Fly fishing equipment reviews

RiverFly Fly Fishing Tackle and Equipment reviews

Sage Rods

For Riverfly guiding, we choose to use and recommend Sage rods. Other manufacturers certainly make rods that are just as pleasurable to use, but Sage’s warranty, service and quality over their complete range of rods is unparalleled. To explain this further, I believe that whether you pick up an entry level Vantage, or a top of the range Z-Axis, you will be picking up a rod with leading performance and features in its price range. Versatility amongst the complete range of Sage rods is the major feature in placing Sage at the top of the pile – Sage tapers and manufacturing technologies translate to plenty of power in the butt of the rods across the range, which for the fisher translates to the capability of the rod to cast into the wind, cast heavy flies, or load the rod up quickly.

Sage 99 rods

Read a review here

Sage Xi3 rods

Read a review here

Sage 490–4 XP (superceded by the Z-Axis)

The 586–4 was my rod of choice for polaroiding and river fishing until this rod came along. The best way to explain it is that it’s one of those things that the designers got 100% right. It casts anything from a four to a six weight line comfortably, fights the wind and casts big flies when required, and of course, being a four weight, it is a delight to use. It is great at cushioning light tippets on rivers, or when fighting big fish in the western lakes. This is my recommended rod for anyone who predominantly river fishes or sight fishes. Unbelievable is my best description – try it when you’re next fishing with Riverfly.

Sage TCX 490 / 590

Both these Generation 5 rods are ripper rods, casting their line weights, or more, with ease. Their real value comes as a sight-fishing tool, where lightnening fast casts can be made into heavy winds, or at long distances, when it counts. Most importantly, these are equally adapt at casting short-line with tight, accurate loops. These are our recommended sight-fishing rod for Tasmania’s Western Lakes.

Sage TXL 4710-3

The TXL rods are purpose made as creek and small streams rods using SAGE’s latest generation 5 technology. They are ultra thin, ultralight, but super powerful for their appearances. They can cast type loops, beadhead combinations into the wind, and have tremendous power down low to pull in big fish quickly. This is the ultimate creek rod for casting dry flies to the spooky stream dwellers. I got to try the first one in Tasmania, and short for time found myself using it on Penstock Lagoon (not the ideal place for a creek rod I know). A 5¼ lb brown trout later and I was impressed with the fish playing power in such a small rod to say the least! Best line match – 4 weight Rio Selective Trout

Sage SLT 586-4 (superceded by the ZXL)

For me this is my ‘classic’ dry fly fishing rod. A slower actioned rod, sped up by its reduced length (8’6’’), this rod is my favourite for a day of fishing the small rivers (ala North Esk) and casting to rising fish with a single dry. A great rod for manoeuvring big fish around logs and away from weed whilst protecting light tippets.

Sage XP 586–4 (superceded by the Z-Axis)

This is my rafting rod, and it does the job exceptionally. The slightly shorter 8 foot 6 length makes it versatile enough to also use on smaller streams. The taper is suited for close in work such as river fishing and polaroiding, and in fact it was my rod of choice for most of the 2004-2005 season when polaroiding and river fishing.

586 Z-Axis (superceded by the Z-Axis)

This is a versatile rod for small to large rivers. A true five weight, this new rod is slightly slower taper than the XP but throws the line noticeable further for the same effort. New ‘generation 5 technology’ has enabled Sage to build the Z-Axis lighter and stronger than its predecessor, the XP. This is a favourite rod with customers. Best line match – 5 weight Rio Grande for standard fishing, or Rio Windcutter for fishing short and delicate.

490 Z-Axis (superceded by the Z-Axis)

Once again, this is a ripper sight-fishing and dry fly fishing rod. Easy to cast and ideally matched with a Rio Grande 4 weight, or a Rio Windcutter 5 weight line.

Polaroids

We use and recommend both Spotters and Maui Jim polaroids. Spotters offer far better polaroid filtering, but after a couple weeks of guiding, can become a bit heavy on the nose! For a break, we turn to the ultra-light Maui Jims frames and lenses, which provide super-clear vision, and adequate polarising features.

Fly Lines

Which fly line to use???? As a river fishing guide my biggest frustration is lines that sink at the tip. I have been using Rio flylines that have over come this problem with super-high floating tips that make the other brands look like intermediates.

Simms Waders

There isn’t a reason for not using breathable waders in this day and age, and Simms are without doubt the best quality available.

For the budget conscious the entry level Simms breathables come in at under $400, and represent excellent value. Whilst they aren’t made of Gore-Tex, they are still made of a three-layer construction and they are tough. My pair lasting lasted two seasons of gorse and blackberry induced abuse (don’t try this at home) – this translates to hundreds of days of use.

If you are really hard on waders then step up to the G3 or G4 waders, made from Gore Tex. These have stood the test of time and are undoubtedly the toughest breathable around. I know of two pairs in their fourth season! The G4 waders differ from teh G3 waders in that the 5 layer added protection on the legs travels all the way to the small of your back, giving extra protection for those who fish in tough country.

More favourite gear

Simms L2 Aquastealth wading boots. These boots have been my favourite wading boot. The Aquastealth (made for rock climbing) is extremely versatile, as sticky as felt and as good as rubber. At the time of writing I have had in excess of 50 days use, including 7 days of pack hiking, with little complaint beyond some minor maintenance work to re-secure rivets on a couple eyelets. I am very hard on gear using it day after day in harsh conditions, so I am very happy with this performance. In 2008 these were superceded by RIvershed wading boots in Australia.

Rio Windcutter II flylines. These are my favourite flyline by fari a great delicate long taper that excels in roll casting, mending, tight loops and handles the wind well. Great on both modern Sage rods and cane rods.

Garrison 206 cane rod by Peter McKean. This is one of my favourite rods. If playing bigger fish in tight waters is your goal, then a cane rod is the tool for the job. This material (bamboo) is able to cast a 5 weight line on a shorter length rod without being to stiff in the action, and has great cushioning and strength properties for bullying big fish away from obstructions.

DVD’s – Running Down the Man, and Trout Bum Diaries 1 and The Source – Tasmania (available from our webshop) are all excellent entertainment for those after a good fly fishing dvd. These dvd’s are very much modern dvd’s aimed at the next generation of fly fishers. Running Down The Man is a short high quality production about chasing roosterfish off the beaches of Mexico. The Trout Bum Diaries are just that, journals of fly fishing in Patagonia.