Sage Classic R8 | Model-by-Model Reviews

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article by John Duncan
reviews from Parker Thompson, Richard Post and John Duncan

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A Classic Statement

The Classic R8 have a stronger personality than any moderate action Sage rod since the Circa.  More limber and with greater feel, Classic R8 are designed for the dry fly angler with greater distinction from the R8 Core than the Trout LL series, which most of us agree were medium-fast action.  Satisfied that R8 Core covers a wide range of techniques for a broad spectrum of casting styles, Sage designed a dry fly rod for the angler with a patient stroke who prioritizes presentation over power.  Classic R8 still fall within the range of “versatile fly rods” — many anglers rue the inexorable trend toward faster actions, preferring the most flexible practicable rod for all trout fishing scenarios — but these rods bend deeper and “use more of the fly rod” than their predecessors, the Trout LL.

Where does the Classic R8 fall in the legacy of Sage medium-action rods?  From the 1980s, Sage has offered a touch-oriented series to complement their renowned fast-action fly rods:   the original GFL Light Line, Graphite III LL, SP, SLT, Circa and Trout LL.  The SP, SLT and Trout LL were medium-fast, great all-arounders but not dry fly specialty rods.  The Circa were the slowest action, designed with stiff tips that forced flex into the butt section, lovely in the hands of the patient caster but unapproachable to everyone else.  The new Classic R8 are faster action than the Circa, but slower than the SP, SLT and Trout LL.  They flex more evenly than any previous mid-action Sage with the lightest feel thanks to optimized tapers and efficient energy transfer.  They offer the best feedback to the angler, too, as the blank tapers are highly refined, maximizing their connection to the fly line.  For their intended purposes (dry fly fishing, swinging soft hackles and light dry-dropper), they are the finest rods Sage has ever designed.

Classic R8 are designed to fish long-headed fly lines such as the Rio Elite Technical Trout, Rio Elite Gold XP, SA Trout and SA Infinity.  As the rod recoils from a deep flex, it cradles the long line head and shoots with a sure trajectory for maximum accuracy, just as a rowing scull tracks true with its long waterline and a long-barreled rifle shoots to kill.  Roll casting, line mending and tippet protection are enhanced by this action.  The Classic R8 is a rod for the angler who understands that it takes more than a simple fly cast to catch the toughest dry fly fish.

Skinny

Model-by-Model reviews

380-4 Classic R8   8’0” 3-wt

John Duncan:  The 3-weights are among my favorite rods in the series.  This model is a little quicker than the longer rods but perfectly balanced between tip and butt.  It loads instantly and progressively, without any sense of having a heavy tip like so many moderate action rods.  The 4 sections of this fly rod are perfectly married, flexing in a continuous profile that forms similar casting loops regardless of distance.  Lightness and feedback are exceptional, but most anglers will be transfixed by the gorgeous casting loops delivered with any long-headed fly line.  I threw it with an SA Trout and Rio Technical Trout, loved them both.  The Rio Technical Trout is heavier, but generates higher line speed.  It flexes the rod a little deeper, but triggers the springy, responsive design traits that make these rods such a pleasure to cast.  It teases more line power of the rod.  This little stick generates plenty of line speed for fishing long leaders, so I expect this rod will play beautifully on spring creeks and tailwaters as well as the smaller waters suggested by its length.  Great rod.

386-4 Classic R8   8’6” 3-wt

John Duncan:  Lovely.  This is one of my favorite long 3-weights that I have ever cast.  I threw it with a Rio Elite Technical Trout WF3 and have no need to consider another fly line.  It has an action unique to long 3-weights, about a 5.5 out of 10 in stiffness, one of the quicker rods in this series but mostly in the evenness with which it flexes.  From 10′ to 50′, the casting stroke is natural, unhurried and perfectly measured.  This is a true progressive action rod of the highest quality.  It generates moderate line speed with gorgeous loops optimized for dry fly presentations with leaders of any length.  The butt and lower mid section possess just enough rigidity to add a modest double haul for turning over a long leader with precision or casting in the wind, but not enough to make the rod feel “stiff” in any sense of the term.  Most rods in this action class roll cast and mend line pretty well, but this model is exceptional, especially with a long headed line such as the Rio Tech Trout.

