Sage TROUT LL Fly Rod Review

Sage has announced the release of another new rod: The TROUT LL. This new rod series from Sage utilizes blank taper optimization, specialized lengths, and Konnetic HD Technology to cater to anglers who prefer small flies, light tippets, and short-range presentations. The rod represents a delicate touch and smooth, easy feedback and feel for a heightened trout experience at close range. Like the Igniter and the Payload rod series' from Sage, the TROUT LL is a highly specialized rod. This rod is sure to be a dry fly angler's kryptonite.

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Outfit

Sage Trout LL 9' 4wt Fly Rod

Sage Click 3/4/5 Fly Reel

Winston Energy Trout Fly Line

Fit & Finish

The TROUT LL features KonneticHD Technology and a mahogany blank with bronze primary thread wraps and gold trim wraps. The TROUT LL is fitted with componentry we've come to expect from Sage: Fuji ceramic stripping guides and hard-chromed snake guides with tip-tops. A walnut wood reel seat insert with bronze uplocking componentry and a super plus, snub-nose, half-wells cork handle contribute to the rod's stellar fit and finish. These rods come in a tan rod bag and a brown powder-coated aluminum rod tube.

Weight

The Trout LL has a total rod weight of 2.54 oz and a swing weight of 54.5. While the Trout LL isn't the lightest 4wt rod on the market, the swing weight is respectable, especially for a 9' 4wt fly rod.

Distance

This particular version of the Trout LL was phenomenal at distance. Certainly unexpected in a light line trout rod. We found that the Trout LL had some stellar reserve power and encouraged tight loops and accurate presentations at the 60 foot distance.


This accuracy at distance may be due to the rod's full flex profile. Sage labels the Trout LL as a medium-action rod (although the 5wt is closer to fast than it is to medium), and as such the rod has a powerful butt section. Longer distances allow the angler to capitalize on the full flex of the 4wt rod to propel flies accurately and efficiently with a slower casting stroke.

Accuracy

This rod put the fly on target at 30-feet nearly every cast. The rod is incredibly smooth and responsive at 30-feet and when cast off the tip, the Trout LL lands the fly accurately almost every time. Slowing down your casting stroke is imperative at all distances with this rod to optimize accuracy and efficiency.


At middle distances, we were less impressed with the performance of the Trout LL. The rod feels clunky and awkward in the 45-foot range and we saw our casting accuracy suffer a bit at this distance. We still hit the target most of the time, however, the rod wasn't as accurate as we expected and didn't produce tight loops like we saw at short and longer distances. Perhaps this was in part due to the long-headed line taper we were using.


The 9' 4wt Trout LL we cast had surprising accuracy at longer distances. When we carried more line in the air with the Trout LL we found that the rod loaded well and produced tight loops to encourage accuracy at 60-feet. If you're fishing larger rivers like the Henry's Fork and need to make accurate presentations beyond 50 feet, this rod is a great tool for the task.

Flex & Feel

The Trout LL is a full flex rod. As such, we found a slow casting stroke to be most accurate. When the angler slows his/her casting stroke down, this rod provides tons of feel and feedback at most distances. When casting off the tip at shorter distances, the Trout LL allows anglers to control the fly precisely and optimize casting accuracy with a sensitive, soft rod tip.


Move back to middle distances and the Trout LL still provides a solid amount of feedback. At this distance, however, the rod starts to flex into the middle section which we found gave less feel and feedback than the tip and butt section of the rod. Again, this may have to do with line choice but this specific model of the Trout LL isn't the most sensitive rod at 45-feet.


Push the rod back to 60-feet and the Trout LL starts to flex deep into the butt section of the rod. This full flex profile allows anglers to take advantage of the rod's reserve power and deep loading capabilities to maximize feedback at distance, suprising performance for a light line medium-action 4wt.

Warranty

Sage lifetime warranty.

Price

The TROUT LL will retail for $800.

Conclusion

Finally, a medium-action rod from Sage designed specifically for the dry fly angler. It seems like most of Sage's rods are fast action and ultra-powerful; they've bucked that trend with the TROUT LL. This rod is sure to add a dimension never before seen in the Sage fly rod collection. Better yet, the Trout LL features some unexpected performance at longer distances. Sure, the rod's highly accurate at short range but that's what a dry fly specific rod is supposed to be... What we didn't expect was the Trout LL's reserve power, tight loops, and epic accuracy at longer distances. Slow down your casting stroke and you can truly do anything with this rod.

Pros

• Beautifully accurate at short range and long range
• Sage fit and finish

Cons

• Performance at mid-distance felt awkward