Sage Rod Upgrade

[Sakoman]

Looking for some info on an upgrade to my current rod. I have an old Sage DS 590-4 5WT rod that has served me well for almost 20 years. This rod was marketed as a beginner rod. While I am no expert caster I am looking for a rod with more performance. Sticking with Sage what would you recommend to look at either new or used from Sage? Thanks in advance.

[pikergolf]

If you are looking for new, I would go to a fly shop that has a good line of Sage rods and try out the various rods to see which one suits your casting best. If you are looking used, I have heard a ton of good things about the Sage X series if you can find one. Disclaimer: I have never cast an X series only heard and read good things.

[Mr Flyguy]

You might try to find a VXP. They have been discontinued for a while so prices are low now, try Cabela's. I have been very happy with the 10 ft 5 wt in the canoe for indicator fishing although would have other wise gone with the 9 ft.

[scel]

Originally Posted by Mr Flyguy

You might try to find a VXP. They have been discontinued for a while so prices are low now, try Cabela's. I have been very happy with the 10 ft 5 wt in the canoe for indicator fishing although would have other wise gone with the 9 ft.

I own 3 sage rods. My 6wt Sage VXP is one of the most versatile rods I own. I am comfortable chucking sz20 dries and sz4 rabbit strip streamers. It is my go-to Bow River trout rod. It is a really nice balance of flex and recovery.

I have cast the Sage Pulse. It is a nice rod, but almost every rod at that $450 price point is a nice.

Out of all my rods, I think my 8wt Sage Motive gets the most hours of annual use. An 8wt is the half-ton pick up truck of fly rods and is used almost exclusively from beginning of May to the end of July. It is not as nice as a Method, but it is also half the price.

[Jayhad]

Originally Posted by Mr Flyguy

You might try to find a VXP. They have been discontinued for a while so prices are low now, try Cabela's. I have been very happy with the 10 ft 5 wt in the canoe for indicator fishing although would have other wise gone with the 9 ft.

I'm almost embarrassed with the number of sages I own, I bought my first one in 92, I've been steadily collecting them ever since. I have almost every model up to the most recent model line. That said, the VXPs are what I grab first for 90% of the fishing indications.

You see them coming up on Kijiji often.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by scel

Out of all my rods, I think my 8wt Sage Motive gets the most hours of annual use. An 8wt is the half-ton pick up truck of fly rods and is used almost exclusively from beginning of May to the end of July. It is not as nice as a Method, but it is also half the price.

What do you find you use it for, and where? I have an 8wt that's only ever been used in the tropics. Maybe I'm missing something. Like you I use my 6 on the Bow, and lakes as well. my 5 gets the smaller rivers and streams.

[angery jonn]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

What do you find you use it for, and where? I have an 8wt that's only ever been used in the tropics. Maybe I'm missing something. Like you I use my 6 on the Bow, and lakes as well. my 5 gets the smaller rivers and streams.

I would guess Pike.

[angery jonn]

I'd look for a used Z-axis or a used One.

[scel]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

What do you find you use it for, and where? I have an 8wt that's only ever been used in the tropics. Maybe I'm missing something. Like you I use my 6 on the Bow, and lakes as well. my 5 gets the smaller rivers and streams.

Pike from the May until the end of June. I spend a month in Ontario, where I use it for smallmouth bass. Then I spend 2 weeks in October fishing for rainbows in BC. A 6wt is good enough for the rainbows, which easily get to Bow River size, but at least once every trip, I will connect with a salmon. A pre-spawn salmon is a beast of a fish.