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Sage has been a leader in the world of fly fishing for a very long time. As envelope pushers, they’ve developed some of the most groundbreaking products in the sport’s long history. However, the one area the Bainbridge Island, Washington-based manufacturer hasn’t gotten quite right is building a bonafide big game salt reel for hard-charging species like tarpon and GTs. It isn’t for lack of effort either, but with each attempt at breaking new ground, there seems to be an issue (or several) preventing them from really establishing a true contender. 

When Sage released the Thermo last year, we couldn’t help but roll our eyes at the thought of another big game reel bust. But that all changed when we got a chance to put it to the test in our Big Game Reel Shootout. So, did Sage push back the tides of history and make a reel to challenge the top dogs? Read on to find out!

Big Game Reel Shootout Full Results

Weight

Calling the Thermo a heavyweight isn’t a hyperbolic statement. This reel is HEAVY. Nearly breaking the scales at 15.1 ounces, the Thermo was the heaviest in the test.

Drag

A big game reel hellbent on taming tarpon needs to be backed by adequate stopping power, right? We are happy to report that the Thermos gets more than satisfactory results with a max drag strength of nearly 16 lbs, which bests the much more expensive Mako 9600 by a whole pound! The good news doesn’t stop there either- turn the drag down halfway, and you’ll still be able to access 33% of the Thermo’s max drag at 5.2 pounds. This is good enough to top the shootout! Not bad for a reel that costs hundreds less than some of its competitors.

Drag Test Graphics

Sound

The Thermo’s noise on both the incoming and outgoing is a little less audible than we’d like but better than some others in the shootout. You’ll be able to hear it make some noise after hooking up with that tarpon in Marathon, but it certainly isn’t a Tibor.

Spool & Retrieval Rate

You don’t have to fret about the Thermo running out of backing. It holds a whopping 468 yards of 30-pound Dacron on its 4.4-inch diameter spool when loaded with an average 11-weight line. Another shootout leader for the Thermo! The only downside to this large capacity is the added weight when filled, on top of the reel already being heavy sans backing.

Despite a spool with a colossal volume, it finished around middle-of-the-pack in spool width. This helps with a pretty solid retrieval rate of 11.2 inches per turn, besting the likes of the Hatch Iconic.

Looks & Ergonomics

Call us pretentious, but we’re a sucker for good-looking reels. Unfortunately, the Sage Thermo is a bit of an ugly duckling. It just doesn’t feature the sleek lines and sexiness of others in the shootout and sort of reminded us of a hubcap on a 1972 Ford Pinto. On the positive side, its ergonomics topped the shootout!

On the positive side, the drag knob could be the biggest we’ve ever seen; it is also the most comfortable and easiest to turn. To top things off, the handle is large and comfortable as well! Looks aside, the Thermo is one functional big game fly reel.

Warranty

Limited lifetime warranty covering manufacturer defects

Price: $700.00

Conclusion

Has Sage atoned for their previous big-game reel mistakes? Largely. They got a lot of things right with the Thermo. Its max drag is powerful and offers the most usable drag accessibility in the shootout. The backing capacity will put even the most neurotic tarpon angler's mind at ease, and its ergonomics will have even the largest Sage skeptics questioning their biases. Did we mention its $700 price tag? While not ‘cheap,’ the poor man’s Mako lives up to its name.

Sure, it’s heavy and perhaps not the ‘best looking’ reel out there, but as long as you’re not blind casting all day, this is likely the best reel you’ll never buy.

Buy it with free shipping here

Pros

  • Great Drag
  • Best-In-Class Ergonomics
  • Massive Backing Capacity 
  • Solid Price

Cons

  • Heavy!
  • Not the prettiest, especially in gold