Sage: New 2010 - Xi3 Fly Rod 7wt 9' Fly Rod, 4 pc, 790-4

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Leland on the Sage Xi3 790-4 Fly Rod

Seven is a lucky number. And you'll have plenty of luck on your side with this Sage 790-4 Xi3 in your hand, because it's simply the best saltwater seven weight fly rod ever to grace the Seven Seas. Light, responsive and effortless to cast, yet you'll never run out of power, even when you have to go long and deep when the wind kicks up. Sage's exclusive SaltH2O Technology means that your casting energy goes directly to the tip of the rod, instead of being wasted with torsional inefficiency. The feedback from this rod is incredible, allowing for perfect timing throughout the cast. The Xi3 is a beautiful hand-crafted rod, as well, with a lusterous Deep Blue finish and the finest hardware available. The Xi3 790-4 is the top choice for bonefish, speckled trout, and redfish. Christmas Island and the Gulf are calling!

Leland on Specifications

The Sage Xi3 Saltwater Fly Rods are the newest rods from Sage and a fitting replacement for the legendary Xi2s Series. In our opinion, the Xi3s are now the best saltwater fly rods that have ever been built. Sage has rewritten the book on how to extract every shred of performance out of a fly rod with their G5 Graphite Placement Technology. Built on a beautiful Deep Blue blank with the finest hardware, including Fuji hard chrome Alconite Stripping Guides that will defy the rigors of years of use, and abuse, in the salt, the Sage Xi3 790-4 weighs in at a mere 3 3/4 ounces. A full wells cork grip of the highest quality is hand turned for maximum comfort and durability. This rod comes complete with a cloth rod sock, a brass/aluminum protective rod tube, and, of course, Sage's Limited Lifetime Warranty. You owe it to yourself to experience saltwater fly fishing with the very best gear available; the Sage Xi3 790-4.

Specifications:

Line Size: 7
Rod Length: 9'
Sections: 4
Weight: 3 3/4 oz.
Handle: Full Wells
Reel Seat: Black Anodized Double Uplocking Aluminum
Action: Fast
Tube Size: 30 in.

Leland on the Sage Xi3 Fly Rods

How can you improve upon perfection? We at Leland felt that the Sage Xi2 Rod Series were already the best saltwater fly rods available anywhere. Now, along come the new Xi3's and, remarkably, they are lighter, stronger, more powerful, yet easier to cast than ever before! We cast the new Sage Xi3s side by side with their Xi2 counterparts, same lines, same reels, and while the Xi2s continued to impress, the Xi3s were noticeably better in every category. From 6 weight to 12 weight and beyond, simply better. We were left scratching our heads on how the boys at Sage could achieve these amazing results. We're told that it's a combination of advanced computer modeling, the fine tuning and tweaking of Sage's awesome G5 Technology Graphite Layup, and a dash of creative brilliance thrown in as well. Whatever it is, you'll just be happy that you can walk out on a sugar white flat with the confidence in knowing that the best possible saltwater fly rod in the world for the job at hand, is in your hand. If you don't believe us, all you've got to do is cast a new Sage Xi3 for yourself. Bonefish, redfish, permit or tarpon, it doesn't matter. You'll believe.

Leland on Sage

We at Leland have been selling Sage Fly Rods since our shop first opened its doors in 1985. Without a doubt, if you polled experienced fly anglers across the country, and the world, and asked “Who is the premier fly rod manufacture on the planet?” , the answer you would receive most often would be “Sage”. The popularity of Sage Fly Rods is no accident. Fly anglers tend to be picky folks and they usually expect a lot from their equipment. If they’re not satisfied, they have no problem selecting a different piece of gear that will work better for them. It’s not the glossy ads or the fancy names, people buy Sage Fly Rods because they PERFORM. Innovation, quality, durability, and great customer service go into every Sage Fly Rod and continue after you purchase one. Regardless of your experience level, your casting style, or your budget, Sage builds a rod that will be your trusted fishing companion for years to come. Sage has ten separate fly rod series, encompassing the spectrum of fishing applications, from small trout streams to blue water big game.

Leland is proud to be the largest volume Sage Fly Rod dealer in the world. And we’ve achieved that status, like Sage, through hard work and exemplary customer service. We stock and sell every single fly rod model that Sage manufactures. Please call us if you need assistance in selecting the right rod for you.

