Leland on the Sage 1680 Series Fly Fishing Reel
With the Sage 1680 Series Fly Reel,
7-9wt, breaking into the big game fly fishing world has never been easier or more
satisfying. This fantastic reel boasts a durable full aluminum construction and an exclusive, sealed graphite drag unit for high performance and
low maintenance. At just 7 1/4 ounces, it's easy to cast all day long and its large arbor increases line pick up when reeling in that big fish of a lifetime! The 1680 is topped off with a sleek black finish and is protected by a felt storage bag so it'll be ready to play with those big game monsters when you are.
The Sage 1680 Series Fly Reel, 4-6wt is an excellent choice for fly anglers looking for the highest value on the market. The 1680 is always dependable, offering unmatched value to big game fly anglers everywhere.
Sage 1680 Series Fly Reel, 7-9wt Features
The perfect
high value reel for
big game fly fishing in both salt and fresh water. This reel's all aluminum construction assures its durability in a range of fly fishing situations and environments and its exclusive sealed graphite drag unit is designed to do
battle with the
toughest fish on the
planet. With an ergonomic drag knob, large arbor for fast line pick up, easy snap-off spool removal, and a sleek black finish, this reel brings
unsurpassed value to the big game fly fishing world. Protected by a felt storage bag, Sage's 1680 Series Fly Reel, 7-9wt will be putting up its dukes with big fish for this season and years to come.
Specifications:
- Line Weights: 7-9
- Weight: 7 1/4 oz
- All aluminum construction
- Exclusive sealed durable and low-maintenance tripod graphite drag assembly
- Ergonomic drag knob
- Large arbor ported to reduce weight
- Easy snap-off spool removal
- Black finish
- Protective felt bag
- Design: A high value reel with a sealed graphite drag built for performance and durability
Leland on the Sage 2009 Reel Program
Sage, known as the top producer of world class fly rods, has made a serious push in fly reel design and manufacturing for the 2009 season. With an impressive line of 6 different reel series, fly anglers now have access to a fantastic selection of reels in all fishing categories and at all price points. With race car designs, heavy duty drag systems, and durable, yet lightweight frames and spools across the board, Sage has perfected the high performance fly reel.
Sage's Research and Development team is second to none and their razor's edge in-house testing facility gives these accomplished engineers the freedom to play with myriad designs throughout the development process. Prior to production, a reel design is built, tested, re-tested, and tested again ... on highly sophisticated computer software programs to streamline the process and optimize materials science and strength to performance ratios.
The 2009 Reel Program from Sage was centered on a tenacious desire to develop and deliver reels that live up to the Sage rod legacy. The new series of Sage Reels consists of a whopping 24 models, all designed with innovation and solid reliability in mind. These reels have been tested hard both in the R&D lab by Sage's own Materials Scientists and Engineers and in the field by hard-working professional fly fishing guides.
The result is a cohesive group of top notch fly fishing reels to fit any angler's need.
Whether it's the sweet outgoing click of a relatively simple yet robust CLICK series for your favorite Sierra trout rod or a the tight repeatability of the monster sealed graphite drag on a 6000D for your Florida Keys tarpon outfit, Sage fly reels comfortably exceed the demands modern anglers put on their gear.
Leland on Sage
Sage has been as committed to performance and innovation as any fly rod manufacturer in the world. Their dedication to research and development has produced some of the finest fly fishing rods ever conceived. Models like the XP and RPLX helped put Sage in a class reserved for only the best manufacturers. And many argue models like the Xi2 and the Z-Axis have sent more than a few companies scurrying to catch up.
Sage, under the guise of company founder Don Green, has been pushing the envelope with state of the art materials from the moment the company opened it's doors in 1980. Sage was the first company to incorporate the use of IM6 (Graphite II) graphite in their fly rods. Through out the years Sage's use of graphite evolved, from graphite II and then to graphite III, and finally graphite IV. Today, all their high-end rods contain Graphite IIIe, a blend of both graphite III and IV. To date, graphite IIIe has the highest strength to weight ratio on the market. From the outset, the company's goal has been to create rods that generate high line speeds. As thousands of Sage owners will attest, the design of their rods enables the fisherman to have extraordinary line control. Casting a Sage fly rod means placing your fly where you want it, not where you hope it goes.
