SAGE R8 Core 9WT 9'
The 990-4 is a very versatile all-water and big game rod, able to pull on striped bass, large anadromous species, and big aggressive freshwater meat-eaters. From Alaskan Salmon to the flats of the Key's for Permit and Bonefish, the 990-4 R8 CORE is an excellent rod for the angler using a 9wt in a multitude of applications.
- MODEL: R8 Core 990-4
- LINE SIZE: 9WT
- ROD LENGTH: 9'0"
- HANDLE: Fighting Butt Handle
- COLOR: Silver Pine
- PIECES: 4
- PHYSICAL WEIGHT: 3 13/16oz
Description
The 990-4 is a very versatile all-water and big game rod, able to pull on striped bass, large anadromous species, and big aggressive freshwater meat-eaters.
R8 Core is focused on maximum versatility and applies new revolutionary R8 material technology through our forward-thinking lens of what we're seeing out on the water - where one rod needs to show even greater range. At its core, R8 Core traces a direct lineage to Sage's multi-application / fast action vision, one shaped by the fishing evolutions happening all around us—from habitats we stalk and waters we frequent, to the flies we fish and the diversity of species we now target.
Features
- Revolution 8 Technology
- Silver Pine blank color
- Slate primary thread wraps with graduated White and Grey trim
- Fuji ceramic stripper guides with hard chromed snake guides and tip-top
- Laser etched line weight on slide band
- Black rod bag with new quick-tie cord lock for faster, easier, and cleaner storage
- Aluminum rod tube with Sage medallion
- Premium Flor grade full-wells cork handle with cork/EVA fighting butt
- Gunmetal anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat
- Integrated hidden hook keeper in reel seat
Technology
The advanced, leading-edge material behind R8 enables us to shape a rod with a stiffer, stronger backbone but a more sensitive tip and more connected feel. The secret is twofold. First, a proprietary aerospace composite with a greater hoop strength enables us to dimensionally grow taper diameter more quickly from the tip—while a nano-sintered resin application increases axial resilience and allows us to pack more fiber into the blank, resulting in that true two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow and control.
- NEW AXIAL FIBER FORMULATION - Advanced nano-sintered resin application and a more resilient axial fiber allow us to re-profile the dimensional taper to get thicker quicker from tip to butt - resulting in better energy transfer and greater feel. Simply put - a better and more efficient "wiring" of energy.
- EFFORTLESS ENERGY TRANSFER - Elongated energy transfer shifts the sweet spot closer to the hand creating a more natural extension of your arm for greater range, quicker reactivity and less wasted effort.
- NEW CIRCUMFERENTIAL HOOP FIBER - Advanced hoop fibers hold blank in optimal cylindrical shape creating greater circumferential strength - continuously maintaining inherent taper profile while actively engaged or under tension.
We’re not a big faceless factory, but rather a workplace of craftspeople who design and build the world’s best fly rods and reels using our hands and hearts. We do it by sharing ideas and always asking the next question to find what can be done to make this better. Our rods are built one at time right here on Bainbridge Island, WA, following hundreds of meticulous steps and passing through 23 sets of hands. We’re out there fishing the same places in the same unforgiving conditions that you are. Craftsmanship is applied experience. Lifetimes of it.
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.
Sage R8 Core
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Q: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance? A: This is the lightweight version of a 9wt and the least powerful of our 9wts. Again a little more of a tip flex: easy to load but less control over bigger flies than some of our other 9’s.
Q: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod? A: RIO Elite Permit
| empty | Short | Medium | Long | FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caster 1 | 6.5 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 20.1 |
| Caster 2 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 7 | 21.3 |
| Caster 3 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 8 | 23.9 |
| Combined | 21.2 | 22.4 | 21.7 | 65.3 |
- Heavier hardware on the blank. I feel like what I put into the rod, I am not getting out of it. The rod does its job at 50’ (medium) and past that at longer distances I feel a lack of recovery.
- Light rod, feels like an 8-weight. Short casts are very pleasant. I thought it was relatively smooth out at 50’ (medium). Takes a little longer to get going, especially at 70’ (long). Will fish fine, but takes more work.
The Sage R8 Core 9wt has a light feel overall, though the hardware on the blank adds a bit of noticeable weight. In hand it almost feels closer to an 8 weight, giving the rod a lighter overall impression. At shorter distances it performs well, making pleasant and comfortable casts without much effort.
At around 50 feet the rod settles into a smooth rhythm and does its job effectively. The rod handles medium range shots well and produces consistent casts once it gets moving. There is a sense that the rod needs a little time to build momentum before it begins to perform at its best.
As casts extend toward longer distances, the rod requires more effort from the caster and can feel like it lacks some recovery. While it is still capable of reaching those targets, it takes more work to push the rod further compared to some of the faster rods in the group.
