the new Sage ONE fly rod

We now have the sage one fly rod in stock. Some of you may have read my review of this great new rod from sage. The sage one will replace the zaxis. Of the rods I’ve cast, the 7 wt is my personal favorite.

The Sage One has been one of the most anticipated rods of 2012.  I was excited to test the rod myself considering all the hype surrounding its release and the many industry awards it has already received.  A recent visit from the Sage rep provided me with the opportunity to cast the 9ft 5wt freshwater model and my first impressions were favorable.  The black blank and wood reel seat were understated but classy and the rod felt incredibly light in hand.  Another detail that stood out was the grip.  Unlike most rods which feature a reverse half wells, all Freshwater rods have a full wells grip making it very comfortable to cast, especially for those with medium to large hands.  Saltwater models will feature the typical full wells with a fighting butt.

At practical trout fishing distances (20-50ft) I found the 5wt to be incredibly smooth, accurate, and crisp.  Such attributes are a result of Sage’s new Konnetic Technology.  This is not just a marketing term, but can truly be felt in casting the rod.  The tip had good torsional stability yet still felt very sensitive.  On the water this should result in enhanced accuracy, better line feel, and increased tippet protection.   The One will be available in weights 3-10, good for everything from brook trout to permit and stripers.  We should have some of these exceptional rods by mid-September so stop by and give them a try.  You won’t be disappointed.

hardy-proaxis-fly-rods

We now have the new Hardy Zenith and Proaxis fly rods in stock. These are amazing fishing rods that are winning accolades in the fly fishing community. The Hardy Zenith is the freshwater offering which won the Yellowstone Shootout recently over rods like the Helios and Zaxis. The Hardy Proaxis is the saltwater version of the same rod with the new Recoil guide system. It was designed by Andy Mill for big game fly fishing. Below is Hardy’s write up on the Zenith and Proaxis fly rods:
“The Proaxis ranges of 1 and 4 section fly rods have been designed and developed by Hardy in conjunction with some of the worlds finest saltwater guides and anglers.

Our development team, led by five times Tarpon Gold Cup Grand Champion, Andy Mill, have pushed Hardy’s new Sintrix technology to the absolute limit – and the end result is staggering in both performance and durability.

These fast-action rods are loaded with cutting edge features, like lightweight saltwater-safe hardware, titanium recoil guides and, of course, Hardy’s revolutionary Sintrix material. Proaxis rods are lighter, stronger, more impact resistant and capable of withstanding much higher loads than standard graphite fly rods.

So, with less chance of damage, you can cast further, fish longer and fight harder when pursuing big saltwater species.

With all the benefits of the 1-Section rods, the 4-Section Proaxis have been designed and developed to offer the ultimate rod for the professional saltwater fly angler – but in an easy to transport, four section format.”

If you like classic fly tackle you’ll like this: we’ve picked up the Hardy line of Rods and Reels. We were very impressed with both when we had a chance to case them recently. Especially impressive is the classic series of rods and reels that show traditional Hardy styling and quality. Their fiberglass brook trout rod is impressive, especially when you get a look at the less than premium price. I bought one for myself! Some of you may be familiar with the Perfect, Cascapedia and Bougle reels that are some of the first (and best) trout reels ever made. We’ve got em and they won’t break the bank.