Scott introduced the first G rods in 1976, and changed fly fishing by creating the first 9’ 4 weight fly rod. The Sage delivers considerably more line speed, but the Scott holds up a long loop beautifully and has superior touch for carefully placing slack line casts. Collectively, these three manufacturers have raised the bar for refinement in rods that can do much more than just cast. It is a very smooth rod to cast and was excellent at short and mid-distances, but at the longest distance the Radian, Helios 3F, and Avantt were much better. Rod Designer Annette McLean put her best work on display in the Pure 904, 905 and others in the series. Paired with a Rio Gold line, the Trout LL 590-4 maximizes line speed and power with minimal input from the caster. I’m making very accurate and delicate casts. Winston Pure 2wt: The lightest, most delicate rod we make.Meant for happy-go-lucky streams, this rod perfectly casts microscopic dry flies on the lightest tippet, and bends to the butt section with the weight of a 7” brook trout. The Scott GS 843-4 has a playful nature. Sage Trout LL 486-4 vs Winston Pure 8 ½’ 4-wt vs Scott GS 844-4 vs Scott GS 884-4 The two 8’6” rods in this group represent the extremes in action. It is magnificent for casting tight loops with a dry fly and has plenty of command for dry dropper rigs. The Sage Trout LL 379-4 really comes to life with a Rio Gold WF3F line. The Scott GS 906-4 and Sage Trout LL 690-4 are wonderful, progressive action rods that can do it all for the angler. [Sage Trout LL Page] When I slowed my stroke down, and got my timing right, I could hit 60 feet easily and with pretty good accuracy. Amazing touch in close, this rod is easy to load and you can feel the blank flex through the cork grip. The Pure 490-4 fishes best with an SA Trout Taper WF4F line and a single dry fly. Very nice feel with excellent accuracy at short distances. Winston PURE above. It casts effortlessly from zero to over 70’, maintaining the intuitive “connectedness” for which this series is known. Scott claims that this gives their rods better strength and we cannot argue with this as we see very few Scott rods broken. Also new are Winston PURE light line rods. In the wake of several fast action fly rod introductions, the WT and LT are the rods that many diehard Winston acolytes behold as the classics from this manufacturer. The Scott GS 772-4 is the best technical dry fly tool of the group. It will drill a hopper to the bank, with or without a dropper, and you’ll love how light it swings all day long (or all week, or all month). The Scott G Series rods feature an advance medium action with two innovations. We didn’t miss a detail. Power must be applied smoothly, and carefully, otherwise expect tailing loops. The Winston Pure 7’ 3-weight is similar in character to the Pure 7’ 2-weight, casting with a slightly quicker cadence than its cousins. Scott has been a leader in moderate action rods for more than 40 years. These rods prove that a medium-action 6-weight makes a great all-around trout rod. This is our side-by-side evaluation of the most comparable models in each series. Sage’s accomplishment with the Trout LL is remarkable. REDINGTON This is a brand of highly respected fly rods that have earned a reputation for modest price, … These two rods will often be compared with the longer 3-weights described next, but they are more similar to each other, so let’s split hairs. The move is often a marketing ploy rather than an act of fly rod innovation. We found the SA Amplitude Smooth Trout to be the best match. It is accurate and effortless, but not versatile. The Sage Trout LL 389-4 is all about command, stability and control. Unlike many of the stiffer modern day 4-weights, the G Series rods do not require up-lining by a half line size. Better than the Radian and Helios 3F in close. The classic Winston green is a great stealth color on our eastern mountain streams. It felt smooth and comfortable to cast, and I was getting very nice presentations, with superb accuracy. Choose this rod as your mid-to-long 4-weight if you value progressive action but want a rod that’s a little slower than the Sage Trout LL 490-4. Like a lot of great Scotts from the past, the GS 885-4 impresses more when fishing than parking lot casting. In the early 1980’s Scott achieved industry benchmarks with the original G.  