This rod is a little easier to cast than the 896 and I like it a little more than the 790 in general. The only real exception would be if your main requirement of a fly fishing rod is big power. The Scott Centric Fly Rod is the most efficient rods Scott has ever created. Best Uses: Dry fly fishing on tailwaters where medium distant casts are needed. For example, the 790-4, 890-4 and 990-4 may cast best with bonefish lines, but I wouldnt buy these rods for the flats. I found it to be equally capable with both freshwater and saltwater fly lines, but a heavy headed freshwater line such as an SA Titan or Rio Predator would probably be my first choice on the water. The exactness is akin to fitting a puzzle piece in its proper spot. They dont flop over, they turn over. We can't wait to get them on the . The Centric doesn't seem like much of a departure from my Radians. Read more. Anyone thinking that all they want is to have someone tell them how great their new rod (reel, or whatever) really needs to check their own biases. The R8 bends deeper than the X and true to the marketing material Sage has released, you can feel the rod bend into the handle, providing a lot of intuitive feel when casting. The power is smooth and rather than making you feel like you need to hurry up to stay with the rod, the feedback you receive is comforting and familiar. -John Duncan, The R8 Core 4100-4 is a stellar fishing tool and a specialist nymph anglers go-to rod in the new R8 lineup. Centric 1006-4. Two of our testers preferred the casting stroke of the Sage R8 Core. If you plan on traveling a ton, youll want to look at a four-piece rod. When you start talking about rods that reach past the 11-foot mark, responsiveness becomes an issue. I like to throw small loops along the length of the line on the water when I mend. I really like how the taper seems to hide the extra length or this rod and provided for a crisp delivery. -John Duncan. This one might have a bit too much bang. Comparable models in Salt HD, Igniter and Maverick have greater capability in the wind. First Cast- Sage R8 Core and Scott Centric We had the pleasure of casting two newly released six-weight fly rods from two premiere fly rod companies, the Sage R8 Core 690-4FB and the Scott Centric C906/4FB. This is a fishing tool with a taper that allows easy access to the lower half of the rod and is among the most complete nymphing rods Ive held. I spent a few days fishing with a Carbon XL after my gear was delayed in transit and Ill admit, it fished just as well as my go-to rod. JavaScript is disabled. Unless you live on the beach, youre going to need to travel with the thing, and a 9-foot-long tube is a pain to move about with. I believed there was a few shills on the forum, for different fishing products, most of which are gone, I have posted about it and pointed some stuff out. I think well see the upper-weighted-end of this series both throwing streamers for salmon and pike, and wandering into the salt flats for bonefish and permit. The other half are designed with progressive fast tapers similar to the X. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. A lot of my other rods gathered dust last year, mostly because the Blackout did not. It seems sensitive to its line pairing, but I would unconditionally recommend the R8 490-4 with an SA Trout Taper. It has a very nice, progressive flex to it.
Sage R8 Core | Sage - Far Bank Enterprises I thought this was a great idea as it really helped me to see the subtle and not . It may not display this or other websites correctly. A lot of my other rods gathered dust; the Blackout did not. Smashing rod for fishing floating flies with a long leader on small and medium sized trout streams. Your email address will not be published. Based in Montana, Rachelle is an avid hunter, angler, wild game cook, and professional outdoor napper. Casting at short and long range is a joy, the power and smoothness of the rod has to be experienced to be believed. Because of that softer action, its a better dry fly rod than previous models. Overall, I would describe this rod as slightly less stiff than its predecessor, the X 486-4. G-Loomis NRX+LP $ 795.00. The rod is so light it feels more like a 9 rod in hand. Of course, like our shootouts and other casting commentaries, these mini-reviews are based on our casting style and preferences. We ask much of our 6-weights, but the R8 690-4 FB exceeds all requirements. The R8 Core 796 is the perfect combination of power, confidence and ease of casting in a rod that can cover a wide variety of fishing styles. This rod is not a power caster. "Never allow the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." I have the R8 9 9 wt and it is the absolute best rod in my arsenal of high end rods. This advancement made its Sector series very popular. This is my favorite 7 weight in the R8 Core lineup. Most rods are able to perform in multiple scenarios. This delineates the amount of flexion versus stiffness in the rod. Sale Cellar; Spring Special; Gift Certificates; BFA Logo Gear; Accessories;
