All-Around Bonefish rod from the Bahamas, Christmas Island, Belize, Mexico, and The Florida Keys. All-Around Redfish rod from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast, oyster beds to spartina grass. Flats Sight Fishing Striper rod from the estuarian mud flats of coastal Maine to expansive white sand flats of Cape Cod.

THE TPOTTS TIP: The new Sage R8 Salt is currently all the rage in the industry, and for good reason. Coming out of trade show season, I’ve seen a lot of customers cast these rods, and also have casted them myself.

I think I have casted every rod in this series (except the 15wt) and was really impressed with Sage’s new line. I think the thing that stands out the most on this rod was how difficult it was to make a bad cast.

One of the things I have noticed over the last few years especially on high end Saltwater geared rods, is the importance of an anglers ability to find that sweet spot to deliver a perfect cast. I don’t find that to be true with this rod. It casts really nice and extremely accurate in the 20-60 ft. range which is really where most fish are caught on the flats. These rods certainly have the power to cast well beyond there, should you need it.
Definitely worth casting and feeling for yourself, if you’re on the market for a saltwater stick!

25% Greater Strength Per Rod
More Intuitive Sweet Spot and Touch
Saltwater Specific Guide Set
Heavy-Duty Reel Seat

OVERVIEW

Most salt rods are built for pure power and ultimate strength—that is table stakes for the venue and the discipline. With our 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 our six-weight. We 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 – reducing fish fatigue and catch-and release stress 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 SALT R8, gone are the days of sacrificing the feel and touch in your saltwater rod.