Leland on the Sage Xi3 990-4 Fly Rod
Nine weight anglers usually know what they're looking for; more power than an eight rod, without the extra weight-in-hand of a ten. Double digit bonefish on the deeper flats, and bigger stripers come to mind, and there's no better fly rod for them than the Sage 990 Xi3. Incredible line speed and accuracy can now be yours with highest performance saltwater fly rod on the planet. Sage has stepped up, combining G5 Graphite Placement with their exclusive SaltH2O torque and torsional control, creating a fly rod that will allow you to be the best that you can be, whether wading a flat, a shoreline, or casting from the deck. Wind or bigger flies? Bring it on with this rod. If you know a spot in the mangroves where tarpon lurk, short or long, the Sage Xi3 990-4 will make the cast like no other can.
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 990-4 weighs in at a mere 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 990-4.
Specifications:
- Line Size: 9
- Rod Length: 9'
- Sections: 4
- Weight: 4.0 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 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.
