Back in 1982, the Sage graphite rod company made fiberglass fly rods

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I was born in 1973, when graphite was just being widely accepted as a material for making fly rods.

From 1981-1983, the fly rod company Sage made fiberglass fly rods... the 2nd rod model made after the graphite GFL from 1980-1987.

Should you ever come across one - snap it up if the price is reasonable on your wallet. I looked for 12 years before I found one.

The model shown needed to be cast with many different lines to be figured out, but when it clicks - it is a wonderful thing.

Throw a Cortland Peach DT7F on this rod and it will launch a bug into the stratosphere - and the rod bend is deep with a hooked fish.

S glass was used here - which was about 15% stronger than E glass - being used by most everyone else using glass.

The B stands for Blank. No factory Sage rod will ever start with a B.

An LED flashlight will allow light to penetrate the S glass material that was used for making up these rods.

E stands for electrical... as for its use as an insulator // S stands for structure, as for its use in building material.

All very peculiar how it got adapted into fly rods but I am glad it did. Makes for cool casting fly rods. 

If you see this glowing Sage rod in Taneycomo and hear the scream of a click pawl drag fly reel... say Hello.

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My Sage collection includes a few fiberglass rods that I will photograph over the coming months. Please do bookmark the page. 

Which Sage model do you have ? click the link below :

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Sage Fly Rod History Chart

(This was written up Nov 19, 2019)

Please use this link below to find all the names RP - stands for Reserve Power, RPL Reserve Power Light etc...

https://randybrownsmf.com/2019/11/19/sage-fly-rod-history-chart/

[laker67]

I have an RP from around 85 to 86. Bought it from Larry's at bssp. All the markings are wore slick and it will not come apart without fear of breaking. Larry's son, Kelly was able to get it apart several years back. I put it back together and just like glue it stuck. It is an 8 foot 5 wt. XP is my all time favorite.

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, laker67 said:

I have an RP from around 85 to 86. Bought it from Larry's at bssp. All the markings are wore slick and it will not come apart without fear of breaking. Larry's son, Kelly was able to get it apart several years back. I put it back together and just like glue it stuck. It is an 8 foot 5 wt. XP is my all time favorite.

I think I inherited a graphite Sage from my dad.  I’d have to check.  My brother may have it.  I have an RPS I’m pretty sure.  My good friend just loves his XP.   

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

My good friend just loves his XP.   

Everyone I know loved the XP rods.  Why discontinue such a popular model? 

I've never owned one but I've casted them, and they are about as perfect as a fly rod can be IMO 

If they could still be bought with a warranty I'd own 3-4 of them. But back when they could be bought new my pockets weren't deep enough.🙄

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

Everyone I know loved the XP rods.  Why discontinue such a popular model? 

I've never owned one but I've casted them, and they are about as perfect as a fly rod can be IMO 

If they could still be bought with a warranty I'd own 3-4 of them. But back when they could be bought new my pockets weren't deep enough.🙄

Didn’t they make the XPS that replaced it?

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Many glass rods benefit from the use of Double Taper fly lines - makes it much easier in shorter loading.

Try many different lines if you have the opportunity. One or two will work like gangbusters.

This 7'9" 6 weight 3 piece was also built from a blank :

[Brian K. Shaffer]

SAGE Rods - the entire history chart :

 

[tjm]

Did Sage roll their own 'glass or buy blanks from someone else?

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Fly rods cannot talk - so I share this information with all of you... 

When Sage began production in 1978, they made rods from both graphite and S-glass.  Don Green, the company founder, designed and produced rods at Lamiglas, Grizzly, and Fenwick.  Don knew glass rods.  But at Sage, the company focus was graphite.  The glass rods were never strongly marketed and were only sold for a few years.  

http://fiberglass-fly-rods.pbworks.com/w/page/5183000/Sage

Check out the FiberglassFlyrodders site. A wealth of information from many smart fly fishers over there.

 

Why is this here ? What or who is Winslow ?

Sage before they were Sage.

The rod shown is a 9'6" 10 weight - it casts the same DT7F as the B686 rod. 4 ounces and thin at the butt.

When you put line to a rod - things change. The old rods are/were not using the same fly lines we are today.

You must have different lines to try - it can get expensive. Or you can get creative.

Rules are bent a lot in fly casting.  And isn't figuring out different fly lines fishing ? 

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Didn’t they make the XPS that replaced it?

I don't know.   I've always liked Sage rods, but I also always thought that they were grossly overpriced.  I've had several different models in the past but only have 1 now. My 9'8wt. is a Sage Bolt that I got a really good deal on when they discontinued them.  I like it, but honestly if my eyes were closed I couldn't tell you whether you just handed me my Sage 8wt. or a Piscifun 7wt. that sells for less than 100.00  

I can tell you one thing that I know for sure, and that is this..... Whenever a blank builder paints a rod blank, they are doing it to hide inconsistent wraps of the fibers.   If the blank was truly AWESOME the maker would want to DISPLAY that.