First Impressions: Sage R8 Core 9' 5 weight - Fin & Fire Fly Shop On the other hand, Jack found the action of the Scott Centric not in rhythm with his casting stroke and found it to be less accurate than the Sage R8 Core. Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. At $1000 plus tax it's keeping me away.Sorry, 9 8wt or 9 9wt for redfish out of a boat on the flats? Best Uses: Striper fishing, permit, pike - this was a favorite. My impression was the 690 R8 was a good all around fishing rod (I was impressed with how well it mended). To me, they are freshwater and fresh/salt crossover rods that allow the angler to make many casts without fatigue. Both are fly rods, both catch fish just fine and both have fans. Both Sage and Scott have a long history of building great fly rods through innovation. just like in my opinion bribing a referee, i say all rods should have a chance, same with the brands, American or Chinese or Korean made. Concentration shifted to improving its resin and carbon technology, bringing forth the development of ARC 2. I was surprised at how much more effortless this was with the X (vs. my old RPL and SP). Click Here for the Rating Graph for the Sage R8 Core. The companys direct-to-consumer model means you get a higher quality product at a far lower price point. Gear Review: Sage R8 Core Series Fly Rods by Eric Fields As many of you know, Sage just released their With 5 line weights, all at 86 long, G. Loomis introduced a powerhouse series with the NRX+ FLY T2S ($895). The first subset are rods with a stiff tip that encourage a deeper flex. You couldnt ask for a better all-purpose boat rod, with tight loop dry fly capabilities combined with plenty of butt section for streamers up to a size 8. Your mileage may vary. Both are approximately weight heavy for their line designation, so the difference must lie in the taper. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Alex wanted us to cast a 905-4 X Series rod, which was replaced by the new R8, and the 905-4 R8 Core side-by-side. This Carbon XL has a moderate to moderate-fast action that loads and casts easily for all skill levels. The advancements in fly fishing rods have been wild since the 70s, so theres some skill and finesse required to get this rod to perform. We are not a blog or a review site.
Stiff-tipped rods comprise approximately half of the R8 Core series. Gear Review: Sage R8 Core Series Fly Rods. One is brand new with the most R&D $$$ and testing behind it with the promise of the new material going sometimes 20-plus years into the product lifecycle, the other is made from something we've seen for many years and it is built strictly for a value proposition. Fish this rod with long dry fly leaders or as a late summer pocket water stick on rivers like our own San Miguel. A fast action taper keeps your loops tighter and more efficient, creating a smooth angling experience. This is one is progressive, meaning that it casts from short to long with action that feels metered to the power input from the caster. At its Core, R8 Core traces a direct lineage to Sage's multi application vision, one shaped by the fishing . I cast it with a Rio Gold, SA Infinity Taper and Rio Predator, 3 of my favorite lines for 6-weight fishing. . Consider this a big game trout rod. We just got our hands on the new Sage R8 Core Rod, and tested it right outside the shop. -Rich Post, In the X Series, the high line class rods were saltwater style, designed for knifing into the wind with tight loops and relatively small flies. Enjoy the rod! We paired each rod with the same reel and weight forward, 6-weight fly line. For the longest cast of your life, stick an SA Infinity Taper on the 596 and see how much line you can hold in the air before shooting. Sage has offered this model is every fast-action series dating from the RPL. Fish these rods with meat flies, whether in Alaska or somewhere in pike/musky country. This rod is no exception. Is the 9' 3wt really that bad of a rod? Without getting your hands on them, its a serious task to weed through the options and find the rod that best suits your needs. Think of the R8 seven as more of a trophy trout rod for the angler who uses a variety of tactics and could be a nymph rod for steelhead in certain situations. "How does the 9wt compare to the 10wt?" Its very common to see rods of identical length and line weight having significantly differing swing weights unrelated to their physical weight, as weight distribution is what will be the determining factor, not simply overall weight. We fished the Centric with the Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX and Rio Premiere Gold and found these to be choice lines for this rod. Typically, youll find a whole crew of experts willing to help you better understand fishing gear, flies, and your local waters. The Scott Centric fly rods are truly fast meets feel, taken to the next level. Sage described the G5 as being a highly responsive rod at lengths at and past that, and the sentiment was echoed by the public. This fiberglass rod doesnt just have the looks of a throwback its constructed like one, albeit with some modern tech. This would make a fine all-purpose rod for Alaska or anywhere in bass country, but would not be my choice for heavy streamers (Montana) or fishing in major wind (Argentina, Chile, Northern Rockies). But the bigger the fish, the more backbone youll need. Cast with a Rio Gold, it charges to life at around 30 feet. Walker is keen on R8 technology. Different fly lines summon unique casting qualities, but the rod handles them all. We had the pleasure of casting two newly released six-weight fly rods from two premiere fly rod companies, the Sage R8 Core 690-4FB and the Scott Centric C906/4FB. Plus, this balance of light and fast makes the fight really fun when a fish is on. My 9'/#4 Core just arrived, and I have yet to string it up, but it looks Sage classy and understated in muted, subtle, green paint. These rods increase in stiffness incrementally down the blank. Our Hunt & Fish Editor Nicole Qualtieri fished with this rod in 2021, and heres what she had to say about it: The Helios 3 Blackout might be my favorite rod Ive fished with to date. I'm laughing my ass off, on all the Sage far bank threads. Impressive action, good feel, and good aesthetic. So far Ive caught 