. From trout to salmon, small creeks and streams to larger bodies of water with larger fish, Scott has a fly rod in the Session family made for just about every occasion. At this point we don’t intend to carry every model of the Scott Session here in the shop, but we do have the 803, 904, 905, and 906, which we feel covers most of the fishing opportunities in our neck of the woods and across the West. Here's a brief breakdown of where I feel each model of Session will be a fun, efficient fishing tool:

• Session 803/4:  A good option for anyone fishing the Uinta Mountains, Boulder Mountains, and small creeks and streams across Utah and the west. It is a surprisingly stout little rod, and more than capable of fishing dry-dropper rigs and light/small streamers in lakes and ponds.
• Session 904/4: This would be a perfect rod for the angler who wants an all-around option for small-medium rivers, mountain lakes and ponds, and a great dry-fly rod for a variety of of water bodies.
• Session 905/4: Lighter and more responsive in the tip than many rods that share its price point, the 905 Session would be a great all-around option for the angler who wants a 5 weight that is fun to fish a dry fly with. This rod would be a great option for our local tailwater fisheries, medium-large(-ish) rivers, mountain lakes, small reservoirs, etc.
• Session 906/4: If you're looking for a rod that is capable of fishing everywhere from the Green, Strawberry Reservoir, Henry's Fork (etc.), and everything from dries, dry-droppers, nymph rigs, and medium-lightweight streamers-the Session 906/4 is a great option to consider. 

All Scott Session rods are 4 pieces for ease of travel and come with a rod sock and condura rod tube. If you would like to know the specifics on the Session’s rod components, graphite technology, etc., I’d refer you to the Scott website. You can find the link to it here.

Casting Performance:

Compared to other competitors rods in the mid-price point category ($600-$700), the Session stands out because it is lighter in hand, doesn’t feel as “clubby” as some other competitors rods in the same price point, flexes more evenly from tip to butt, and has more touch and feel. This is not an easy thing to achieve, as most rod companies purposely make mid-price point rods just good enough to justify their cost, but noticeably not as good as their premium rod offerings.

With the Scott Session, Jim Bartschi and crew did a great job at making a great rod-period. When cast side by side with more expensive fly rods, I found it was not immediately obvious which rod was more or less expensive, which I attribute to Scott’s commitment to “building a better fly rod.” After casting the Session on the lawn, with as many lines as I had available to cast from RIO and Scientific Anglers, I found it casts exceptionally well at the average freshwater fishing distances (25’-50’) and can cast farther with ease if called upon.

Line Pairings:

I really liked and appreciated that the Scott Session is capable of casting a multitude of fly lines, and casting them all well. As far as what I found to be the "best" fly lines for the Session, I really liked the RIO Elite Perception, RIO Premier Gold, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Textured Trout Standard, and Scientific Anglers Amplitude Textured Infinity. For anglers who want a fly line that delivers more all-around, multi-technique presentations, I'd go with either the RIO Elite Perception or the SA Amplitude Textured Infinity. If you want a line that can still cast lighter nymph rigs, lighter streamers, and want to focus on better dry fly presentations, it's hard to beat the RIO Premier Gold or SA Amplitude Textured Trout Standard. 

Fit and Finish:

I've said it before and I'll say it again: How a rod looks doesn't impact how well it casts and fishes. However, it is nice to know that you don't have to spend a grand to get a rod that looks like it costs a grand. Scott is known for their attention to detail, and even though the Session is a $675 rod, it doesn't look like one. In typical Scott fashion, the Session is decked out with premium cork for the rod handle, high end stripping and snake guides, a classy black and green reel seat and thread wraps.

Conclusion:

For its price point, I feel that the Scott Session is the best mid-price point rod we carry and definitely one on the best on the market. It is noticeably lighter, more responsive, and more fun to cast than other rods I've cast in the $600-$700 range, but that is just my opinion. As with every rod review I do, I encourage you to cast these rods before you buy them and see what works best for you. If you've been on the hunt for a high quality rod, but don't have the budget to go top echelon, I'd recommend you come by the shop to check the Scott Session. I hope this post has helped shed some light on these new sticks, and as always, if you have any questions about any of the rods we carry, please feel free to reach out. Coffee’s on at 8 AM!