Sage Spectrum 7/8 Fly Reel Review

Mar 27, 2018 · 2 min read

Black machined-aluminum Sage Spectrum 7/8 fly reel with large-arbor vented spool and engraved Sage logo

Please remember that there are no ads on this page and 100% of our funding comes from your purchases, so if you find this review to be informative, please help us keep the reviews coming by purchasing your next fly reel from us. 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. 8-Weight Shootout Full Results

Weight

6.6 ounces. Excellent.

Drag

Black anodized Sage Spectrum 7/8 fly reel spool with large-arbor skeletal design and central drag knob for fly fishing

Weakest in the test. At 2.65lbs, there’s just no way this qualifies as a saltwater reel.

Drag Test Graphs

Blue force curve on white grid showing consistent 2.6-2.8 lb drag for Sage Spectrum 7-8 fly reel

Sound

The Spectrum sounds like the Spectrum LT. It’s a little more muted and ‘trouty’ than the Spectrum Max.

Spool & Retrieval Rate

The Spectrum has essentially the same spool as the Spectrum LT (and the Max). It’s in the middle of the road. It picks up line slightly slower than the Max at 8.75” per turn and offers plenty of backing capacity.

Looks & Ergonomics

The Spectrum fits in well with the rest of the series. It’s got a very similar look, but they’ve downgraded the finish a bit and given it a glossy finish. Where the Spectrum Max was clearly designed for bigger game, the Spectrum has a much smaller handle and drag knob. While the drag knob still definitely works well, the handle left something to be desired.

Finish and durability

Black anodized aluminum Sage Spectrum 7/8 fly reel spool with square vented cutouts and visible scuffs and paint chips

The Spectrum’s cheaper finish didn’t seem to hold up as well as the rest of the reels in the Spectrum family. It just got a little more scuffed up than we’d like to see. On the plus side, they’ve ditched the ported reel seat.

Warranty

Lifetime to the original owner + $40. Price: $299

Conclusion

At $299, it’s really hard to recommend this reel. It’s more expensive than the Orvis Hydros SL and offers virtually no advantages. Heck, it’s even hard to justify buying this over the Sage 2280, which has more drag at half the price. Get this if you’re a fan of the Sage brand and this is your price point. Buy it with Free Shipping here.

Pros

Weight
Price

Cons

Nowhere near enough drag

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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