Plus, this balance of light and fast makes the fight really fun when a fish is on. More than anything else, Sage just nailed the taper and material application. Overall, I would describe this rod as slightly less stiff than its predecessor, the X 486-4. What that equates to is a cool, modern fly rod that feels like the rods many of us grew up with. This article is designed to pass that info along to you. Sage R8 Core Fly Rod Series Review: Model-By-Model, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout Fly Line, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line. I was able to get my hands on the R8 Core Series last month and get a feel for what these fast-action multiapplication rods have to offer. Equivalent to 6-weight, and with two included tips to change action and length, it packs down into a slim little case that is only 29 inches long. I disagree, but it's a weird disagreement. It needs the head length and weight of an SA Infinity Taper, Titan Long, Rio Grand or comparable fly line, but those are the lines we might expect to fish on rivers like the Gunnison and Deschutes where the 9 6-weight earns its place in the fly fishing world. Very nice feeling rod, very light, with a nice mellow action. Since when did you become grumpy? Click Here for the Rating Graph for the Scott Centric. Ive personally become disgusted with the marketing, hidden influencers, paid shills, and propaganda thats infested the wonderful sport of fly fishing over the last few years. SKU: N/A Category: Fly Rods. Click Here for the Rating Graph for the Sage R8 Core. These models are springy and powerful in the butt section but require patience in the casting stroke. The R8 Core is a brand new series, but we were lucky enough to cast most models in the series with a variety of fly lines here's what we found. It has a very nice, progressive flex to it. I love the idea of a longer light line rod for keeping tension on smaller fish and holding line off of the water. I dont tend to extend much past the 9-foot mark, but this rod seems to have the responsiveness and control you might expect from a shorter rod. A Rio Technical Trout didnt engage the rod much, and I began to lose hope. The NRX+ FLY T2S series is touted as having all the performance of a one-piece rod, with the added benefit of portability. It excels in all the subtle techniques including roll casting, line mending, informal Spey casts and tippet protection. Value- Both fly rods are expensive, with the Sage R8 Core slightly more expensive. Only bought my 596-4 R8 Core a few days ago, but you review above is spot on. Living in Montana, I cant seem to have too many of these. Since it's an all-around rod that will be most of what I use for the next couple-few decades, I'm ok with the cost of any of these (i.e. When a rod maker sends out a rod for testing by third parties (free or compensated), if they are not interested in honest feedback they are not going to survive long-term. Its been out for a few years now, but I dont think this rods been given the credit its earned. The rod loaded instantly and responded perfectly to a short stroke and sharp haul shooting head style cast. The R8 Core is an insult at the price point. It doesn't change that Sage buys the most expensive, highest-grade cork in the industry. The rod lacked a weakness, and the dedicated striper, permit, or pike angler will pick this one up and have a hard time returning to their previous nine-weight. . We get questions about specific rod models all the time. . Boasting crazy fast line speed and enough power to overcome unpredictable ocean fishing conditions, this rod is still shockingly sensitive and surprisingly light. Aside from the skill required, the biggest drawback is just the omission of a 9-foot option. With almost a year of it being in public hands, theres been some resounding praise of this specialized rod. They dont flop over, they turn over. Typically, youll find a whole crew of experts willing to help you better understand fishing gear, flies, and your local waters. Almost Orvis bad. I chose the G-Series because I don't care for rods that are stiff as a fireplace poker. In our annual hunt to find the best fly rods on the market, we took to the water, went to the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show, asked guides, scoured the internet, and read every tech spec and review to bring you our list of the fly fishing rods we think measure up for the coming year. The 95 length is great for fishing in drift boats or off a paddleboard. Thanks partly to the rods length, it pairs best with a line that has a short-to-medium head. Another thing well always suggest is to head to your nearest fly shop and ask questions. Lines: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout Fly Line, RIO Gold Fly Line, RIO Technical Trout. My local shop got several R8's in a couple days ago and I gave the 904 a wiggle, but refrained from casting it. This is one is progressive, meaning that it casts from short to long with action that feels metered to the power input from the caster. That does not mean that it is not