Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!)
from our Customer Service Department
You'll notice that our product line is clearly divided between "internal ferrule" and "sleeve ferrule" fly rods. The SVS
and SAS series cost less than $270, while the others cost over $380.
The internal ferrule is considerably more difficult to construct than the sleeve ferrule, but the advantages are numerous. Consider the complexity of our design:
We select graphite stock that is compatible with the relative stiffness of a given fly rod, and roll the spigot ferrule on a steel mandrel just like the actual rod blanks. Our internal ferrule is actually a tube within a tube, which provides sufficient wall thickness at the point of connection. The ferrule piece is glued into the top of the butt section of the blank, and the protruding spigot is fit to the female end of the tip section.
The fitting process itself is painstaking. The rod builder fits the male section of the ferrule into the tip blank, then twists the two parts vigorously. This generates heat on the spigot, which indicates the areas of maximum friction. The rod builder detects the "high spots" by holding the male section of the ferrule to his upper lip, and smooths them down with a file or sandpaper. This process is repeated until a gap of 1/8"-1/2" is achieved, and the ferrule fit-up is even.
The advantages of the internal ferrule are numerous. With a conventional "tip over butt" ferrule system, a small diameter butt
section is inserted into a larger diameter tip section. This connection creates a hinging effect, and casting energy is lost as it tries to jump
from the skinny butt section into the larger diameter tip section. This loss of energy creates dead spots at the ferrule, and is especially
noticeable in multi-piece rods. With the Scott internal ferrule, there is no change in diameter along the taper of the rod. The internal ferrule
allows us to build a rod with a continuous taper from butt to tip that transfers energy more efficiently than a comparable sleeve ferrule rod.
Also, the Scott Internal Ferrule flexes with the rest of the fly rod. Externally reinforced sleeve ferrules cause "flat spots" and add
stiffness, but our internal ferrule flexes and actually contributes to the rod's smooth casting action. The internal ferrule has allowed Scott
to build 3, 4, and 5 piece rods that have the same feel as our 2-piece versions.
When choosing your first fly rod, it is important to determine what type of fishing you will do most often. Fish species, normal casting
distance, and average wind conditions are all important variables. You should then buy the best all around rod you can afford. High quality rods
for every species are available at a variety of prices, ranging from around $140 to over $600. The rod is your most important piece of tackle,
and you basically get what you pay for. Buying good gear once is less expensive than buying inferior gear several times.
If the costs associated with fly fishing seem daunting, you should begin your career with a low to mid-priced fly rod. Most good rods come with an unconditional warranty, so the rod will remain in your quiver long after you've upgraded your equipment. Perhaps it will become a first fly rod for your son, daughter or friend.
Scott offers two groups of fly rods that are particularly well suited to new anglers. The SAS series and SVS series combine quality, design and craftsmanship with a modest price. The main differences between these rods and our top quality rods are that neither SAS nor SVS feature the Scott internal ferrule, and neither have flex rated parts. The materials, components, and construction techniques are comparable to many makers' top end rods, however, and both are fine fly fishing tools.
The SAS ($215-$260) are lighter and faster action than the SVS and are finished with more beautiful cosmetics. The SVS ($139.95-$169.95) are
more moderate in action, which helps beginners develop casting skills. Both are covered by Scott's Unconditional Lifetime Warranty.
Every Scott rod is flex rated to assure that the rod loads properly with its designated line weight (a 5wt. is in fact a 5wt., not a 6wt or a
4wt, or a 7wt. for that matter). Therefore we do not recommend that you "overload" your Scott rod with a heavier line weight. A G905
is a moderate action fly rod with a 5wt. line, while an STS905 is a fast action rod with a 5wt. line. As far as fly line brands are concerned,
there are numerous high quality lines and personal preference is the most important factor in choosing one of these brands.
This particular question highlights one of the hallmarks of our company. Scott designs fishing tools for specific fishing applications and
species of fish. While the same line weights are useful for both salmon/steelhead and saltwater, the fishing conditions and techniques are very
different.
The saltwater angler must punch long casts and large flies into the wind, and put the brakes on fish which absolutely scream for the horizon. Your target is usually moving, so a rod that loads quickly and casts accurately is required. Also, the rod must stand up to the rigors of the salt. Scott saltwater rods are built with fast tapers for quick casts and powerful butt sections for playing fish. Most are 9' in length or shorter, which reduces wind resistance. All are equipped with salt-resistant components, and are given extra epoxy under the guide feet to prevent corrosion.
The steelhead and salmon angler requires a longer, more progressive action rod. Line mending, roll casting, and steering the fly are critical techniques in large rivers, so a long rod is particularly useful. Our single-handed ARC rods are 9'-10' in length, and our two-handers range from 11' 9" to 16' 0". Our steelhead and salmon rods are lighter in weight than our saltwater rods, and have a more progressive action. This makes them easy to cast over and over, and also helps protect your tippet when fighting a fish in heavy currents.
Most saltwater rods are too stiff and too short to be good for line mending, while most steelhead rods are too long to cast on a windy flat.
If you are looking for a rod that does both, we recommend the STS 958/4. At 9' 6", this rod is long enough to mend line and steer your fly.
The STS are our fastest action fly rods, and this one has plenty of backbone for casting in the wind.
Scott builds three saltwater rod lines, the Heliply Series, Tactical Series, and Eclipse Series. All are superb saltwater fly rods, but each
have distinct character.