Sage was founded in 1979 by Don Green, an experienced rod blank builder and one of the architects of the modern fishing rod, as owner of the Grizzly Fiberglass Company, which later partnered with Fenwick. It was originally called Winslow Manufacturing (after the city of Winslow on Bainbridge Island, Washington) but within a year had changed its name to Sage. Emphasizing high quality fly rods sold only through specialty stores, Sage rode the crest of the fly-fishing boom in the post “A River Runs Through It” years. Today, although there is no industry repository for exact numbers, Sage is probably the world’s largest producer of premium fly rods and employs over 130 workers in their manufacturing facility. The proximity of Bainbridge to the Boeing Aircraft manufacturing plants near Seattle and Toray Composites in Tacoma provides access for Sage to a wealth of knowledge from the aerospace industry, the primary end users of graphite fiber.

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.

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.

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 SLT and Xi2 Sage rod series. 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, the Z-Axis in 2007, and now, the amazing new Xi3 Big Game Saltwater Rods, Jerry and Sage have raised the standard for fly rod performance.

Sage on their Xi3 Saltwater Fly Rods

On the flats, blue water or anywhere in between, your first shot is always the best shot. But, as experienced saltwater anglers know, sometimes that first shot means the bonefish you didn’t see until it was right here, and other times it’s an upwind bait ball way out there.

Introducing the new Xi3 Series saltwater fly rods. Through our exclusive SaltH2O Technology, Xi3 rods provide a groundbreaking level of torque and torsion resistance for superior tracking and less wasted energy at all distances. SaltH2O’s unique layer interface and proprietary resin also combine for maximum strength—even in high heat environments—and significantly less weight.

This increased strength comes in handy when you need to lean on powerful saltwater bruisers. Just as importantly, it gives you the backbone to pick up 60 or 70 feet of line on desperate second (and last) chance casts.

Our G5 construction adds improved line feel for easier, more intuitive casting, and specialized saltwater-specific components complete the package. In other words, the new Xi3 is everything you need to make that first shot count.

Sage on Sage

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.

The people who make up Team Sage are some of the finest anglers in the world. Their expertise, wisdom and experience are an important part of our design process, and their contributions to the fishability of our products are immeasurable. But more than that, these are great people to fish and work with, and we're proud to call each of them friends.

Some say Sage rods are legendary for their magical properties, their propensity for placing flies just above the ripple. We don't know about magic, but we do know that every Sage rod is made by hand and we make rods for anglers of every stripe.

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.

If you're new to the sport of fly fishing, you've probably discovered there's a lot to learn. From reading holding water and understanding fish habitat, to learning your fly patterns and how to rig your equipment - there are a million details to consider.
So if you get frustrated, remember the infinite details that cause frustration to the beginner are the same details that offer the veteran fly fisher continual challenges and endless excitement. No matter how many years you've been fly fishing, there is always more to learn. So start simply and be patient, because there's a whole new underwater world that you can have a good time getting to know and traveling to discover.

"Every part of this earth is sacred. Every single pine needle, every shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing, every humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of our race. You are part of the earth and the earth is part of you."- Chief Seattle

How we relate to our environment has a direct effect on the state of the planet. By getting out in the woods, wading a mountain stream and admiring the vibrant colors of a rainbow trout as you carefully release it, you become close to nature and develop a bond you strive to nurture and protect.

Please help Sage in the effort to preserve and enhance our natural resources by practicing catch-and-release fishing and encouraging other anglers to do so. Your children and theirs will thank you for it.

Sage is a proud sponsor of The Federation of Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, the Haig-Brown Institute and California Trout.

Sage continues to seek performance advantages through new materials and designs, marketing its products through a network of specialty dealers. Yet more than ever, Sage remains focused on one goal, which is best summarized by its statement of purpose: We are passionate about our business of creating fly fishing products that continually exceed the fly angler's expectations. Wherever in the world your fly fishing takes you, it is safe to say that Sage has the products to enhance your fly fishing experience.

Sage on the Sage Story

It all began almost 30 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 175 employees working in a 30,000 square foot space. The following story sheds light on Sage throughout the past 21 years:

Two important threads run through the Sage story. The first is the importance of fly rod design, the second is the importance of controlled distribution.

