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Multi-Application / Fast Action

R8 Core 890-4

R8 Core 890-4

$1,100.00
$1,100.00

Our most versatile and popular all-water rod model. The 890-4 is able to effectively present flies and handle the fight with Alaska trout and salmon, striped bass, largemouth bass or other similarly-sized species. When venturing into saltwater, the 890-4 R8 CORE is a very effective flats rod, capable to of cutting stiff wind alongside soft, pinpoint presentations. From freshwater to saltwater, simply put, this rod can be taken anywhere and fished with extreme confidence, for the angler needing an 8wt capable of handling a multitude of applications.

View All Model Specs

Selected Model Details

  • Model:
    R8 CORE 890-4
  • Line Size:
    8WT
  • Rod Length:
    9'0"
  • Handle:
    Fighting Butt Handle
  • Color:
    Silver Pine
  • Pieces:
    4
  • SKU:
    2054-890-4
View full details

R8 CORE

Overview

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. Coming in a range from 3wt to 9wt, with a variety of lengths from 8'6" to 10'0", there's sure to be a model to fit the core needs of every freshwater angler.

R8 CORE

Details

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

3WT - 6WT

Premium Flor grade snub-nose half-wells cork handle

Sustainable Ziricote wood insert with anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat

5WT - 9WT

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

Behind The R8

MAXIMIZED VERSATILITY

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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.
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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.
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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.

MADE TO FISH, NOT JUST CAST

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Mending

With feel that extends to the smallest dry flies, R8 provides the touch to deliver efficient mends with intention and precision.
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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.
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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.

SHAPING 8 REVOLUTIONS IN HOW WE FISH

R8 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.

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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.
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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.
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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.

MADE IN THE USA

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.

Overall rating: 4.946372 / 5 from 317 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The R8 Core 890-4 is a versatile and popular all-water rod, praised for its effortless casting, excellent balance, and smooth, powerful action. Customers highlight its amazing power and great feel, making it suitable for various fishing applications. The rod's high-quality components and lightweight design are also frequently commended.

Summary topics

  • Casting Ease (10%): It was noted by customers that this rod casts effortlessly and makes for effortless casting. (Common opinion)
  • Balance and Accuracy (3%): Customers appreciated the excellent balance and accuracy of this rod for playing small and medium sized flies.
  • Rod Action (10%): It was reported by customers that the action on these rods for steelhead fishing is smooth and powerful.
  • Rod Power (5%): It was highlighted by customers that the power of the rod is amazing, with no sacrifice of the feel.
  • Rod Feel (8%): It was observed by customers that the R8 has a great feel and action, making it a popular choice.

Review topics: ["shipping","feel","color","problem","power","weight","quality","rod","looks","control","protection","action","performance","conditions","craftsmanship","casts","model","rods","flies","line","streamers","sage","fish","core","presentation","accuracy","stick","rig","rivers","nymph"].

Review highlights

  • "Very light and balanced high quality components very sensitive" — John G.
  • "Unbelievable rod, load and power are perfect!" — Danny B.
  • "Beautiful looking colour, components, and wraps." — Mike E.

Reviews

Kenai River Sockeye

"Spent considerable time in Alaska on an expedition with this and several other rods. Primarily used this rod to fight the feisty Sockeye that were running the Kenai. Outstanding durability and performance in the heat of battle."

— Shawn W. (5/5)

R8 Core 590 is really nice!

"There's a lot of feel with this fast action rod. It's smooth with control and works well with small dry flies on up. It's a good one!"

— Nate D. (5/5)

9 ft. 5 wt. Sage R8 Core

"I love this 5 wt as it does most all things expected of a 5 wt. fly rod very, very well. Another rod that the angler can slow down on their cast, concentrate on form and the rod will perform brilliantly on short, medium and reasonably long presentations… Additionally, the rod takes to a variety of line types from Rio Elite TT all the way thru a Rio OBS, with ease, depending on your required application."

— Jamie M. (5/5)

Great Rod So Far!

