Sage FOUNDATION 5WT 9'
In Stock • Bozeman, MT
- MODEL: FOUNDATION 590-4
- LINE SIZE: 5WT
- ROD LENGTH: 9'0"
- HANDLE: Standard Handle
- COLOR: Stealth Black
- PIECES: 4
- PHYSICAL WEIGHT: 3 1/16oz
Description
Sage FOUNDATION 590
9' 5 weight, 4-piece fly rod
If you are new to fly fishing and looking at purchasing your first fly rod for fly fishing, the Sage FOUNDATION 590-4 is the best place to start. A versatile taper design makes for easy casting at a variety of distances with a wide range of flies and fly lines. Easy to cast for the novice angler and surprisingly powerful for the advanced angler, this American Made fly rod has a lot more to offer than just an inexpensive price tag.
Equipped with a high-performance blank (Graphite IIIe), the FOUNDATION has a fast action providing excellent casting power and effortless control. It’s the very foundation of what defines a Sage rod – Performance - taking your game to another level. Whether you are a guide on the Madison or exploring your backyard waters, the FOUNDATION series delivers the signature Sage feel.
Features
MULTI-APPLICATION / FAST ACTION
- Minimalist finish
- Premium blank
- Graphite IIIe Technology
- Stealth Black blank color
- Black primary wraps with silver trim wraps
- Ceramic stripper guides
- Hard chrome snake guides and tip-top
- Black anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat
- Snub nose cork handle with fighting butt on saltwater weights
- Rugged black nylon rod tube with divided liner
Technology
Graphite IIIe Technology brings power and durability resulting in a more connected feel throughout the casting stroke, making longer and more accurate casts possible. Constructed using glass scrims within layers of graphite, Graphite IIIe rods are noted for their light weight, dependability, and smooth feel.
- Sage proprietary carbon/resin composite materials.
- Modulus positioning enhances blank strength and performance along the length of the shaft.
- Graphite / glass scrim layered construction reduces weight and increases cross-sectional durability and performance.
Warranty
Every new Sage rod, blank and Sage series reel is covered by our lifetime, original owner warranty against defects in materials or workmanship.
This warranty is limited to repair and replacement of the rod, blank or reel and does not cover direct, indirect, consequential, incidental or any other type of damage resulting from the use of the product. This warranty does not cover fire, theft, missing rod sections, intentional breakage, modification or customization of the finished rod, or damage during the assembly of a blank into a finished rod. Warranty coverage on Sage blanks does not extend to any custom work or components added to the blanks. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights that vary from state to state.
Sage reserves the right to determine whether to repair or replace any Sage Product covered by this warranty and the right to replace any discontinued models with comparable models when necessary.
Colors and components may vary between original and replacement parts.
The lifetime, original owner warranty against defects in materials and workmanship applies to rods with a serial # beginning with the letter "A" and higher, including all double letters (i.e. AA, AB, and AC). Should a breakage occur outside of warranty coverage (when it’s not the result of defects in materials or workmanship) a repair can usually be made for a fee.
One exception to this is the rods manufactured with a serial number Q, R, S or T. These rods carry an unconditional, original owner lifetime warranty.
PLEASE NOTE: Sage blanks are not serialized. Warranty coverage on rods built from Sage blanks is limited to the blank only.
http://www.sageflyfish.com/repair-faq
ROD CLASSIFICATION & REPAIR FEES
CURRENT - Rods that are part of our current line-up. - Fee: $30
RECENT - No longer in our current product line-up, but not more than 10 years since the final year of production. - Fee $85
CLASSIC - 10 or more years since the final year of production - $175
Sage Foundation
Q: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance? A: An all-rounder for anglers who want versatility.
Q: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod? A: RIO Gold (True to Weight)
| empty | 30' Cast | 40' Cast | 50' Cast | 30' Wind | 40' Wind | 50' Wind | Reach Cast 30' | Reach Cast 30' Wind | Belgian Cast 30' | Belgian Cast 30' Wind | FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caster 1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 17.5 |
| Caster 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 27.5 |
| Caster 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 28 |
| Combined | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8 | 73 |
7.5' 3x leader with size 4 Zonker
- This rod takes muscle to cast. There isn’t a lot of feel and it is hard to load and time. At 40’ the rod needs line to bend and at 30’ you need a lot of rod speed to get going.
- This rod is “hindgy.” It is heavy and hard to be accurate. Can handle power, but also needs power to perform at a high level.
- The grip is good, but the reel seat is too long. Very fast overall, little feedback, sensation of having to work too hard. This is more of a 7-weight being called a 5-weight.
| empty | 20' cast | 30' Cast | 40' Cast | 50' Cast | 20' Wind | 30' Wind | 40' Wind | 50' Wind | Pile Cast 30' | Reach Cast 30' | Reach Cast 30' Wind | False Cast 30' | False Cast 30' Wind | FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caster 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 26.5 |
| Caster 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 37.5 |
| Caster 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 37 |
| Combined | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7.5 | 8 | 101 |
10' 5x leader with Yard Indicator
- I like the way it looks! But it does hurt and needs a heavy line.
- I can make all casts, but the rod is a bit “clunky.” It’s heavy and doesn’t have much load to make it pleasurable. My loops opened up at 50’.
- Feeling of heaviness through range. Rod feels like it bends just above the hand, then only bends at the tip. Uncomfortable to cast, but will make the casts.
| empty | Roll Cast 30' | Roll Cast 40' | Mend at 30' | Mend at 40' | Casting 20' | Casting 30' | Casting 40' | FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caster 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| Caster 2 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 23 |
| Caster 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 18.5 |
| Combined | 8 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 57.5 |
9' leader with size 8 Girdle Bug and size 16 BH Pheasant Tail
- There’s no bend or delicacy in the presentation
- Improves at longer distances. Roll and overhead casts well at greater distance. Stiff on mending.
- Good at long distance casting heavy rigs.
The Sage Foundation 5-weight is a fast, heavy rod that demands effort to cast and feels more like a 7-weight in both stiffness and swing weight. It can handle power and perform with heavier rigs at longer distances, but it lacks feel, finesse, and ease of use—especially in close. Across all courses, the action is clunky and disjointed, with minimal feedback and a tendency to hinge between sections. While it will make the casts if pushed hard enough, it’s not particularly comfortable or intuitive, making it better suited for anglers prioritizing durability and brute strength over nuance and touch.
