Most salt rods are built for pure power and ultimate strength—that is table stakes for the venue and the discipline. With Sage's new R8 graphite, adding 25% more strength-per-weight was the easy part—a simple function of material advancement—but one that also increased the fight in the rod even down to the R8 SALT six-weight. Sage increased the pure pulling power without the need to add more material, fillers or reinforcement. The outcome is simple, providing the ability for faster landing times and reducing fish stress and catch-and-release pressure on ever so delicate ecosystems. 

More strength and fight were an obvious upgrade, yet few salt rods, especially in the heavier weights, achieve the importance of feel for fine touch shots and precise presentations. Shaping a taper that brought this increased touch into the equation took more time. Yet after a long residence in the birthplace of saltwater fly fishing, and working directly with the experienced guides there, our rod designers found the right profile and fiber alignment that delivered strength, fine touch presentation, and a more intuitive sweet spot to a class of rods that have long had a reputation as unwieldy, unforgiving and difficult. With the Sage SALT R8, gone are the days of sacrificing the feel and touch in your saltwater rod.

25% MORE PULLING POWER

Greater Pulling power equals more fight for faster landing times and less stress on delicate ecosystems. Enhanced durability and toughness allows blank to withstand more rugged situations and demands of saltwater fishing and travel.

MORE TOUCH

More intuitive sweet spot prioritizes touch and speed for shorter shots and high stakes on-demand casts, bringing feel and presentation to a class of rods that have long had a reputation as unwieldy, unforgiving and difficult. With the SALT R8, gone are the days of sacrificing the feel and touch in your saltwater rod.

SALTWATER SPECIFIC GUIDE SET

Saltwater-specific titanium Fuji® K-guides resist corrosion and trim rod weight while angled shape prevents snags and tangling in the chaos of the fight. Oversized hard chrome snake guides and tip-top let larger saltwater knots pass with ease.

HEAVY-DUTY REEL SEAT

Heavy-duty reel seat and oversized locking rings keep reel tight to the rod for greater contact, rigidity, and a more dirrect connection when fighting powerful high-stakes fish. Integrated hook keeper at the top of the seat keeps flies closer to the hand for faster reaction capabilities and safer fly storage.

MADE IN THE USA

Sage is not a big faceless factory, but rather a workplace of craftspeople who design and build the world’s best fly rods and reels using their hands and hearts. Sage does it by sharing ideas and always asking the next question to find what can be done to make this better. Sage fly rods are built one at time on Bainbridge Island, WA, following hundreds of meticulous steps and passing through 23 sets of hands. They're out there fishing the same places in the same unforgiving conditions that you are. Craftsmanship is applied experience. Lifetimes of it.

R8 TECHNOLOGY

SHAPING 8 REVOLUTIONS IN HOW WE FISH

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.

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 CIRCUMFERENTIAL HOOP FIBER

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

DETAILS