This setup is perfect for kids and adults who want to test the waters without investing a huge sum of money to do so. Since when did you become grumpy? Choosing Your Scott Fly Rod: a Series-by-Series Comparison Walker is keen on R8 technology. Sage R8 Core Fly Rod Series Review: Model-By-Model JavaScript is disabled. Its zippy, fun to cast, and accurate. This rod is not a power caster. Your mileage may vary. "How does the 9wt compare to the 10wt?" ($356) from Bozeman Flyworks is one of the few truly complete packages to get you going. The SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity WF7F was better and loaded the rod just a bit more. Or maybe all of the above. -John Duncan, The R8 Core 4100-4 is a stellar fishing tool and a specialist nymph anglers go-to rod in the new R8 lineup. Product Categories. You must log in or register to reply here. This category has no bearing on the quality of either rod. The R8 Core 5100 really is a tremendous over head casting rod and throws an absolute power wedge. These models are springy and powerful in the butt section but require patience in the casting stroke. This is a finely tuned fly rod. As a mending rod you feel a little stiffness. The Heritage Taper is reminiscent of the old glass rods you might find in a dusty garage. And like the Helios, this makes for a helluva boat rod. "Never allow the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." The R8 Core 7100-4 is the rod for an Alaska Trout and Salmon trip. This is a telescoping rod, meaning it collapses down into itself. Many refer to this as the speed of the rod. The classic fly rod that most people will have in their setup is a medium-action 9-foot 5-weight rod. Casting these rods and visiting with Rod Designer Peter Walker, Sage clearly sought a rod that prioritized fishability over raw casting prowess. Like the R8 Core 890-4, the 990-4 is an easy caster with just about any line, but you cant stab cast it like the Igniter or horse the butt section like a Salt HD. I think this rod gives you the best of both worlds, without sacrificing performance. That, too, was a lovely rod, but the R8 Core has a super broad sweet spot and ultra-springy mid-section that brings the rod to life on casts both short and long. Read what our member's write and you get who they are and their degrees of bias (which to one extent or another we all have). 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. This rod would be perfect for tossing big poppers to largemouth. How we Rated the Rods- This particular review covers the following. It casts naturally with tremendous line speed and zero torsional play at all distances. We paired each rod with the same reel and weight forward, 6-weight fly line. The reactions to this R8 Core release are kind of strange. As a curiosity, do you happen to have a home kitchen scale which can weigh grams or tenths of ounces? -Rich Post, By modern standards, this would be considered a medium fast 8-weight, the purposes for which are both narrow and broad. The only real notable drawback is the decision not to integrate a hook keep. Coming in a range from 3wt to 9wt, with a variety of lengths from 8'6" to 10'0 . 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. The Great Lakes tributary steelheader will find the taper beneficial for rolling out bulky indicator rigs. Me too. Seems like profit margins are getting in their way. The only item you have to purchase outside of this kit is a few flies. Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Zen Tenkara. Versatility and top end performance across a wide range of fishing environments are key attributes of this model. Jack, admittedly is not the best caster in the world. Fit & Finish- The first impressions are important. 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. The 9 4wt is another interesting model. The CORE's all-new graphite fibers, Sage says, results in significantly enhanced reactivity and sensitivity and shifts . This rod is more of an AK salmon rod than a large trout rod. And a fast-action rod has a minute amount of flexion. There are certainly lots of good/very good rods out there. Enough backbone for salmon excluding large kings and plenty of fun to cast streamers and indicator rigs while wading. It has a very nice, progressive flex to it. The rod is incredibly light in hand yet has a noticeably stiffer feel all the way through to the tip. To be clear, we didnt fish with these rods; we merely cast them. I was able to. When I casted it when it first came out, I liked it quite a bit more than than the X in that configuration. The Redington Butter Stick ($280) drips with vintage cool. 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 95 length is great for fishing in drift boats or off a paddleboard. Alex wanted us to cast a 905-4 X Series rod, which was replaced by the new R8, and the 905-4 R8 Core side-by-side. 