Sage 990-4 Power R8

Reviews

1. Rated 4 out of 5

   The R8 990-4 fishes high in its line class, covering most 10-weight purposes without actually feeling like a 10-weight. My top uses for this rod would be striped bass fishing from the boat or beach, heavy permit and mid-sized tarpon, up to about 50 lbs. It will handle all but the largest roosterfish, too, the rare 9-weight that belongs on a boat in Baja.

   Although friendlier than its Igniter predecessor, I found this rod to be one of the stiffest in the series. For me, it cast best with an SA Bonefish Plus WF9F line, from which I deduce that the angler should pair it with a heavy-headed line for most angling situations. It will handle all sinking lines with ease and plus-sized flies on specialized saltwater lines, such as the SA Titan series, which are designed for casting large, awkward flies.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   Exactly what you expect from Sage’s ultra-fast 9-weight, the Power R8 990 is a fly-line howitzer that operates with an alphabet devoid of the letter “W.” It delivers no-compromise line speed and will ask your casting shoulder to rise to the occasion.

   The model most reminiscent of the Igniter series, the Power R8 990 flirts with the line between a 9- and 10-weight, much like its predecessors. It’s more approachable than the Igniter, but still not a rod you can rest your laurels on. This rod won’t let you sit back casually; it demands engagement and rewards persistence with command out of the tip that’s unmatched in virtually all 9-weights.

   Think mean work: full-sink Type 6 striper fishing from the boat, must-make permit shots into the teeth of the wind at 80 feet, or sprinting into position for that one hero roosterfish cast. The painful-fun kind of fishing that usually leaves you humbled—this rod helps.

   The Power R8 990 isn’t anyone’s ankle-deep wading rod. This is the stick you reach for when conditions get bad but the fishing is good, those bright pockets of heaven tucked inside hellish weather. Part the skies with the Power R8 990.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)