4 decent size stripers with it, and couldnt be more happy with its performance. In the right hands, this could make a great spring creek rod when conditions call for the longest leaders, lightest tippets, and smallest flies to be delivered to the wariest of trout. Your review of the 7wt sounds like they are very close. Outdated and tired Needlessly heavy. Both rods are on the expensive side but live up to the flagship designation they are intended to be. The 9 3wt is at the bottom of the R8 Core series barrel. I thought the Rio Elite Gold WF7F was just a shade too light and didnt match the rod as well as I like. Great post, surfnfish. Not only does it fish well, but the cosmetic details are also there. Required fields are marked *. The other day our Sage sales representative, Alex Ramirez, gave The Fly Shop team a product demonstration on the new Sage R8 Core single-hand rods. You must log in or register to reply here. The classic fly rod that most people will have in their setup is a medium-action 9-foot 5-weight rod. 7 Most Popular Smoked Salmon in the World, Who Doesnt Like Potcakes?- Support The Bahamas by Helping the Potcakes, Tips on Mousing for Rainbow Trout and Grayling at Alaska West, Whats Happening with Pebble Mine- Good News for Alaska. Tenkara really takes it back to basics, and the Suimenka is one of the coolest Ive seen. We found it needed a lighter line like its younger sibling, such as Rio Gold or, if youre *only* fishing dries, Rio Technical Trout is also a reasonable choice.
We cast the new Sage R8 Core. Here's what we think, in our - YouTube Just lift the rod and place the line where you would like with the ease of dropping an ice cube into a high ball. It isnt hard to find glowing reviews as fishermen have sung its praises for having the power and accuracy of a 10-foot rod while still casting with the ease of a 9-footer. I wouldnt choose this model for flats fishing, but I like it for heavy bass, salmon and pike. There is simply something about the tapers of this rod and line that work well together.
R8 Technology | Sage - Far Bank Enterprises While less touchy and playful than the stiff-tipped models, they will meet the expectations of loyal Sage anglers and get it done with confidence on the water. The 9 9wt is the clear winner.
Scott Centric Fly Rod Test - New Scott Centric VS Scott Radian VS Sage I can catch little brookies in the high alpine or decent rainbows in bigger water, no problem. I dont know many people who actually use them. The Centric is decidedly a fast action rod; the G-Series more of a medium-fast. Your email address will not be published. High line speed, flat, stable loops are easily generated. Rachelle Schrute has been writing about hunting, fishing, and conservation for several years, as well as being a wilderness guide in Yellowstone National Park. This is a finely tuned fly rod. I do not own a 10 foot single hand rod, but I may have to now. The rod does a lot of work for the angler, both before and after your fly line is on the water. Fit & Finish- The first impressions are important. I found this rod to be clunky and bouncy with a Rio Gold, but the heavier and smoother Rio Predator seemed to pull through the wrinkles. But the third component youll hear experts talk about is the rods action. GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Rods are broken down mainly into length and weight. In terms of taper and flex profile, there seem to be 2 groups of R8 Core fly rods: stiff-tipped and progressive. With identical weight rods and the R8 feeling noticeably lighter than the X, it seems nearly certain that the weight savings, no matter how little, must critically be in the upper 3 sections, with the R8 having a slightly heavier butt section. Thank you for the excellent assessment and comparison of the R8 to your 690x tybo 11. The R8 Core is an insult at the price point. However, they can be brutal to transport. We break it all down in the fourth installment of how to choose a fly rod. Real names are not used to protect the innocent. Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Trident Fly Fishing. The R8 Core replaced the Sage X, which is indeed a fast-action rod. This is not a 1 Trick Pony. Both rods are 9 foot six weights. Its clean, sleek, and has a balanced feel. Although I rarely fish a 10 6-wt, this is one of my favorite rods in the series. Accuracy- The two better casters, Matt and Bill, found both fly rods to be very accurate. The reactions to this R8 Core release are kind of strange. In the R8 lineup, the 7100-4 is the best big rod for mending that I cast. Like a child reaching out to grab his mothers waiting hand. From slow-action rods to the perfect nymphing setup, these are the best budget fly rods of 2020. Find the best five weight rods here. A typical wade-and-walk, small-stream, slow-action rod might be a 76 3-weight rod. JavaScript is disabled. This rod is not a power caster. You feel more connected to this rod and get the feeling of hitting the gas in a sporty car when you stand on this rod. I found that this rod casts lighter overhead than other rods in this class. Sage R8 Core Fly Rod Series Review: Model-By-Model, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout Fly Line, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line. 1 in stock. Guides have praised the noticeable reduction in fatigue after a long day of throwing streamers, as well as noting the power it has relative to its lightweight feel. The R8 Core 7100-4 is the rod for an Alaska Trout and Salmon trip. Both are aesthetically pleasing and possess a polished and well-refined buildsomething youd expect from both Sage and Scott, especially from the high-end rod lineup.
