New to fly fishing and need a fly rod? Maybe it’s time to upgrade gear? Has an internet search or a friend mentioned Sage Fly rods but you are overwhelmed by the options? In this article, I will discuss the key features of Sage rods, including the different model options, and hopefully help you decide which Sage rod is best for you.

As an avid fly fisherman, I luckily have a pond in my backyard exactly two minutes from my fly-tying bench. If there is open water, I will fish just about every day. I grew up fishing the fabled streams of Pennsylvania and have been fly fishing my entire life in various parts of the country and abroad, chasing both fresh and saltwater fish. Fishing is my life, so the gear I use is a passion of mine. My first serious fly rod was a Sage DS. Since that day, I have owned many different Sage rods. I have always enjoyed fishing them, and when faced with a quandary as to which rod to fish, I often grab a Sage.

Why Sage Fly Rods?

Sage is a name you likely have encountered in the fly fishing community. That’s because, for over four decades, Sage fly rods have been at the forefront of fly rod technology—making high quality rods in Bainbridge, Washington. Founded in 1980 by renowned rod designer Don Green, and quickly joined by Bruce Kirschner (formerly of K2 Skis), Sage was started with just six employees working in a 1500 square-foot space.

Ever since the still highly sought-after RPL hit the streams in early 90s, innovative graphite-blank technologies have placed Sage rod builders at the top. Built with passion and the ethos of perfecting performance with an emphasis on design and function, fly anglers of all skill levels enjoy the craftsmanship of Sage rods. Today, Sage has grown to 175 employees working in a 30,000 square-foot space, still making each rod one at a time on Bainbridge Island, WA, following hundreds of meticulous steps and passing each rod through 23 sets of hands.

The Importance of a Fly Rod

Although fly reels get a lot of attention, and buying quality fly line and quality flies are important, for fly fishing, the fly rod is the single most important piece of equipment you can purchase; this is your primary fly fishing tool. Your ability to master fly casting is often predicated on the quality and action of the fly rod you are using.

A fast action fly rod in the hands of an expert angler will result in long and accurate casts. A more forgiving fly rod action will help a novice catch fish and not get frustrated. Specialty fly rods will open new fishing opportunities. Sage rods offer rods that fly fishers of every skill level will enjoy and use for years to come.

What to Consider When Buying a Sage Fly Rod

How Much Should I Expect to Pay for a Sage Rod?

Sage rods are slightly more expensive than other makers. However, they come with a lifetime warranty and are made in the United States. Each rod has a distinctive look and comes with a sock and tube for safe storage when not in use. Features such as comfortable cork grips and quality guides make the difference between simple functionality and enjoyable functionality. Even the introductory rods contain features that many offshore budget rods do not have. An introductory Sage rod costs around $500, and the most advanced technology may cost upwards of $1000.

What Conditions Will I Be Fishing?

Next to cost, this is the next most important consideration. Trout and panfish anglers use different rods than anglers chasing steelhead, pike, bass, or even sailfish. The rod should be matched to the correct fly line weight, which truly is dictated by the size of the fly you are casting. Ultralight anglers catching trout inPennsylvania’s limestone creeks will have different needs than fly anglers floating in Montana, or saltwater fishers in the Florida Keys. Making sure your gear matches your needs is key to success.

What Action Do I Want?

This is a question that comes up all the time. When anglers are discussing rod actions, they are really talking about the rod’s flex pattern, stiffness, and ability to stop moving, or recover, at the end of a cast. Rod action can be either fast, medium, or slow. Sage rods tend to have a faster action, which may be a drawback for newer anglers. For experienced anglers, especially those fishing streamers or casting large baitfish patterns in the wind, a fast action is preferred; while a moderate action will help with dainty dry fly presentations to wary trout.

What Is My Preferred Length?

