Thursday, June 30, 2016

The New Sage "X" Fly Rod. Thoughts and comparison.

Recently, Sage released the New "X" fly rod with lots of media attention.  As you know, I like to see all the new rods and compare them to some of our favorite rods out there.  I was able to cast the new rod and I'll share with you a few thoughts.
First, when Sage releases a new flagship rod, you know it's going to get a lot of attention.  Sage is probably the consumer's favorite rod brand and has been a major player in the fly rod game for years.  As the newest release and replacement for the hugely popular Sage "ONE", the new "X" touts some advanced materials.  Kennetic HD Technology is basically a high density fiber composite used in the new rod and provides a stronger, better recovering and a better loop and line controlling fly rod.  So is it better than the "ONE" or any other rod out there right now?  
I was able to take this rod out on the casting pond to see what it feels like.  My first impression when putting together the rod was, "why are they still using hard chrome guides on a high end rod"?  Most other high end rods use the Recoil guides. My preference is the recoil guides and not hard chrome.    After stringing it up, I casted it.   Hmmm?  It felt good, but I could feel the swing weight, as it was something that immediately jumped out to me.  One other thing was that the loops felt great.  It definitely has a great feel on the casting stroke.  I did like how tight I could get the loops.  But, I kept going back to the heavy swing weight.  Honestly, I actually think I liked the rod.  After telling myself that, I went to my car and grabbed a Hardy Zephrus and a G. Loomis NRX LP to see how it felt next to these benchmark rods.  I can say that both of these rods felt much better to me that the "X".  There is just a different feel to these other rods.  For me, a rod should be able to cast well up close and have enough power to make the long ball.  The "X" just couldn't cast well up close.  Similar to the "ONE". That was where I really felt that heavier swing weight.  The NRX LP just blew it away up close and just had a smooth feel to it.  The Zephrus was also smoother and better up close.  Also, the swing weight and overall weight of both rods felt lighter than the "X".  
With just a few minutes casting it, I can tell you that the "X" is a great feeling rod and most Sage fans are going to love it and think it is the best thing since Gore-Tex, but it's not for everyone.  I've read many great things about it already on social media, but I've also heard some not so flattering things about it in person.  
The price of this "technology" continues going up and these rods are retailing for $895.00.  A bit steep for a rod that to me feels "OK", compared to other high end rods out there.  I'd like to cast some of the other rods in the series as I think some of them would be pretty awesome, such as any of the 4wts.  I'd also love to fish the 10' rods.  I am sure those are great fishing sticks as these longer rods don't really need the tight loops and super light swing weights to preform.
I am sure you will hear how awesome this rod is and how you need it to make laser-like casts and catch more fish.  It is a great feeling rod, but as I told someone, "I like most of this rod, but not all of it."   It's not like this rod can do things that other rods haven't already done.  The top rods (Scott Radian, Hardy Zephrus, G. Loomis NRX LP, Orvis H2) have already shared their technologies and seem to be doing ok  in the "rod wars".  I don't think the "X" will knock any of these rods off the pedestal anytime soon.  Just my thoughts.
Thanks for reading!!  Let me know what you think if you have cast or fished this rod.




19 comments:

  1. Thanks for the honest review Juan! I won't be buying one, my Scott is sufficient for me, but I'm always curious to see what the new Sage feels like...

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  2. Excuse me ... hello form Spain, and thank you!!! I think that his opinion is very nice and is honest. Always I see that X is the new best fly rod.... You do not say it. I am happy for you.

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  3. Happy to know Scott Radian is the king!

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    1. Ha!! I never said that IT was the King, only that it was on the top of the pile along with a couple others. Good try though!!

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    2. So your saying if I love my Helios2 tip flex, there is no compelling reason to trade it in for the X.

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    3. Correct. I don't think the X is better than the H2. It's just as good to me, but not better. Bthe H2 has a lighter swing weight and overall better feel than the X to me. Now this is the 5 wt I am talking about.

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  4. Do you plan to test other rods in the X series - 9' 6" 5wt or the 6wts for example?

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    1. I haven't felt the need to do any further casting with this rod recently. I'll have to think about it though, because I am interested in seeing how the 4wt. feels in this series.

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  5. Do you plan to test other rods in the X series - 9' 6" 5wt or the 6wts for example?

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  6. A bit late to the party here.

    I have been wondering why I haven't seen some critical thoughts on the X until George Anderson's shootout and here. Seriously, why everyone is walking like a herd of cows?