The G 904 was the first graphite 4-weight over 8’ ever produced. This is the third generation of Scott G Series fly rods. SCOTT CENTRIC rods have arrived! It flexes deeply and evenly through the mid-section, excelling in the finer techniques:  line mending, tippet protection, touch at all distances and even single handed Spey casting. The result is wonderful dry fly rod that loads well in close and is accurate out to 45 feet. The epoxy coatings are excellent as is the overall craftsmanship, which we have come to expect from Scott. At 25 feet the Scott G Series is incredible. Best New Fly Rods for 2020. [Winston Pure Page] Unless you’re trying to mess up th… Winston is in the game for the long haul, and you could not be disappointed in any Winston fly rod, from the lightest 3 wt to a hefty saltwater stick, they are superb fly rods. Fortunately I had planned a trip with FlyLife through iconic trout water in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming and after a little begging I managed to have an 8’8” 4-weight for me to start the trip with. Read our model-by-model reviews. If you’re looking for an all-purpose 4-weight that swings lighter than your 9’ 5-weight and offers more touch than heavier fast action rods, this is perhaps the most versatile and highest overall quality rod. It has all the good looks, but more finesse than the Radian, which makes for a great 4-weight rod. Chloe’s Comments: When I first picked up the G-Series, I was a somewhat apprehensive. The Scott G Series 773-4 offers a small step up in casting range and line speed. This rod delivers more line speed than others in the group and fishes to at least 60’ under the right circumstances. The Winston Pure 9’ 4-wt is the slowest action rod of the group, designed with a classic stiff tip that forces the rod to lean into its mid section regardless of how much line is in the air. We all have that one rod you plan trips around so you can use it when you are on the water. You can’t possibly go wrong, but each rod is unique. Intuitive, springy and playful, this is a magnificent all-around rod for wade fishing as well as a drift boat dry fly rod. Traditionalists especially loved the sleek cigar grip which snugs comfortably in hand. By any measure, these are some of the finest rods Sage has ever produced. The Trout LL is truly world class. Performance at 40 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. This rod is perhaps the best “all around short 3-weight” in this comparison. Fish the GS 886-4 with a short-headed line for maximum casting efficiency. To do so, the rod designer must master the relationship between the four parts of the rod so that the weight and relative stiffness of each has the desired effect upon the rod’s overall load and feel characteristics without requiring a heavy tip to make the rod flex deeply. The Pure features classic Winston fit and finish. Articles The blank is finished in natural graphite gray in the Scott tradition, with the blank sanded only lightly so that the tape marks remain. Scott F Series vs. Sage Dart: Comp on the Creek! Although each of these qualifies as a medium action 4-weight, they differ notably in character. The ring seems to lock up well. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, with a medium fast action. Winston Elliott Scott (born August 6, 1950) is a retired United States Navy Captain and former NASA astronaut.He served as a mission specialist on STS-72 in 1996 and STS-87 in 1997 logged a total of 24 days, 14 hours and 34 minutes in space, including three spacewalks totaling 19 hours and 26 minutes. During his childhood, Winn was very close to his father and the two would often go to the latter's workshop and build toys. The G Series was still very good at 60 feet. George’s Comments: The ... of this rod to form and maintain very tight loops helped it give me slightly more accuracy than the Helios 3F or Scott G series at mid-range. Defining characteristics of the Pure series:  feathery feel, like blowing pixie dust from a straw, Best models:  Pure 8’ 4-wt, Pure 9’ 4-wt, Pure 9’ 5-wt. Ditto the GS 906-4, but the Scott is slightly more touch-oriented than the Sage. The G 844-5 and G 845-5, introduced in the 1983, were the first 5-piece graphite rods to market. While it does not have the power that the H3F or Zephrus has, it still is more than capable of making long, accurate casts. Winston PURE 8’ #4 $850.00. It casts with a magnificent “progressive” feeling, rolling short casts off the tip but still quite comfortable in the 30’-40’ range. In the hands of most anglers, medium action rods out fish stiffer rods in all the little ways that add up to more fish caught and greater reward in the process:  roll casting, line mending, touch and tippet protection, not to mention effortless casting the addictive feel of fly rod and line working in harmony. Not an inch of graphite is wasted. If you are a fan of tossing dry flies and presenting them on a dime in any situation, then the New Scott G-Series Fly Rod is going to be that rod for you. All of these rods are recommended for straight dry fly fishing, as opposed to dry-dropper or nymphing. The Sage Trout LL 490-4 is the stoutest of the group. [Scott G Series Page], [Winston Pure On the Water Video] Fly fishing equipment reviews, practical advice, factory tours, interviews and instruction. Our fly line recommendations are noted for many models in an effort to help the angler choose the very best rod for his or her