Sage Core Trout Rods Comparison // R8, SONIC, TROUT LL, IGNITER, DART, & FOUNDATION 

Thanks James, we really appreciate that!

Thanks, I love what I do here at Red's. Really appreciate the friendly support.

Really appreciate it! This is why we have such loyal customers, and we are so grateful for your support. Thank you for sharing, and of course the business.

Oh thank you, really appreciate that.

Ok you bet I will, thanks for the support.

For sure. Thanks for watching and the suggestion!

The TCX launches. Great rod for demanding longer casting scenarios.

Good to know, thanks for sharing.

I'm grateful I got the Sonic before it went up $125. I've been pleased with it's performance on medium - large rivers using mid-large dries & nymphs. Love that Juniper blank color. 500ish bucks is my limit on a fly stick. I use the law of diminishing returns over that threshold 💸

Same here brother! I sadly broke the tip this summer and Sage did an amazing job repairing it. They quoted 2-4 months but it came back in 7 weeks. The custom tip repair is beautiful!

Will do. Thanks for the feedback.

@@redsflyshop Agree with Phillip. Lots of company to company comparos. This is first company comparo I've seen

I would put a RIO Gold Elite on that rod. I love the MOD, it's a great all around rod as long as you aren't trying to cast streamers into the wind at 60' or more.

I have tried a bunch of lines on the mod 590, I think the Perception beats the gold hands down. For better/longer mending I'd go to a double taper.

@@johanh9637 Thank you!

The R8 has a wide stance, you would like it. I still love the XP but side by side… it’s astounding how far rods have come.

Are you wanting to single hand spey for trout in lakes, or traditional overhand cast. For an overhand cast I would do a one line bump to the WF8I on this line, I love the Lux series. redsflyfishing.com/collections/lake-fly-lines/products/rio-camolux-intermediate-sinking-fly-line

@@redsflyshop okay thanks appreciate the reply, Ihaven't heard of this line I'll take a look, I was mostly looking for an overhead line as the rod and single spey line is new to me I've yet to master it

Yes that is accurate, with the release of the SONIC the X just didn’t split the gap anymore. The SONIC at $630 only a bit quicker than the X.

I have not casted the Sonic, but If the sonic was very similar to the One that makes a ton of sense. I fished a one religiously for years and when thinking about up grading to the X there just was not enough there for me to make the purchase, now I have purchased the R8 and to me imo it is just and I creditable rod, delivers plenty of power with and insanely good feel

It depends on the size of the rig, if you are running small indicators I simply like an Amplitude Infinity, it's thinner, and drifts more drag free on light rigs. If you are using big indicators, shot, double rigs, the Anadro will turn it over better but comes with a cost. The thicker tip and head gives the current more traction and offers less finesse. On that rod, personally, I would stick with an Infinity.

Good question. I believe the weights are so close and ultralight, and 1/16 oz or 1/32 of an oz can be the difference. I don't think they can even build rods to that tight of a tolerance. It isn't fair or accurate with natural materials like cork and the variations of thread and resin. Picky weird customers paying $1,000 will weigh a Sage rod and if it isn't accurate, they will want to return it which is absurd. The top end companies don't want to have to think about whether the resin they use will add 1/32 of an oz, they just need to use the amount that makes the rod perform and work well. Nobody scrutinizes whether a TFO is actually heavier than it says on the blank.

@@redsflyshop HAHA, that is absurd. I didnt realize people were like that. Appreciate the response.

Yes, I’ll fish my X a lot. It’s a fabulous rod! Given a choice side by side however the R8 has a bit more fun and wow factor.

Well they are both fantastic, it sounds like you keep and cherish your fine rods for all time and make good buying decisions. I would personally lean toward an Igniter if budget wasn't an obstacle there. The performance and finish is notably better, and the action of the Igniter is a bit snappier for casting in the situation you have described here.

@@redsflyshop thanks Joe, excellent advice and much appreciated.

Great question. I like the R8 a lot. I would buy up on that if it's within reach. Line feeding, mending, roll casting is going to be a better vibe. You'll be fishing the same rod in 15 years and glad you did IMO. Like I said, if it's within reach financially. It's a lot of money but you'll only have to buy it once! :)

Oh man I'm sorry, the performance is the story on the SONIC hahah. That rod is hot. Components are nice but not quite as flashy as some of the other models.

Oh I would get an Indicator Taper if you are roll casting big indicators and stonefly nymphs or fairly heavy double nymph rigs. Both SA and RIO make great lines, either would be an excellent fit. Stay with a #5, these lines are buffed up a bunch anyway so no need to even consider a line bump. redsflyfishing.com/products/rio-elite-indicator

Here is link to the line, redsflyfishing.com/products/rio-elite-indicator

If you add the line to your cart along with the rod, it may ring up free. If not, use coupon code "FREELINE" at checkout!

Right on ibookje! I am inclined to believe that "casting style" might often be an excuse term for not being a very good caster overall. If I am casting a soft rod for small stream trout I will be casting in a different "style" than I would casting a big bunny fly for pike. A good caster will adjust his "style" to the rod. A poor caster will try to find a rod to match his "style".

Just different options at different price points. The review wasn’t crap.

@@dong8307 Actually, I liked the review but was referring to ibookje's casting comments. I should have made that clearer.

Your complaint should be aimed at the fly fishing industry or specifically Sage, and not Reds Fly shop. It is not in any way shape or form Red’s fault how many rods Sage makes. To the contrary Red’s does (especially this review) does a great job explaining the differences in each rod so you can make an educated decision on which one works for you. Your comment was in no way helpful or relevant to this fantastic review/explanation of the Sage line.

Yes I agree we all appreciate Joe’s great reviews. Sage purposely floods the market with as many models as possible, and puts the same snubnose grip on every one of them because it’s just a strait piece of cork that’s an easy shape to duplicate. Notice that the handle grip ergonomics is not even mentioned as a criteria. There are two big reasons why many senior fly fisherman still prefer their older Sage rods: 1) Handle grips were more comfortable and fit a wider range of people back in the XP days, and 2) Recent Sage rods, at least most of them, don’t have good “fish fighting feel”, they feel dead and don’t transmit vibration to your hand, like the old ones used to. Thats because Sage uses more fiberglass in their rods (blanks are really a composite construction), it’s an important part of the design and the blank technology. I don’t like the fact that Sage puts way too much emphasis on blank technology and not nearly enough on cork ergonomics and fish fighting feel. I can pick up an old Fenwick HMG graphite rod from the 1970’s, and feel every time the fish tries to spit out the fly while fighting them (same with the Sage XP too). Most younger fly fisherman won’t ever experience this difference.

Our channel has a video of most most models being fished, maybe search there for the model you are most interested in. Thanks for the productive feedback.

Same could be said about watches, art, and optics. If you want something a bit finer, it costs ya.