This is a question that comes down to personal preference. For most fishing situations, a nine-foot fly rod is the standard. Ultralight anglers fishing in small North Carolina streams may desire a shorter rod to help them fit into tighter quarters. A 9’6” length is a common size for Great Lakes steelhead anglers. Likewise, Spey fishers or European nymph anglers often will seek longer rods.

The Different Types of Sage Fly Rods

For ease in understanding the differences between the various models, it is often helpful to break the models down into two subgroups: multi-application rods and specialty rods.

Multi-Application Rods

Benefits:

• Fish a variety of different conditions
• Can be used to catch different species of fish
• Cast different styles of flies such as dry flies, nymphs, and streamers

Be Aware:

• In specific fishing situations, these rods are not as effective as specialty rods
• May not cast large flies well or cast as reliably into the wind
• Not ideal for ultralight applications

Foundation

The Foundation is Sage’s beginner’s rod, designed for easy casting power and control. It features a fast action built on a Graphite IIIe blank; although this is a solid blank, beginners may find the action too fast and difficult to cast at first. It’s available in 4–9wt, 9ft size, and a 7wt, 10ft size.

Sonic

Sage designed the Sonic as a main, everyday rod. It’s a solid mid-priced rod that features a fast action built on Konnetic blanks. It’s available in 3–8wt and 7ft 6in, 8ft 6in, 9ft, 9ft 6in, and 10ft lengths.

R8 Core

The R8 Core is an advanced fly rod that features a fast action built on the R8 blank. It is Sage’s top-of-the-line fly rod that houses an integrated Hidden Hook Keeper in the reel seat, a premium Flor grade cork handle, Fuji ceramic stripper guides, hard chrome snake guides, and a ziricote wood insert with an anodized aluminum reel seat. Available in both freshwater and saltwater models.

Specialty Fly Rods

Benefits:

• Built for unique functions
• Action is specific to that function
• Rod lengths are specific to aid in better technique

Be Aware:

• Not intended to be used for everyday fishing
• Really only intended for a narrow scope of fishing

Trout LL

This rod is designed specifically for dry fly fishing. It has a medium action KonneticHD blank to help deliver delicate flies and present dead drifts to rising trout, and is available in 3-6wt in 7ft 9in, 8ft 6in, 8ft 9in, and 9ft lengths.

Dart

The Dart is designed as an ultralight rod for small, tight quarters. It features a fast-action KonneticHD blank and is available in 0–4wt in 6ft 6in and 7ft 6in length.

ESN

This rod is designed for European nymph fishing, so it features a down-locking reel seat and an extra-sensitive tip to assist with tight line nymph fishing. It’s medium action on a KonneticHD blank and is available in a 2-4wt in 10ft and 10ft 6in lengths.

Igniter

The Igniter is designed to fish in strong headwinds. It’s perfect for heavy sink tips and fishing streamers. It allows for long accurate casts and features an ultra-fast action on a KonneticHD blank—which will require good fly casting technique to properly load the rod. The Igniter is available in both freshwater and saltwater models.

Maverick

The Maverick is designed as a true saltwater rod. It maximizes quick shot casts on a fast-action Konnetic blank. This allows for quicker rod loading when hauling to get the fly in front of cruising fish. It also features oversized Fuji ceramic stripper guides and oversized hard chromed snake guides and tip-top resist saltwater for a durable rod.The Maverick is available in 6–12wt as a 9ft rod and 14wt in an 8ft 6in rod.

Payload

This rod is designed to cast oversized flies. A fast action Konnetic blank allows oversized, non-aerodynamic flies to be cast with accuracy and distance using heavier fly line heads. It’s a favorite with bass, pike, and other warm water species anglers, and is available in 6–11wt and 8ft 9in, 9ft, and 9ft 3in lengths.

Features to Look For in a Sage Rod

All Sage rods are made from graphite and use several proprietary technologies.

R8 Technology

Built with leading-edge material, R8 rods are created with a stiffer, stronger backbone, a more sensitive tip, and a more connected feel. A proprietary aerospace composite with a greater hoop strength enables the rod taper to dimensionally grow its diameter more quickly from the tip, while a nano-sintered resin application increases axial resilience and allows more fiber to be packed into the blank, resulting in that true two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow, and control.

