It is easy to pick up a rod and say that you don’t like it. What becomes a little more difficult is to be able to explain what it is about the rod that you do not like. An even greater skill lies in the ability to take this input and translate it into mathematical formulas and rod taper changes to create a fly rod that accomplishes the desired task more effectively than anything else available. Rod Designer, Jim Bartschi possesses the skill to be able to decipher the input that I give him which is only possible because Jimmy is not only a crack rod designer, but also one of the finest fishermen I know. Our relationship prospered because we shared a passion for flyfishing and a desire to create the best line of saltwater fly rods ever brought to production.

From the beginning, I stressed the importance of developing a consistent rod series from top to bottom. We decided that each rod should cast the very best with the designated line weight and over-lining and under-lining would be a thing of the past. We agreed that it was important to never to settle for a rod that simply casts beautifully and demanded that each rod in this series would have to cast and fish well to be acceptable. Too many rods are designed on the casting pond and never tested in real world situations. A good saltwater rod is a tool not only for presenting the fly but also for fighting a large fish.

I fished every proto type rod in every wind and weather condition with a wide assortment of flies and leaders. I purposefully lifted with improper technique and abused the rods daily. After over 100 rods were sent to me to try, we had completed about 1/2 of the rods that comprise the STS line. This accomplishment was timed perfectly for the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show in Denver. To their credit, Scott Fly Rod Company chose not to submit these rods until the entire rod line was completed. Another year passed and countless rods went back and forth from Scott to myself for trial and error testing. With input from Chico Fernandez, Fletcher White, Brian O’Keefe, Mark Sedoti and others, Jim Bartschi was able to put the finishing touches on the rods and unveil the Scott Tactical Series (STS Series) saltwater fly rod line that included fly rods from 6 weight through 12 weight after 2  years.

The same year, the STS series won “Top 10, Best of Show” from the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show, a “KUDO” from Fly Rod and Reel Magazine and the 8 weight was labeled “the best Bass fly rod in the world”  also by Fly Rod and Reel Magazine. These rods solidified Scott as a leader in fresh and saltwater fly rods and have established sales that make other rod manufacturers drool. These rods are terrific and will only be improved by another mammoth testing endeavor. Scott’s commitment to salt and freshwater make me proud to be associated with them as their first saltwater Pro-Staff member and an integral part of the design process. This devotion to quality and superiority explains why so many people are becoming “Scott Heads”. Check them out in my fly shop or go cast one at your local dealer. More information may be found on the company's extensive website at www.scottflyrod.com.

Remember, any rod can cast well on a parking lot but only one rod company is able to claim 2  years of testing and tweaking one product line before the product was ever brought to market. You can be assured that no other rod series is better for flats fishing situations because that is exactly what makes up the soul of these rods.