Choosing Your Scott Fly Rod: a Series-by-Series Comparison Though this fly rod is targeted at freshwater fishermen, the 990-4actually took home the award for Best Saltwater Fly Rod at the 2022 IFTD Show. And, of course, rod weight can go way up in the saltwater world. These are the best new rods of the year.
The R8 Core is a brand new series, but we were lucky enough to cast most models in the series with a variety of fly lines heres what we found. The 586-4 is an extremely lightweight rod that prefers throwing dry flies but can get away with tossing smaller nymph rigs. A good fly rod doesn't just cast well but is equally effective in real-world fishing scenarios. My overall impression was that the R8 Core 4100-4 is a specialized model ideally tuned for fishing all manner of nymph rigs for trout. The R8 Core Series ($1,050) from Sage was just released on April 5. The Verdict- The Sage R8 Core and the Scott Centric are fantastic rods and will be a great addition to any experienced fly anglers fly rod lineup. The NRX+ FLY T2S series is touted as having all the performance of a one-piece rod, with the added benefit of portability. That does not mean that it is not a powerful and highly capable rod, but it is not a blazing loop slinger. This can be easily thrown into a pack or carried onto a plane. A good caster can take just about any rod and make it work for him/her self. Skeptical of a Wells grip on a 3-weight, I must say that it feels terrific on a rod thats long enough to leverage the grip a bit in hand. The Igniter has become broadly accepted as an all-purpose fast action fly rod, more versatile than the Method and covering some of the ground formerly occupied by the X series. Why Ultralight People Need to Chill Already, Kershaw Iridium Review: A Great Flipping Knife Under $100. Then, I found the line: the SA Trout Taper. Best Uses: Hopper-droppers, stonefly patterns, and larger mayflies on western rivers preferably from a drift boat! Double hauling in the wind, it knifes long loops that turn over with an audible hiss. I'll say this, Ive never seen such a reaction to a fly rod, both good and bad about a fly rod before. , this rod is strong where it needs to be and light where it can be. Enhanced fishability comes with improved roll casting and line mending as they naturally put a little more graphite behind subtle techniques on the water. Yeah, we know its subjective, but so is this whole review, so what of it? Everyone will talk about these rods because they are noticeably different from their X predecessors. We have said there is a cost to innovation and design, and in both Sage and Scott, the Centric and R8 Core are reflections of that. I had a feeling of command across all distances, and you could pick up a long line off the water confidently. The reels are fully CNCd and have an adjustable drag, something you might not find on a lower-end kit. The Echo Carbon XL ($180) is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to do some serious fishing without breaking the bank. According to Sage, in designing the R8 CORE, the rod maker shifted its focus back to feel and rhythm, "rather than dialing up parking lot distance," a statement which will no doubt prove intriguing to many anglers. There are certainly lots of good/very good rods out there. It puts fun in fishing.
Scott Centric Fly Rods | Model-by-Model Review - Telluride Angler The Great Lakes tributary steelheader will find the taper beneficial for rolling out bulky indicator rigs. The soft tip to protect light tippets and the mending focused taper make for a highly specialized nymphing rod and one technical tailwater fisherman should pay attention to. The difference is you get to control the length of the extension from 9 to 12 feet, making it versatile on all sorts of water. To cap it all, the soft tip bends nicely into a fish and should protect fine tippets. The draw of one-piece rods is both weight reduction and improved performance. Raise the tip after the lift and effortlessly lay it into the desired position. My favorite line was the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity WF4F. It felt clunky, was overly line-sensitive, and not enjoyable to cast. You say the 9wt can handle a 350 grain outbound .. except there isnt a 350 grain outbound.
Scott Centric - Bigfork Anglers I did not feel like I wanted to fish a dry or dry dropper with this rod, but I do not believe that to be its purpose.
