Sage R8 CORE Fly Fishing Rod

SHAPING 8 REVOLUTIONS IN HOW WE FISH

R8 Core is a rod family focused on maximum versatility and applies new revolutionary material technology through our forward thinking lens of what we’re seeing out on the water where one rod needs to show even greater range. At its Core, R8 Core traces a direct lineage to Sage’s multi application vision, one shaped by the fishing evolutions happening all around us—from habitats we stalk and waters we frequent, to the flies we fish and the diversity of species we now target.

R8 TECHNOLOGY

For most of us, an idyllic day on the water is not when we’re thinking more, but when we’re thinking less. Finding that state of fishing in the moment, where instinct and experience bring us to an almost zen-like awareness of each subtle motion and movement—that’s what R8 is all about. It’s not a race, but a state we all aim to reach out on the water. With R8 we enhance that two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow, and control.

• Silver Pine blank color
• Slate primary thread wraps with graduated White and Grey trim
• Fuji ceramic stripper guides with hard chromed snake guides and tip-top
• Laser etched line weight on slide band
• Black rod bag with new quick-tie cord lock for faster, easier, and cleaner storage
• Aluminum rod tube with Sage medallion
• 3WT - 6WT: Premium Flor grade snub-nose half-wells cork handle, Sustainable Ziricote wood insert with anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat
• 5WT - 9WT: Premium Flor grade full-wells cork handle with cork/EVA fighting butt, Gunmetal anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat, Integrated hidden hook keeper in reel seat

ENHANCED HAND-TO-ROD CONNECTION

We’ve increased the purity of graphite in the rod for even more reactivity and sensitivity, shifting energy further down the blank and into the handle. This transfer of energy creates a more natural extension of your arm, ultimately resulting in less wasted effort and intuitive reactivity. Rather than dialing up parking lot distance, we’ve shifted the thinking back to the roots of rhythm and awareness—where you can experience the energy happening in each moment.

AMPLIFIED SENSORY FEEDBACK LOOP

Effortless energy transfer and more connected feel, the amplified two-way feedback loop of R8 Technology, due to our new axial fiber formulation, allows you to feel when the power needs to be applied throughout the cast, presentation, and when applying the appropriate pressure to fish.

HEIGHTENED FISHING EXPERIENCE

Whether it’s the mental chess of matching the hatch, the headspace of reading the water or the instinct putting a fly in exactly the right spot—our best days emerge when our mind is right. It always seems that when we’re not thinking about it is precisely when our fishing mind takes over—where every single moment feels almost automatic or instinctual. With immediate feedback from tip to hand, R8 is designed to facilitate that higher state of mental flow and focus when small decisions, thoughts, and actions line up effortlessly.

PURE GRAPHITE

The advanced, leading-edge material behind R8 enables us to shape a rod with a stiffer, stronger backbone but a more sensitive tip and more connected feel. The secret is twofold. First, a proprietary aerospace composite with a greater hoop strength enables us to dimensionally grow taper diameter more quickly from the tip—while a nano-sintered resin application increases axial resilience and allows us to pack more fiber into the blank, resulting in that true two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow and control.

EFFORTLESS ENERGY TRANSFER

Elongated energy transfer shifts the sweet spot closer to the hand creating a more natural extension of your arm for greater range, quicker reactivity and less wasted effort.

NEW AXIAL FIBER FORMULATION

Advanced nano-sintered resin application and a more resilient axial fiber allow us to re-profile the dimensional taper to get thicker quicker from tip to butt - resulting in better energy transfer and greater feel. Simply put - a better and more efficient wiring of energy.

NEW CIRCUMFERENTIAL HOOP FIBER

Advanced hoop fibers hold blank in optimal cylindrical shape creating greater circumferential strength - continuously maintaining the inherent blank strength while actively engaged or under tension.

MENDING

With feel that extends to the smallest dry flies, R8 provides the touch to deliver efficient mends with intention and precision.

SETTING

From subtle sips to streamer strikes, the amplified sensitivity of R8 enables fine nibble feel that triggers instant, instinctual reaction for trout sets or strip sets.

FISH FIGHTING

With a fish on, R8’s fusion of stronger backbone yet greater feel enables you to control your fish, even from tough structure, with touch and care.

DRY FLY

A fast action provides the capability to stay tight to the line and in control of the presentation, while the high line speed drives a tight loop that assists in laser accuracy in technical dry fly situations. With ability to handle dry fly lines with long heads, increasing loop control when carrying long lengths and making precise casts to rising fish, all while making it easier to turn over long leaders for technical feeders at range.

NYMPHING

With a sensitive tip section to protect light tippets, a versatile balance between lifting power and delicacy provides perfect synergy for nymph fishing. A very effective tool for anglers that fish nymphs and indicators wading or out of a boat. With a combination of power and feel, R8 Core allows for intuitively better cast timing, easier line lifts and sharp, precise mends leading to faster reaction times when setting the hook.

