Anyone here have any experience yet with the new Sage 99 series rods? All of the lit talks about this being designed specifically as a nymphing rod. The trout rods I currently have are all in the 8’6" length and I have wondered if I should get a longer rod to help with mending, etc… These rods sound interesting, but since they are new I am wondering what folks actual experience with them are as opposed to what the marketing folks are telling us.
i only use 9 ft rods for the extra reach across fast water. Nine more iches may help some, but you have to learn to mend anyway. So I guess it depends on the size of rivers you fish.
i fish my 9’foot rods on some small creeks occationally with good results, but I am not sure 9 extra inches would be an asset if you primarily fish small creeks.
I casted a 5 weight at a shop and… The extra length helps it lay a lot of line out. Finish is very nice. I thought it felt tip heavy though. Could be easily remedied with a slightly heavier reel. I liked it. Wouldn’t use it enough to rationalize buying a longer rod as I fish mostly smaller creeks but to someone that does a lot of nymphing or just general fishing on bigger waters, this could be just the ticket. I fish mostly 7-8 foot rods, this thing felt very long to me
We had one here for a few days. I didn’t cast it as my shoulder was giving me some grief and didn’t want to make it worse, however we took it down to the beach and Trav worked with it. He said it reminded him of the “noodle rods” of some years back. I do remember someone at Sage saying it is intended as a nymphing rod.
I know it is only 9 inches longer than a regular 9 ft rod, BUT keep in mind the longer the rod, the harder it is to ‘stop’ the rod, and it is the stopping which makes the cast. In other words it is more work. :rolleyes:
Personally…I conside Sage to be the very best of mass produced factory rods…BUT…a 9’9" rod works in a limited spectrum and I would NEVER spend that sort of $$ on such limited usage.
With that said…if you nymph and ALL you do is nymph fish…then its up to you…but Id never consider at all…a 9’9" rod as my first “go to” piece of equipment.
Both the wife and myself have 9 foot rods for nymphing…but our "first to go to " rods are an 8 1/2 ft Scott for her…and an 8 1/2 foot Sage VPS for me.
I am interested in this rod because it is a nymph specific rig. I want something for “bigger” rivers. I have the small creek/river situation covered with the rods I have. I’m from Texas and the only true trout stream we have here is the Guadalupe tailwater and it is 99% nymphing and roll casting. I am thinking that this rod might help me reach out a little further and help with mending and getting a little more out of each drift. I have always heard that longer rods make mending easier, but I have never fished a longer rod and I just don’t know if the extra 9" is worth it.
You are the only person who can answer your question. That is not meant as a “short” answer to your question. What you really need to do, before making the purchase, is try one first if that is possible. Like you, I nymph fish 99% of the time and I use and enjoy a rod that is 8’ 6" long. I have tried 9’ rods and just do not like using them and that is just me and it would not be fair to you for me to tell you which rod you should be using. Nothing rod with rods longer than 8’ 6" mind you. They just are not for me and the only way for you to find out if they are for you is to try one. After fly fishing for several years and learning what style of fly fishing you enjoy the most, you will know what length fly rod you enjoy using the most.
In short, every length of fly rod out there has those who love them and will promote them to everyone as the rod to own, so, you need to determine which length fly rod is the one you love to use and promote.
Happy hunting…
I have the 4wt 99 and i really like it. I bought it with very little nymphing in mind. The reason i went with the 99 was for extra reach while fishing large dry flies in small pockets on fast water also for a little more hight when fishing from my pontoon.I had the south fork and the Henrys fork of the snake river ,and Utah"s Green river in mind when buying this rod. It does allot more than just nymph. I think it cast just fine and protects fine tippet as well. I don’t have any issues with it being top heavy.
The other rods i looked at when trying to decide was winston IIx 10ft 4WT, Sage z-axis 1oft 4WT,and Scott s4 10ft 4wt. I thought the 99 was a more versatile rod and the others were a little more limited. But thats just one mans opinion.
Gotta agree with ben on this one. As the happy winner of the September FAOL drawing for a Sage 99, I chose the 4wt.
While it’s primary use for me is as a nymphing rod, I don’t want to be carrying a second rod along in case the fish start rising. The 99 does just fine casting dry flies. Unless I’m fishing small, tight quarters streams, it is my rod of choice. One big advantage to this rod over other “long” rods is the weight. It feels like a 9’ 4wt, but has the advantages of a 10 footer.
Definitely a sweet rod!