Nov 14, 2019

Sage Spey Reels and Why You NEED One in Your Life

Sage's Trout Spey (left) and Spey (right) reels are just exactly what a discriminating spey fisherman, like myself, needed in his life...Why? because they filled all the needs I had for a spey reel!

PRODUCT REVIEW | SAGE TROUT SPEY & SPEY REELS - WHY YOU NEED ONE IN YOUR LIFE!
by John Garrett

Let me start out by saying, thank you for taking the time to read this.  My goal in writing this is to hopefully share solid information on product that I truly believe in and use on a regular basis.  With all of the options out there for spey/trout spey reels to choose from I understand that it can be confusing and not always easy to make a choice.  Everyone is looking for something that's durable, fun to fish, looks great, and serves them well for years to come but do it without taking a personal loan out at your local bank.

Since becoming an employee here at the Gorge Fly Shop nearly 10 years ago, I have had countless conversations with fine folks who are having a heck of a time making a decision when purchasing a reel for their new trout spey or spey rod.  They seek solid advice and some have done their research on the web, they've called numerous fly shops and with all that Intel, all it has done for them is made it even harder to make a choice.  This is where personal passion for the product comes through over the phone and though our conversation.  When you have a product where all the "stars line up" so to speak, it is hard not to want to share that passion for the product.  This is where the Sage Trout Spey and Sage Spey reels come in.  I can honestly say, without reservation or hesitation, that I absolutely love these reels!

WHY DO I LOVE THEM?
  1. They sound GREAT!  I love a buttery smooth clicking sound on my reels and these purr.
  2. They look GREAT! With that CLASSIC look but with modern upgrades that older classic reels don't have.
  3. They have a one revolution drag setting which I really like because I can adjust accordingly as needed.  Other reels have as little as a quarter or half a turn to go from zero to full on drag and yet others have multiple turns from zero to full on drag and often times that can be a hassle. Most of the time, I am never really full on drag mode anyways, but if you ever need it it's there.  The reel has lots of torque and actually has the same powerful drag system that Sage has in their Spectrum Max reel with a fully sealed drag.  You will have no issues with the drag system!
  4. The Full Frame Construction design contains my thinner mono running/shooting lines and eliminates any issues of smaller diameter mono running lines slipping between the spool and the frame.  This can be a very annoying thing when it happens as anyone who has ever had it happen will agree.  A full frame cage design is a major point to consider when purchasing a spey reel, especially anyone who is using thinner running lines.  Not many manufactures out there are making a full cage frame.  There are a few but not many.
  5. In addition to the frame being full cage the spool is still exposed on the outside which makes it really easy to palm if you like to do that.  I love the ability to put a slight amount of pressure on the spool of my reel to help slow that big fish down when needed.
  6. I love the big handle.  I have big hands and I struggle at times with reels with small handles, but the Sage Spey reel handles are the right size.  I have no problem going right to the reel and grabbing the handle without stumbling or searching for it.
  7. The reel has a mid/large arbor spool for quicker line pickup.  It also has a wider spool in comparison to a narrower spool as on some reels and the beauty of this is that when you reel is wider instead of deeper you will have less chances of your loops getting caught on the reel when spey casting.
  8. The Price is RIGHT - Sage's Spey Reels (starting at $475.00) come in two great sizes. One is the 6/7/8 which is perfect for your 7wt spey rod up to 13'6" or your lighter switch rods.  The second is the 7/8/9 which works great for your 13' + rods.  For your Trout Spey reels ($400.00) you also have two great choices.  One is the 1/2/3 and the other is the 3/4/5.  Both models come in two great color options in Bronze or Stealth/Silver.
  9. Last and certainly not least is the fact that you would buy the reel to match your rod size.  In other words if you have a 13' 7 wt spey rod, you would purchase the Sage Spey 6/7/8.  No need to size up your reel to balance out that 13' rod and make room for the thicker Skagit and Scandi heads.  Sage has already done that and built the reels just the right size!

Their Full Frame Cage design, see #4 above - Eliminates thin mono running line "jump through" when casting and as a bonus, makes the reel more durable!

WHY DO YOU NEED ONE IN YOUR LIFE?
  1. See list above.
  2. Repeat reading list above as needed.
If you are in the market for a Trout Spey or Spey reel, and you love the looks of a "Classic" reel and you use mono running lines or not, do yourself a solid and take a hard look and seriously consider the Sage family of Trout Spey/Spey reels.  Totally worth the money in my opinion, and I am confident that you will fall in love with them just as I have.


The Drag Knob is just the right size and easy to adjust.

If you have any questions or maybe you're curious about the reels, feel free to give me a call at the Gorge Fly Shop (541) 386-6977 and I would love to chat with you.  As I said earlier, it's easy to talk about something that you love.


Gorge Fly Shop Team
John G.


https://www.gorgeflyshop.com/store/pc/Sale-Closeouts-c38.htm

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977


"Fly Fish the World with Us"

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