Scott GT Series 8103-4

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Although the longest 3-weight in the series, this model will be known as the lightest. It delivers a surreal feeling of airiness in the cast matched by no other medium action fly rod on the market and only a handful of fast action sticks, which generally have weight balanced toward the butt section in their blanks. This rod feels faster than it is because the tip recovery is so elastic, clean, bounce-free and effervescent. As each casting loop unfolds, line speed seems to build rather than die. It’s just remarkable. I’ve cast this rod hundreds of times with different lines and always come away saying to myself, “I’ve never felt anything like it.” Plenty powerful for fishing hoppers and hopper-dropper combinations, what I really recommend for this rod is a 14-foot leader and single dry fly. It swings as sweet as the famous GS 883-4 but with even greater feel. It mends across the river. When setting the hook on a long cast, the 8’10” rod peels all the line off the water to confidently bury the hook, whereas shorter 3-weights often leave me feeling like I have short arms. Fish it with a Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout Expert WF3 for tightest casting loops and maximum line speed. It also handles a Rio Technical Trout, which may be a better line for throwing grasshoppers and hopper/dropper combinations.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   The Scott GT Series 3wt lineup is comprised of three extremely well thought out rods. For small creeks you have the 743/4, for backcountry fishing where rod tube length is a consideration you have the 843/5, and for everything else you have this rod, the 8103/4. The 8’10” length is a really cool new look at long leader dry fly rods. When fishing 3wt rods, you rarely need a full 9 feet of length, but if you’re like me and understand the advantage of fishing a longer leader, you need more length than an 8’6” rod. This rod not only fishes a long leader well, but it mends and roll casts incredibly well. Just like all of the GT rods, the 8103/4 is a beautiful caster. It is light in hand and would feel right at home on any technical tailwater when the fish are looking up. Whether you prefer to fish a single dry or double dry, this rod will perform as well if not better than any other long 3wt rod. Pair this rod with a Rio Elite Technical Trout WF3F and get ready for some outstanding dry fly fishing.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   The 8’10” GT models are really unique in that you get both the casting advantages of a longer rod while shedding some weight and gaining a bit of mobility in tight quarters. The 3-wt is a fantastic long leader missile thrower that protects light tippet very well and allows for long distance sets. I find that a shorter, more powerful stroke is necessary to make this rod shine. These rods all seem to favor shorter, heavier headed lines like the Rio Technical Trout.

   Troy Youngfleish (Telluride Angler)

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   There’s no other way to put it—this rod shocked me. The Scott GT Series 8103/4 returns the energy you put into it in a way no other fly rod I’ve ever cast has managed. Every cast feels whole, complete, and perfectly executed, as if the rod knows what you’re trying to do and simply makes it happen.

   The connection to the line is extraordinary. The feedback, the flex, the pliability—all seem perfectly calibrated to respond to your intent. You can access any part of the rod at any moment, shaping the cast exactly as you envision it. The GT 8103/4 doesn’t just translate motion; it interprets it.
   Trying to describe what it feels like is nearly impossible. It’s that same sense of rightness as a perfect kiss, or the warmth of tasting your mother’s cooking after too long away—something deeply familiar yet indescribably special. Some experiences defy explanation, and this rod is one of them. Go cast it. Whatever you need to do to get a GT 8103/4 in your hand—do it.

   The Scientific Anglers Trout Expert line is divine on this rod, and the Rio Technical Trout pairs with pure joy. The GT 8103/4 sits beyond the limits of what I thought a fly rod could be—it feels almost otherworldly.

   This is a rod made for the thoughtful angler, for dry-fly fishing to selective trout on technical waters. It rewards patience, precision, and presence. When everything aligns—the drift, the fly, the fish—it feels like providence, as though the river itself paused just long enough for perfection to happen.

   The Scott GT 8103/4 helps you reach that rare mental space where doubt disappears, time slows, and the world narrows to a single moment of connection—where they eat it.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   No rod has ever impressed me more on the first cast. It is super smooth and incredibly stable. For nearly any light-line situation, I’d reach for this rod over any 3-weight out there.

   This would be an amazing rod for a river like the San Miguel. It is delicate and playful while still being long enough for high sticking pocket water. It also absolutely comes alive at distance, capable of surprising power when you need to send it, while retaining a smoothness that I have never felt from any other rod. In fact, it’s a touch quicker and stiffer than I expected, which translates into tight, dagger like loops. This rod would be a phenomenal dry fly rod but also capable of throwing small dry-dropper rigs. I found the Scientific Anglers Trout Expert taper to be best on this rod, delivering precise, buttery presentations and creating a feeling of connection between rod and line that I have never felt before. The Rio Technical Trout was also great on there, especially for casting long leaders with small dry flies.

   Curtis Nelson (Telluride Angler)