STREAMERS

A powerful butt section easily throws a wide range of streamers and accommodates a full lineup of sinking tip lines while also quickly pulling aggressive fish out of structure for increased landing success. The powerful butt section of the R8 CORE provides stability, connectedness, and power to rock and fire those one-shot casts.

Model Overview

R8 Core 390-4 Small Creeks

For delicate presentations of small flies to average-sized trout on light tippets, the 390-4 is the tool of choice. The length gives good casting distance and line control.

R8 Core 486-4 Small Water / Spring Creeks

The 486-4 is a trout lover's rod. Light in hand and extremely accurate, it delivers small to medium size flies to picky trout and protects light tippets during battle.

R8 Core 490-4 Dry Flies / Small Nymphs

A light and versatile trout rod, the 490-4 offers great line control without compromising accuracy. Best for dry flies and smaller nymphs.

R8 Core 4100-4 Small Nymphing / Indicator

The 4100-4 is a standout nymphing rod. It offers the utmost in line control yet retains accuracy and delicacy for strike detection and tippet protection.

R8 Core 586-4 Dry Flies / Nymphs

The 586-4 is great for wade fishing for trout. Extremely accurate and able to cast a wide variety of fly sizes and weights.

R8 Core 590-4 All Around Trout

Our most versatile and most popular rod model. The 590-4 handles trout flies of nearly any size, lines of varying densities and does so with superb feel, accuracy, and line control.

R8 Core 596-4FB Boat - Nymphing

A slightly longer five-weight to aid in casting distance and line control when fishing for trout. The 596-4FB features a fighting butt and is great for big river fishing, nymphing, and stillwater situations.

R8 Core 5100-4FB Nymphing / Long Mends

Our longest five-weight is our most powerful one. Able to cast longer distances, the 5100-4FB has the greatest line control and mending capabilities. Featuring a fighting butt, this rod is great for stillwater and nymphing scenarios.

R8 Core 690-4 Larger Flies / Larger Fish

The 690-4 is a very powerful trout rod, able to cast large, heavy and wind-resistant flies long distances or into heavy winds. Great for big river trout fishing and smallmouth bass.

R8 Core 690-4FB Streamers / Larger Fish

A fighting butt version of the 690-4FB. A streamer junkie's favorite, this rod has enough power to cast big streamers or bass bugs all day. The 690-4FB is all-water ready with an anodized aluminum reel seat.

R8 Core 696-4FB Boat - Indicators / Streamers

The 696-4FB is at home on big trout rivers where streamers and nymphing rigs are the norm and features an all-water ready reel seat.

R8 Core 6100-4FB Big Indicators & Mending

The 6100-4FB offers incredible line control and power. All-water safe reel seat for beach fishing, or in big-river trout situations.

R8 Core 790-4 Large Heavy Flies / Streamers

A very versatile and often-overlooked rod weight. The 790-4 is equally at home fishing streamers from a drift boat, bass fishing, or fishing for trophy trout and salmon in Alaska. When venturing into saltwater, the 790-4 R8 CORE is a very effective light flats rod, perfect for spooky Bonefish on shallow flats.

R8 Core 796-4 Boat - Indicators / Streamers

The 796-4 is a favorite of steelhead-indicator fishermen and Alaska trout anglers. Added length for mendability and line control.

R8 Core 7100-4 Big Indicators / Mending

The 7100-4 offers the greatest line control of all 7-weights. With incredible mending capability in rivers and distance in lakes or bigger rivers.

R8 Core 890-4 Bass / Salmon / Saltwater

Our most versatile and popular all-water rod model. The 890-4 is able to effectively present flies and handle the fight with Alaska trout and salmon, striped bass, largemouth bass or other similarly-sized species. When venturing into saltwater, the 890-4 R8 CORE is a very effective flats rod, capable to of cutting stiff wind alongside soft, pinpoint presentations. From freshwater to saltwater, simply put, this rod can be taken anywhere and fished with extreme confidence, for the angler needing an 8wt capable of handling a multitude of applications.

R8 Core 896-4 Steelhead / Salmon Nymphing

For anglers fishing heavy, sinking lines or heavy, multiple-fly nymphing rigs to anadromous species, the 896-4 is the perfect choice.

R8 Core 8100-4 Big Indicators / Mending

The 8100-4 offers incredible line control and distance for anglers pursuing large species. Extremely effective as a beach rod for striped bass as well as a river rod for anadromous species.

R8 Core 990-4 Steelhead / Salmon

The 990-4 is a very versatile all-water and big game rod, able to pull on striped bass, large anadromous species, and big aggressive freshwater meat-eaters. From Alaskan Salmon to the flats of the Key's for Permit and Bonefish, the 990-4 R8 CORE is an excellent rod for the angler using a 9wt in a multitude of applications.

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov