Sage 590-4 Power R8

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   This was the first rod I cast in the Power R8 series and it left me hoping that the others were cut from the same cloth (they are). The butt section is rigid and top half of the rod loads and recovers with fast and sure conviction, but in no way does this rod feel heavy or stiff, which is exactly how I would characterize its predecessors in Igniter, Method, TCX and TCR. The Power R8 590-4 is light and hand and light in the swing. Rod designer Peter Knox says these rods are “faster action” than Igniters, but in my hands they simply build line speed more easily. I don’t find myself overpowering this rod, nor struggling with the timing. I think almost everyone will come to the same conclusion: this is a fast-action fly rod that’s easy to cast and incredibly powerful.

   This is not a specialty fly rod. It’s an all-purpose fast action rod that is equally capable with dry flies as with streamers and heavy nymphs. I cast it (and loved it) with a Rio Gold XP, an all-purpose weight-forward line with a heavy-ish head. It will also fish great with an SA Infinity Taper, Rio Predator streamer line, any specialized nymphing taper and a wide range of sinking lines. On the water, I recommend the Power R8 for windy day dry flies, hopper-droppers from the driftboat, light-end streamer work and all nymphing.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   The Sage Power R8 590 is the culmination of Sage’s ultra-fast action lineage, and their best 9′ 5-weight to date. My first impressions surpassed even those of the legendary X 590, my single favorite fly rod. If you know me at all, you understand the weight of that statement.
   The X 590 earned its status in my quiver largely because of how well it handled nearly every line taper I paired it with. Ten different fly lines gave you ten different 590s. The Power R8 590 builds on that adaptability and adds a level of refinement, stability, and range that cements it as Sage’s premier 5-weight.

   What stands out immediately is how composed this rod is at short range. You don’t need to force it to straighten the leader with just a few feet of line outside the tip. Rock back, stop, and the leader unrolls. Ultra-fast rods of the past didn’t do this. Slow and moderate rods do by design; fast rods usually don’t.

   With ten feet of line out, the blank loads and responds with calm authority, intent on executing your cast. Refined and alive in the hand, the rod almost rings when I pick it up. It loves to be driven hard, and the top-end potential feels limitless. But this is far more than a distance or tournament rod. With a light touch, it delivers precision and purpose. Delicate when asked, powerful when called upon.
   As more line leaves the tip, that sense of accuracy only grows. From 30 to 75 feet, the Power R8 590 sets the performance bar and offers a real advantage, especially when conditions aren’t ideal.

   I’ll fish the Power R8 590 primarily as my dry-fly rod, mostly from the boat. BWOs down to #22 on 6X, #14–16 yellow sallies, caddis, and stimulators on 4X, and #4–6 large terrestrials on 2X. Leader lengths will run close to two rod lengths for the small bugs, tapering down to nine feet for the big stuff. It will nymph and fish an indicator expertly, and I have no doubts it will handle the array of sinking lines if you so choose.

   Before writing this review, I cast the following lines on the Power R8 590:
   Rio Elite Gold, Rio Elite Gold XP, Rio Elite Technical Trout, SA Infinity, SA Trout GP, Airflo Super Trout, and SA Expert Distance.
   For a deeper dive into line selection, call us at the shop (970-728-3895) or email us (orders@tellurideangler.com). Both Rio Gold tapers stood out most in my hands. The standard Gold is a touch tighter, with quicker recovery and a slightly shorter loading window. The Gold XP bends a bit deeper and carries a playful feel, like a well-trained bird dog—poised and waiting for direction.

   The Sage Power R8 590 blends the casting prowess of rods like the TCR, TCX, Method, and Igniter into a platform that’s more approachable for the average caster and more empowering for the expert. There’s no equal, and no question about its place in a serious lineup.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)