This time every year word begins to trickle out through the interwebs and chat rooms of the latest and greatest products to hit the Fly Fishing Industry as we lead up to IFTD. This year has been different. This year one of our manufacturing partners trickled out word of their latest and greatest creation by hosting a party on the banks of the Yakima River in Washington, and sending us all home with a sample of the new goods. The only request for this wonderful gift; enjoy the new rod, share it with your employees and customers, but don’t mention it online. Done and done.

Roughly a month later, Sage has announced the release of it’s newest flagship fly rod series, the Sage X Rod.

From Sage:

"Tighter loops. It’s what we all strive for. A tight loop is accurate, efficient, easily controlled, and a way to command the water in front of you. Ushering in a new era of performance fast action fly rods, the X will dramatically enhance the way you fish through superior loop control. With our innovative KonneticHD Technology came new inspiration and opportunities in rod design. The X rod’s all-new fast action taper delivers greater blank recovery and a crisper tip stop - creating tighter, more efficient loops throughout all ranges of casting styles. This taper allows you to dig deeper into the rod and access the lower sections, shifting power closer to the angler. Decreased lateral and medial movement and vibrations in the blank result in a more accurate and efficient presentation, resulting in a performance driven, forgiving fast action blank - refining the synergy between angler, rod, line, and fly."

The Sage X rod is sure to turn heads and change way we look at fast action fly rods. I say this not because Sage told me to, but because my staff and myself have had the privilege of fishing this rod over the course of the last month. We’ve all been thoroughly impressed with how this rod handles in a multitude of situations, but yet always provides the exact amount of power and feel you need. It is clear that Sage has been able to produce a one of a kind fly rod with their new KONNETIC HD Technology. To better understand what this technology is, we figure why not go stratight to the horses mouth:

KonneticHD Technology is the next era in performance graphite rods. Optimizing our graphite-to-resin ratio, we have created a higher density (HD) fiber composite, resulting in lighter, stronger blanks which deliver unmatched recovery, energy transfer, and line/loop control. Building upon proprietary construction techniques developed for Konnetic Technology, KonneticHD gives us an elevated platform to achieve new levels in rod design.

The Sage X rod’s all-new fast action taper built with our KonneticHD Technology delivers greater blank recovery and a crisper tip stop - creating tighter, more efficient loops throughout all ranges of casting styles. This taper allows you to dig deeper into the rod and access the lower sections, shifting power closer to the angler. Decreased lateral and medial movement and vibrations in the blank result in a more accurate and efficient presentation, resulting in a performance driven, forgiving fast action blank - refining the synergy between angler, rod, line, and fly.

• KonneticHD Technology®
• Black Spruce blank color
• Dark Green thread wraps with Metallic Grey trim wraps
• Fuji ceramic stripper guides
• Hard chromed snake guides and tip-top
• Freshwater 3 - 6 weights:
• • Vera wood insert with Stealth Black anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat
• • Flor grade snub nosed half-wells cork handle
• Saltwater 5-10 weights:
• • Stealth Black anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat
• • Integrated hidden hook keeper in reel seat
• • Flor quality full-wells cork handle with EVA fighting butt
• Laser etched line weight on slide band
• Black rod bag with Titanium logo and Black Spruce model tag
• Evergreen powder coated aluminum rod tube with Sage medallion
• Handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, USA

The new Two-Handed X rods let you experience the remarkable benefits of KonneticHD Technology through access to the more powerful lower sections of the rod, allowing for easier and more efficient load carry through the casting stroke. The shaft’s significantly enhanced recovery and crisper tip stop optimize line speed to deliver long, smooth casts. The decreased vertical movement and vibrations in the blank result in a more accurate and efficient presentation.

• KonneticHD Technology®
• Black Spruce blank color
• Dark Green thread wraps with Metallic Grey trim wraps
• Fuji ceramic stripper guides
• Hard chromed snake guides and tip-top
• Stealth Black anodized aluminum reel seat, down-locking on
• Spey models, up-locking on Switch models.
• Integrated hidden hook keeper in reel seat on Switch models.
• Laser etched line weight on slide band
• Super Plus fore grip and rear grip
• Black rod bag with Titanium logo and Black Spruce model tag
• Evergreen powder coated aluminum rod tube with
• Sage medallion
• Handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, USA

Word is certainly starting to spread, and we suspect that the X is going to be a very well received addition to Sage’s already stellar rod line-up. Look for our detailed performance review of the new X in the coming week. In the mean time, come on by our Denver location and ask for the Sage X rod. We’ve got a 9’ 5wt on hand for you to cast, and we can’t wait to get your feedback. In the mean time, we are taking pre-orders on any Sage X fly rods, delivery expected August 1, 2016.