Review Date
May 11, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Reviewed by: petemorris ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Complimentary

Summary:
As a fishing guide in NZ I get comped most of the gear. The best thing about this rod is the blank. It casts very nicely. However, in NZ's South Island after trophy trout we are often using 20ft+ leaders with a short line. In this config. the rod does much better with a 6wt line. Both G loomis Streamdance presentation and CD's XLS cast better. The St Croix Legen Elite has a very similar action.
Few people seem prepared to write negatives about Sage, well here are some: the rod is too glossy, great for display but but scares off spooky trout. The guides are too small, and come on Sage, guide technology has changed as well as blanks, how about some single foot REC recoils or matt Ni/Ti alloy single foots instead of double foot snakes?
The handle is too thin. It becomes quite uncomfortable during a full day's fishing. The reel seat and insert are fine but no different to my old LL rod. The cloth bag was reduced quality from earlier Sage's and you can now get much better rod tubes than Sage's basic aluminium one.
Given the retail price this rod is quite poor value, for the same price Loomis offers better components and casts better. The CD XLS is an altogether better rod and better value.
For less dough look at the St Croix Legend Elite which performs at least as good and has better parts or the TFO TiCr which is much cheaper and performs very well.

Customer Service:
Sage offer a good warranty however I feel they overcharge international customers on shipping. For example, most US retailers will send a rod to NZL for 30USD, Sage charge 80USD

Similar Products Used:
All top rods

Review Date
November 2, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Art Dresser(Unregistered User) ,  Paddler

Price Paid:  $350.00 at e-bay

Summary:
I have a 5wt 9'6" XP and it is the best all around fresh water rod I have ever owned. It is fast, but the flex tip allows a delicate presentation. I've been using it with RIO Grand line and it works well. It's the rod I alway reach for.

Customer Service:
Broke a tip and it was returned in about two weeks. Great service.

Similar Products Used:
Powell, LLB, Orvis

Review Date
July 29, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Mario Calderon,M.D.(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $575.00 at Larre´s, Mexico City

Summary:
There is no better combination of precision in casting, sensitivity at retrieving and power at fighting fishes.This rod deserves each cent of the price. It´s my best rod, for long.

Customer Service:
I´m plety of gratitude to the service personnel; my rod was broken while fishing, and during travel to factory was totally destroyed. Factory made me a brand new rod, with the same series number.Nice people, nice factory, nice rod.

Similar Products Used:
Orvis Trident TLS, Scott SAS

Review Date
June 2, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: Riverdriver ,  Paddler

Price Paid:  $350.00 at e-bay

Summary:
After three years of intensive use, this rod continues to be my go-to favorite. The balance with the new RioGrande fly line has taken it to another level. I primarily use it for landlock salmon fishing and find it works well with dry flies, streamers or nymph rigs. I especially like the 9'6" length for nymphing. Just first class.

Customer Service:
No esperience

Similar Products Used:
Powell Triboron, LLBean Guide, Orvis Spey

Review Date
October 17, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.20 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by: simon Belcher(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from Gambia

Price Paid:  $545.00 at sportfish

Summary:
This was the first fly rod I bought and although I baulked at the price I
can say it was well worth it.As soon as you get proficient at casting
the rod enables you to make consistently long casts and generate
high line speed effortlessly- it actually helps you become a decent caster
because if you are doing vaguely the right things it responds immediately.

Casting with this rod can become as enjoyable as catching fish and definitely
is part of the fishing experience.
I have a Winston BL5 6 weight which isn't a patch on this and wish I'd
bought another Sage XP.
I fish heavier Sage rods in Saltwater too - for me there's nothing to touch
them - you have to get to the fish zone and these rods can do that for
you without you having to be a flycasting champion.

Customer Service:
First class - 2 weeks turn around for me on a broken tip - no arguments.

Similar Products Used:
Winston BL5