Just picked up a near mint RPL 9’ 4 wt. 2 pc. Can’t wait to try it out. The last time I cast one was a couple of years ago. A friend of mine had the 6 wt. in a 9’ 2 pc. Loved it! Anyone have the 4wt? How do you rate the rod? In particular the RPL series. Ready to hear!
The rod of which you speak was number one in a magazine article some years ago (Four weight shoot out) At the time it was Sages top of the line.
I have a 5 wt…I like it
Jerry. how long ago was that? Question - what model replaced the RPL?
I own several RPL rods and they are terrific and in fact my favorite, go-to rods. Not slow, but not too fast, just right. Congratulations on your purchase, I think you’ll love it.
Jim Smith
Bare that was many years ago when the RPL was in production…at least 10 years. Flyfisherman I believe was the magazine…but not sure.
They just dropped the RPL from the line. If memory serves me replaced by the XP as top of the line.
The VPS was introduced a short time after the RPL was dropped. It was supposed to the the same blank as RPL but with lesser components.
I’ve never cast any Sage rods introduced in the past 5-6 years except for the TCR…the RPL has got the TCR beat IMO.
Dear barecat,
I have a 490-4 Sage RPL and I love the rod. It’s my go to trout rod on medium to larger streams and it handles anything I care to throw at trout. It really is an amazing rod. I remember a couple of years back fishing a trico hatch and thinking the rod was acting kind of sluggish. When I quit for the day I realized that I had been fishing with my Ross Gunnison 2 reel and a WF6 line instead of my smaller Ross and a WF4. For giggles and grins I’ve used the rod with a 3 weight line too and it worked great.
Best Wishes,
Avalon 
Avalon, 6 wt. huh? Cool! I’ve seen posts before that said the RPL will handle 2 line weights in either direction. Think that’s a little overboard?
No, just dumb!
I have a 9ft 7wt RPL - it is about 12-14 years old. It is my favorite rod.
The RPL was replaced by the RPL+ and then the RPLxi - each sexier than its predecessor, of course.
steve
Thanks Steve, sounds like I did alright!
I love the RPL’s! The 9’ 3wt. was the first high performance rod I ever bought. I don’t have the 4wt. but I do have the 9’ 3, 5, 6 (in the plus taper) and a 10’ 7wt. GFL. They were (imho) one of the greatest graphite fly rods ever made. I mourned when they discontinued them. lol. They were replaced by the VPS series, like Jerry said. They were the RPL blanks, with less expensive hardware. The VT-2 is the latest incarnation of the RPL. It’s very RPL-ish, in it’s performance, yet it has even quicker recovery.
The way I remember the Sage rod line up was that-
RPL followed by RPL plus were fresh water rods.
RPLx followed by RPLxi were salt water rods.
The RPLx ine was revered by many salty rodders in the NE.
So what was the last year of the RPL’s? And as a side note, anyone with the 490-2 have a favorite floating line that really compliments this rod?
barecat, they stopped making them in 1999. The RPL’s casts a RIO grand line very well. I use that on my 5 & 6wt’s.
Paint, I have a Rio Selective Trout WF4 already spooled up. I think I’ll try that first or maybe that extra 1/2 weight of the Grand is what it needs. We’ll see. Thanks for the info.
I concur with pspaint–Rio Grande is a very good line for these rods. Loads them better across all distances.
I also have the RPL 490-4 and love the action.
I bought a Ross Cimarron 1 reel for it and it balances nicely.
With the 4 pce I can backpack it if I want.
DuFf