Fly Fisherman's Best New Saltwater Rod 2023: Scott Wave

Everything is getting more expensive: real estate, gasoline, groceries, mountain bikes, kayaks, sneakers . . . prices in 2022 went up on everything. And right in the middle of this inflationary crunch, Scott Fly Rods shocked everyone with the introduction of a light, high-performance fly rod that could save you around $300 if you’re shopping for something powerful for bigger gamefish and larger flies.

The Wave has high-end components like SiC stripping guides; a machined, skeletonized aluminum reel seat with a graphite insert; top-shelf cork; and is finished as beautifully as any other rod coming from the Scott factory in Montrose, Colorado. Some of those, like the Scott Centric and Sector, hover around $1,000.

The Wave performs like it’s in that price range, with high line speeds and tight, narrow loops that lay out straight and on point, but it does it with a price tag that’s much easier to swallow. Here’s how they do it: Scott has come out with some amazing rods in the past few years, namely the aforementioned Sector and Centric. As the components from those rods become more widely used, and new carbon fiber materials come to the market, it’s common to see the upper-tier technology in every brand migrate down into the more accessible price points. When the tide floods in, it eventually raises all boats.

Scott must be working behind the scenes with some real blockbuster materials or designs for the future, because when I cast the Wave it’s hard not to immediately compare it to other rods—not just Scott rods—that are much more expensive. The 7-weight Wave I used this summer for smallmouth bass on Susquehanna tributaries isn’t just my favorite 7-weight, it’s the best rod I own in the sub-$700 price range.

Available in line weights 6 through 12, the 4-piece Wave is a good choice for big rivers and big trout, carp on Great Lakes flats, farm pond largemouths, and any flats species from snook and redfish up to tarpon.

$675 | scottflyrod.com