I just had to.

[Porter2]

Got a back up to a back up. Just love this rod so much. Such a great SH PNW salmon/steelhead river rod

I take two to those adventures. Now have a backup to a backup.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

A twin to the one Big Tuna sold me; lovely rods.

 

[Sam Roffe]

I inherited that same model from my dad’s collection.

 

[SculpinSwinger]

graphite III

 

[RCF]

Smart man! Having a backup to a favorite rod not only makes sense but is good prudence of a smart man...

Edited to add: wish I had done that. Lesson learned...

 

[Yard Sale]

I've got the 9' version but its a 2 piece. I don't use it a lot but its too sweet to let go of. I'm sure I'll find a need for an 8 wt again and the XP line is just perfect.

 

[Creatch’r]

One of the best! I’ve had my 896 for 15 years or so, it’s caught a lot of fish. What reel are you running?

 

[Salmo_g]

I read an article over 30 years ago in a fly fishing magazine that when you find a rod that you really love, buy an extra because you know damn well that it will soon be discontinued. A friend of mine has 3 Z-Axis rods for that reason.

 

[Porter2]

One of the best! I’ve had my 896 for 15 years or so, it’s caught a lot of fish. What reel are you running?

I have a dedicated Bauer MZ5 for this rod but also have a 1st generation Lamson Litespeed LS 3.5 in that midnight smoke steel blue color.


The one on the right is the most used and plus 20 years with me. The newer one is in the middle. And the other back up with a minimum of water time is on the left. I figured this should last me rest of my fishing life. I no longer trust Sage with these era of rods. Sad I know. But if I break or lose three of these in the next 15+ years I really didn’t deserve them then.

 

[Creatch’r]

I have a dedicated Bauer MZ5 for this rod but also have a 1st generation Lamson Litespeed LS 3.5 in that midnight smoke steel blue color.

View attachment 115497
The one on the right is the most used and plus 20 years with me. The newer one is in the middle. And the other back up with a minimum of water time is on the left. I figured this should last me rest of my fishing life. I no longer trust Sage with these era of rods. Sad I know. But if I break or lose three of these in the next 15+ years I really didn’t deserve them then.

Well done, my 896 has been repaired a few times in the last 6 years, most recently about a year ago maybe a little longer when they rebuilt my bottom section and I got all new cork and reel seat. So now all 4 sections are fresh.

Moral of the story: Don’t let people use your XP’s

 

[Salmo_g]

The one on the right is the most used and plus 20 years with me.

The one on the right doesn't look used enough for 20 years. You need to fish more. So sayeth the fishing doc.

 

[Matt B]

The one on the right doesn't look used enough for 20 years. You need to fish more. So sayeth the fishing doc.

We are talking about @Porter2 here, a person with a gear fetish that runs deeper than the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I have a feeling he uses magic eraser on the cork, polishes the graphite, etc.

 

[Hem]

I've got the 9' version but its a 2 piece. I don't use it a lot but its too sweet to let go of. I'm sure I'll find a need for an 8 wt again and the XP line is just perfect.

If you ever decide to sell give me a holler.
I have a 5, 6, and 7. I prefer the 9' -2pc.
I use all three every year. Pretty certain I would cry if one broke.

 

[krusty]

I read an article over 30 years ago in a fly fishing magazine that when you find a rod that you really love, buy an extra because you know damn well that it will soon be discontinued. A friend of mine has 3 Z-Axis rods for that reason.

That goes for a lot of outdoor gear!

 

[Porter2]

I only rinse after saltwater use. River or lake rinse at end of the day. I think the cork back in that era or rod making was just better quality.