MULTI-APPLICATION / FAST ACTION
R8 CORE is focused on maximum versatility and applies new revolutionary R8 material technology through our forward-thinking lens of what we’re seeing out on the water - where one rod needs to show even greater range. At its core, R8 CORE traces a direct lineage to Sage’s multi-application / fast action vision, one shaped by the fishing evolutions happening all around us—from habitats we stalk and waters we frequent, to the flies we fish and the diversity of species we now target. Coming in a range from 3wt to 9wt, with a variety of lengths from 8’6” to 10’0”, there’s sure to be a model to fit the core needs of every freshwater angler.
COMPLETE CONTROL
• Effortless Energy Transfer and More Connected Feel
• Maximized Versatility & Control
• Made to Fish, Not Just Cast
FEATURES
- Revolution 8 Technology
- Silver Pine blank color
- Slate primary thread wraps with graduated White and Grey trim
- Fuji ceramic stripper guides with hard chromed snake guides and tip-top
- Black rod bag with new cord lock for quicker, easier, and cleaner storage
- Aluminium rod tube with Sage medallion 3wt - 6wt
- Sustainable Ziricote wood insert with anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat
- Premium Flor grade snub-nose half-wells cork handle 5wt - 9wt
- Corrosion resistant anodized aluminum reel seat
- Premium Flor grade full-wells cork handle with cork/EVA fighting butt
- Integrated “hidden” reel seat hook keeper.
| Model | Line Size | Rod Length | Handle | Color | Physical Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R8 Core 390-4 | 3WT | 9'0" | Standard Handle | Silver Pine | 2 5/8oz |
| R8 Core 4100-4 | 4WT | 10'0" | Standard Handle | Silver Pine | 3 1/8 oz |
| R8 Core 486-4 | 4WT | 8'6" | Standard Handle | Silver Pine | 2 9/16oz |
| R8 Core 490-4 | 4WT | 9'0" | Standard Handle | Silver Pine | 2 11/16oz |
| R8 Core 5100-4FB | 5WT | 10'0" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 1/2oz |
| R8 Core 586-4 | 5WT | 8'6" | Standard Handle | Silver Pine | 2 9/16oz |
| R8 Core 590-4 | 5WT | 9'0" | Standard Handle | Silver Pine Ltd Front Range Olive Ltd Retro Grey |
2 11/16oz |
| R8 Core 596-4FB | 5WT | 9'6" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 1/4oz |
| R8 Core 6100-4FB | 6WT | 10'0" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 9/16oz |
| R8 Core 690-4 | 6WT | 9'0" | Standard Handle | Silver Pine | 2 13/16oz |
| R8 Core 690-4FB | 6WT | 9'0" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 1/4oz |
| R8 Core 696-4FB | 6WT | 9'6" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 3/8oz |
| R8 Core 7100-4 | 7WT | 10'0" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 15/16oz |
| R8 Core 790-4 | 7WT | 9'0" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 7/16oz |
| R8 Core 796-4 | 7WT | 9'6" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 11/16oz |
| R8 Core 8100-4 | 8WT | 10'0" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 4oz |
| R8 Core 890-4 | 8WT | 9'0" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 11/16oz |
| R8 Core 896-4 | 8WT | 9'6" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 13/16oz |
| R8 Core 990-4 | 9WT | 9'0" | Fighting Butt Handle | Silver Pine | 3 13/16oz |
Retro Grey / Limited Edition
The all-new limited edition Retro Grey colorway, available in a select few models, is inspired by a pivotal period in Sage history - a time when long-brimmed hats, members only jackets, and eye-catching colors were all the rage. Based on the palette brought to Sage in the early 90’s with the SP family of rods, the Retro Grey R8 CORE features an iconic Teal silk screen and Jade trim wraps reminiscent of the SP blank color and tube accents. Set on the lighter grey blank, the colors pop with the same vibrancy as 90’s culture. Finished with a complimenting Ziricote wood reel seat and Silver Pine anodized aluminum hardware, the new Retro Grey R8 CORE offers a unique take on Sage’s expansive heritage.
Front Range Olive / Limited Edition
The all-new limited edition Front Range Olive colorway, available in a select few models, is inspired by the natural tones of one of North America’s keystone fly fishing venues - Colorado’s Front Range. The blank color brings to mind the earthen landscape of the high desert, canyons, and cobble found throughout the Front Range’s iconic lakes and streams. Olive thread wraps remind us of the evergreen pines, junipers, and firs adorning the Rocky Mountain hillsides. Finished with a contrasting Myrtle wood reel seat and Stealth Black anodized aluminum hardware, the new Front Range Olive R8 CORE is right at home in the heart of western trout country.
ENHANCED HAND-TO-ROD CONNECTION
We’ve increased the purity of graphite in the rod for even more reactivity and sensitivity, shifting energy further down the blank and into the handle. This transfer of energy creates a more natural extension of your arm, ultimately resulting in less wasted effort and intuitive reactivity. Rather than dialing up parking lot distance, we’ve shifted the thinking back to the roots of rhythm and awareness—where you can experience the energy happening in each moment.
AMPLIFIED SENSORY FEEDBACK LOOP
Effortless energy transfer and more connected feel, the amplified two-way feedback loop of R8 Technology, due to our new axial fiber formulation, allows you to feel when the power needs to be applied throughout the cast, presentation, and when applying the appropriate pressure to fish.
HEIGHTENED FISHING EXPERIENCE
Whether it’s the mental chess of matching the hatch, the headspace of reading the water or the instinct putting a fly in exactly the right spot—our best days emerge when our mind is right. It always seems that when we’re not thinking about it is precisely when our fishing mind takes over—where every single moment feels almost automatic or instinctual. With immediate feedback from tip to hand, R8 is designed to facilitate that higher state of mental flow and focus when small decisions, thoughts, and actions line up effortlessly.
