In a big year of rod releases, it’s easy to overlook some of the little guys. The Scott Flex is one such release. It’s not that people don’t think the Flex will be a great rod and a huge improvement over the *meh* A4, and it’s not that Scott doesn’t have a ton of fans. But, let’s face it, the $1100 G. Loomis Asquith is just a little more newsworthy. Read on to see why you shouldn’t overlook the new Flex.
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Scott makes some of the finest fly rods in the world. Fit and finish is top notch, and the Flex is no different. Every wrap of the rod is just perfect! Usually, finish work suffers on low- and mid-priced rods, but not so on the Flex. So, how does it differ from the Radian? Well, for one, you’re not going to get a full wells grip. You’re also not going to get a wood reel seat… boo hoo. Really the only substantive (maybe) difference is the guides aren’t titanium.
Weight
The Flex is a really light fly rod. It weighs in at 2.95 oz. which is slightly heavier than the Radian. It feels nice and light in hand, but it’s not the absolute lightest feeling rod out there.
Accuracy
At shorter distances, the Flex performs really well, but takes some getting used to. It’s got a different flex pattern and while you’d expect it to be deadly in close, it feels like the rod is more optimized toward medium length casts and sacrifices in close accuracy to do it.
As you step back, the Flex comes into its own. I loved casting the Scott Flex at 45’. It’s one of the best rods out there and is incredibly accurate. It’s a good thing because 45’ is the distance that’s going to be the most useful to the largest majority of anglers. One thing I did notice was that the Flex doesn’t have the line speed of faster rods, like the Radian, so don’t expect it to punch into the wind particularly well. That same characteristic means that it’s not going to make really long casts, or be really accurate at longer distances – and it isn’t. At 60’, I was left wanting a little extra oomph, but it got the job done.
Flex & Feel
Scott calls the Flex a fast rod with a “faster” recovery speed. This is compared to the fast flex and “fastest” recovery speed of the Radian. Overall it’s clearly a softer rod than the Radian – and that’s a good thing. It means the rod is more forgiving and easier to cast.
Warranty
Lifetime.
Price: $475
Conclusion
Well, it’s high time we did a $500 rod shootout. There are a lot of great rods in this price range and it seems that more are coming out each year. In 2011, there wasn’t a $500 rod worth casting, but in 2016 we have the Winston Nexus, Orvis Recon, Sage Pulse, Hardy Jet, and now, the Scott Flex (among others).
As for the Flex, it’s an excellent trout rod. For most people, it’s a better trout rod than the Radian. It’s easier to cast, and easier to cast accurately at mid distances. As you’d expect, however, it doesn’t do *everything* better than the Radian (or any of the other top fly rods) and doesn’t have super high line speeds or great long distance performance. Nevertheless, I can’t overstate that this is an excellent rod for many trout anglers, particularly those interested in saving some $.
Pros
Scott build quality
Awesome at middle distances
Super light
Cons
It doesn’t do everything for everyone as well as the G. Loomis Asquith
Ben Freeman founded Trident Fly Fishing in 2012 to cut through the marketing fluff and provide anglers with the technical info they actually need. He’s built his reputation by putting gear to the ultimate test in the world’s most unforgiving fisheries. With fishing stamps from over 22 countries and 17+ states, Ben’s passport is a roadmap of bucket list angling—from landing a 25lb Golden Dorado in Bolivia and 150lb Arapaima in Guyana to sight-casting for Roosterfish off the beaches in Baja. Whether it’s battling 60+mph winds to land a 20lb Rainbow at Jurassic Lake or a full day of casting 8in streamers in Mongolia, Ben has spent decades ensuring his gear performs when a trip of a lifetime is on the line.
At Trident, Ben serves as the lead gear geek, specializing in the deep-dive mechanics of rods, reels, and lines. Over the past 15 years, he's reviewed 250+ fly rods and 150+ fly reels and is likely one of the most prolific rod reviewers in the world. But he doesn't just curate the catalog; he scrutinizes every taper and drag system through the lens of a traveling angler who knows what it's like to have gear fail a thousand miles from home. For Ben, the mission is simple: leverage his experience across nearly 100 species to ensure that when you head into the wild, you’re equipped with gear that has been vetted by someone who has actually been there.
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