Sage 6wt 99

[Bigfly]

Many know I fish Sage, and have for many years.
For full disclosure, thought I'd mention it again.
That way you can consider the source.

Been waving my new rod for a few weeks now.
Thought I'd give a preliminary report.
Last year, I tested the 5wt99. I liked it, but ordered a 6wt99 instead.
I've lined it with both a Rio gold wff7wt for distance and dries, and a Rio salmon/steelhead 8wt. for indy style with moderate weight.
The usual superb finish, wraps, cork. Metal reel seat on the 6wt99.

Although I will keep my Z-axis for dry fly fishing, this rod is a big improvement over the Z for indicator hucking.
To me it has significantly more back bone than the Z. The power is striking.
Over-size guides encourage shooting line. The tip section is soft enough to set without snapping tippet, and stiff enough to set quickly.
A few more inches (9'9") of reach, is in fact noticeable, when mending and high sticking, wading.
With a 1" indy, 3-4 ABs, a big nymph and dropper, I can fish one handed with 30-40 ft of line out.
Stick one hand in your pocket, water load a cast, and cover 60ft drifts with less effort..

The Truckee is a medium size, higher gradient river with largish fish..
This rod fits this river and indy style to a T.
I have a feeling it may be a sick streamer rod too.. more later.

The Sage 99 is an advance in the search for a great nymphing tool.
Actually, I could say it's true love!
Of course... I said that about my switch rod too....

Anyone in my area needs to test drive it, we can arrange to hit the water.

Jim

[mikel]

Jim...how would you compare nymphing with the 99 to using a 5 or 6 wt switch in the same water? I got the comment at the end....

-Mike

[Bigfly]

Mikel, I approach this as a conversation about tools.
Every tool has strengths and weaknesses.
For example, the switch requires a bigger set stroke. It also makes fishing close-up problematic. Ya need to get a longer handled net too.
The 699 is a bit shorter, so, even though I might need to hold my arm higher to mend effectively, I can fish much closer, comfortably.
The 11' switch feels too big at some lower flows, just like a 9' rod feels smallish at larger flows. The 99 comes in between these zones.
The 99 is a bit lighter than the switch, which could be a factor for some when single hand fishing all day.
I often fish "too far away" with the switch, where the 99 will have less range, so I'll fish closer (and statistically better)..
Just another tool to me, but it fits the Truckee perfectly.
It's all about, "the tool for the job".
They say in the hand of a master, any object can be deadly.
I can catch fish on anything, willow, bamboo, glass, carbon, boron, long, short, whatever (not that I'm a master).
But he question is, what tool works best for me at the moment?
The joy for me is a new tool to apply, and figuring out what it does, or doesn't do.


Jim