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. The 896 has a similar fast rod feel to the R8 696, but the heavier blank of the 8 weight isnt quite as lively. You cast it firm or sit back on it a little and the rod doesnt seem to mind, it just stays right with you. Sage has offered this model is every fast-action series dating from the RPL. Gear Review: First Cast, Sage R8 Core & Scott Centric The only real exception would be if your main requirement of a fly fishing rod is big power. This fly rod offers wonderful feedback to the caster. I disagree, but it's a weird disagreement. Even my guide friends loved it, and I could see a smidge of jealousy in their trout-lovin eyes. Pretty plain. I was looking over a few rods today and noticed how horrible the cork is on all the Hardy rods even their high end. As a curiosity, do you happen to have a home kitchen scale which can weigh grams or tenths of ounces? You get a more powerful rod in the R8 896 than the X and a rod that throws shorter heavier lines more easily. 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. The 586-4 is an extremely lightweight rod that prefers throwing dry flies but can get away with tossing smaller nymph rigs. 1 in stock. We just got our hands on the new Sage R8 Core Rod, and tested it right outside the shop. But I still found myself reaching for it when wading. I found it to be equally capable with both freshwater and saltwater fly lines, but a heavy headed freshwater line such as an SA Titan or Rio Predator would probably be my first choice on the water. That rigidity, along with those extra inches, is likely the most significant contributor to the power and accuracy fishermen are experiencing from the boat. The reels are fully CNCd and have an adjustable drag, something you might not find on a lower-end kit. We ask much of our 6-weights, but the R8 690-4 FB exceeds all requirements. It seems sensitive to its line pairing, but I would unconditionally recommend the R8 490-4 with an SA Trout Taper. Constructed with G. Loomis Multi-taper Design, this rod is strong where it needs to be and light where it can be. Are a top Fuji stripper and H&H Chrome Stainless super slick guides ho hum? The Centric rods were originally constructed with Scotts Carbon Web Technology. This is too much fly rod for my trout fishing, but stillwater anglers will find a rod of incredible capability. Boasting crazy fast line speed and enough power to overcome unpredictable ocean fishing conditions, this rod is still shockingly sensitive and surprisingly light. Best Uses: Striper fishing, permit, pike - this was a favorite. In the R8 lineup, the 7100-4 is the best big rod for mending that I cast. The medium action allows for accuracy in tight spots and stiffness with bigger fish on the line. -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. I'll say this, Ive never seen such a reaction to a fly rod, both good and bad about a fly rod before. 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. JavaScript is disabled. The Centric doesn't seem like much of a departure from my Radians. You must log in or register to reply here. Its just plain awesome with all three, which tells me that there is virtually no bad line choice for this rod. That does not mean that it is not a powerful and highly capable rod, but it is not a blazing loop slinger. All he wants to hear about is a Sage or a Scott on how well they cast, because he's either a lousey caster of just has the bucks to burn on an expensive rod. You want shills, go on Instagram. Check Price at Trident Fly FishingCheck Price at G. Loomis. The stability and line speed of the R8 856 would be hard to top, but it lacks the tip sensitivity I prefer for short distance wade fishing. A proud hero caster, the R8 596-4 is just as impressive at reasonable fishing distance with a Rio Gold, SA MPX, Airflo Universal Taper, etc. Both Sage and Scott have a long history of building great fly rods through innovation. The G5 is lightweight and constructed with a narrower shaft than the previous ideation. This can be easily thrown into a pack or carried onto a plane. We asked three well-seasoned fly anglers who range in casting ability to perform this review. Both Matt and Bill are highly skilled casters and can huk fly line. The Sage X 7wt was fantastic, and if Im being honest, Id have to cast them side-by-side to tell the difference. Like a child reaching out to grab his mothers waiting hand. 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. All that to say, we have a good representation of casting ability. Living in Montana, I cant seem to have too many of these. Great post, surfnfish. Sage R8 Core First Impressions | Page 2 | The North American Fly A slow-action rod is more flexible throughout to allow for short, accurate casts. -John Duncan, A lively and playful 5-weight with all but the right lines, this flagship model is much more than a pure caster. From slow-action rods to the perfect nymphing setup, these are the best budget fly rods of 2020. It seems like an odd omission since its such a small component. This rod is no exception. The soft tip to protect light tippets and the mending focused taper make for a highly specialized nymphing rod and one technical tailwater fisherman should pay attention to. Copyright 2023 Telluride Angler 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435 1 (970) 728-3895 All rights reserved.Privacy PolicyWebsite by