In 1994 Sage brought in Jerry Siem to take over rod development and design. Siem, a Minnesota native, has been responsible for the development of the XP, SLT and Xi2. These fly rods quickly found themselves on rivers, streams, and flats all over the world. They are characterized as exceptional casting rods that allow both the novice and the expert to enjoy them tremendously. With the advent of the TCR in 2003, then Xi2 in 2004 and now the Z-Axis, Jerry has raised the bar for what is known as "fast action rods". Sage has nine separate rod lines (excluding their impressive Spey rods), encompassing the spectrum of applications.
Located on Bainbridge Island Washington. Sage was once a company composed of less than ten people, and has now grown to over 130 employees. All of the rods in the Sage line are manufactured under the same roof. On average, it takes thirty-five days and over one hundred separate hand steps to produce a single rod. All Sage fly rods come with an unconditional lifetime warranty.
Sage on Sage Fly Reels for 2009
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to build a fly reel. But if you want to create the finest, highest-performing new reels on the market, it certainly helps.
Meet Kurt Van Wyck, formerly of Rocket Research, where, among other things, he worked on grout breaking new starter system design for F-16 fighter jets. These days, Kurt brings his passion for innovation to Bainbridge Island and the somewhat more recreational world of fly fishing.
About four years ago, Kurt and our entire team of engineers and material science specialists discarded all traditional design conventions and dove into a complete rethinking of the modern fly reel.
The result? A new lineup of reels that spans the full range of fish, fly lines, and bank account sizes. All designed with advanced, aerospace-grade 3-D modeling software. All featuring a distinctive, minimalist design ethic. And all built with the quality, performance, and fishability you expect from Sage.
In other words, maybe you do have to be a rocket scientist after all.
Sage on Sage
It all began over 20 years ago on a little island nestled in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains . . .
Founded in 1980 by legendary rod designer Don Green, Sage was created with one idea in mind - to build the world's finest performance fly rods. Using world-class materials and years of experience gained while working with Fenwick and Grizzly rod companies, Don revolutionized the fly fishing world.
When Sage started business on Bainbridge Island it was first known as Winslow Rod Company, and although the name quickly changed to Sage, the location on Bainbridge Island is still the same even today. Originally it had six employees and about 1,500 square feet of manufacturing space. Today it has grown to 130 employees working in a 30,000 square foot space.
At Sage, every piece of angling equipment we make is designed, tested and hand built with one goal in mind: Maximum fishability. It's a term we came up with a few years back to describe the kind of performance that helps you cast better, fish more effectively and have more fun. In short, every Sage rod, reel and line is specifically designed to help you make the most of your precious time on the water.
When you purchase something with the Sage name on it, you get a lot more than just a great product. You get access to the finest customer service in the industry, including our famously fast turnaround on warranty repairs, real person-to-person phone support on the Sage Techline and a worldwide network of the best dealers in the business. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, we're here to help.
When we say Sage products are made by and for anglers, we're not kidding. From Team Sage and our Sage Advisory Staff to our industry-leading guide program and active support of numerous angling and conservation organizations, we feel fortunate to work and fish with some of the finest people around. Welcome to the community-it's a good one, and we're extremely proud to be a part of it.
Sage on Fly Fishing
Kids at Play Remember when you got so excited you couldn’t sleep the night before fishing? Or how your hands shook with anticipation trying to rig up? Or the hopes held in a morning’s thrilling first cast?
Of course, after a lifetime of fishing, it’s awfully easy to become jaded. Tales of huge fish in exotic destinations are a long way from the kid who, fearing he’d sleep past dawn, lay on his back in the tent, holding tennis shoes above his face. In the unlikely event he should actually drift off, the shoes would bounce off his head to wake him. And that was just to catch first light at the local bluegill pond.
In the soul of every angler lives the kind of fun we felt as kids. It’s what keeps our love for fishing alive. A psychologist might say we’re harboring some kind of Peter Pan complex, but for us, it’s what fly fishing is really all about. It might also explain why people are always asking anglers when they plan to “grow up.”
We feel the same kind of excitement about introducing our new Z-Axis rods. We knew it wouldn’t be easy to replace our much-loved XP line, but after spending the last three years in deep R&D, we are positively giddy about these rods. When the people who work here start fighting over who gets to fish the prototypes, well, you know you’re on to something.
We’d also like to introduce you to J.D. Love and Brian Horsley, who provide the kind of on-the-water-every-day input that’s essential to creating rods with maximum fishability. J.D. and Brian are “serious” anglers, but even after decades of guiding, both retain a kid’s excitement about fishing. Our kind of people. Whether you last felt the anticipation that leads to sleepless nights and shaking hands a week ago or a lifetime ago, may you experience it again in the upcoming season. When are we going to grow up...Hopefully never. See you out there."
