Sage TXL-F 0-Weight Fly Rod Review: The World's Lightest Fly Rod

Jun 18, 2012 · 3 min read

The Sage TXL-F has been discontinued by Sage. To learn more about rods that are currently available, check out our full lineup of Sage Fly Rods.

My latest acquisition... How I covet thee. I've finally had enough time to get out on the water and cast the world's lightest (line weight) fly rod: the Sage TXL-F 000710-4. Here's the outfit I was using:

Sage TXL-F 7'10" 000-weight
Sage Click I
Rio Trout LT 000 Double Taper (the only choice really)

Fit and Finish

Sage does an adequate job in this department. The rod wraps are nice. The color is attractive. The cork is decent. I've always felt that for the money, Sage puts less effort into its rods than other brands in the fit and finish department. That said, the rod is incredibly functional. The choice of a snub-nosed half-wells grip is a great one that adds a lot of feel to the rod. I much prefer this grip to the standard Western or Reverse Half-Wells grip for a small-water rod. Where are my alignment dots??

Weight

The TXL-F weighs in at 1.4oz according to Sage. Basically, it's super light. It hardly feels like I'm holding a rod. The Sage Click I balances perfectly.

Distance

This is NOT a distance rod. Casts over 35' are very difficult to execute in anything but perfect conditions.

Accuracy

The rod is highly accurate for short casts with dry flies. I was able to throw darts out to 30' with a small dry. More importantly, it has a great feel for how much line is out there which lets you thread it through trees on small streams. Dry fly presentation is also amazing. I think an elk hair caddis lands softer with this rod than an actual caddis might land on the water.

Flex

Medium to Medium-Fast. I found myself adjusting down from my normal casting stroke (Hardy Zenith), but not so much that I totally had to change the way I fished (like I had to do with the Winston WT).

Nymphing

Ok for very light nymphs with a light indicator, or casts of 15' or so if you really want to muscle it out there... I don't recommend using this rod for nymphing unless you're high-sticking a very small stream.

Fun Factor

It's a blast! Even small fish feel like monsters. I was able to land 2-3lb brook trout on this rod (Yes, it's possible to land big fish on small rods)

Warranty

Lifetime to the original owner. $50 "Shipping Fee", which I think is excessive. Price: $625

Conclusion

I love this rod. For light line enthusiasts, it's a must have. This rod is very similar to all of the TXL-F rods <1wt, so if you want a little extra muscle, you can get it without a lot of sacrifice. Is it easy to cast? No. Does anyone NEED this rod? No. Will you fish it all the time? Probably not. If you don't already own at least 5-6 outfits, this probably isn't a rod you'll want.

Pros

Great for presentation, tight spaces, small fish
Lots of fun

Cons

It's a VERY special purpose rod
Do you need to spend $1000 for this outfit?
Only one line to choose from
I wish Sage paid more attention to fit and finish

Bragging Time - 3lb Brook Trout caught on this outfit:

Brook trout with olive back, yellow spots and pink belly resting in black rubber mesh net with wooden rim, fly fishing

Written by

Ben Freeman

Ben Freeman founded Trident Fly Fishing in 2012 to cut through the marketing fluff and provide anglers with the technical info they actually need. He’s built his reputation by putting gear to the ultimate test in the world’s most unforgiving fisheries. With fishing stamps from over 22 countries and 17+ states, Ben’s passport is a roadmap of bucket list angling—from landing a 25lb Golden Dorado in Bolivia and 150lb Arapaima in Guyana to sight-casting for Roosterfish off the beaches in Baja. Whether it’s battling 60+mph winds to land a 20lb Rainbow at Jurassic Lake or a full day of casting 8in streamers in Mongolia, Ben has spent decades ensuring his gear performs when a trip of a lifetime is on the line.

At Trident, Ben serves as the lead gear geek, specializing in the deep-dive mechanics of rods, reels, and lines. Over the past 15 years, he's reviewed 250+ fly rods and 150+ fly reels and is likely one of the most prolific rod reviewers in the world. But he doesn't just curate the catalog; he scrutinizes every taper and drag system through the lens of a traveling angler who knows what it's like to have gear fail a thousand miles from home. For Ben, the mission is simple: leverage his experience across nearly 100 species to ensure that when you head into the wild, you’re equipped with gear that has been vetted by someone who has actually been there.

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