Two summers ago, the designers at the Scott Fly Rod company in Montrose, Colorado introduced fly fishermen to their newest flagship offering, the Radian. The Radian is a high performance rod that blends modern day technology and materials with old school style and craftsmanship. After over a year on the water, the new Radian has collected accolades from professional anglers and guides all over the world. It blends power and control with feel and sensitivity in a way that no other fly rod has ever been able to. This makes it an ideal rod for every angler from the high country trout fisherman to the saltwater flats angler.
ReAct Technology, X-Core Design, and ARC
The Radian’s blank gets its power, accuracy, and responsiveness from a combination of Scott’s ReAct technology, X-Core design, and low-mass, Advanced Reinforced Carbon walls. ReAct technology works to eliminate energy wasting vibrations from the rod throughout the casting stroke by speeding up its recovery time so that the energy goes into the fly line and not back into the rod. This works with the fast taper and thin walls given to it by X-Core design. These two features add control and sensitivity in a powerful, lightweight package. Lastly, the Advanced Reinforced Carbon walls add support and rigidity to the system, eliminating torque and increasing line control. These are just a few of the technical features that make the Scott Radian so much fun to cast.
On The Water
It goes without saying that none of these technical features mean anything until the rod hits the water within range of feeding fish, and I can assure you that this is where the Radian really shines. One of the first things I noticed about the Radian while comparing it to other high end, fast action fly rods was the softer tip section, which I think helps the rod to load and unload smoothly during casts in the 25 to 35 foot range. I can feel the stability and control in longer casts (50 to 70 feet) and, even though I rarely cast that far, its nice to know that I can make it happen if I need to. Overall, I have absolutely no complaints about the Radian, nor have I ever heard one from someone using it. The Radian comes in weights from 4 to 9, and ranges between 8 ½ to 10 feet long, so that no matter where you fish, there is one for you.
Ever since it was introduced, the Radian has towered above many of the other rods in its class and, because of its unmatched power, feel, accuracy, and sensitivity, will go down in history as one of the greatest fly rods ever created. If you have not yet casted a Radian, be sure to stop by Vail Valley Anglers in Edwards, Colorado to try one out and see for yourself what happens when fast meets feel.
Andy “Otter” Smith, Guide and Content Writer