Richard Post:   The 386 is springy and stable, at once serious and playful, the rod calls to you with a siren’s song toward the water. I cast both the Rio Technical Trout and the Rio Gold on the Classic R8 386 and found both to be excellent with each line adding a little something to the rod. The Gold engages the blank completely as soon as you rock it back to the ready position and the line just levitates in the back cast. The 386 is very connected and matched with the Rio Gold, a moderate and easy bend with a quick and stable recovery with line speed that can be tuned up or toned down.  You get a lot of range and control across fly sizes and techniques with this combination.

The Rio Technical Trout focuses the load a little higher up the blank and accentuates the sweet and supple tip of this wonderful 3-weight. I believe the Classic R8 386 has the softest tip of the Classic R8 rods and an action that is more reminiscent of the Trout LL and Circa rods, a lovely bend with a balanced and pleasant delivery off the tip. I notice the lightness and softer nature of my presentation with the Technical Trout on the 386 compared to the Gold.  The line speed is very even with this setup, capable and willing to be turned up slightly, but unwilling to be overpowered. Smooth, even and exact, this rod threw the best loops for me out of the whole series with a Rio Technical Trout. The Gold gives it a hair more line speed and a livelier, more springy character. I would recommend this line for casters with a more aggressive stroke, those that prefer a little more line speed, and dry dropper work. The Classic R8 386 is an ideal light trout rod for after work fishing on the San Miguel and Dolores Rivers.  I bet it would be mighty nice on the bank of your favorite little river, too.

486-4 Classic R8   8’6” 4-wt

John Duncan:  This rod will fish pocket water or glassy, technical match-the hatch rivers with equal capability, but choose your fly line accordingly.  The Classic R8 486-4 wants a Rio Gold for short distance with leaders under 11 feet in length or or an SA Trout Taper for mid-to-long casting with longer leaders.  The Gold loads the rod “automatically,” as my friend Richard would say.  It tells the rod exactly what to do.  It casts deliberately, accurately and with a strong delivery for flies of any size.  This is ideal for pocket water, attractor flies, casting under tight cover and dry-dropper fishing and for all situations that call for a strong, short cast, but do not require advanced loop control for technical dry fly presentations.

For match-the-hatch fishing on lower gradient water, I would highly recommend the SA Trout Taper.  The Trout Taper doesn’t load the rod until you have 20 feet in the air, so it’s not the best choice for short casts or pocket water, but beyond 20′ it’s a perfect match for this rod, offering elite loop control with high line speed and a proclivity for turning over long leaders with small flies.  In the broad spectrum, the Trout Taper is a lightweight fly line (so many lines are slightly overweighted these days).  As a consequence, using this line quickens the casting cadence of the Classic R8 486-4 from “medium action” (Rio Gold or Tech Trout), to medium-fast, highly desirable for fishing long leaders at 30-50 feet.

Brooke On The GunnisonIf you love the Rio Technical Trout line (like we do), take note:  I anticipated, incorrectly, that the Tech Trout would be the best line taper on the Classic R8 486-4.  However, I found that the taper profile of this rod includes just enough stiffness in the tip to make the rod hesitate slightly on short casts.  The Tech Trout is heavy enough that it tries to engage the rod right away, but the stiff tip causes some hesitation in the casting rhythm.  When flexing into the mid-section on casts of approximately 30-40 feet, everything smooths out and the hitch completely disappears.  With this line, the rod has a true medium action and fishes dry flies just as expected in the desired range.  It also roll casts with feel and efficiency to 40 feet.  I have plenty of loop control and the casting cadence feels completely natural in the 30-50 foot range, but I don’t love it short.

Richard Post:  The Classic R8 486 has a lot of character and in my hands a simple line change gave me the sense of having a pair of rods, rather than one. With a Rio Technical Trout, the Classic R8 486 has a light and airy touch. Loops unroll with a softness and a delicacy that is pleasant and reminds the caster to slow down. The rod encourages this. Take a step back and assess, focus on your cast and make your best presentation. Line speed is appropriate but metered and matched to this presentation style. Light touch, performance through patience, and a pace that allows the angler to savor the cast are some of my take-aways for this rod and line combo.

If the Rio Technical Trout is for cruising in the slow lane, the Rio Gold grabs another gear on the Classic R8 486 and puts it in the fast lane. The Gold engages the blank more thoroughly and quickens up the pace of the rod by a half measure from the Technical Trout. This combination felt like classic Sage to me. Direct line to blank engagement right off the tip, with a progressive springy action that I really enjoyed. I felt like I could wind up the load on the back cast and hold it in repose until I directed it to leave out the rod tip. It was very confident in the back cast with more line speed.