purposes and optimize the performance of that rod. The Pure 9’ 5-weight delivers that sensational Winston feel and might be the “most fun” caster of the three 9’ 5-weights. It doesn’t offer a ton of muscle for long distance, however, but that’s not why people buy this rod in the first place. This rod feels more substantial than the GS 883-4, but not in a way that detracts from the fun factor. I can compare this rod to a glass of my favorite 12-year-old Scotch. [Fly Rods Page] Being a huge fan of Scott G’s for a long time now, I just had to get my hands on one when I heard the new generation Scott G Series was about to be released. The tip on the AIR has enough backbone to let you cast in tight quarters, and the rod as a whole is just exceptional out to 50 or so feet. The tip follows through with authority on a cast of any length, so it turns over leaders precisely and consistently. It has the greatest overall range, with superb touch and control from your boot tips out to around 50’. With the recent introduction of the G-Series, Scott can lay claim to having the longest-running continuous graphite fly rod series – even if it's the name only, because the G-Series is a completely different animal. So, if you’re in to fishing small pristine waters, and jewel like wild fish, treat yourself to the ultimate fishing tools-F Series rods from Scott-High performance, handcrafted, and pure fun. Interestingly, the 7 ½’ 3-weight Pure is a slower action rod that feels more closely related to the 6 ½’ 3-wt in this series. The new Saltwater AIR series is very light and allows for unprecedented fast recovery, for any length of cast. The 6 ½ 3-wt Pure is the shortest of the three. The Sage Trout LL 486-4 is the fastest action rod in the group. The Winston Air 8 ½’ 3-weight is supremely tuned to its line class. Winston and Scott specialize is slower action fly rods, however, and these three are fine choices for the angler who prefers graphite to fiberglass in a small stream environment. It has a buttery feel and loads with almost no effort but lacks the backbone to fish over about 40 feet. The wraps are brown with some amber trim. Defining characteristics of Trout LL:  superb “progressiveness,” intuition in casting, command and stability throughout its range, Best models:  Trout LL 490-4 and Trout LL 590-4. The Sage will cast and fish a little longer and handle a streamer with more confidence. The Pure 7’ 2-wt has a more crisp feel and fishes in a broader range. True “creek” graphite rods are uniquely difficult to design because a shorter rod tends to leverage the cast and make the rod feel fast action. Guilty as charged, not a Pure Series fly rod. From the casting cadence to the color of the blank, the characteristics of the Trout LL gracefully acknowledge part of the Sage legacy too often forgotten in the face of its prowess in power-oriented fly rods:  Sage has made outstanding medium-action trout rods for over 30 years. The Scotts each offer something unique. Sage and Winston have answered the Scott G Series with the best moderate action rods that either maker has ever designed:  the Trout LL and Pure Series. We should have worn tuxedos for casting these three rods side-by-side. In some cases, we compare multiple models of “tweener” length to help the angler choose from the reasonable proximate range. Like the Trout LL, the GS 885-4 is marvelous on foot or from a boat. The Sage Trout LL 586-4 may be the finest pure caster in the whole Trout LL series. After casting the G Series at 25 feet, I was surprised that it (and the Pure) was almost as good at our mid-distance target. This is a legitimate all-around 9’ 5-weight, not a specialized dry fly rod. Winston Scott is an actor, known for Mr. Lonely: No Place No Home (2018). This is the only Winston Air model included in this review, but must be considered because it is one of the finest Winston fly rods and compares favorably with the GS 843-4. This affects the G Series’ capability to handle windy days, hook setting, and keeping that big brown away from that nasty stick pile once she’s hooked. We’re splitting hairs, but the differences are noticeable on the water. But if fiberglass wasn’t experiencing a golden era, this would be my go-to rod. Choose the Scott over the Winston if you seek the slower action rod that does the most work under 40’. The package arrived at my door with a note taped on the outside, saying that I couldn't tell anyone about what was on the inside. The G Series, like the Winston Pure, lacked a little bit of punch compared to the stiffer rods at long distance. But the G-Series gets the job done. Performance at 40 feet: 19.5 out of 20 I recently had the opportunity to take the Scott G Series 905 with me on a trip to Wyoming, to fish with Jack Dennis for a few days. Proprietary design allows for unprecedented fast recovery, for any length of.. 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