Sage R8 Core

For most of us, an idyllic day on the water is not when we’re thinking more, but  when we’re thinking less. Finding that state of fishing in the moment, where instinct and experience bring us to an almost zen-like awareness of each subtle motion and movement—that’s what R8 CORE is all about. It’s not a race or a competition, but a state we all aim to reach out on the water. With R8 CORE Sage enhances that two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow and control. This Amplified Two-Way Feedback Loop, due to our new axial fiber formulation, allows you to feel when the power needs to be applied throughout the cast, presentation, and when applying the appropriate pressure to fish - ultimately  giving you the angler Complete Control. R8 CORE is focused on maximum versatility and applies new revolutionary material technology through Sage's forward-thinking lens of what we’re seeing out on the water, where one rod needs to show even greater range. At its core,  R8 CORE traces a direct lineage to Sage’s multi-application vision, one shaped by the fishing evolutions happening all around us—from habitats we stalk and waters  we frequent, to the flies we fish and the diversity of species we now target.

The R8 CORE’s sliver pine cosmetics— an evolution of the Sage green palette — takes on the natural energy of its environment and surroundings out on the water. Both modern and classic at the same time. In addition, the R8 CORE features an up-locking reel seat, Flor grade cork handle, and trusted Fuji ceramic stripping guide with hard chromed snake guides and tip top. Rounded out with a premium aluminum rod tube and all new rod bag with quick tie cord lock for easy packing, the R8 CORE has the finest component and feature set of any Sage rod to date.

Features:

Revolution 8 Technology -

Silver Pine blank color -

Slate primary thread wraps with graduated White and Grey trim -

Fuji ceramic stripper guides with hard chromed snake guides and tip-top -

Black rod bag with new quick-tie cord lock for faster, easier, and cleaner storage - Aluminum rod tube with Sage medallion 3wt - 6wt -

Sustainable Ziricote wood insert with anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat -

Premium Flor grade snub-nose half-wells cork handle 5wt - 9wt -

Corrosion resistant anodized aluminum reel seat -

Premium Flor grade full-wells cork handle with cork/EVA fighting butt - Integrated “hidden” reel seat hook keeper

Sage increased the purity of graphite in the rod for even more reactivity and sensitivity, shifting energy further down the blank and into the handle. This transfer of energy creates a more natural extension of your arm, ultimately resulting in less wasted effort and intuitive reactivity. Rather than dialing up parking lot distance, Sage has shifted the thinking back to the roots of rhythm and awareness—where you can experience the energy happening in each moment.

Effortless energy transfer and more connected feel, the amplified two-way feedback loop of R8 Technology, due to our new axial fiber formulation, allows you to feel when the power needs to be applied throughout the cast, presentation, and when applying the appropriate pressure to fish.

Whether it’s the mental chess of matching the hatch, the headspace of reading the water or the instinct putting a fly in exactly the right spot—our best days emerge when our mind is right. It always seems that when we’re not thinking about it is precisely when our fishing mind takes over—where every single moment feels almost automatic or instinctual. With immediate feedback from tip to hand, R8 is designed to facilitate that higher state of mental flow and focus when small decisions, thoughts, and actions line up effortlessly.

The advanced, leading-edge material behind R8 enables us to shape a rod with a stiffer, stronger backbone but a more sensitive tip and more connected feel. The secret is twofold. First, a proprietary aerospace composite with a greater hoop strength enables us to dimensionally grow taper diameter more quickly from the tip—while a nano-sintered resin application increases axial resilience and allows us to pack more fiber into the blank, resulting in that true two-way connection from hand to fly and back for greater feel, flow and control.