Salt HD replacement - Salt R8

[Fergal]

Available next week apparently. 

 

ps - it's so good that it can ever help protect delicate ecosystems!!!

 

pps - more time on rods, less time and mo new on marketing mumbo jumbo please

Edited January 11 by Fergal

[bhorsley]

I have spent some time with this rod with Peter Knox (rod designer).  He has fished with for several weeks over the years for albies. This rod design was three+ years in the making and took advantage of some new materials.  We fished the 8 wt.  It casts very well in all conditions and is very light in the hand.  I have a bad paw and can't push with my thumb anymore which means my fly fishing is very limited. But I really like the feel of it the few times I have fished it. The guys on my boat and Sarahs boat fishing the rod pulled on the fish harder than an average angler to see how much stress it could take.  The rods are damn strong.  Look forward to getting mine.

Yes both Sarah and I are ambassadors for Sage and have been since the time when Lefty was with Sage.  So my views might be skewed.   As for marketing hype --I dont read --anybodies 

[changed]

I agree, having cast it, it's a really good rod. I don't even like casting one handed rods and it made me look like a proficient caster.

 

Whether it's worth the money is up to you...

 

PS. Cast a number of lines on it, but it absolutely sings with a Rio Striper.

Edited January 11 by changed

[Fergal]

The price is in-line with other top end rods. 

[jerseystriper]

1000 bucks is the going price for the new high end rods. I still  love my old RPLX I 8 wgt, but I am sure this rod rocks. I know the Orvis Helios 3 absolutely does rock as I have given that a toss. Hopefully will run into someone next year with this rod and give it a go. 

[albacized]

13 hours ago, jerseystriper said:

1000 bucks is the going price for the new high end rods. I still  love my old RPLX I 8 wgt, but I am sure this rod rocks. I know the Orvis Helios 3 absolutely does rock as I have given that a toss. Hopefully will run into someone next year with this rod and give it a go. 

Agree - 2 years ago, I picked up used Orvis Helios 2, and after casting the updated Helios 3, much prefer the 2. Also happy with my Sage xi3…so I’m perfectly happy with the era of rods where the more advanced technology was starting to creep in…just like the way they feel

[Mike Oliver]

It is interesting when I hear words like this new rod is a canon or it rocks. What does this actually mean. In terms of performance the vast majority are stuck at below 90 feet. So is it more subjective and more to do with how a rod feels.

 

mike

[Fergal]

16 mins ago, Mike Oliver said:

It is interesting when I hear words like this new rod is a canon or it rocks. What does this actually mean. In terms of performance the vast majority are stuck at below 90 feet. So is it more subjective and more to do with how a rod feels.

 

mike

It means someone wants to be happy and justify their new rod when in reality it’s casts the exact same as what was being used before since ultimately it’s the Indian and not the arrow. 

[jerseystriper]

Mike,

what does a new or this rod “rocks” or using the synonym word “cannon” mean?

Interesting question and for all who fly fish probably different answer.

I also have a 10 wgt sage xi3 that I picked up used at a cheap price a few years ago-for the price I figured I’d take the gamble and “upgrade” from a older sage RBLXi 10 wgt- I broke the tip of the xi3 this past November, completely my fault, so while it’s being repaired I had to go back to RPLXi  rod for rest of November- Both rods are perfectly fine tools but just based on “feeling” I like the xi3 as for what ever reason I don’t have to think about the mechanics of a casting stroke while using it. 1 or if I’m looking for some more distance 2 false casts and I know it’s in its “sweet” spot and I just launch it- with  the RPLXi I need wait for a “feel” that it’s in its “sweet” spot and then launch it- is this all subjective mumble jumble? Yea,  no doubt- do both rods work? Yes- both do what I want, cast a fly and land fish- do I wish the xi3 was a 2 piece? Absolutely as I have a preference for 2 piece over the 4-just less hassle in making sure guides are a line and far less torque twist to check for every 20 or 30 minutes to make sure still in line. Can I throw a 100 feet of line with either rod? No- can I throw 50? Yea, even with big poppers and gurglers- 70-80 feet is a wind, waves, fly size etc situation- sometimes yes and sometimes no- 

when I picked up and tossed the orvis Helios 3 blackout rod a few years ago for while on vacation in Charleston it just “felt” in tune with me and how I cast- others may think it sucks-

 

fly rods are like new golf drivers- todays 2023 drivers are better then ones from 10 years ago, but no, your handicap is not going from a 15 to a 10 by just getting a new driver.. 

 

if you have the money, get what you want- you can’t spend it in the grave and life is short-

[bhorsley]

7 hours ago, Mike Oliver said:

It is interesting when I hear words like this new rod is a canon or it rocks. What does this actually mean. In terms of performance the vast majority are stuck at below 90 feet. So is it more subjective and more to do with how a rod feels.

 

mike

With what little time I have had with the new rod it makes me smile.   Smiling is important .  I compare in my mind every rod I cast to the Igniter 790.  To me the finest rod ever built.  This one is right up there.  I my world of albie fishing more than one/two false casts can take you out of the game.  This rod checks my boxes while being lighter and stronger 

[Hook I]

8 hours ago, albacized said:

Agree - 2 years ago, I picked up used Orvis Helios 2, and after casting the updated Helios 3, much prefer the 2. Also happy with my Sage xi3…so I’m perfectly happy with the era of rods where the more advanced technology was starting to creep in…just like the way they feel

I like the 3 better than the 2 so I bought 2 3’s  

[Mike Oliver]

On 12/01/2023 at 7:00 PM, bhorsley said:

With what little time I have had with the new rod it makes me smile.   Smiling is important .  I compare in my mind every rod I cast to the Igniter 790.  To me the finest rod ever built.  This one is right up there.  I my world of albie fishing more than one/two false casts can take you out of the game.  This rod checks my boxes while being lighter and stronger 

Brian

 

I have the 690 and love it. Mind my favourite Sage is the 691 One. For me it is very subjective. Some rods just feel so good. I probably have three or four of them and like you Brian they make me smile.

 

mike

[jerseystriper]

Its fishing, if it is not putting a smile on ones face, then we are overthinking it. 

[surfflyguy]

Just saw the trident rod review for it. I wasnt overly impressed 

[Mike Oliver]

With Trident or the rod. Reviews, never been impressed with any of them. So many repeat the marketing BS that the makers put out. Soon as they start  to talk about accuracy and the rod doing the work I struggle to control my gag reflex.

 

Mike.