With a dry fly, I prefer to control the cast and presentation with line speed and I would rather have a rod with the ability to generate higher line speeds that I can tune down according to my presentation. I think about it like this. Is it easier for a boat to come off plane or get up on plane? I’d rather have it easier to lighten my touch with a fly rod, than have to work a little bit to get it up to speed. The wind being the primary determinant, and with my luck, the W almost always shows up when I take a svelte little sweetheart dry fly rod to the river. I liked the Gold a little bit more, but I appreciated both lines for what they gave to the rod.

490-4 Classic R8   9’0” 4-wt

John Duncan:  This will be a popular fly rod, in my opinion embodying the exact action profile Sage desired in this series and in a length/line weight that couldn’t be more purposeful to the dry fly fisher.  Like most 9’ 4-weights, the Classic R8 can fish a dry-dropper or light nymph rig without apology, but my purpose for this rod would be long leader dry fly fishing of the sort showcased on the great match-the-hatch rivers in the U.S., including the Missouri, Green, Silver Creek, Henry’s Fork, Snake, San Juan, Delaware and the old school technical dry fly streams of Pennsylvania and New York.  The rod flexes evenly, or “progressively” as we say, a useful quality for the angler who employs loop control and precise line mends in presenting a dry fly.  It casts a long leader with moderate line speed and easy fly turnover to match your heart rate when you’re trying to slow-cook your presentation to catch one good fish.

With a Rio Elite Technical Trout, this is an easy rod to handle.  Feedback is superb and the flex profile ideal for casts both short and long.  In action, the Classic R8 490-4 falls between the former Trout LL 490-4 and the Winston Pure 2 9’ 4-weight.  It is lighter with more feel than the Trout LL, more “touchy” and with a more lively blank.  It has a distinct personality, but not so specialized as to require a long learning ramp.

Lifestyle9Richard Post:   Flagship model of the Classic R8 series, the 490 lives up to its name. Featuring a classically styled action and aesthetic, the brown blank and beige trim wraps and screen printing harken back to the old “brownie” rods. The R8 Classic 490 is purposefully built with a progressive action and a taper suited for a slower, more methodical pace. This rod is a tool built for the discerning dry fly angler who operates with a higher level of thought regarding their fly casting and fishing. If you’re a Sage dry fly rod fan, you probably remember the Circa 489 and you are certainly familiar with this rod’s predecessor the Trout LL 490. In my mind, the Classic R8 490 lies in the middle ground between these rods. The Trout LL is a little quicker and lighter in the tip, more of a moderate-fast rod. The Circa was slimmer in the blank, more dense feeling but possessed a very even flexing action with a deep bend, surprising snap and a ton of touch. The Classic R8’s action resembles that of the Circa, but with more substance in the butt section and a less dense feeling overall. You really focus on the bend while casting the R8 Classic 490. Focused timing, a patient casting stroke and a thoughtful, unhurried presentation are necessary.

A Rio Technical Trout is good but requires perfection to hit the load window just right every time. A little wind exacerbates this effect, but this is not the 490 made to drive into the wind, an R8 Core or Igniter are better tools for the windy tasks. Of the lines I cast, I preferred the slightly weighted lines over the long, light dry fly lines I presumed I would have a penchant for. The Rio Gold, the new Rio XP and the SA Infinity opened up the rod a little and engaged the tip in a manner that was more to my liking. These are my initial impressions and I would not be surprised if my opinion on lines evolves as I fish this rod more. For the angler looking for a modern fly rod, but an action that prefers a more mellowed pace and approach to trout fishing, go check one out. I bet it sends you to looking for your favorite fishing hat and some select dry flies.

586-4 Classic R8   8’6” 5-wt

John Duncan:  Sage makes great 8 ½’ 5-weights.  As compared with the Trout LL 586-4, the Classic R8 is a softer rod, highly progressive in flex, but more oriented to dry fly fishing at short and medium distances.  This is a rod for the wading angler who isn’t in a hurry to drill a grasshopper to the bank.  While the rod will handle a variety of lines, my favorites are the Rio Elite Technical Trout and Rio Elite Gold XP.  The Tech Trout loads the Classic R8 586-4 smoothly and effortlessly, building energy to 40-45 feet.  The Rio Elite Gold XP is a surprisingly good match on this rod.  Heavier than the Tech Trout but with smooth taper transitions, the Gold XP loads this rod more deeply for short casts and engages the blank seamlessly as line is lengthened and power added to the cast.  It casts like a baseball pitcher who uses an exaggerated windup.  It slows the rod down a shade, but line speed and momentum are impressive.  This would be my line choice for fishing grasshoppers or dry-droppers with medium sized flies.  At that distance, I have to wait on this rod more than the Trout LL, a rod I would characterize as “medium-fast” as compared with the “medium” action of the Classic R8.  The Trout LL 586 could fish at greater distance, but the new Classic R8 offers superior feel, sweetness and touch to about 45’  So, like other models in the Classic R8 series, my first purpose for this rod would be dry fly fishing, though it would also be a terrific all-techniques rod on small water, like our own back yard river, the San Miguel.