WEBDOGS. The growing popularity of spey casting led Sage to reconfigure the G5 to accommodate the most recent advances in spey lines available on the market. Plus, this balance of light and fast makes the fight really fun when a fish is on. A marvel of design, this rod succeeds the 597-4 X with equal casting capability but even greater control, most noticeable when throwing in the wind or horsing a nymph/indicator rig. Stay tuned. Click here for a more detailed look at the 9 5wt. Our rating went from zero being heavy and ten being lightweight. I can't speak to the Centric 590 specifically, but I do own a Centric 5100, and I love it. There are those who are giddy like children in a candy store; new rod excitement is flowing from their aura. Typo 11, thanks for your reply. Unless you live on the beach, youre going to need to travel with the thing, and a 9-foot-long tube is a pain to move about with. It gets going right away with little line out the tip without the irritating hesitation of many fast action rods. The SA Infinity Taper is a natural fit for this long 6-weight, but anglers who prefer a shooting style line such as the Rio Outbound will marvel at the distance this rod achieves. Scott Centric or Sage X?? The RIO Striper line fits like a glove, but it threw the SA Amplitude Bonefish nicely. The R8 Core 796 is an ideal light surf rod for blind casting with shooting head style lines. Whether you prefer to fish on the beach or off rocks, this 9wt can handle any type of striper environment. Rich Post, When lawn casting this model for the first time, I was transported to the bow of a drift boat, strafing the banks with a grasshopper. It puts fun in fishing. Sage R8 Core Fly Rod $ Sage Sonic Fly Rod 9ft 5wt $ 675.00. We see this as both fly rods are accurate in capable hands. This is one heck of a fly rod. Sage described the G5 as being a highly responsive rod at lengths at and past that, and the sentiment was echoed by the public. I found that this rod casts lighter overhead than other rods in this class. You say the 9wt can handle a 350 grain outbound .. except there isnt a 350 grain outbound. 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. 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 felt like the rod could handle a heavier and longer headed nymph specialty style line well. Boasting crazy fast line speed and enough power to overcome unpredictable ocean fishing conditions, this rod is still shockingly sensitive and surprisingly light. Comparable models in Salt HD, Igniter and Maverick have greater capability in the wind. Lines: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity, Rio Perception Fly Line, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX. I do not own a 10 foot single hand rod, but I may have to now. Double hauling in the wind, it knifes long loops that turn over with an audible hiss. For the longest cast of your life, stick an SA Infinity Taper on the 596 and see how much line you can hold in the air before shooting. The Rio Elite Perception was very nice as well and produced lots of line speed off the tip. 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 5wt feels like the fours older sibling and is an excellent option for when the wind picks up or the fly size increases. The big difference between this kit and other starter kits is quality. We are all bozos on this bus, and fly-fishing is just one little nook that we occupy sometimes. The carp angler who frequently fishes longer, lighter leaders, and smaller flies will love this rod too. 2020 Five Weight Shootout by the Yellowstone Angler. That line really personified the line speed potential of this rod and made it feel lively and zippy through the guides. Has the backbone needed to handle a 350-grain Striper line or Outbound Short. The Airflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper pairs savagely for dry dropper fishing. Is it possible that maybe there's a better line for it than what you tried? The Airflo Universal casts well throughout this rods range, too, and I suspect that the Rio Perception is also a good match. Two tone trim wraps and first-rate cork? It casts a Rio Elite Bonefish line reasonably well, but I expect it will get more reps with freshwater lines such as the Rio Gold, SA MPX, SA Titan, Rio Predator and the range of sink tips customary for Alaska and similar environments. Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Trident Fly Fishing. This can of course be seen in graphite rods as well, and I thought it would be interesting to compare the weight distribution on two identical physical weight, length and line weight Sage rods one generation apart which have different swing weights, and to the Sky G 6 wt if you had one, which has a famously light swing weight. Add to cart. 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. Appalachian anglers will find this length and weight combination particularly beneficial on overgrown freestones when a bit more backbone than a 4wt is called for, but a nine-footer is quarrelsome. If you're new to fly fishing, you may be wondering what is fly rod action? Instead, the company quickly learned that the carbon web tech didnt improve performance in this application and wasnt worth the added weight. - Babe Ruth. 