a powerful and highly capable rod, but it is not a blazing loop slinger. Carrying along a Rio Euro Nymph Shorty or a second reel with Euro line, adds another dimension of versatility to this rod. The Redington Butter Stick ($280) drips with vintage cool. The Great Lakes tributary steelheader will find the taper beneficial for rolling out bulky indicator rigs. It roll casts and mends with command. Consider this a big game trout rod. Scott Centric C905/4 ? The only real exception would be if your main requirement of a fly fishing rod is big power. For example, the 790-4, 890-4 and 990-4 may cast best with bonefish lines, but I wouldnt buy these rods for the flats. Sage designed the R8 Core series to tackle the shortcomings of high-performance fly rods, such as roll casting, loop control, technical mends, and delicate presentations. The 6wt is a multi-purpose rod that leans towards indicator or hopper dropper fishing out of a drift boat instead of heavy streamers. With all that said, lets get to it. Then, I found the line: the SA Trout Taper. The companys direct-to-consumer model means you get a higher quality product at a far lower price point. Fly rod action is super important in both the experience and the functionality of your fly rod. Not only does it fish well, but the cosmetic details are also there. I would personally use this rod for all manners of Stillwater fishing, and as a nymph rod for pre runoff, there may be no equal. -Rich Post, In the X Series, the high line class rods were saltwater style, designed for knifing into the wind with tight loops and relatively small flies. . Raise the tip after the lift and effortlessly lay it into the desired position. I agree for the most part with JFJ, but at the same time, this is the version of capitalism that we have, and have come to accept. This style of fly fishing rod is completely different than any other on the list because its an entirely different way of fly fishing. Unsurprisingly, at first glance, the R8 Core has the quality weve all come to expect from a Sage product. Constructed with G. Loomis Multi-taper Design, this rod is strong where it needs to be and light where it can be. Fishing broad water with sinking lines comes naturally to the Centric 1006-4. The draw of one-piece rods is both weight reduction and improved performance. Since one of them broke and since trying a friend's Sage X (which was far superior for casting/presentation), I am in serious need for a serious upgrade for a rod that can do all freshwater things reasonably well - streams, rivers, lakes, small dries up to medium+ streamers & nymphing, from delicate presentation to punching through the wind. We understand multi-disciplinary as versatile. I own the sage r8 core 486. Fly fishing rods are constantly changing with improvements in construction, fly lines, reels, and technology. All of the potential bases for "disgust" are prevalent throughout just about any market that is appealing to something other than actual need. By signing up for email newsletters, you agree to GearJunkie's, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), The Redington Butter Stick in action; (photo/Redington), With 5 line weights, all at 86 long, G. Loomis introduced a powerhouse series with the. With its target demographic being drift boat fisherman, it has become a favorite for guides who spend long days afloat. I also believe this is a much better tool than its predecessor for throwing shooting head style surf lines to stripers. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. The SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity slows the tempo of the rod down just a hair and exemplifies this rods intuition. Fit & Finish- The first impressions are important. It puts fun in fishing. -John Duncan, One of the sweethearts in the series, the R8 486-4 casts every suitable fly line with natural grace, line speed and precision throughout its substantial range. Its also identical between the 590s ( why I suspect Sage is not printing the rod weights on this new series ). I found this rod to be clunky and bouncy with a Rio Gold, but the heavier and smoother Rio Predator seemed to pull through the wrinkles. I felt it had more soul and personality than the X, however, I did not feel a big "wow" factor when casting it. -John Duncan, Expecting a tip-casting streamer stick, I found this model to be more suitable for bass fishing and nymphing, where an easy going cast with an open delivers the goods without much input from the caster. The Rio Elite Perception was very nice as well and produced lots of line speed off the tip. The reactions to this R8 Core release are kind of strange. You feel more connected to this rod and get the feeling of hitting the gas in a sporty car when you stand on this rod. I enjoyed line in the air with this rod, but I loved how it performed with line on the water. And if you learn a bevy of casts beyond the standard like false casting, roll casting, or slack line casting youll be able to further dial in presentation for any number of setups or weather conditions. That does not mean that it is