My favorite line was the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity WF4F. The tip felt prone to wobble and didnt track as well as others in the series. The rod also lacked the versatility found in the other models. Both Sage and Scott have a long history of building great fly rods through innovation. 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 R8 bends deeper than the X and true to the marketing material Sage has released, you can feel the rod bend into the handle, providing a lot of intuitive feel when casting. Is it possible that maybe there's a better line for it than what you tried? The team scrapped it and moved forward in a different direction. I hear what you're saying, but it is not that simple. ReAct technology combines our X-Core design with a new complex materials and taper system to create a break-through in fast action rod design. Recovery What we mean by recovery is the rods ability to return after a back cast. If the only bad thing about it is the components are the same they always use, then it sounds like a pretty good rod. Feel free to click the rods that interest you below, or scroll through to see the entire lineup: Released in July 2021, the Orvis Helios 3 Blackout ($998) missed many of the best of lists for last year. Boasting crazy fast line speed and enough power to overcome unpredictable ocean fishing conditions, this rod is still shockingly sensitive and surprisingly light. The Rio Elite Perception was very nice as well and produced lots of line speed off the tip. Comparable models in Salt HD, Igniter and Maverick have greater capability in the wind. The rod is incredibly light in hand yet has a noticeably stiffer feel all the way through to the tip. All four 6-weight models are designed with progressive fast action similar to the 390-4 and 596-4. Anglers seem to agree with those claims. Breaking from the one-piece saltwater fly rod trend, this two-piece is what G. Loomis calls its tournament configuration. The R8 Core is an insult at the price point. They dont flop over, they turn over. Sage R8 Core First Impressions | Page 8 | The North American Fly Reactions: ghostrider408. The companys direct-to-consumer model means you get a higher quality product at a far lower price point. Stiff-tipped rods comprise approximately half of the R8 Core series. I felt like they were ready for a breakaway from the recipe, but no. With that, all our testers rated both rods very high. In fact, we observe two distinct design strategies within the R8 Core. I was surprised at how much more effortless this was with the X (vs. my old RPL and SP). This is a fine Alaska rod or crossover saltwater-freshwater model, which are increasingly rare. Like a child reaching out to grab his mothers waiting hand. You must log in or register to reply here. Casting at short and long range is a joy, the power and smoothness of the rod has to be experienced to be believed. Best Uses: Hopper-droppers, stonefly patterns, and larger mayflies on western rivers preferably from a drift boat! The X 896 was so good and I really didnt know what they could do to improve that rod. We ask much of our 6-weights, but the R8 690-4 FB exceeds all requirements. My local shop got several R8's in a couple days ago and I gave the 904 a wiggle, but refrained from casting it. Pay out 40 stack mends like youre feeding pigeons. I was able to. A slow-action rod is more flexible throughout to allow for short, accurate casts. Check Price at Trident Fly FishingCheck Price at G. Loomis. nothing beats going into a shop and wagging some rodspre internet days, used to buy from The Fly Shop in Redding, swing by during road trips, they would encourage casting rods on the lawn next to the shop, could tell right away which rods worked best for personal styleJeff at The Flyfisher Place in Sisters offers the same on the side street where he is located. Gear Review: Sage R8 Core Series Fly Rods - The Fly Shop In terms of taper and flex profile, there seem to be 2 groups of R8 Core fly rods: stiff-tipped and progressive. You say the 9wt can handle a 350 grain outbound .. except there isnt a 350 grain outbound. It seems like an odd omission since its such a small component. This style of fly fishing rod is completely different than any other on the list because its an entirely different way of fly fishing. 1 in stock. At its Core, R8 CORE traces a direct lineage to Sage's multi application vision, one shaped by the fishing evolutions happening all around usfrom habitats we stalk and waters we frequent, to the flies we fish and the diversity of species we now target. I didn't try the 5 wts. Without getting your hands on them, its a serious task to weed through the options and find the rod that best suits your needs. I believed there was a few shills on the forum, for different fishing products, most of which are gone, I have posted about it and pointed some stuff out. After my initial casting session with this series, this was my project model. I first cast the R8 490-4 with a Rio Gold and knew that I had to keep searching. 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. Thanks a bunch! Think of the R8 seven as more of a trophy trout rod for the angler who uses a variety of tactics and could be a nymph rod for steelhead in certain situations. We just got our hands on the new Sage R8 Core Rod, and tested it right outside the shop. Gear Review: Sage R8 Core Series Fly Rods by Eric Fields As many of you know, Sage just released their We break it all down in the fourth installment of how to choose a fly rod. There is Euro style crossover potential here as well. -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. They are also well suited for casting larger flies for bass, pike, musky and salmon. The RIO Striper line fits like a glove, but it threw the SA Amplitude Bonefish nicely. According to Sage, in designing the R8 CORE, the rod maker shifted its focus back to feel and rhythm, "rather than dialing up parking lot distance," a statement which will no doubt prove intriguing to many anglers. Get yours today With Free Shipping: https://www.tridentflyfishing.com/sage-r8-core-fly-rod.htmlBlog Review HERE: https://www.tridentflyfishing.com/blog/sage-. Popular bass rods tend to range from about 5 to 7 weight. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. It excels in all the subtle techniques including roll casting, line mending, informal Spey casts and tippet protection. The Gold really kicked up the line speed of this rod and felt very good from 20 feet out. Enough backbone for salmon excluding large kings and plenty of fun to cast streamers and indicator rigs while wading. We have guides, shop pros and all manner of self-proclaimed authorities (like me by virtue of my 'old-timer' status). Even my guide friends loved it, and I could see a smidge of jealousy in their trout-lovin eyes. From slow-action rods to the perfect nymphing setup, these are the best budget fly rods of 2020. When you start talking about rods that reach past the 11-foot mark, responsiveness becomes an issue. All rights reserved. Both are aesthetically pleasing and possess a polished and well-refined buildsomething youd expect from both Sage and Scott, especially from the high-end rod lineup. Fly Rod Review: Scott Wave Fly Rod - The Fly Shop This was their chance to make a move and they fell considerably short in my opinion. Scott Centric - Bigfork Anglers Sage SALT R8 Fly Rod First Impressions January 26, 2023 . Skeptical of a Wells grip on a 3-weight, I must say that it feels terrific on a rod thats long enough to leverage the grip a bit in hand. Exactly. This is a vintage model in the Sage idiom of tippy and deliberate casting 9 3-weights. Best Uses: Dry fly fishing on tailwaters where medium distant casts are needed. We understand multi-disciplinary as versatile. You can feel the sensation of the line lifting from the water incrementally with this rod. The Echo Carbon XL ($180) is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to do some serious fishing without breaking the bank. The Sage R8 Core had a slight edge. Sage Salt R8 fly rods: read our model-by-model review. Though this fly rod is targeted at freshwater fishermen, the 990-4actually took home the award for Best Saltwater Fly Rod at the 2022 IFTD Show. Roll casts feel good and look good with this rod. Stay away from extra heavy long-headed lines, such as the Rio Grand. The loops are so level and connected to the rod that you get the sense of laying down wire. Sale Cellar; Spring Special; Gift Certificates; BFA Logo Gear; Accessories; What that equates to is a cool, modern fly rod that feels like the rods many of us grew up with. I cast it with a Rio Gold, SA Infinity Taper and Rio Predator, 3 of my favorite lines for 6-weight fishing. At $1000 plus tax it's keeping me away.Sorry, 9 8wt or 9 9wt for redfish out of a boat on the flats? I really enjoyed the Rio Elite Gold on this rod. Fishing broad water with sinking lines comes naturally to the Centric 1006-4. Slow down, keep your stroke medium tempo and feel the control. This requires a patient stroke, even more so at short distances than long, but the tip snaps back with resilience, delivering excellent line speed with little effort from the caster. The NRX+ FLY T2S series is touted as having all the performance of a one-piece rod, with the added benefit of portability. This style of fly fishing rod is completely different than any other on the list because its an entirely different way of fly fishing. I am after a 5 weight and tossing up between the Scott Centric and the Sage X. I've never owned a Scott or Sage. Neither light nor heavy for its class, the 690-4 FB is a convincing piece of equipment from the first impression, a rod that seems optimized for its purpose. As both the R8 and X 590 and 690 do have identical physical weights ( all of the R8 weights and X weights are published, though only scripted on the X models ) - yet the R8 has managed to achieve a noticeably lighter swing weight as you mentioned, it was just a curiosity to see how much weight reduction was in the critical upper sections to achieve this, and how much heavier the butt may be on the R8 ( which if the extra weight is in the seat can actually reduce swing weight ). When I casted it when it first came out, I liked it quite a bit more than than the X in that configuration. While less touchy and playful than the stiff-tipped models, they will meet the expectations of loyal Sage anglers and get it done with confidence on the water. Me too. Stay tuned. We recently had the opportunity to cast most of the rods in the Sage R8 Core series. I spent a few days fishing with a Carbon XL after my gear was delayed in transit and Ill admit, it fished just as well as my go-to rod. And depending on where youre fishing, a shorter rod might be desirable. Many refer to this as the speed of the rod. Choose this model over the 956-4 for light line steelheading, high stick nymphing on big rivers and fishing lakes at distance. Its been out for a few years now, but I dont think this rods been given the credit its earned. Casting the SA Trout Taper, the loop seems to tighten and accelerate just before turning over no matter the casting distance. Double hauling in the wind, it knifes long loops that turn over with an audible hiss. April 18, 2021 at 6:38 pm #886633. reel screamer. Stillwater anglers looking for maximum distance, those throwing larger flies and fighting larger than average fish should take notice of this rod as well. Yes, swing weight is what is critical with a rod. Then, I found the line: the SA Trout Taper. The Great Lakes tributary steelheader will find the taper beneficial for rolling out bulky indicator rigs. The only item you have to purchase outside of this kit is a few flies. More than anything else, Sage just nailed the taper and material application. Or maybe all of the above. Wraps? Choose this model for freshwater or a fresh-salt crossover. My favorite line for this model is the Rio Perception and my least favorite is the SA Infinity Taper. Gear Review: First Cast, Sage R8 Core & Scott Centric More than anything else, Sage just nailed the taper and material application. Best Uses: This is a tremendous all-around 8wt. But if they were to be spey casting, theyd go for a 13-foot 7- or 8-weight rod. Product Categories. Are a top Fuji stripper and H&H Chrome Stainless super slick guides ho hum? Description Additional information . Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Trident Fly Fishing. If you continue to use this site we assume that you are okay with it. To cap it all, the soft tip bends nicely into a fish and should protect fine tippets. , this rod is strong where it needs to be and light where it can be. A medium (or moderate) action will be stiffer throughout. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. Both lines were excellent. - Babe Ruth. Many thanks for the breakdown. The 390-4 R8 is a bit of a unique rod. I've been using the same two Sage 5wts since the 1990s. It loads evenly and naturally, allowing the angler to dictate loop shape at any distance, equally suitable for floating and sinking lines, nymphs, dries and swing flies. Like all the 10 foot R8 rods, an easy stroke and more relaxed cadence produce remarkable results for the amount of effort the caster applies to the rod. Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel! We have said there is a cost to innovation and design, and in both Sage and Scott, the Centric and R8 Core are reflections of that. R8 Technology | Sage - Far Bank Enterprises We found it needed a lighter line like its younger sibling, such as Rio Gold or, if youre *only* fishing dries, Rio Technical Trout is also a reasonable choice. Lightness and responsiveness are both enhanced, improving the spring and underlying his ability to create rods of different character from the same material. Although I rarely fish a 10 6-wt, this is one of my favorite rods in the series. Carrying along a Rio Euro Nymph Shorty or a second reel with Euro line, adds another dimension of versatility to this rod. The Heritage Taper is reminiscent of the old glass rods you might find in a dusty garage. Just lift the rod and place the line where you would like with the ease of dropping an ice cube into a high ball. Outdated and tired Needlessly heavy. I also like the Rio Gold on this model, as well as the Airflo Universal. Coming in a range from 3wt to 9wt, with a variety of lengths from 8'6" to 10'0 . Real names are not used to protect the innocent. Figuring out the right rod weight for your target fish species is generally pretty simple. The rod does a lot of work for the angler, both before and after your fly line is on the water. The way the value category was evaluated is cost over performance. The 6wt is a multi-purpose rod that leans towards indicator or hopper dropper fishing out of a drift boat instead of heavy streamers. Id recommend something along the lines of the F-Series, specifically designed for those tight spaces. Of course, like our shootouts and other casting commentaries, these mini-reviews are based on our casting style and preferences. We opted to have FBs or fighting butts on both rods. This rod is a little easier to cast than the 896 and I like it a little more than the 790 in general. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Different fly lines summon unique casting qualities, but the rod handles them all. My overall impression was that the R8 Core 4100-4 is a specialized model ideally tuned for fishing all manner of nymph rigs for trout. 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. I was looking over a few rods today and noticed how horrible the cork is on all the Hardy rods even their high end. I'm laughing my ass off, on all the Sage far bank threads. Since when did you become grumpy? This category has no bearing on the quality of either rod. The consistent review from the pros is that it casts like a much higher-priced rod. I was under the impression that the R8 line was a softer action than the X line. The 586-4 is an extremely lightweight rod that prefers throwing dry flies but can get away with tossing smaller nymph rigs. How do they balance the rod? I've bought most of my rods from the classified on the previous name-that-shall-not-be-spoken WA flyfishing website. check around for used . Haven't seen a Sage R8 yet, but last summer I was looking for a 6 wt. In other words, does the cost justify the performance of the rod? 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. This is too much fly rod for my trout fishing, but stillwater anglers will find a rod of incredible capability. I was going to answer this thread, but it was to rich for me. Does the 9 wt outbound overload this rod? Best Use: A proper trout angler's rod; the 486-4 is perfect for smaller rivers and dry flies but offers a hint of versatility generally not seen in this size configuration. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We had the opportunity to put them in hand and cast them, and see what the hype was all about. As a curiosity, do you happen to have a home kitchen scale which can weigh grams or tenths of ounces? 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. I also wondered if a number of those people actually fly fished by their postings. The Centric is a normalizer for the Scott company, a versatile freshwater rod designed to cover the full range of fast action rod applications: big water, wind, large or multiple flies and wind-resistant streamers, all with exquisite casting feel and the all-around fishability of a rod that anglers will reach for without caveat. As I heard from a longtime sage rep today only for 'selected pro's' - good bye! The majority of my fly rods have been bamboo, and its where swing weight becomes most noticeable in the upper section or mid and tip on 3 piece rods, and where hollowing as far out into the tips makes the biggest difference in swing weight and recovery, along with additional measures such as utilizing ultralight tip tops and light wire guides.