Best Sage Fly Rods for 2023

Fly fishing is a fun way to spend a day and catch some fish. There are many different rods available for fly fishing, but not all of them are good quality. SAge fly rods are some of the most popular on the market today. Some people ask the question “are sage fly rods any good?” This blog post will discuss the best sage fly rods in 2023 and how to choose the best fly rod for you.

Here’s our shortlist of the best Sage fly rods:

The Top 5 Best Sage Fly Rods in 2023

Sage has been making some of the highest quality fly fishing rods for many years now. They are many fishermen’s favorite rod and we don’t expect that to change any time soon. Here are the top 6 best sage fly rods available right now.

#1: Sage X Fly Fishing Rod – Best Overall 

Sage Fly Fishing X Rod

The X rod’s fast action taper built with the KonneticHD Technology delivers greater blank recovery and a solid tip stop . This creates tighter, more efficient loops throughout all ranges of casting styles. This taper helps to shift power closer to the angler, which is a great quality of higher end rods. Decreased lateral and medial movement and vibrations in the blank result in a more accurate and efficient presentation. This results in a performance driven, forgiving fast action blank. You can definitely tell the difference between this rod and cheaper rods. 

Read the full Sage X Fly Fishing Rod Review

Sage Fly Fishing X Rod
  • Handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, USA
  • Graphite IIIe Technology, Fast action
  • Dark Green thread wraps with Metallic Grey trim wraps
  • Fuji ceramic stripper guides

#2: Sage Foundation Fly Fishing Rod  – Best Sage Rod for the Money 

Sage Fly Fishing Foundation Rod

Whether it’s trout or salmon fishing, you need a Sage Foundation Fly Rod to make you feel comfortable, confident, and enjoy your fishing experience. Whether you are fishing for work or fun doesn’t really matter because there are fantastic features that make this fly rod stand out from the other rods. It has various features to make the grip more comfortable, the reeling easier and reduce the strain you will have to put in when you are fishing. 

Read the full Sage Foundation Fly Rod Review

Sage Fly Fishing Foundation Rod
  • Handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, USA
  • Graphite IIIe Technology, Fast action
  • Stealth Black blank color; Black primary wraps with silver...
  • Fuji ceramic stripper guides

#3: Sage Dart Fly Rod – Best Short Range Fly Rod

Sage Fly Fishing Dart Rod

The Sage Dart Fly Rod is fit for the fishing of trout, grayling, and salmon. It has a short-range fast action which comes in handy when chasing wary trout in clear water, close quarters, or obstacle-ridden streamsides. The Sage Dart Fly Rod is also equipped with KonneticHD materials combined with performance-friendly fast action which will give fishermen an advantage over trout.

Read the full Sage Dart Rod Review

Sage Fly Fishing Dart Rod
  • Handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, USA
  • Casting in small water and amongst obstructions
  • Light, stealthy presentations
  • The Konnetic HD materials combined with performance-friendly...

#4: Sage Payload – Best Fly Rod for BIG Fish

Sage Fly Fishing - 689-4 Payload Rod - 6 Weight, 8'9' Fly Rod

The Payload by SAGE industries is a rod designed specifically for big flies and heavy line. Engineered to throw long casts with heavy streamers, the Payload handles the toughest conditions with no problem. Heavy crosswinds and rough water will no longer be a problem thanks to the testing and design SAGE industries did. This lightweight rod is sturdy, yet responsive.

Read the full Sage Payload Fly Fishing Rod Review

Sage Fly Fishing - 689-4 Payload Rod - 6 Weight, 8'9" Fly Rod
  • Handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, USA
  • Kinetic Technology
  • Tannin blank color, Burgundy primary thread wraps with...
  • Tangle Free Fuji ceramic stripper guides; Oversized hard...

#5: Sage Trout LL – Best Fly Rod for Trout

Sage Fly Fishing - 379-4 Trout LL Rod - 3 Weight, 7'9' Fly Rod

The Trout LL by SAGE industries is a medium action rod that makes fishing fun. This little freshwater rod has a willowy, flexible tip that makes every fish feel like a monster but still protects your delicate lightweight tippet. Fighting never was so much fun.

Read the full Sage Trout LL Fly Rod Review

Sage Fly Fishing - 379-4 Trout LL Rod - 3 Weight, 7'9" Fly Rod
  • Handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, USA
  • KonneticHD Technology
  • Mahogany blank color; Bronze primary thread wraps with Gold...
  • Fuji ceramic stripper guides; Hard chromed snake guides and...

How To Choose a Fly Fishing Rod

There are several factors to consider when selecting a fly fishing rod. Sage fly fishing rods are some of the highest quality on the market today, but even with a high quality rod, you still to make sure the rod matches your fishing style and your environment.

The rod’s action should match the type of fish you’re targeting

The rod’s action is important because it determines how the rod will react to a fish when it’s hooked. For instance, if you’re targeting trout in a small body of water and there are no specific obstacles for your line to get caught on then best choice would be an intermediate action fly fishing rod with fast taper tip. This is because the short stiffer tips work best in waters where you’re less likely to snag.

If you are just starting out fly fishing, then a medium action rod is going to be your best bet. It should flex approximately 50%-60% of the way down with a good load on it and has plenty of power for dealing with wind and bigger fish.

Consider the length of the rod

The length of the fly fishing rod depends on the type of fishing you are doing. If you are fly fishing in a mountain stream, then best choice would be a short rod because it will have less wind resistance and is easier to use when fighting fish from shallow waters. It’s also important to consider how much area around you will be available for casting.

If you’re going for bigger fish that feed on top or near the surface, then best bet is an intermediate length fly rod for the added strength.

What size weight fly rod should you choose?

The weight of the fly rod depends on the size and species of fish you are targeting. If it’s a trophy-sized brown trout, then best choice would be heavier fly rod with plenty of backbone to pull in big fish from deep waters. For smaller streams and lighter weight fish like rainbow trout, your best bet is a lightweight fly fishing rod that has enough power for drifting small flies on the surface.

Will you be fishing in freshwater or saltwater?

Some fly fishing rods do not hold up well in saltwater. So if you’re going to be fishing in saltwater, your best bet is a fly rod made from graphite or aluminum.

Sum It Up! The Best Sage Fly Fishing Rods in 2023

There you have it. The best Sage fly rods of 2023. In this article, we discussed many important concepts and our top 5 fly rods. We talked about how to choose the best Sage fly rod for you and our top 5 best Sage fly rods for 2023.

Hopefully you now feel confident enough to pull the trigger on a new rod! Happy fishing!


Best Sage Fly Fishing Rods FAQ

What is the best Sage fly rod?

Most Recommended Sage Fly Rods of 2023

  • Sage X – Best Overall
  • Sage Foundation – Best Sage Rod for the Money
  • Sage Dart – Best fly Rod for short range fishing
  • Sage Payload – Best fly rod for big fish
  • Sage Trout LL – Best fly rod for trout

Are Sage fly rods any good?

Definitely. Sage rods are some of the best available on the market today. They’re a higher end fly rod, but every one of them os worth the money. 

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