"What I've done so far with this rod in two outings: Mono-rig with weighted streamers. Crisp. Accurate. Good power. Landed smallmouth bass to 2 lbs. Great power for fighting aggressive smallmouth. Mono-rig with dry-dropper. Accurate and snappy. Great for picking apart pocket water. Landed numerous wild browns to 17". Tricos with a long 6x Harvey Leader and fly line. Soft enough to cushion the light tippet. Accurate and long caster. Turns over long leader easily. Landed a number of smaller trout with this setup. Dry dropper with fly line. Excellent. Landed a 17" wild brown trout with this setup. Have not yet tried, but will: heavy night fly rig, mono-rig with nymphs and with indicator. I anticipate this rod will handle these rigs with ease. Bought this as a do-it-all trout rod for mono-rig setups on medium sized rivers and as a bigger river dry fly rod. I'm very pleased with the rod so far for these tasks. It is light and responsive. It's fast action, but with some feeling in the tip. I think we are going to be great friends. Rod Reviewed: R8 Core 596-4FB"

— Bill F. (5/5)

I have always been a

"I have always been a Sage guy and i absolutely love the Sage R* Core 796-4."

— Bryant E. (5/5)

R8 Core 596-4FB

"I've used this rod in the following ways so far: Mono-rig dry dropper fishing. Mono-rig streamer fishing. Fly line dry dropper presentations. Fly line trico fishing with a 14' Harvey leader ending in 6x tippet. I purchased this as a mono-rig streamer/nymph rod for medium sized rivers where my 10' rod is a bit unwieldy AND for fishing dry flies at distance with fly line on larger rivers. So far, I am extremely pleased with this purchase. The rod is fast but has a nice progressive action which throws a mono rig with a dry dropper setup quite well. It's ideal for working pocket water with the dry dropper technique. With streamers, it tosses weighted streamers with ease and accuracy using a mono-rig. The slightly shorter length and overall very light weight and low swing weight of the rod make it a pleasure to fish. There is plenty of backbone to the rod as well and the tip does not collapse with a heavier weighted streamer. With fly line and a long leader, the rod throws beautiful tight loops with a Rio Gold line and it mends line well. The extra 6" improves my ability to reach cast. The light weight makes it pleasurable to cast even at longer fishing distances without fatigue. It can turn over a heavy dry dropper rig or long leader and a size 24 single dry fly. The tip was soft enough to provide cushion with 6x tippet during a trico hatch. As a fish fighting tool, there was plenty of power in the butt section and I've landed brown trout to 17" and a 2. 5ish pound smallmouth bass that I had to fight in heavy current with logs and obstructions. The rod was capable of applying "max pressure" on 1x flurocarbon tippet to keep this bass out of a log jam. I'm rating it as 4 stars because I've only fished with it a few times and because I have not yet tried it out nymphing with indicators or on a tight line. However, I suspect it will excel at these tactics too. I also have not yet had reason to utilize the warranty, so I cannot comment on this. Cosmetically the rod looks great. The cork is exceptional and I really like the reel seat design it is very solid. I'd prefer a reverse half wells grip, but the full wells is comfortable and I can work with it. Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase and the rod is doing exactly what I purchased it to do. i look forward to using this rod a whole lot more in the future."

— William F. (4/5)

Best Sage rod yet!

"Im a Sage rod guy and this Rod is amazing. I have been a Sage sonic guy for the last couple years and the r8 makes that feel like a much lesser rod. The casting is butter smooth and the accuracy is by far best I've ever seen. I fish every day so it gets put thru the ringer. LIGHT! cant stress that enough! Awesome Rod!"

— Mike P. (5/5)

10’ 6wt. Worth every penny

"One of the best streamer rods I have ever casted. Roll casts like a beast, and handles heavy streamer rigs like it’s nothing. I wanted something on the softer side with the power to slice through the wind, and I got something that could do more. Swing weight is light in handle and the overall rod is well balanced."

— Troy G. (5/5)

New Fly Rod

"5wt R8 ~~~~~~ Hard water now in AK…cast great in the dome. Can’t wait until I hit the water. Why waste time with cheap imitations … life’s too short…always eat pie first 😎 🐥😎🐥😎🐥😎🐥😎🐥😎"

— Steve P. (5/5)

Greta rod!

"Send me another review in 4 weeks. I haven’t fished with it yet. But i do have the R8 Core in a 9ft 6 in length 5 wt and absolutely love it so I’m expecting the same from the 6wt!"

— Phil S. (5/5)

Q&A