Konnetic

Improved casting accuracy due to smoother tracking and increased line speed and control. The advanced modulus positioning places carbon fibers to exacting tolerances and creates slimmer blank profiles with unparalleled strength and efficient energy transfer throughout the shaft. KonneticHD Technology is the next era in Konnetic performance graphite rods. By optimizing the graphite-to-resin ratio, a higher density (HD) fiber composite is created, resulting in lighter, stronger blanks which deliver greater recovery, energy transfer, and line/loop control.

Generation 5 Blanks

These enhanced blanks feature a proprietary graphite hoop combined with minimal glass scrim. The result is a lighter, more responsive and livelier rod blank with a narrower shaft. The lightness and responsiveness of Generation 5 technology lets you feel the line load for optimized casting control.

Graphite IIIe

Graphite IIIe Technology has revolutionized graphite fly rods. These blanks bring power and durability resulting in a more connected feel throughout the casting stroke, making longer and more accurate casts possible. Constructed using glass scrims within layers of graphite, Graphite IIIe rods are noted for their light weight, dependability, and smooth feel.

Choosing the Right Rod

To help illustrate how this technical information applies to you, here are a few examples of different anglers and their specific needs, with gear recommendations to match.

Ben: a Blossoming Trout Angler

Ben is starting to fly fish in Wyoming, where he vacations with his family. To date, he has borrowed his guide’s gear when he has gone fishing in the past. Now that he has developed a reasonable casting stroke, he is looking for an entry-level fly rod that will grow with him and can be passed on to children.

Features Ben Should Look For

• Easily castable, with reliable accuracy and distance for beginning fly fishers
• A high-quality, durable rod that will last for years
• An all-round trout rod around 9ft 5wt that will adequately cover just about all trout fishing situations

Rod examples: Sage Foundation and Sage Sonic

Ava: an Ultralight Native Trout Chaser

Ava is an avid fly angler who has been fishing for many years. Recently, she purchased an Orvis Battenkill click and pawl fly reel and is looking for a rod to use while stalking wild trout on small streams.

Features Ava Should Look For

• Since Ava will be fishing in tight quarters, a shorter fly rod will be important. She should consider the 7ft 6in or 7ft 9in length rods
• Since these trout will spook easily, accurate casting is essential, as she will often only have one shot. A rod that can deliver delicate, yet accurate casts is a must
• As Ava will be casting primarily small dry flies and some small nymphs , a 3wt will be the perfect size to delicately present them to trout

Rod examples: Sage Dart and Sage Trout LL

Brett: a Saltwater Fly Fishing Aficionado

Brett is an angler who loves to prowl salt flats in search of the grand slam. When not on the flats, he frequents Mangrove backwaters chasing tarpon and snook. He has exact demands as to how his rod should handle and wants it to pair with his updated reel—an Orvis Mirage. Price is not a concern. Features Brett Should Look For

• High winds often plague the flats. Cruising fish often only allow for one shot. Brett needs a rod that can cast accurately with distance, even in high winds
• He fishes hard and expects his gear to hold up to him and the saltwater environment. A reliable warranty is a must
• Brett will primarily be casting larger baitfish patterns and will need a rod that can turn these flies over. An 8 wt is the all round saltwater size, but some juvenile tarpon or permit may make a 9 wt (or even a 10 wt) more desirable

Rod examples: Sage R8 Core, Maverick, and Sage Igniter

Final Thoughts

Sage makes high-quality fly-fishing rods that are backed by lifetime warranties. With multiple offerings, beginning and advanced anglers will be able to find a rod that suits their fishing style. If you have questions or need help selecting a fly rod or any other gear as you head out to your favorite fishing hole, please reach out to me or another Curated Fly Fishing Expert for free, customized advice. We would love to help. Tight Lines!