Most Popular Fly Rod Weights

[Dloy]

IMHO, the Sage RPL was the milestone that put them on the map and made them the industry leader. Thirty seven years later it’s still one of the sweetest rods to cast. Matches my arm perfectly anyway. I could be wrong but it’s seemed to me that every new model since has failed to duplicate that success. I know there are other favorites that I haven’t tried tho.

Later add on:
My first rod was the Sage GFL 589-3. Steve Rajeff was manning the Sage booth in the Kingdome, and suggested I have Anderson Custom Rods build it in order to save a little money. I went back to Gary a year later for my RPL 896-4, the same rod virtually every SH guide had. I still have it and though I don’t fish it now, every time I string it up, it always makes me smile.

 

[Buzzy]

When I first started fishing (back when Sage was born) a 6 weight was considered the all around weight. Mainly because you could also use it for steelhead. Then people started switching downward to a size 5. Then a size 4.

I have rods in almost all sizes and right now I primarily use a 4 weight for my still water endeavors.

Every now and then I pick up my ol' first edition Sage 6 weight and I can't imagine that I ever used for trout on The Met, but I did for years and years.

When I first started fishing I'd scored a Sage 890-2 GFL(?) blank. Sage was brand new to the fly rod business. I built the blank and fished it for trout, SRC, salmon, steelhead, bass. It was the only rod I had. I've long since parted ways with that rod and, like you, can't imagine me fishing that 8 weight for for the trout lakes of Kitsap and Mason County.

 

[speyflyfisher]

While I have rods ranging from 2 to 9 wts, if I could only keep one for trout fishing in WA it would be my 9' 4wt.
I feel it can handle just about all the freshwater trout fishing I do. Might not be the best for windy days or throwing heavy flies.
It would be a different decision if I only fished WA salt water. Then I would probably go a 7wt (maybe a 6).
As for old now vintage sage rod I still fish two RPL series and 3 of the LL series. Don't see any need to update.

 

[Tom Butler]

When I first started fishing (back when Sage was born) a 6 weight was considered the all around weight. Mainly because you could also use it for steelhead.

For 20 years a GFL 690 was my only stick. If I don't know what to expect going somewhere it's still an excellent choice.

 

[Fourbtgait]

I feel old. My first fly rod was a Cortland 6 wt fiberglass, bought in 1974 in Pennsylvania.

 

[Coach Potter]

IMHO, the Sage RPL was the milestone that put them on the map and made them the industry leader. Thirty seven years later it’s still one of the sweetest rods to cast. Matches my arm perfectly anyway. I could be wrong but it’s seemed to me that every new model since has failed to duplicate that success. I know there are other favorites that I haven’t tried tho.

Later add on:
My first rod was the Sage GFL 589-3. Steve Rajeff was manning the Sage booth in the Kingdome, and suggested I have Anderson Custom Rods build it in order to save a little money. I went back to Gary a year later for my RPL 896-4, the same rod virtually every SH guide had. I still have it and though I don’t fish it now, every time I string it up, it always makes me smile.

I have never cast the RPL but I have a 8 1/2 ft 3 wt RPL+ as well as a 7 wt RPL+. I use both rods a lot.

 

[Burt Dagger]

4wt for trout fishin’ western WA lakes and streams, 6 wt for Puget Sound.

8 wt for decorating my garage wall.

 

[Pigs]

My first real fly rod was a Cortland CL 4/5 with a rimfly

 

[Dloy]

Coach, glad you like the plus. I had a 590 RPL+ for maybe a week. It was waaay to fast, like someone there thought “hey, let’s see how far we can make this thing throw.” It took only one outing for me to sell. Glad that some like them though, as I got my purchase price back.
I’m probably waxing poetic about yesteryear, but the RPL hit the sweet spot for me. It seemed to have the perfect blend of how it loaded and unloaded, that matched my arm. By today’s standards it’s probably medium fast (which makes it fishable).

 

[RCF]

Coach, glad you like the plus. I had a 590 RPL+ for maybe a week. It was waaay to fast, like someone there thought “hey, let’s see how far we can make this thing throw.” It took only one outing for me to sell. Glad that some like them though, as I got my purchase price back.
I’m probably waxing poetic about yesteryear, but the RPL hit the sweet spot for me. It seemed to have the perfect blend of how it loaded and unloaded, that matched my arm. By today’s standards it’s probably medium fast (which makes it fishable).

I agree 'back in the day' rods were designed for fishing. I had RPL and Loomis/Winston IM6 rods. Those rods cast like a dream - loading/unloading, protected tippets, and could feel the subtleties when nymphing. All had their sweet spots for me and matched my casting style/needs. When I retired and downsized my quiver, I ended up with all Loomis IM6 rods. Very hard choice but Loomis rods were half the price of RPL's and Winston's on the used market.

 

[Pigs]

I feel old. My first fly rod was a Cortland 6 wt fiberglass, bought in 1974 in Pennsylvania.

First fly rod I ever used was my dad’s old Fenwick FF70-4…..it’s 4 piece 5wt. Used to slay with it on the Powder river below Thief valley. He has since given it to me. Pretty sweet rod actually.

 

[dep]

I am a Sage RPL and XP guy.