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Sep 11 2009

Fly Fishing Retailer Day 2 – Sage and Rio Highlights

Guys casting rods inside.

Our coverage of the new gear at the Fly Fishing Retailer show continues this afternoon. If you’re getting tired of the ‘new gear’ posts, don’t worry – we’ll be back to our normal posting schedule on Sunday.

This morning we got our detailed walkthrough of the new lineup from Sage, Rio and Redington. We also saw some cool new stuff from Buff Headwear and Smith Optics. Here are the highlights from Sage and Rio – tomorrow morning we’ll tell you about Redington, Buff and Smith.

Sage Xi3 Rods
We posted about the new Sage Xi3 saltwater rods last week. We like ’em a lot. Today we cast the production version of the 7 weight, and found it to be…just like the prototype we fished on South Andros this past winter. It’s light, a little faster than the Xi2 version and a great choice for a lighter bonefish rod. $700 for the 790-4 Xi3.

Sage 7126-4 TCX
We also got to fish the prototype of this guy on the Dean in August. George Cook, the Sage rep for the Northwest, calls this thing the ‘Death Star’. Yeah, it’s a powerful weapon. Like all the two-handers in the Sage TCX line, it’s really fast and really light. It throws a Skagit head in the 525 to 575 grain range a mile. If you prefer a fast, powerful butt section to a ‘deep bend’ kind of feel, you’re going to want to check this rod out. $865.

Sage Typhoon Boat Bag – feature-laden and easy to close.

Sage DXL Typhoon Boat Bag
Sage has added some waterproof bags and packs to their lineup, and it’s certainly an understatement to say that they’re feature-packed. The DXL Tyhpoon Boat Bag has multiple closure options allowing you to flop the top shot to keep out rain, close a magnetic flap to hold gear in, or zip the top shut at the end of your day. It’s also got an inner clear top pouch that will be a great option for you if you choose to commit the mortal sin of bringing your Blackberry with you on the river. $225.

Here’s the Large DXL Typhoon Waist Pack.

Sage DXL Typhoon Waist Pack, Large
This waist pack looks like a winner. It combines a large, completely submersible pouch with easier-access storage options, including one pocket that uses that ‘flop the magnets closed or zip it shot’ system described above. Why is this good? You can put your SLR camera in the submersible pouch and all your fishing gear in the easy-access pockets, and fish all day in the rain without fear. $200.

Sage 99 Rods
We also cast the Sage 599-4 ’99’ – Sage’s new purpose-built nymphing rod. It’s 9 feet, 9 inches long which allows better line control while mending. It’s got a relatively fast tip combined with a moderate-action butt section, and this combination produces a relatively open loop, which is a good thing when you’re nymphing – especially with multiple flies and/or lead. $699.

Hand model George Cook shows us the Cranky.

Rio Cranky
Value alert! This $9.95 piece of plastic from Rio makes all those left-over line spools in your basement useful. It’s a handle that slots into the center hole of those spools, and makes it much easier to wind a line back on there. The Cranky was released last year, but it’s new to us.

A little bit of color.
Rio Colored Braided Loops

Here’s another nice little product that will make your life easier if you do things like making your own T-14 tips. Rio’s making their braided loops in orange and camo now. Why do you care? Using an orange loop on the back of a head or a long sinktip will help with visibility. Using a camo loop on the front end of a T-14 tip will save you from having to color it with a Sharpee when you’re done. Nice. $5.95 for a pack of three.

More Gear News
Simms FFR Roundup
Ultrathon Insect Repellant
Making T-14 Tips

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cole M. says

    September 12, 2009 at 6:57 am

    I would like to here about what you guys feel different about the TCX and the new xi3.

  2. Deneki Outdoors says

    September 12, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    Hi Cole,

    Even though the Xi3 is a little faster than the Xi2, the TCX is definitely still significantly faster than the Xi3. There are some other smaller differences like the fact that the line guides on the Xi3 are bigger (to allow better shooting in the saltwater), but the biggest difference is that the TCX is super-fast.

    My opinion would be that the Xi3 is a more versatile rod for most anglers in the saltwater, and that the TCX would be a better choice for anglers who are really skilled casters and/or anglers who just like really fast, powerful rods.

    Thanks!

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