Scott GT Series 8104-4

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   I held my breath while first casting this rod because it replaces one of the greatest trout rods of all time, the GS 884-4. I was so relieved, and now excited to introduce everyone to the new flagship of the G Series. The GT 8104-4 seems to swing as light as its predecessor, but the additional 2 inches offer a quantifiable advantage in casting distance, reach, and every subtle technique. This is the 4-weight I cast in my dreams, and also on my backyard rivers. On the Dolores, I found it to have tremendous range, fishing dry flies and light dry-droppers from my boot tops to 60 feet. The act of casting this rod with a single dry fly captures my love for this sport, but it is also a highly capable nymphing stick at reasonable distance, whether running micro nymphs deep on the Green or San Juan, or highsticking pockets on the San Miguel. Here again, the extra length really helps. It fishes like a 9’ rod but feels like an 8’6” rod.

   Take your pick on fly lines. With a single dry, the SA Trout Expert WF4 feels like it was made for this rod. The Rio Tech Trout WF4 loads the rod deeply and evenly, and has a little more kick for turning over larger dry flies or dry-droppers. An SA Trout GP or Rio Gold would be my choice for fishing a straight nymph rig up to about 35-40 feet from the angler.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   This is exactly what I look for in a longer 4wt rod. It’s a rod that will be happiest fishing a single dry fly but it has enough backbone for dry droppers and even a lightweight nymph set-up. This is a truly well-rounded 4wt rod that everyone ought to own. Similarly to the other 8’10” rods in the GT Series, the 8104/4 will perform well with a long leader and is a wonderful caster, effortlessly forming beautiful loops right off the tip. Being a huge fan of 8’8” 4wt rods from the past three Scott G generations, I have found a new love in the 8104/4. It’s longer than the previous generations but is somehow lighter in hand and a little more well-rounded. Regardless of where you like to fish a 4wt rod, this stick will feel right at home in any trout quiver. When it comes to mending capabilities, this rod requires a small bit of finesse from the angler, but it is a rod that takes virtually no time to feel comfortable with. It tells the caster exactly what it requires from them and is a true joy to fish. Paired with a Rio Elite Technical Trout WF4F the 8104/4 is an absolute sweetheart.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   The 4-weight version of the 8’10” GT has become one of my favorites over the last few months. I have been fishing this prototype exclusively during the R&D period and had a blast doing so. Whether using light nymph rigs, long leader dry flies or medium size terrestrials, this rod has been an outstanding performer. It is more powerful than you might think but also has the suppleness to protect light tippet. Again, I preferred the Rio Technical Trout for a line pairing.

   Troy Youngfleish (Telluride Angler)

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   How do you remake a legend? One way is to take half a century of design knowledge and material innovation, discard any preconceived notions of form, and create something entirely new—the Scott GT Series 8104/4.

   At 8’10”, this rod occupies a sweet spot between the classic 8’8″ models and the more common 9-footers. The result is a fly rod that feels perfectly balanced in hand, both familiar and refreshingly distinct.

   What sets the GT 8104/4 apart from the beloved GS 884/4 is its remarkable adaptability to various line tapers and its subtly quicker, more responsive action. While it’s a touch faster than its predecessor, it never feels stiff. “Quickness” is the better word—its recovery speed and tip path create a sense of seamless connection with the line, translating every motion directly into precision and feel.

   I paired the GT 8104/4 with the Scientific Anglers Trout Expert, Rio Technical Trout, and Rio Gold XP WF4F lines. The rod adapted beautifully to each, shifting character with surprising fluidity. Where the older G Series could feel somewhat line-sensitive, the GT Series seems to mold itself to the taper in use—accepting each with grace rather than judgment.

   A 4-weight Scott has been a perennial best-seller in our shop since the doors opened 40 years ago, and the GT 8104/4 stands as the finest example yet. It embodies everything anglers have loved about the G lineage—refinement, feel, and purpose—elevated by modern materials and design insight.

   If you don’t yet own an 8’10” Scott G-series rod, it’s time to change that. The new GT 8104/4 isn’t just an evolution—it’s the next legend, ready to fish for decades to come.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   The GT 8104-4 has the same classic smoothness that made the GS 884 so special. Every cast feels effortless. It’s a deep-flexing rod, but unlike its predecessor, the 8104-4 has a quicker, crisper tip that adds a lively feel without losing that trademark GS smoothness. It would be a phenomenal dry fly or dry dropper rod, the kind you could fish anywhere a 4-weight makes sense, from small walk and wade streams to bigger water where you need to step on the gas a little. I can easily picture myself tossing caddis tight to the bank from the front of a boat, grinning the whole time. The Rio Technical Trout line pairs best with it, though the SA Trout Expert performs really well too.

   Curtis Nelson (Telluride Angler)