As for fly rod design, years of fly fishing experience had taught Don that fly rods should never run out of "power." While there might be fishing scenarios where the full power and flex of a fly rod were not utilized by the angler, the best designs were those that always held power in reserve. Hence the name Reserve Power was given to the new style of fly rod Don developed for extra long casts or for windy conditions. The name was abbreviated to the RP. This was the first major series of fly rods that Sage released in 1982 and they quickly became the most talked about fly rods in the world.

The design of Sage was set. Next came the distribution. When Sage began, Bruce Kirschner (formerly of K2 Skis) joined Don as a partner in the company, bringing with him years of specialty retailing experience. Together they set out to create a dealer network of specialty stores where anglers could always receive solid, professional help, advice and assistance. The philosophy was simple: specialty products for specialty retailers.

From the early 80s on, Sage began its two-pronged development of its core fly rod business. From the initial success of the RP and the Graphite II generation, Don quickly moved to the next generation with Graphite III RPL fly rods. By 1985 the RPLs were the high performance standard of fly anglers everywhere. Recognizing that some anglers preferred the more moderate action of traditional fly rods, Don designed the LL Series of fly rods in 2-5-weight rods for the lightline angler.

In 1986 Sage brought to the marketplace the first series of fly rods built specifically for the special challenges of the saltwater angler-the legendary RPLX fly rods. Built for line weights 8-12, these rods almost instantly became the standard of modern saltwater angling experience. Finally, working with some of the finest two-handed fly casters in the world, Sage introduced a complete line of spey and European-style double handed rods, a series that rounded out Sage's family of fly rods. Now, anglers around the world could find a performance fly rod for whatever their needs might be.

Throughout the 80s, Sage's business grew steadily as specialty dealers everywhere started paying heed to these performance enhancements. The brand was continually sold throughout the world with distribution in Japan, Canada, France, England, Italy, Germany and Scandinavia. Everywhere the pattern was duplicated-specialty products for specialty dealers, and by the end of the decade, Sage had secured its position as the number one fly rod company in the world.

During the early 90s, Sage continued its steady growth with the RPL, RPLX, LL, TH and DS Series. The US dealer network had grown to about 450 dealers and Sage was also being sold in about 30 export countries.

Then a River Ran Through It!
In 1994, the movie happened to coincide with Sage's first new fly rod to be introduced in nearly a decade. It was called the SP. At the confluence of these two events was the largest growth spurt ever witnessed by the fly fishing industry. Sales and all categories jumped as thousands of people flocked to the sport. While Sage's designs and rod families surged on ahead, none did so more dramatically than the new SP. Built from Graphite IV and using a new scrim material called Durascrim, the SPs broke all records for the new product introduction.

By 1994, Don and Bruce had been building the company for the better part of 15 years. Don, at age 60 and four decades into the rod manufacturing business, decided it was time to take more of a backseat with the company. Accordingly, Sage was sold to the Joshua Green Corporation of Seattle. Bruce Kirschner agreed to stay on as President and Don became Vice President of research and development. Jerry Siem was then brought on board as the new resident rod designer.

Today Sage continues to seek performance advantages through new materials and designs, marketing its products through a network of specialty dealers.

In 1997, the new SPL Series was brought to market and won the coveted "Best of Show award" at the industry trade show in Denver. In the same Year, Sage's RPLX rods were redesigned as the RPLXi. Then in 1999, Sage introduced the lighter weight and narrower tapered fast action XP - again to worldwide acclaim. In 2000 Sage's 3000 Series Drag Reels, proprietary Performance Taper Fly Line and RPLXi 5-piece travel rods all made their way to market. In 2003, Sage proudly introduced the entirely new medium-fast action SLT series of rods. That same year, we also introduced the ultra high-performance TCR Series rods, featuring an ultra-fast action for skilled casters.

In 2004, Sage again revolutionized the industry with the introduction of the Xi2 Series saltwater rods. Created by the "Sage Dream Team" members Steve Greist, Jerry Siem, Don Green and Kerry Winkler, the Xi2 was the first rod built featuring our new Generation 5 (G5) Technology. This technology was developed by the team over a three-year period in an effort to create a completely new type of rod from scratch, with the idea that every inch of a fly rod has different performance needs based on the different task that it must accomplish. A brand-new way of constructing rod blanks, G5 Technology was designed to increase the amount of "line feel" by reducing the swing weight of the rod.