not a powerful and highly capable rod, but it is not a blazing loop slinger. The R8 Core 7100-4 is the rod for an Alaska Trout and Salmon trip. Its just plain awesome with all three, which tells me that there is virtually no bad line choice for this rod. So far Ive caught 4 decent size stripers with it, and couldnt be more happy with its performance. Single handed Spey casts and powerful roll casts leap from the tip. There are those who are giddy like children in a candy store; new rod excitement is flowing from their aura. when I read reviews, I read them, and if I sense or feel the review was bought and paid for by the company I will refuse to buy that company product for a year, look at the 2022 tackle show, Winston got 1-rod one the rest sage? The RIO Striper line fits like a glove, but it threw the SA Amplitude Bonefish nicely. Kind of the same reason we don't directly compare a Porsche to Nissan Sentra. Double hauling in the wind, it knifes long loops that turn over with an audible hiss. You have so much confidence with a long line behind you in the air. This is the same review as the 690-4, but I did cast both fly rods and was equally impressed. Without getting your hands on them, its a serious task to weed through the options and find the rod that best suits your needs. Your email address will not be published. The Sage R8 Core will cover the all-around anglers needs in a 5 weight. Matt, Bill, and Jack. Slow down, keep your stroke medium tempo and feel the control. The are still some discontinued Radians floating around, and if you find one, grab it. You want shills, go on Instagram. Both lines were excellent. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This would make a fine all-purpose rod for Alaska or anywhere in bass country, but would not be my choice for heavy streamers (Montana) or fishing in major wind (Argentina, Chile, Northern Rockies). JavaScript is disabled. Its very common to see rods of identical length and line weight having significantly differing swing weights unrelated to their physical weight, as weight distribution is what will be the determining factor, not simply overall weight. -John Duncan. My impression was the 690 R8 was a good all around fishing rod (I was impressed with how well it mended). You must log in or register to reply here. Reel seat seriously? The bulk of my rods are Burkheimers, and the Scotts mix into my quiver nicely. How on earth is Sage asking a rod with a price tag of over $1000 and still use run of the mill components and guides? All three reviewers were asked to rate each category from 0 to 10 for each rod. It casts naturally with tremendous line speed and zero torsional play at all distances. It would be interesting to know the weight of the upper 3 sections together of each rod, and the butt section separately. Although I rarely fish a 10 6-wt, this is one of my favorite rods in the series. The development cost for the current top model is what cause them to be so much more expensive than the mid-level rods that are usually one or two prior generations with different wraps and lower cost fittings. JavaScript is disabled. Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Zen Tenkara. Our rating went from zero being heavy and ten being lightweight. The R8 896 had a shooty feel with this line and was truly fun to watch the head of the line race away and turn over. They've been whipping this same horse for a long time. anyone think of a double blind test of this and other fly rods? The G5 is lightweight and constructed with a narrower shaft than the previous ideation. The shortest rods in the series defied expectations and were two of the most enjoyable. However, the rods refined subtleness also means better presentation when throwing small flies to spooky bonefish. It might even be too light to throw a sink tip and big articulated streamers all day. It makes for a great starter rod, a decent backup, or just a solid pick as an everyday budget fly fishing rod. The R8 Core Series ($1,050) from Sage was just released on April 5. But I still found myself reaching for it when wading. You can feel the sensation of the line lifting from the water incrementally with this rod. Smashing rod for fishing floating flies with a long leader on small and medium sized trout streams. All rights reserved. But if they were to be spey casting, theyd go for a 13-foot 7- or 8-weight rod. A slow-action rod is more flexible throughout to allow for short, accurate casts. The smaller the fish, the lower the weight. Roll casting is tremendous and the deep load along the blank of the R8 Core rods is very apparent here. The stability of the line in the air is tremendous and a core characteristic of these R8 rods. I felt the Douglas was snappier and able to generate more natural line speed despite being medium fast in action. The extra length allows the taper to relax just a little more than the 790 and makes it more adept at fishing indicators and swinging flies. My favorite line was the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity WF4F.

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