Sage 1800 Fly Reel Review

Mar 05, 2013 · 2 min read

Black anodized Sage 1800 fly reel with vented large-arbor spool and neon green fly line wound around metal reel

When we tallied the results to our recent 8-weight Challenge, no one expected that Sage's entry-level reel would out perform ever other reel by Sage. We were shocked when a reel that costs a mere $139 tied for 4th place! Thus, the Sage 1800 Fly Reel earns our coveted "Best Buy". 8-Weight Challenge Full Results

WEIGHT

7.4 ounces. About average, but great for a value priced reel.

DRAG

At a little more than 6 lbs, the 1880 was below the test average, but not by much. Surprisingly, it had more drag strength than all of the other Sage reels. It's also sealed, although this is one reel we definitely wish we had thrown in the freezer to test.

DRAG TEST GRAPH

Blue line graph showing Sage 1880 fly reel drag test with force (lbs) rising to ~7 and stabilizing over distance

SOUND

The reel sounds good, but definitely not in the same league as the top reels. It definitely sounds more like a trout reel than we'd like.

SPOOL & RETRIEVAL RATE

At 9.36 inches per turn, the Sage 1880 one of the fastest retrieves in our test. It was also truly sized for an 8-weight at 6.6 cubic inches.

LOOK & FEEL

No, you won't be impressing anyone when you catch a big redfish on this reel. That said, when you do reel in a lunker, you'll have the peace of mind that your wallet is heavier as well. My biggest gripe with this reel, isn't how it looks, but rather that the drag can be changed accidentally. The knob just doesn't stay in place as well as it should.

WARRANTY

Lifetime to the original owner + $50 fee. That's steep for a reel that costs $139 new. Price: $139

CONCLUSION

Building a budget bonefishing outfit? Pair the Sage 1880 with the TFO BVK, and you've got a great outfit, at a tiny price. Want more awesome gear reviews? Buy it here.

PROS

Great Price
Solid drag strength
Top-notch retrieval speed

CONS

Drag knob is too easy to dislodge
Looks like a value reel

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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