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. Scott Centric Fly Rod Test - New Scott Centric VS Scott Radian VS Sage Igniter 17,262 views Sep 12, 2020 Daniel is having a little shootout, to compare the existing 5 weights he normally uses. 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. The smaller the fish, the lower the weight. Everyone will talk about these rods because they are noticeably different from their X predecessors. There is simply something about the tapers of this rod and line that work well together. We can't wait to get them on the . What the X had going for it was a stiff tip and butt section, which allowed a little more bend down the blank when you really needed to launch some line. The shortest rods in the series defied expectations and were two of the most enjoyable. If little mountain streams are where youre headed, you might want to consider a different rod choice. The delivery is perfectly balanced at all distances and the slow-motion load and rebound of this rod is delightful. Distance- Similar to Accuracy, we realize this is subject to the anglers ability. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The companys direct-to-consumer model means you get a higher quality product at a far lower price point. They cast with familiarity and intuition. It responds to both touch and power. The draw of one-piece rods is both weight reduction and improved performance. Our assumption is the casting Distance Capabilities have to do with a combination of the casting ability of the user and the recovery speed. The rod is matte and looks sleek. R8 Technology | Sage - Far Bank Enterprises Best Uses: The shorter 5wt is an excellent option for the angler looking to leave the nine-foot rod at home in favor of a much lighter rod without dropping down to a four-weight. The R8 Core replaced the Sage X, which is indeed a fast-action rod. The rod also lacked the versatility found in the other models. I really enjoyed the Rio Elite Gold on this rod. The R8 796 cast the Rio Predator line well. A true all-water rod with plenty of power to lift sinking lines, the 8wt R8 would make an excellent rod for northeastern schoolie stripers. Your email address will not be published. I did not feel like I wanted to fish a dry or dry dropper with this rod, but I do not believe that to be its purpose. The line really feels solid behind you. This setup is perfect for kids and adults who want to test the waters without investing a huge sum of money to do so. I wouldn't get the X just because it's discounted or other rod only because it's cheaper - only if it's better). 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). First Impressions: Sage R8 Core 9' 5 weight - Fin & Fire Fly Shop Scott Centric quantity. All our users found both rods to be very light compared to other rods. Then, others are frustrated until they believe that Sage is just running a big con job and using this forum and its members to achieve that. They've been whipping this same horse for a long time. This style of fly fishing rod is completely different than any other on the list because its an entirely different way of fly fishing. Author. Sage built this rod not as a generalist but for specialized tasks but it begs the question, does anyone need a 9 3wt? If the only bad thing about it is the components are the same they always use, then it sounds like a pretty good rod. The Scott Centric fly rods are truly fast meets feel, taken to the next level. 7 Most Popular Smoked Salmon in the World, Who Doesnt Like Potcakes?- Support The Bahamas by Helping the Potcakes, Tips on Mousing for Rainbow Trout and Grayling at Alaska West, Whats Happening with Pebble Mine- Good News for Alaska. Scott Centric Fly Rod Review - Fast Meets Feel, Elevated Concentration shifted to improving its resin and carbon technology, bringing forth the development of ARC 2. Essentially, whatever your preferred stretch of water, theres a rod in the Sage R8 Series to fit your needs. You must log in or register to reply here. With 5 line weights, all at 86 long, G. Loomis introduced a powerhouse series with the NRX+ FLY T2S ($895). Best Uses: This is a general-purpose trout rod, but its softer than youre used to from Sage. Sage R8 Core Fly Rod Review - Darn Fine - Duranglers Fly Fishing Shop Prior to that, Rachelle held leadership positions in multiple conservation organizations and often finds herself testifying in the capitol on topics ranging from wildlife management to habitat protection. Is the 9' 3wt really that bad of a rod? The best way to equate it to something we all understand is those Star Wars lightsabers we had as kids that you could jab your brother with, and they would collapse inward instead of sending him screaming to your mom. Two categories: Power and Presentation. Sage R8 Core Fly Rods | Model-by-Model Review - Telluride Angler -John Duncan, Im going to repeat my review of the 690-4 here because I honestly found these models to be nearly inseparable. And depending on where youre fishing, a shorter rod might be desirable.