    Sage has its marketing game on top. But their rods have been just another stiff stick the past 4-6 years. Is Jerry loosing it?

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    1. I think that these rods are great. But like I mentioned above, I don't think these rods are any better than the current top dogs out there. They are too stiff for me. Over the years, I have found that my thoughts and George's thoughts are similar. Not exact, but close enough. We both like the smooth, all purpose, rods and not the broom stick and heavy rods.

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    2. Stiff rods are mediocre at casting close. Fast rods with the right amount of softness in the tip are able to cast close wonderfully. I can only share the NRX LP as personal experience.

      What does the popularity of Sage X (or Sage in general) tell us? My guess is that the majority is still thinking parking lot rather than fishing.

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  7. Yesterday I finally cast the X 590 for a while.
    Yes it felt a bit livelier than the One and the tip was certainly softer too. But there was no 'Aha!' moment as some rods do after the first few casting strokes.

    In fact the X felt very unresponsive the first casts around 15-20 ft. The longer casts felt very utilitarian. Yes it gets the job done, but nothing that makes me smile and think about targeting a nice trout near that bank.

    For the whole story, the X was matched with a Rio Gold Intouch fly line.

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    1. I guess it just comes down to what you like and are used to fishing. I'd rather grab a different rod for what I usually do on the rivers I fish.

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  8. Well, I'll happily counterpoint. I should note though that my X is the 8 1/2'/#5 not the tested 9' version. Swing weight? it barely has any weight; maybe compared to a hackle feather. For reference though, I am an angler who strongly prefers NRX to NRX LP, finds H2 (we have the 9'/#5 tip-flex) to ne nice and light and well screwed together but lacking in lower taper grunt and Radian, very nice but too abrupt in the tip taper transfer to upper far steeper mid section, OK though. I do like ONE and find it lively and super responsive but specialized to bigger water dry fly only use. X seems to pick up from there flexing deeper but retaining superb tip recovery and a remarkable absence of counter-flex. This makes for super smooth and parallel tight loops. In close presentations might not have as much obvious feedback as LP but are still excellent and it skips no beat reaching out to typical 30 -60+ perfectly controllable casts. Whst X has that is more obtuse in demanding albeit rewarding ONE is accessibility. X will appeal to a broader range of angler casting stroke development while not at all disappointing advanced fly fishers. Of course, different anglers ask various things of their tackle and we are so fortunate to have many excellent rods available to optimally match technique and habitat. X though is a serious technological combined with brilliant taper design contender.

    One thing I would enjoy an experiment with though is having two identical X's, one with the standard H&H super light snakes and one with Recoils to side-by-side compare.

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  10. It really strikes me how much difference, both in action and swing weight, between a 8.5ft vs 9ft is. So I doubt the 8.5ft is anything close to the 9ft brother on the X series.

    Generally the 8.5ft version is much more relaxed, softer and also less powerful.

    Maybe I'm a bit biased since I'm used to 'boutique rod builders' these days but the finish on the X doesn't fancy me at all for a $900+ rod. The hardware used are of less quality than they used up to say 15 years ago. Those days Sage used US made Strubble seats, these days probably cheaper ones from the far east. The grip is definitely pre-formed rather than sanded from cork rings.

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  11. So you would not recommend this rod on a small creek or river. I have an old bamboo rod my Grandfather gave me in 1954 for that so Fair enough.

    I have been throwing this rod on big rivers here in Wyoming and Montana. Accuracy on presentation is spot on. Most of my casts 30 plus feet out to 50 in a wind of 20 mph. Busting wind is important here. Especially on the wind river (appropriately named) out of Thermopolis. Where one has to fight wind, river current and scrappy Rainbows that can go 15 Lbs on a great day. I have a quite different opinion of this rod on big water than yours. I have to say it is the closest Sage has come to the venerable Sage SP.

    As far as the guides go it is part of the Warranty so I am not going to complain.

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    1. Big river fishing is certainly a lot different than South Platte Tailwater fishing. I am looking for a rod that can throw size 24 Tricos within 15' one day and the next day throw a hooper and size #14 tungsten dropper out 40'. For me, the "X" doesn't feel right. If I were only fishing a river like the Dream Stream or Arkansas River or Animas River, I might prefer a bit more stiffness in my rod. But, most of my time is spent on the South Platte and it's various stretches with small bugs and lower flows. I just prefer a little bit slower rod in my hands.

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