Scott GT Series 8105-4

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   A chip off the same block as the 8104-4, this rod is everything I want in a 5-weight. It holds the line high enough to fish aggressively without fear of dropping my backcast into the willows, yet flexes evenly throughout the top ¾ of the blank, imparting a wonderful sense of cradling the fly line and shooting it the appropriate distance. It’s not just a great fly rod, it’s a great 5-weight, equally capable with a double nymph rig as it is with a dry fly. Like many rods in the GT series, it fishes slightly stiffer and longer than its predecessor, which I preferred to fish only with a dry fly. It is stable and powerful enough to fish from a driftboat, yet sufficiently supple to present long leaders at any distance while wading. It casts gently with an open loop for draping silky leader presentations, or crisply with hard stops for tight loops in the wind. The character of this rod is truly original. Most anglers will never know how hard Jim Bartschi worked to perfect the taper. We fished several early prototypes, all of which were fine fly rods, but not what he had in mind. Great fly rods are not born by chance, and the process of producing a series is anything but cookie-cutter. Bartschi wanted and needed this rod to stand above every previous G Series 5-weight, a daunting task. The result of his work is gift to all of us.

   The GT 8105-4 casts many fly lines well, which is critical to versatility. Fish an SA Trout Expert WF5 with a single dry fly for gorgeous parallel loops and incredible long leader presentations. A Rio Gold is ideal for dry-dropper fishing or terrestrials in the #8-#10 range. The new SA Trout GP has similar characteristics to the Rio Gold and brings out a crisp, lively character in the 25’-50’ fishing range.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   How could Scott possibly improve on the legendary 885/4 G Series? Well, they added two inches, incorporated their new hollow internal ferrules, stiffened up the rod just a shade, and wrapped it in beautiful components and a stunning Cocobolo reel seat. The 8105/4 GT Series rod from Scott is an absolute showstopper. This is a rod that impresses from the moment you pick it up until you are able to convince yourself to put it down. It is easily one of the smoothest casting 5wt rods on the market and is wonderfully light in hand. With the ability to fish in close or far out with lethal accuracy, this is a fantastic dry fly tool. Don’t fool yourself, this rod can absolutely handle a dry dropper or nymph set-up, but where it really shines is with a single dry fly and a long leader. I can’t think of another rod I would rather have in my hand for fishing big hoppers to the bank from a boat. Regardless of where you chase trout, the 8105/4 GT will feel right at home. I have had the pleasure of casting several different lines on this rod and it handles many of them well. My personal favorite from a performance standpoint is the Rio Elite Technical Trout WF5F.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 4 out of 5

   This model in particular requires a somewhat powerful but shorter stroke to get the best out of it. I found the rod was best once you had 20 or 30 feet of line out but struggled a bit on those close shots. This would be great for hopper/hopper dropper rigs as well as being a useful tool for light streamer fishing. Both the SA Trout and Rio Technical Trout lines felt pretty good.

   Troy Youngfleish (Telluride Angler)

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   The Scott GT Series 8105/4 is a rare kind of rod—one that appeals equally to the angler buying their first 5-weight and to the one adding their twentieth to the collection. Simply put, it’s the finest sub–9-foot Scott 5-weight I’ve ever cast.

   The first impression is lightness—noticeable, but not merely in the physical sense. There’s a deeper quality to it, an almost intangible ease that becomes clear the moment you cast. The GT 8105/4 feels unburdened, effortless, and alive in the hand.

   In testing, the rod proved remarkably versatile across a range of lines. Two stood out: the Rio Gold XP and the new Scientific Anglers Trout GP. Every taper performed beautifully, but these two revealed different—and equally compelling—sides of the GT’s personality.

   With the Rio Gold XP, the rod delivered crisp, confident casts with superb turnover and a feeling of complete blank engagement. The XP loads the rod deeply, activating the butt section just enough to keep the tip elevated and composed—serious and deliberate, yet smooth. The balance between bend and recovery feels nearly perfect.

   The SA Trout GP, on the other hand, brought a touch more spirit—a livelier, more elastic character that encouraged experimentation. Whether speeding up, slowing down, casting off the tip, or bending deeper into the butt, the rod responded with joyful precision.

   The GT 8105/4 is, at its core, a trout rod—built for the heart of the sport. It shines with a dry fly, yet there’s no 5-weight scenario where it won’t feel right at home. Versatile, balanced, and deeply satisfying, it’s as essential to a trout angler as the wheel is round—another Scott legend in the making.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   I found this rod to be quick off the tip and a bit stiffer than its predecessor, the GS885, which I really like. It feels like an excellent choice for fishing large hoppers, stoneflies, or hopper dropper rigs but also has the versatility to fish small to medium nymph rigs. While the new SA Trout GP performed nicely for casting smaller dry flies, the real standout for me was the Rio Gold XP. That line slowed the action just enough to let the rod load smoothly and do all the work, making for effortless, accurate casts.

   Curtis Nelson (Telluride Angler)