Leland on the Sage 2050 Series Fly Fishing Reel
There's no better way to see the world than through its
trout streams, so don't leave for the
gin-
clear spring creeks of New Zealand without your backpack and a favorite trout reel! Sage's 2050 Drag Fly Reel,
5-6wt has the
toughness to do battle with the big fish you chase and the
light weight durability to travel with you to fly fishing destinations near and far. You'll have confidence in the fully sealed performance of Sage's unique floating tripod graphite drag system and at only
5 1/2 ounces in weight, you'll love stopping the rod delicately to hear fly line buzz past your ear!
Leland on Specifications
An excellent
all-
around trout reel that will balance extremely well with today's lightweight 5- and 6-weight trout rods. At only
5 1/2 ounces in weight, the 2050 reel is light enough to cast from first light to dark with ease. With the help of sophisticated computer design software, Sage's engineers have increased the rigidity and durability of both the spool and frame while decreasing weight. The unique floating tripod graphite drag system screams high performance and is
completely sealed from the
elements. It comes with a
protective neoprene
case and is
compatible with 1600, 1800, and 2000 Series spools.
Specifications:
- Line Weights: 5-6
- Weight: 5 1/2 oz
- Machined 6060-T6 aluminum spool, reel foot, and ergonomic handle for toughness and light weight
- Non-glare black and pewter finish
- Durable sealed graphite drag system with Sage's famous floating tripod design for increased fish-stopping power
- Easy retrieve direction conversion
- Simple spool removal
- Neoprene protective reel case
- 1600, 1800, and 2000 series spools are interchangeable
- Design: A high performance trout reel with a machined aluminum spool and sealed graphite drag for big fish-fighting confidence
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."
