Although there are 5 fly rods within the fiftieth Anniversary assortment and the F703/4 is a pull for me for the reason that first “premium” glass fly rod that I bought over twenty years in the past was the black glass Fibertouch 703/3. It was my second fiberglass fly rod and if I bear in mind appropriately, I stumbled throughout it on a Colorado fly store web site. It arrived a couple of days later and I used to be instantly obsessive about it. It furthered my sudden take to fiberglass which continues to at present and was the beginning of a small assortment of fly rods from the Scott Fly Rod Firm which features a few gentle line weight glass fly rods and the bizarre however great Fiberhammer.
Jim, thanks for taking the time to reply these questions and congratulations on this milestone anniversary. I hope everybody enjoys this insightful interview on this particular F mannequin providing.
What was the primary fiberglass fly rod you bear in mind whenever you began with the Scott Fly Rod Firm? What have been your ideas on it and the way has your concentrate on fiberglass modified over time?
There have been lots of glass rods from the ’70s and ’80’s across the store once I began. Some manufacturing fashions, some prototypes, and the management rods Harry and Larry used to examine manufacturing runs. I recall they largely sat round gathering mud. That was at a time when glass was thought-about previous or out of date and everybody was hyper centered on the graphite wars that dominated rod maker and angler consideration within the early 90’s.
Glass hadn’t fairly hit the revival section again then. Right now, I see glass as an important rod constructing materials, and as related to anglers as ever.
How has the F703 modified by means of the numerous generations of the fiberglass?
We have by no means supplied a 4 piece mannequin because it was launched within the unique F sequence, pre-graphite. We’ve made 7′ 3-weights and fly rods near 7 ft, however by no means truly supplied the precise 703/4 mannequin that we’re with the fiftieth Anniversary mannequin. In all probability the 2 closest are the Fibertouch 703/3 which was a 3-piece rod, and the present manufacturing FS72/4, at 7′ 2″ and 4-pieces.
As you selected the lineup for the fiftieth Anniversary fly rods, what pointed you in direction of creating the F703/4 as a substitute of one other F sequence mannequin?
The F703 was arguably probably the most iconic of the unique Scott glass rods. It hit all of the candy spots for the fabric and software. It additionally showcased the hallmark smoothness of Scott glass in multi piece rods and the advantages of the Scott hole inside ferrules. Since we have by no means supplied this particular mannequin in 4 items, it was the clear alternative for commemorating this milestone.
In designing this fiftieth Anniversary F703/4, what have been you working most to attain?
At the start, staying true to Harry Wilson’s design. I contemplate myself simply the caretaker of this rod from a design standpoint. We left our refined marks on the rod within the building and part decisions. Our newest epoxy resin system is used within the clean together with our newest iteration of the Scott hole inside ferrule. We additionally used at present’s best-in-class elements like titanium stripping guides with Zirconia inserts, Snake Model snake guides, and precision milled aluminum reel seat. None of these elements have been accessible when this rod was launched within the mid ’70s. Some have grow to be accessible solely within the final couple of years. Aside from being noticeably lighter, the anniversary clean maps very true to the management clean Harry selected within the 70’s to benchmark this mannequin.
Do you will have any explicit reminiscences of fishing the F703 over years that you just’d prefer to share?
I want I had. This was a mannequin that routinely bought out through the years it was made. I’ve owned and fished the 2-piece model, however by no means acquired the unique F703 out on the water. My unique 2-piece F703 met a tragic destiny when a good friend I loaned it to absentmindedly left it on high of his truck on the finish of the fishing day and drove off into the sundown.
Any final ideas on this that you just’d prefer to share?
The F703/4 is recognizable as a classic Scott yellow glass rod from the
’70’s however clearly modernized. Each are constructed from E-Glass on the identical
tapers however the newest epoxy resin is utilized in place of first gen resin.
The Scott hole inside ferrules are our newest model so they’re
lighter than the unique model.
This has been a really significant mission to everybody at Scott. We provide these as a tribute and heartfelt thanks to anglers who fish our rods. We might by no means have made it 50 years, with the singular mission of handcrafting excessive efficiency fly rods, with out their assist.
Be taught extra in regards to the fiftieth Anniversary F703/4 on the Scott Fly Rod Firm web site. To order your personal restricted version F703/4, attain out to a seller. This can be a particular one to your assortment.
