Fly Rod Review – Sage Foundation

Just the name Sage already comes with an expectation for quality, given that they have been a strong player in the higher-end rod market for several decades.  Sage entering the mid-market space is much like BMW or Mercedes or Tesla producing their lower priced models.  For that reason alone, you can count on the Foundation to not disappoint.  As long as the fishing conditions it was designed for are what you need.

Every aspect of this Sage fly rod is well designed and constructed.  Not to mention it’s a good looking rod as well.  To that point, this traditional graphite material rod sports a straightforward matte black finish, coupled with stainless stripping guides and hard chrome snake guides. The reel seat is also colored matte black, and has a single lock ring.

For the lower weight models, the half wells grip is very comfortable, which helps with long days on the water.  The cork itself is of reasonably durable quality.  The rod tube is a fairly standard, but sharp looking black nylon with a dividing liner.

It’s testimony to Sage’s approach and probably increasing production volumes, that they could keep the rods at this price and still build it in the USA. Overall, this rod has a very good build quality and look.

Perhaps one way they keep the cost down, relates to the only two disadvantages we could find, which are perhaps annoying but not critical or fatal flaw.  the rod has no hook guide, nor does it have alignment dots.  Of course, many of us already hook our flies into the cork already, but we have gotten used to a hook guide as a standard feature on most rods, and the alignment dots help with quicker setup and keeping the line from getting twisted.  But if they can provide a rod tube, we think the next step would be to incorporate hook guides and alignment dots into the final product.

Action

The Sage Foundation sometimes mis-classified fly rod as a fast action rod, which we associated more with rods that are stiffer from top to bottom.  It is in fact a medium action rod for the top majority of the rod, with a more powerful butt section for added power casting and playing fish. This is a unique approach compared to most manufacturer’s uniform treatment of the action from top to bottom.

Compared to one of Sages other popular rods, the Method, this rod has a somewhat faster action, whereas the Method may feel smoother and slower.  So on the spectrum of action from slow to medium to fast, place the Foundation in the upper part of the medium action category.   That helps a bit with distance and accuracy, however, it doesn’t excel at the top of either of those criteria in order to keep softer tip and mid-sections.  As a result, the Foundation excels most in the 25 – 40 foot range, with stiffer fast action rods better at longer casts, and pure moderate action rods more forgiving at those distances and less.

Versatility

Overall, the Foundation just about as versatile as it gets for this price tier.  If “best fly rod” means many features packed in for the price, this is probably your rod.

With respect to flies, it’s well suited for normal dries, wets, nymphs, and smaller streamers.  It’s range of feel isn’t optimal for the smallest flies such as midges, nor is it powerful enough to easily handle large articulated streamers.  But for most trout fishing this is exactly what you need.  Between dries, dead drifting, and streamer stripping, this rod performs well.

In terms of distance, it will cover 10 feet to more than 50 foot casts.  However as we noted above, it’s optimal distance for casting accuracy and presentation is in the 25-40 foot range.

The stronger butt section causes some loss of feel at shorter distances such as 10-20 feet.  At the same time, longer distances require more effort than other longer / stiffer rods, so you’ll find that you need good technique and/or power to get up over 50-60 feet.

If not one of the best fly rods for distance, we don’t see these as disadvantages for what this rod is meant to do.   Rather, more the result of the targeting of this rod to be effective in most conditions for trout fishing.  If you do predominantly small stream fishing, you may want a smaller / lighter rod, whereas for routine longer casts you may prefer a longer, higher weight or even a spey rod for salmon, steelhead or striped bass.

Weight

Warranty

Our fly rod review wouldn’t be complete without discussing warranties.  Sage offers one of the best warranties in the industry, a lifetime warranty for all Sage fly rods actually.  This warranty is for manufacturing defects, so fails as a result of any faulty craftsmanship, you need to send it in and they’ll replace it for you.

The only limitations are that it doesn’t cover intentional damage, fire, or theft, and the coverage extends to the original owner only.  For accidental breakage, you can ask to repair or replace Sage fly rods for a $50 fee, in the event it breaks for a reason other than a manufacturer’s defect.