Sage has been making big strides over the past few years with their reel designs, and the new Sage Spey II fly reel is no exception. Like other revamped models, the Spey II features a host of valuable upgrades like a bomber sealed drag and intuitive ergonomics. For anglers who live to chase anadromous species from Steelhead and Pacific Salmon to powerful Atlantics and even Striped Bass, the Sage Spey II offers a stout, functional package. Check out our full review below to learn more about the newest iteration of the Sage Spey fly reel and why it might be the right choice for your spey fishing adventures this season.
The latest iteration of the Sage Trout fly reel is here, featuring a blend of classic aesthetics and modern technology. Like its predecessor, the new Sage Trout is a full-cage reel that balances out longer Trout Spey or Euro rods nicely, while offering decent performance across the board. We thoroughly inspected the Sage Trout, identifying the pros and cons to help you decide if it’s the right reel for you. Keep reading to learn more about this updated freshwater reel from Sage.
The Enforcer is Sage’s brand-new reel that replaces the Spectrum Max in its midpriced saltwater and big game lineup. We’re stretching the term ‘midpriced’ a bit since the 8wt Enforcer is nearly $600. Still, if the Enforcer can deliver on performance, it could represent a solid buy considering 2023’s sky-high saltwater reel prices. The big issue is that Sage has struggled to make a saltwater reel that has caught fire with consumers in the past. The Spectrum Max was decent-enough but hardly dented the 8wt reel market. If Sage can incorporate the Thermo’s strengths into the Enforcer, they could have a winner.
Last but not least from Sage is the Sage Spectrum. The Spectrum replaces the popular 3200 as Sage’s entry level machined reel. Here’s how it stands up to the competition.
Just below the new Spectrum Max, and replacing the much loved 4200 series, is the Sage Spectrum LT. Despite a confusing naming convention, this reel has some big shoes to fill. The 4200 was the lightweight workhorse of the Sage reel lineup and has always done well in our shootouts. Can the Spectrum LT live up to its predecessor’s legacy?
Sage makes some killer fly rods, but for some reason, they’ve had trouble making a truly competitive big game saltwater reel. They’ve had the 6000 series, the 8000 series, the 6200 series, and now the Spectrum Max.
Sage is undoubtedly one of fly fishing’s iconic brands. While they’re mostly known for their fly rods, Sage also makes some pretty good reels, the now-discontinued 1880, did very well in our 8-weight shootout. While the 4280 was only mediocre, we have greater hopes for the Sage 4250.
We loved Sage’s 1880. While not the prettiest reel, it virtually re-defined entry level quality for fly reels. When it was discontinued, we were a little sad, but excited to see the new replacement. When they based the 2200 series on the acclaimed 4200 series, it was sure to be a winner. How great is the Sage 2250? Read on to find out.
Sage has marketed its new Sage Domain as “Marrying tradition with advanced design.” It’s a full cage reel with a large arbor and modern looks. So, who cares? Full cage reels have a few advantages – they’re stronger and they don’t let line ‘slip through’ the reel. It’s great for thin running lines and spey casting, but how does it work for trout? Read on to find out.
