Sage Rod Preferences?

[HazMatt]

Good evening all!
It has been a very long time since I have posted here, due to a new (1 yr now) and great job, but I have been lurking a bit more lately and wanted to pose a question to you folks...You always provide such great advice.
I have been given a great opportunity through a friend to obtain any Sage rod/product for a great price. I am finally thinking it is time to upgrade from the 5/6 Cortland flyrod I started with so many years ago now and has served me so well. Given that I have a limited budget of about $300, what would be your recommendations for a new rod - say in the 4-6 wt range. Would you blow it all on one rod, or go with their lower cost rods and potentially get two. I have been wondering about getting a 2 wt to goof around with for panfish, but I'm only lukewarm about it. I also spey cast and have an 8/9 Loop and was thinking about one of their 5 or 7 wt spey rods. Too many choices, so little money! :)

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[D3smartie]

totally depends on what you like to do the most and what you want a rod for... if your budget is 300 for the rod, a 1/2 price z-axis 5wt would be a great choice and a rod that will cover all your trout fishing needs. If you want something softer, the SLT is my favorite sage rod model but much more suited to dry flies and delicate presentations and lacking the power for throwing big double nymph rigs, buggers or sink tips...
1/2 off a sage rod is a great deal so i wouldnt want to use it on a rod that wont see a lot of action. I had a similar deal a couple years ago and got a 6126 which has served me well while guiding but i really should have used that deal on a rod that would see more time in my hands. I am also not a big fan of the light spey rods now but thats another story.
if you are only lukewarm about a 2wt then dont do it. Find a rod that you love and will use!
always fun finding a new rod. good luck.

[FLGator]

My first recommendation would be to buy a rod for the fishing you're going to do the most. Also, cast before you choose.

In the spey arena the Sage VT2 7130-4 has gotten some rave reviews from some very competent spey casters.

The Z-axis 9' 5 wt has also gotten rave reviews.

Both should be available in your local shop for demo casting. Regardless of what anyone else thinks about any rod, only you can make the choice that is right for you.

Go cast 'em.

Take care,
Chris

PS Congrats on the sweet deal!

[mgdfly]

The Z-axis hods are REALLY fast/stiff and are actually under rated (line wise). To get good performance, you need to use a DT line one size larger. or a WF line 2 sz. larger. If it were me I'd get a couple of the less expensive "Launch" series, maybe a 9' 4wt and a 9' 6wt, That series is an excellentvalue; good casting, very nice finish, great all-round rods. that combo would cover nearly all trout situations, but if you also want to fish steelhead, a 5wt and 7wt would be my pick. with a $300 budget, you could also pick up a reel or a couple of lines as well since the "Launch series RETAILS for around $200. Nice delemma to be in though! Good luck!

[Two Fister]

HazMatt,
Good to hear from you! I was wondering how you were doing the other day. Amazing what those jobs and kids will do! Hope you can stick around for a bit between diaper changes. :)

If I could get a sage rod at half price I would go for one of their spey rods. I'm not that familiar with their current line up of speys, but you need to cast them to see what works best for you anyway. I've had friends rave about a particular rod before and when I bought one I could barely cast it since it didn't fit my casting style. Head on down to a shop and spend a bit of time casting different rods to see what works best for you. If one of their less expensive rods works best for you casting style you can always get one of their reels, a few fly lines (my prefered brand) or some of their other gear. The key is to figure out what works best for you regardless of the price point.

Good to hear from you! Let's get out on the river this fall!
TF

[Go Fish]

Wow, what an opportunity. Make the most of it! I sure would't waste it on a 2 wieght to "goof around" with! If you really want to get into Spey fishing this is the time to do it. Choose wisely. take a good look at when and where you will be spending most of your time and go for it. Sage offers an extensive variety of rods to pick from and arm yourself with. If you will not be fishing in the winter then maybe a 7-wieght for Summer Steelhead. If a single rod for use 12 months a year then maybe an 8-9 wieght. Never the less this is to great of opportunity to waste on a rod to fool around with.

[D3smartie]

mgd- 2 line wts? seriously? i have cast just about every rod sage has made, and the z isnt close to a TCR and a good WF on a tcr doent need to be over lined... i havent found a rod yet that needs to be over lined...

[daveg]

The Z-Axis is pretty fast, but if you use one of the lines like the Rio Grand in the same weight as the rod it will perform for you. The Rio Grand is a half weight heavy. It would be my first choice Sage rod in 5 or 6 weight for the Deschutes.

This model replaced the XP which was even faster. I have a 5 wt XP and like it alot with the Rio line on it.

I have learned to single and double haul in the last year and it makes handling fast rods much easier. I find it much less tiring to cast and you can handle windy situations better.:grin:

[Mitch Callas]

I just bought a Sage Launch 9' 6 weight, with Rio line, and I fished the deschutes the last couple of days and loved it! :grin:

[Snap-T]

SLT>>>SLT>>>>SLT>>>>SLT>>>>>SLT

SLT!!!

They are the best period. Z axis are great if you are fising at 90 ft. Who fishes at 90 ft for trout? In my opinion they are over rated. The SLT is the greatest rod to come out of Bainbridge since.......drump roll........the LL series. Oh the pain it caused when they discontinued the LL. Pure marketing move. It's worked well for sage but not for the fisherman. They continue to impress some of us at the speed and quickness of their new series the Z axis, the old XP and the TCR. The trouble is fish don't live in fly shop parking lots and on football feilds. Fast rods are for the foolish. :laugh:

SLT all the WAY!!!

Hi Mitchell C. from Jeff and Ali.

[Ernie]

I have a number of Sage rods, some that I have had for 20 years. The new models the Z-axis and the SLT are wonderful rods. They are made for different purposes and/or casting styles.

If you nymph a lot, a 10' Z-axis 5wt is perfect for the trout rivers in Oregon.

If you have a slower casting style or fish a lot of dries, the SLT in a 5wt is a great choice.

Awesome rods, awesome customer service. Can't go wrong with a Sage rod.

[leadeyedbugger]

There is only one current sage rod i would pay money for. The SLT. Great trout rod. Either that or get the most expensive one you can...then sell it and get a winston.:D