Parker Thompson:  The 586/4 Classic R8 is a great all around 5wt.  It is nice and light in hand and is a very fun rod to fish.  Being a shorter 5wt, the 586/4 will make for a great boat rod, especially for dry flies and dry droppers.  It throws surprisingly tight loops for a dry fly style rod, but is by no means overly stiff.  Just like others in the Classic R8 family, the 586/4 is a little picky when it comes to fly lines.  It has some difficulties loading in close with a dry fly specific fly line, but with the SA Amplitude Infinity it’s a breeze.  With this line the rod shines at distance and begs the caster for more line.

590-4 Classic R8   9’0” 5-wt

John Duncan:   This is another well-designed rod in the series.  Lighter and less dense than its predecessor, the Trout LL, the Classic R8 590-4 loads deeper with greater natural recoil.  Everything about it screams “technical dry fly fishing,” although this length and line weight is also ideal for nymphing with small flies, like on tailwaters, or with any flies while wading and casting short-mid distance.  With any technique, you’ll enjoy unsurpassed roll casting, line mending and tippet protection with this precision fishing tool.

The Classic R8 casts long dry fly leaders with elegance and command.  The deep, even flex of this rod engages long headed fly lines, like the Rio Technical Trout and Rio Gold XP, with maximum connection for effortless casts and gorgeous, level loops.  It puts all the control in the angler’s hand.  Open your loop for a slack line cast or tighten it up to pinpoint the landing.  In my hands, this rod feels lighter and more flexible than the Trout LL 590-4, but a little more powerful than the Winston Pure 2 590-4, which is truly specialized for silky casts and small flies.

Lifestyle5Like most moderate action trout rods, the Classic R8 are “line sensitive,” designed for specific feel and purpose and requiring a line designed for the same purpose.  This is not criticism.  In fact, it’s a compliment on refinement.  I cast this rod with several lines and have a strong preference for the Rio Technical Trout because it loads the blank deeply and evenly.  With a Rio Gold, which has a shorter, heavier head, the cast starts just fine but the rod begins to feel unconfident in the middle section when I have 35-40 feet of line in the air, as if the heavy line head were issuing an unwelcome challenge.  The Rio Gold XP is wonderful on this rod, too.  Heavier than the Tech Trout, it slows the rod down a little, but delivers greater momentum for turning over larger flies and dry-dropper rigs.

Richard Post:  Hard to beat a 9 foot 5-weight from the team on Bainbridge Island, and they have produced what could be their best moderate action 590 in the Classic R8. Less dense and more spirited in the hand than the Trout LL 590, the Classic R8 loads deeper and more naturally. The 590 changed its character more than its personality with various floating lines. Lighter, longer lines, like the SA Trout, tighten up the blank and the loops, but do not provide much feedback to the caster’s hand until you get around 30 feet of line out of the tip. My casting input with this line combination was more visual, a Rio Technical Trout put a little more in my palm and responded wonderfully to a shorter more focused casting stroke. A Rio Gold gives you a bit more load yet, but felt like it was getting a little too heavy when you reached all the way out with the rod. I would split the difference and stay with the Rio Technical Trout.

A rod like the R8 Core 590 affords the angler an added degree of control when the line is on the water. The finer things are what this rod excels at, like a long reach cast with a couple purposeful waggles of the blank as the fly lands. It is a rod that encourages you to think past the fly placement and focus on what I consider to be paramount in dry fly fishing, line placement. Your level of control over the line is exceptional and exact. You place line where you intend and you mend line where you hope to with the Classic R8 590. More capable into the wind than some of the other Classic R8 rods, the 590 is the do-everything dry fly tool for the angler who appreciates the finer parts of our sport and prefers to spend their time waiting for the right moment rather than trying to conjure it with blind casts.

690-4 Classic R8   9’0” 6-wt

Coming soon 

 

[R8 Classic rod pages]

 

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