It roll casts and mends with command. All that to say, we have a good representation of casting ability. This is a fine Alaska rod or crossover saltwater-freshwater model, which are increasingly rare. Lines: RIO Predator Fly Line, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line. With almost a year of it being in public hands, theres been some resounding praise of this specialized rod. If anything, the FB edition feels a tiny bit lighter, the natural result of mounting the grip higher on the blank. -John Duncan. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all the tools to make your next trip a success. Lines: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout Fly Line, RIO Gold Fly Line, RIO Technical Trout. Casting these rods and visiting with Rod Designer Peter Walker, Sage clearly sought a rod that prioritized fishability over raw casting prowess. This is a bit of a wild card. The majority of my fly rods have been bamboo, and its where swing weight becomes most noticeable in the upper section or mid and tip on 3 piece rods, and where hollowing as far out into the tips makes the biggest difference in swing weight and recovery, along with additional measures such as utilizing ultralight tip tops and light wire guides. The rod loaded instantly and responded perfectly to a short stroke and sharp haul shooting head style cast. And a fast-action rod has a minute amount of flexion. Like all the 10 foot R8 rods, an easy stroke and more relaxed cadence produce remarkable results for the amount of effort the caster applies to the rod. JavaScript is disabled. This model does not have a fighting butt and I found that a heavier reel provided a better balance and also made the overall outfit feel lighter as well. You can really stand on it too, you dont have to, but the response of the rod encourages you to really drive the cast. A fishing field test is coming. ($260) from Zen Tenkara is just a cool rod. -John Duncan, I was very excited to cast this rod. It gets going right away with little line out the tip without the irritating hesitation of many fast action rods. More than anything else, Sage just nailed the taper and material application. Fly fishing rods are constantly changing with improvements in construction, fly lines, reels, and technology. It has a clean, classic look that is just cool. Weight- The least subjective of all. What 5 weight fly lines will you be casting with your new rod? How do they balance the rod? . All he wants to hear about is a Sage or a Scott on how well they cast, because he's either a lousey caster of just has the bucks to burn on an expensive rod. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Best Uses: The shorter 5wt is an excellent option for the angler looking to leave the nine-foot rod at home in favor of a much lighter rod without dropping down to a four-weight. The loops are so level and connected to the rod that you get the sense of laying down wire. We ask much of our 6-weights, but the R8 690-4 exceeds all requirements. Rich Post, When lawn casting this model for the first time, I was transported to the bow of a drift boat, strafing the banks with a grasshopper. The stability of the line in the air is tremendous and a core characteristic of these R8 rods. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You get the feeling that the line behind you can almost hold you up it is so stable. Very light in hand but no weight inscribed on it. A common critique of the Centric is that it falls short on small water or better yet, it struggles to fall short. I also cast the Rio Elite Gold and the Rio Perception WF4Fs as well. When it comes to mending, again, that stiffness allows you to easily direct line for the most realistic float. . It doesn't change that Sage buys the most expensive, highest-grade cork in the industry. Two categories: Power and Presentation. Carrying along a Rio Euro Nymph Shorty or a second reel with Euro line, adds another dimension of versatility to this rod. That line really personified the line speed potential of this rod and made it feel lively and zippy through the guides. This requires a patient stroke, even more so at short distances than long, but the tip snaps back with resilience, delivering excellent line speed with little effort from the caster. The Airflo Universal casts well throughout this rods range, too, and I suspect that the Rio Perception is also a good match. I rarely fish 6-weights over 9 because they are too much for me to cast all day, but the benefits of extra length are undeniable on big water. Click here for a more detailed look at the 9 5wt. These are not cookie cutter fly rods. The best way to equate it to something we all understand is those Star Wars lightsabers we had as kids that you could jab your brother with, and they would collapse inward instead of sending him screaming to your mom. It gets going right away with little line out the tip without the irritating hesitation of many fast action rods. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. That said, of course, the marketing of just about anything these days is based to some extent on notions of a person's desired self-image. The rod is incredibly light in hand yet has a noticeably stiffer feel all the way through to the tip. I also wondered if a number of those people actually fly fished by their postings. But if they were to be spey casting, theyd go for a 13-foot 7- or 8-weight rod. This is a telescoping rod, meaning it collapses down into itself. More than anything else, Sage just nailed the taper and material application. There, fish like tarpon and marlin call for super-stout rods in the 10- to 16-weight range! Support us!
Sage R8 Core First Impressions | The North American Fly Fishing Forum Second rate components at top tier pricing, and a look in desperate need of a refresh~. Loops were perfect right out of the hand and line speed was sizzling with a Rio Elite Gold. The medium action allows for accuracy in tight spots and stiffness with bigger fish on the line.