Shaping 8 revolutions in how we fish
R8 TECHNOLOGY
For most of us, an idyllic day on the water is not when we’re thinking more, but when we’re thinking less. Finding that state of fishing in the moment, where instinct and experience bring us to an almost zen-like awareness of each subtle motion and movement—that’s what R8 is all about. It’s not a race, but a state we all aim to reach out on the water. With R8 we enhance that two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow, and control.
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Enhanced Hand-To-Rod Connection
We’ve increased the purity of graphite in the rod for even more reactivity and sensitivity, shifting energy further down the blank and into the handle. This transfer of energy creates a more natural extension of your arm, ultimately resulting in less wasted effort and intuitive reactivity. Rather than dialing up parking lot distance, we’ve shifted the thinking back to the roots of rhythm and awareness—where you can experience the energy happening in each moment.
Amplified Sensory feedback loop
Effortless energy transfer and more connected feel, the amplified two-way feedback loop of R8 Technology, due to our new axial fiber formulation, allows you to feel when the power needs to be applied throughout the cast, presentation, and when applying the appropriate pressure to fish.
HEIGHTENED
FISHING EXPERIENCE
Whether it’s the mental chess of matching the hatch, the headspace of reading the water or the instinct putting a fly in exactly the right spot—our best days emerge when our mind is right. It always seems that when we’re not thinking about it is precisely when our fishing mind takes over—where every single moment feels almost automatic or instinctual. With immediate feedback from tip to hand, R8 is designed to facilitate that higher state of mental flow and focus when small decisions, thoughts, and actions line up effortlessly.
BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGY
PURE GRAPHITE
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.
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 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.
New circumferential
hoop fiber
Advanced hoop fibers hold blank in optimal cylindrical shape creating greater circumferential strength - continuously maintaining the inherent blank strength while actively engaged or under tension.
MADE TO FISH, NOT JUST CAST
MENDING
With feel that extends to the smallest dry flies, R8 provides the touch to deliver efficient mends with intention and precision.
SETTING
From subtle sips to streamer strikes, the amplified sensitivity of R8 enables fine nibble feel that triggers instant, instinctual reaction for trout sets or strip sets.
FISH FIGHTING
With a fish on, R8’s fusion of stronger backbone yet greater feel enables you to control your fish, even from tough structure, with touch and care.
ROD FAMILY
R8 CORE
R8 Core is a rod family focused on maximum versatility and applies new revolutionary 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 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.
Available April 5th
Dry Fly
A fast action provides the capability to stay tight to the line and in control of the presentation, while the high line speed drives a tight loop that assists in laser accuracy in technical dry fly situations. With ability to handle dry fly lines with long heads, increasing loop control when carrying long lengths and making precise casts to rising fish, all while making it easier to turn over long leaders for technical feeders at range.
Nymphing
With a sensitive tip section to protect light tippets, a versatile balance between lifting power and delicacy provides perfect synergy for nymph fishing. A very effective tool for anglers that fish nymphs and indicators wading or out of a boat. With a combination of power and feel, R8 Core allows for intuitively better cast timing, easier line lifts and sharp, precise mends leading to faster reaction times when setting the hook.
Streamers
A powerful butt section easily throws a wide range of streamers and accommodates a full lineup of sinking tip lines while also quickly pulling aggressive fish out of structure for increased landing success. The powerful butt section of the R8 CORE provides stability, connectedness, and power to rock and fire those one-shot casts.
Mark Raisler
“Having the ability to present accurately, which I mentioned before, having a known outcome with your cast and understanding what your tool will do, what our fly rod will do, is damn important in the Missouri River dry fly game."
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Headhunters Fly Shop & Ambassador
Craig, Montana
Matt Heron
“The Truckee is an incredibly technical fishery and I ask a lot out of my gear. I need a rod with enough length and backbone to turn over heavy nymphing rigs but still maintain the sensitive tip for stack mending and line control. Sensitivity and backbone don’t necessarily go hand in hand, but this new rod gives me complete control.”
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Matt Heron Fly Fishing & Ambassador
Truckee, California
Steve Dally
“I throw a bunch of rods, and I’m throwing a big fly and a heavy line. And sometimes you put it out there and it’s a little more hit it and hope. But when you’re trying to fish this fishery, and fish it well…having a rod with the power and accuracy to put that big fly and big fly line where you need it, time after time after time? That’s just, it’s priceless, to be honest.”
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Dally Ozarks Fly Fisher & Ambassador
White River, Arkansas