Sage RPL+ - 8 wts

Review Date
November 13, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: TODD (Unregistered User) ,  40 days a year

Price Paid:  $0.00 at grandriver trout fit

Summary:
I USE THIS ROD FOR SPRING AND FALL STEELHEAD AND SALMON FISHING AND REAL ENJOY CASTING THIS ROD.THE MORE I USE THIS ROD THE MORE I FIND THAT THIS ROD DOES NOT LIKE TO BE CAST HARD BUT WORKS MUCH BETTER WITH SHORT EASY CASTS.THE ROD TRUELY DOES THE WORK FOR YOU IF YOU LET IT.

Customer Service:
NOT NEEDED

Similar Products Used:
ST CROIX,FENWICK

Review Date
May 22, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Bryan (Unregistered User) ,  40 days a year , from Washington

Price Paid:  $565.00 at H&H Outdoors

Summary:
Nothing I do can be described as graceful or delicate. Flyfishing for me was a violent swing between bliss and teeth clenching frustration.
However, my RPL+'s fast action matches my aggresive casting style, handles the November waters of the Pacific Northwest, and can put the brakes on a good size salmon with a heavy current at his back.
This is a muscular, athletic rod. If you need more finesse, you are a different kind of fisherman need a different rod.

Customer Service:
Excellent. A replacment for my broken parts were in my hands less than 30 hours after sending them away.

Similar Products Used:
Cortland and other Sage rods.

Review Date
January 18, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: garyj(Unregistered User) ,  30 days a year , from Paris, TN

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This rod is a real powerhouse for casting large popping bugs, streamers and weighted flies for smallmouth and largemouth bass. I have it strung with a weight forward nine-weight line for surface fishing, and will be using a shooting head system for fishing suspended bass down to 15-20 feet.

Customer Service:
To date, I have not needed their warranty service. When I have called for information, I have always been treated with courtesy and respect, and have received useful information.

Similar Products Used:
Bass Pro Shops line of fly rods. They don't hold a candle to Sage!

Review Date
January 28, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Anonymous User(Unregistered User) ,  20 days a year , from Seattle

Price Paid:  $350.00 at Patrick's Fly Shop

Summary:
I will only buy Sage rods from now on. They are the BEST! Sage is a small, local company with friendly employees and fantastic products. I wish they still made the RPL+.

Customer Service:
Great. Absolutely wonderful folks at Sage.

Similar Products Used:
Reddington, Thomas and Thomas

Review Date
December 11, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Anonymous User(Unregistered User) ,  10 days a year , from Ottawa, Ontario

Summary:
This rod is really very nice. Its predecessor was a 9' 4-RPL that was not as enjoyable to cast or fish with. I use the 9'6" 4-RPL+ exclusively for summer steelhead fishing in northern British Columbia.

There is certainly more backbone in this rod than the base RPL, which is good when fighting strong currents. It also has greater finesse in the tip which is critical in landing steelhead. Once hooked, I've landed 25lb monsters... so there shouldn't be any question about the integrity of the product.

I know that I either couldn't or simply wouldn't want to cast a 10' rod in either 8 or 9 weight all day. The 9'6" gives enough length to mend effortlessly and is short enough to cast all day. The four piece aspect of the rod means that (1) you can pack it into those hidden holes where steelhead love to hide and (2) you're more likely to use the tube in your travels up and down the river bank which can only be a good thing in the long run.

There is a trend towards two-handed rods, and they certainly have their place in the world. However, they are pricey and not nearly as versatile as this rod.

I would like to offer more stars, but while being a very effecient fishing instrument, it does not inspire me to fish in the same way my 3 and 4 weight rods do. I guess I'm really a small-stream fisher at heart.

Customer Service:
The rod I initially purchased was an RPL, but when it broke Sage replaced it with an RPL+.

Similar Products Used:
Winston, Sage RPL, Sage LL