Sage R8 Core Fly Rod

For most of us, an idyllic day on the water is not when we’re thinking more, but when we’re thinking less. Finding that state of fishing in the moment, where instinct and experience bring us to an almost zen-like awareness of each subtle motion and movement—that’s what R8 is all about. It’s not a race, but a state we all aim to reach out on the water. With R8 we enhance that two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow, and control.

R8 Core is a rod family focused on maximum versatility and applies new revolutionary material technology through our forward thinking lens of what we’re seeing out on the water where one rod needs to show even greater range. At its Core, R8 CORE traces a direct lineage to Sage’s multi application vision, one shaped by the fishing evolutions happening all around us—from habitats we stalk and waters we frequent, to the flies we fish and the diversity of species we now target. Coming in a range from 3wt to 9wt, with a variety of lengths from 8’6” to 10’0”, there’s sure to be a model to fit the core needs of every freshwater angler.

Features:

Enhanced Hand-To-Rod Connection - We’ve increased the purity of graphite in the rod for even more reactivity and sensitivity, shifting energy further down the blank and into the handle. This transfer of energy creates a more natural extension of your arm, ultimately resulting in less wasted effort and intuitive reactivity. Rather than dialing up parking lot distance, we’ve shifted the thinking back to the roots of rhythm and awareness—where you can experience the energy happening in each moment

Amplified Sensory Feedback Loop - Effortless energy transfer and more connected feel, the amplified two-way feedback loop of R8 Technology, due to our new axial fiber formulation, allows you to feel when the power needs to be applied throughout the cast, presentation, and when applying the appropriate pressure to fish

Heightened Fishing Experience - Whether it’s the mental chess of matching the hatch, the headspace of reading the water or the instinct putting a fly in exactly the right spot—our best days emerge when our mind is right. It always seems that when we’re not thinking about it is precisely when our fishing mind takes over—where every single moment feels almost automatic or instinctual. With immediate feedback from tip to hand, R8 is designed to facilitate that higher state of mental flow and focus when small decisions, thoughts, and actions line up effortlessly

Technology:

Pure Graphite - The advanced, leading-edge material behind R8 enables us to shape a rod with a stiffer, stronger backbone but a more sensitive tip and more connected feel. The secret is twofold. First, a proprietary aerospace composite with a greater hoop strength enables us to dimensionally grow taper diameter more quickly from the tip—while a nano-sintered resin application increases axial resilience and allows us to pack more fiber into the blank, resulting in that true two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow and control 

Effortless Energy Transfer - Elongated energy transfer shifts the sweet spot closer to the hand creating a more natural extension of your arm for greater range, quicker reactivity and less wasted effort.

New Axial Fiber Formulation - Advanced nano-sintered resin application and a more resilient axial fiber allow us to re-profile the dimensional taper to get thicker quicker from tip to butt - resulting in better energy transfer and greater feel. Simply put - a better and more efficient "wiring" of energy.

New Circumferential Hoop Fiber - Advanced hoop fibers hold blank in optimal cylindrical shape creating greater circumferential strength - continuously maintaining the inherent blank strength while actively engaged or under tension.

Rod Models: 

390-4 - For delicate presentations of small flies to average-sized trout on light tippets, the 390-4 is the tool of choice. The length gives good casting distance and line control

486-4 - The 486-4 is a trout lover's rod. Light in hand and extremely accurate, it delivers small to medium size flies to picky trout and protects light tippets during battle.

490-4 - A light and versatile trout rod, the 490-4 offers great line control without compromising accuracy. Best for dry flies and smaller nymphs.

590-4 - Our most versatile and most popular rod model. The 590-4 handles trout flies of nearly any size, lines of varying densities and does so with superb feel, accuracy, and line control.

690-4 - The 690-4 is a very powerful trout rod, able to cast large, heavy and wind-resistant flies long distances or into heavy winds. Great for big river trout fishing and smallmouth bass

690-4FB - A fighting butt version of the 690-4FB. A streamer junkie's favorite, this rod has enough power to cast big streamers or bass bugs all day. The 690-4FB is all-water ready with an anodized aluminum reel seat.

790-4 - A very versatile and often-overlooked rod weight. The 790-4 is equally at home fishing streamers from a drift boat, bass fishing, or fishing for trophy trout and salmon in Alaska.

890-4 - Our most versatile and popular all-water rod model. The 890-4 is able to effectively present flies and handle the fight with Alaska trout and salmon, striped bass, largemouth bass or other similarly-sized species

990-4 - The 990-4 is a very versatile all-water and big game rod, able to pull on striped bass, large anadromous species, and big aggressive freshwater meat-eaters.