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IFTDS/ICAST

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bhorsley

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spent a few days in Orlando last week. Did not throw as many rods as i would of liked too. I mainly played with the new SAGE Salt. The Salt is replacing the Xi3. When Sage replaced the xi2 with the xi3 there was some difference --weight or it felt lighter in the hand and i like them more than the Xi2 --to me the performance was better. The Salt is a huge leap forward over the Xi3. when i picked up the 8 wt --i said to my self this feels brutally fast but after the first cast it was not. It was paired up with the Rio's new permit line and it was a fun canon to cast. But what i really loved it would easily pick up 50 feet of line off the water and never lose the tip. That was my grip about the lighter wight xi3s they would lose the tip with a lot of line in the air. I threw the 8, 9, 10, 11 wts and they all had both long game and short. The 9 was unbelievable both short and long--i see a permit in the is rods future. On the 10 and 11 wt we paired them up with the new Rio GT line and i cannot wait to albie fish with the 9 and 10 and rooster fish with the 11 wt. I brought home the 7 and 8 wts and will fish them sometime this week or next. The rods should be in the shops around 8/1. try one out.

 

The Rio Permit line is a tropical floater but should be an all purpose tropical floater. From what i understand it is a modified Bonefish Quick Shooter --longer handling section so you can hold more line in the air. The new GT is a modified OSB ( i am just guessing) and what i like about it is you can pick up 50 feet lot line off the water and recast. which is very important fishing roosters etc.

 

take my reviews with a grain of salt as they are my opinion and the feel of fly rod is personal preference. Also it might be tainted since both Sarah and i are Sage Ambassadors and Rio Pros :):):)

Brian Horsley

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Brian,

You are a true gentleman to be thoughtful enough to admit your possible prejudices and your relationship with the manufacturers. I'm sure your opinions are quite valid.

JC

__________________
Our tradition is that of the first man who sneaked off to the creek when the tribe did not really need fish. Haig-Brown
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The 10 Salt was excellent and a cannon but the 9 wt stood out the most as did the 8 wt. Was so amazed by the 8,9. I spent a lot of time with the 11 wt so i could try the GT line. The 475 grain was the only GT they had on a reel

 

Mike

at times when i tried to pick up a lot of line or cast a heavier fly with the lighter weight XI3 aka 5, 6, 7, it would sometime feels like the tip would wobble or over load and the cast would collapse. it could be my casting style or the lack there of. But the rep in my region and i were talking up some of the differences between the two and that was how he was describing what i felt. I have a tough time explaining technical issues about casting. If you get a chance try casting one and let us know what you think.

 

 

i look forward to fishing them that is the real test --

Brian Horsley

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Brian,

 

Thanks I understand now exactly what you mean. And that is far more understandable than some high faluting technical description.

 

Funny but in the Xi2 I thought the 9wt was the absolute gem in the range. Bet Sage's designer loves 9wt's.:)

 

They may have been at the Uk Game Fair but I could not make it and anyway the queue would have been miles long. Best way is to find the funds and just go and buy one when wife is out and then as you say go and fish it. But it sounds like a very promising rod.

 

Mike

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I have not fished /cast the Salt enough to do a good comparison

we have 6, 7, 8, 9, Method The 7 and 8 are amazing and the 9 is a cannon but for me it had no short game.

 

at this moment we only have the 7 and 8 Salt . Next few days will take both 8s out for some side by side casting with the same line--bonefish Quickshooter

Brian Horsley

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