Heliply Series rods take their name from a helically oriented graphite scrim which reinforces the graphite blank. This "Heliply" reinforcement helps the blank retain its hoop shape when under load, thus increasing durability. While they are high modulus, fast action rods, Heliplys have a forgiving tip which allows them to load at closer distances than most saltwater fly rods. They are easy to cast, and excellent fish fighting tools. Their special 8' 8" length makes them more efficient levers than 9' or 9 ½' rods, so Heliplys are excellent for lifting heavy fish from deep water.
The Scott Tactical Series (STS) are the product of extensive field research, and have won vast acclaim in the fly fishing industry*. STS saltwater rods are among the lightest on the market and have an extra fast action. They are perfect for wade fishing on the flats, where long casts into the wind are necessary. The Tactical Series also features two longer rods for fishing shoreline surf. STS 958/4 and STS 9510/3 are particularly useful for striped bass and bluefish anglers who must cast large flies great distances over waves and sand.
The Scott Eclipse Series (SES) contains our newest and perhaps finest all around saltwater fly rods. The Eclipse are easy to cast like the Heliplys, but offer more casting range for wade fishing. They generate tremendous line speed with a natural casting stroke, and have power to stop the strongest saltwater species. The Eclipse are finished with spectacular green and gold cosmetics, and are fit with the finest, most durable components available.
All three of these rod lines are equipped with state of the art components, and are designed for the extreme conditions found in saltwater.
*Top 10 Best of Show, Fly Tackle Dealer Show
*1996 Kudo award, Fly Rod & Reel magazine 1998
This question highlights what we call "The Scott Difference." Some rod companies choose one type of graphite and name all of their
fly rods after the material. We take a completely different approach. Rod designs are conceived in the field by the Scott Pro Staff. Rod
designer Jim Bartschi then chooses materials to best meet the application. As a result, Scott uses a large variety of graphite and fiberglass
materials in our 135 rod models. Each material is completely customized, made with a specific fiber and resin combination to be used in a
specific group of fly rods. Combining custom materials in complex lay-ups and unique taper designs, we gain maximum performance in each Scott
fly rod.
To generalize, G-Series rods are made from medium modulus materials, Eclipse Series rods are made from medium-high modulus materials, and the
Tactical Series are constructed from high modulus materials. We should emphasize that graphite is a material that became highly refined over
thirty years ago for use in modern aircraft. A wide variety of graphite materials have been available to rod designers since the dawn of our
industry. The secrets of fine fly rod design lie in the designer's ability to work with materials rather than in the materials themselves.
All new Scott rods and blanks are covered by our Unconditional Lifetime Warranty (to the original owner). Several other rod makers offer an
unconditional warranty, but we would like to emphasize that each company handles repairs differently, and that Scott provides the highest
quality repair service for anglers. If you break your Scott fly rod, please send the broken and unbroken parts to the address given below. Most
manufacturers replace broken parts by simply sending a comparable rod section from their stock. Scott rebuilds the broken part from scratch.
First, we check the exact flex rating of your original rod (see "flex rating" under The Scott Difference). Next, we choose a blank
section with the same flex rating characteristics and build a brand new part. We then do a complete ferrule fit-up, hand sanding your new
ferrule parts to perfectly fit the unbroken ferrule sections. As a result, your repaired fly rod will look and feel virtually identical to the
original. To save you fishing time, we rush the repaired rod back to you by 2nd Day Air courier service.
Broken blanks are replaced in the same manner, but Scott does not replace the components or workmanship contributed by the custom rod builder.
In the event of a mishap, package the broken as well as the unbroken parts in a rod tube, then put the rod tube in a cardboard box. Send the rod via UPS, Fed-Ex, or some other courier that uses a package tracking system to:
Scott Fly Rods, attn: Repairs
2355 Air Park Way
Montrose, CO 81401
800-728-7208
Click Here For a Printable Repair Form
Include a check, VISA, or MasterCard number for the $20 shipping and handling fee, which includes the 2nd Day Air return shipping. Average
repair time is only 2-3 weeks. If you have questions about your repair, you may contact our repair department or customer service at
800-728-7208.
Experienced anglers are rapidly discovering that two-handed fly rods offer many advantages over single-handed rods on salmon and steelhead
rivers, and even large trout streams. Anadromous fish are generally pursued by covering broad, long pools with a down-and-across swing.
Two-handed rods, generally 12 ½'-16' allow the angler to make long casts with either an overhead cast or the traditional spey cast. Roll
casting and spey casting are particularly useful when wading deep runs, or when backcast space is restricted by trees or willows. The most
important aspect of presenting your fly to a steelhead or salmon is to carefully control its swing. It is necessary to guide your fly straight
to the fish, and either slow the fly down or speed it up as it approaches the holding lie. After every cast, the angler mends line and
manipulates the fly through its swing. The extra reach provided by a two-handed rod gives the angler enormous control, and makes virtually every
technique less tiring.
The advantages of two-handed rods also apply to large trout streams. The angler can fish large dry flies, such as grasshoppers and stoneflies, against the far bank of the river. The longer rod allows the angler to make precise line mends, and play out a long dead drift. Similarly, nymphs can be dead drifted under a strike indicator, and streamers may be swung through distant pockets.
This year, rod designer Jim Bartschi developed a special two-handed rod for trout anglers. ARC 1196/4 allows anglers to either spey cast or overhead cast on large trout streams, and gain all of the above advantages. We've found this rod to be absolutely deadly on the Gunnison, our local canyon water trout stream.
Here is the biggest reason to start using two-handed rods: Two-handers allow you to learn a whole new set of casting and line control
techniques. Learning to spey cast is like learning to fly cast all over again. If you love this sport, you'll love learning new techniques and
using new equipment. Your favorite old trout stream will take on new dimensions, and salmon and steelhead rivers will suddenly seem more
fishable.