In 2005, after an astounding response to G5 technology the previous year, we introduced three new rod series that utilized the new technology. The near-weightless TXL Series rods were an instant hit with the growing light-line crowd and were popularized by their ability to maximize the experience of dry fly anglers around the world.

This same year Sage introduced two entry-level rods, the Fli and Launch Series. The Launch rods offered a smooth, progressive power curve and extremely high strength-to-weight ratio, all while offering incredible sensitivity so you could feel the line load for improved casting. The FLi Series rods featured a fast-action taper with maximum power transfer and efficiency-resulting in more intuitive casting when it counted. Between the two mentioned entry-level rods, we were focusing a significant amount of energy on novice anglers, and really giving them more options than ever before in terms of rod choice.

All the while, Sage was holding steady with a very solid offering of reels to compliment the extensive line of rods available. In 2005 we introduced the 3600D Drag reel, which featured the same buttery-smooth performance that had come to be expected from our 3000D Series reels. These were known for their abundance of stopping power in landing big game fish and the capacity to hold even the largest of the newly popular RIO Skagit Spey lines. The 2500 Series large-arbor reels offered a lighter-weight reel with a smooth, reliable drag for maintenance-free operation in all conditions.

The following year welcomed the medium-fast action VT2 series that remained at the mid-price-point in the Sage line and offered an upgraded replacement for the long running VPS. Although this was a small product introduction year, the energy at Sage during this time was mounting in preparation for the largest and most exciting product introduction in Sage history which would take place in the fall of 2007. When the time finally arrived, the new Z-Axis Series was a hit across the board. The ultimate in fast-action rods, it became an instant favorite for anglers of all types, known for its fast action coupled with a tremendous amount of line feel. A broad family in terms of configurations, the Z-Axis Series included 2 and 4 piece models as well as 7 spey rods and 4 switch rods (which were the first of their kind in the Sage line).

When the 2008 product season finally arrived we were still riding the high of the Z-Axis and were proud to be able to bring a couple of new niche series of rods into the fly fishing market. The BASS Series, after several years of development, was finally released to the public and the medium action cousin to the Z-Axis, the ZXL, was released in weights 3-6. With the extensive Z-Axis Series covering a huge amount of product territory we were able to dedicate more energy and effort to the growing demands of niche fisheries. These rods, despite their focused design and marketing, proved to exceed most peoples expectations and suddenly BASS rods were showing up on magazine covers next to Snook, Baby Tarpon and Pike; not exactly their initial intention, but who was going to complain?

Outside of the product arena, 2008 was also a year where Sage and it’s sister companies, RIO and Redington, joined a growing alliance against the proposed Pebble Mine in the Bristol Bay Region of Alaska. In an unprecedented effort, the three mentioned companies joined forces and marketed a rod/reel/line combination that equated to a significant donation to TU Alaska and a film documenting the cause called ‘Red Gold.’

Like many years before, the 2009 season at Sage is filled with exciting new product additions in Z-Axis, BASS and ZXL, but in a departure from the past, if the 2009 season is defined by any specific product, it will undoubtedly be the extensive new selection of unique Sage reels. A total of six new reel series, which includes a total of 19 models, helps to round out the vast selection of quality products that anglers have always counted on from Sage. After several years in development the new reel line is filled with options on price, color, and material, but one thing remains constant between all models, the quality.

On the rod front, the new ultra-fast action TCX was designed to answer the call of anglers seeking cutting-edge technology and the finest components. Like their predecessor, the TCR, these rods are not designed for all anglers but unlike the TCR, they are designed to fit a wider range of casting styles and preferences. Within the Sage line these new kryptonite green rods, while still considered a niche series of rods, are just another option for the discerning angler looking for the latest and greatest tool for their fly fishing arsenal.

In conclusion, from our earliest days as a small rod blank manufacturer to the comparatively large 175 employee company that we are today, Sage has continued to seek performance advantages through new materials and designs, marketing its products through a network of specialty dealers. Today, more than ever before, Sage remains focused on one goal, which is best summarized by its statement of purpose: We are passionate about our business of creating fly fishing products that continually exceed the fly angler's expectations. Wherever in the world your fly fishing takes you, it is safe to say that Sage has the products to enhance your fly fishing experience.

Whether you own a brown GFL blank from 1980 or a kryptonite green TCX hot off the manufacturing floor, I am sure you will agree that our mission has remained focused and true all these years.

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