Sage's entry-level rod series, The Foundation, is a quietly practical rod built on the foundational concepts of fly fishing. The Foundation offers affordable high-performance, incredible castability, and a friendly smoothness to accommodate all anglers. If you're looking for an affordable rod to accompany you on freshwater adventures, the Sage Foundation is one of the best.
Graphite IIIe Technology - Graphite IIIe Technology from Sage shapes rods that are powerfully durable. The tech is a combination of glass scrims within layers of graphite to create a lightweight design and taper. Graphite IIIe also improves casting smoothness and connectedness allowing the angler to make longer, more accurate casts. The Foundation's smooth feel and long-distance abilities stem from Graphite IIIe.
Ceramic Stripping Guides - Ceramic stripping guides create a rod that's functional and stylish. Ceramic guides offer industry-accepted performance and dependable durability.
Hard Chromed Snake Guides - Snake guides are also time-proven and industry-accepted. The snake guides on the Foundation provide minimal resistance to allow lines to move through the rod effortlessly.
Uplocking w/Black Anodized Aluminum - The black anodized aluminum of the reel seat matches the blank color of the Foundation and minimizes weathering and wear. The single uplocking component holds freshwater reels in place. Overall, the reel seat on the Foundation is quiet but functional.
Black Nylon Rod Tube - The Foundation comes with a nylon black rod tube to protect and store the rod when it's not being used. Nylon is a great mid-priced alternative to aluminum.
The Sage Lifetime Warranty - As of January 2021, Every new Sage rod, blank and Sage reel is covered by a lifetime, original owner warranty. One of the finest warranties in the business, it covers defects in materials or workmanship as well as rods that fail due to misuse, negligence, or normal wear-and-tear. Repair fees are based on the age of the rod and Sage charges a $30 processing fee for rods that are part of the current lineup. For up to the minute warranty information, please contact Sage Repairs at 888-848-7243
Rod Action:Fast
Best for: All Water, Nymphs
Grip: Snub-Nose Half Wells (4-8 weights)
Grip: Full Wells W/Fighting Butt (6 weight)
Ability Level: Beginner- Expert 
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We highly recommend using a freshwater specific line. Our favorite for all water applications is:
| Length | Line Weight | Grip | Weight | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9ft | 4wt | Snub-nose Half-Wells | 2.88 oz. | $550.00 | |
| 9ft | 5wt | Snub-nose Half-Wells | 3.06 oz. | $550.00 | |
| 9ft | 6wt | Snub-nose Half-Wells | 3.25 oz. | $550.00 | |
| 9ft | 6wt | Full Wells w/Fighting Butt | 3.5 oz. | $550.00 | |
| 9ft | 7wt | Snub-nose Half-Wells w/Fighting Butt | 3.69 oz. | $550.00 | |
| 10ft | 7wt | Snub-nose Half-Wells | 4.0 oz. | $550.00 | |
| 9ft | 8wt | Snub-nose Half-Wells w/Fighting Butt | 3.81 oz. | $550.00 | |
| 9ft | 9wt | Snub-nose Half-Wells w/Fighting Butt | 3.5 oz. | $550.00 |
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 3 reviews.
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"Bought 4 pc 5 wt Red River NM Loved it. Broke sec 4, Sage replaced section marginal fee. Broke second end (my fault both times) Sent whole rod to them as before. Somehow lost on their end. Sent me a new 5 wt 4 pc Foundation, no problem. All of my experiences with their product and service I rate them 10 out of 5. Highly recommend them. Thanks Sage !!!"
"Lifelong fly fisherman. Mostly trout-dry fly until 5 yrs ago. Transitioned to streamers for warmwater fish and occasionally out west for trout. This Foundation gives me all the power I need for distance and casting in wind. Great feel and sensitivity in tip beautiful rod. I mainly throw size 2-6 streamers mostly unweighted. This is perfect rod for this application. Mostly bank fishing and floating line. Occasionally use Rio versi leaders and this rod handled it well. Handled 190 to 250 grain heads perfect. Highly recommend this rod and the crew at Trident!!"
"I know Sage is big into new technology, but this is their second amazing rod using Graphite IIIe. The first being the Motive. I used the 4 weight model on the trout steam. It was perfectly capable of throwing dries and some heavy nymph rigs and had a great amount of sensitivity in the tip."
