[NJ All Day]

Okay the other day i went to a local fly shop. And i noticed that they were having a sale on sage rods and the Sage bass series is right now $350. Then the main guy of the fly fishing section came over to me asking if i needed help. I started asking him questions about the sage Bass rods and he said there a good rod. But then he took me over to the other rods and showed me the Ross FlyStik and started telling me about those and saying how Ross isnt making anymore until the fall, Ross didnt expect for the rods to sell so well so the one in the store is the only one i would be able to get till the fall. But the only problem with that is that the only one left was a 6wt.

Now from a recent thread in the warmwater section i know people speak very highly of the Sage Series. But i was wondering if anyone has dealt with the Ross series? If so can you please tell me some pro's and con's. i know that the sage series can cast huge flies with ease, and catch big fish. Is this the same for the ross series?

Thanks.

[TroutBum]

Ask the shop to let you cast each with the biggest bug you'll be fishing with.

[JSzymczyk]

If you can get past the nauseating green color, AND the name, you'll do OK. OH, how I detest calling a fly rod a "STICK" or worse yet, a "STIK" and yeah right, the 7'11" length will let people fish bass tournaments with it.... that's gonna happen.

For the price, I'd go with the Ross- Or better yet, get a good 9 foot 6 wt rod in the $100 range then cut 13 inches off the tip and install a tip guide. Use the money you save to buy a a reel and an 8 wt line and you're all set.

[flytire]

it appears the ross flystik is mimicking the sage rod s with a 6wt, 8wt and 10wt to equal the sage bluegill, smallmouth and largemouth rods.

who really cares what color the rod is as long as it performs the way it should. color does not = poor performance (almost as nauseating as the green fish in the avatar above this post )

like troutbum said, go back and try both brands for yourself. only you can determine what is best you you.

[atroutbum2]

The only reason to buy either of these rods would be if you intended to enter BASS tournements ,and use a flyrod.

If you have no intention of ever entering one, then there is no reason to limit your choices to either of these rods.
If you must get one then try them both and get the one you like the best, by all means , try casting a big air resistant bass bug with them and see how they handle them.

[JSzymczyk]

(almost as nauseating as the green fish in the avatar above this post )

LOL


the avatar pic is a play on some previous posts, because I live within sight of Three Mile Island~!

[smalliestalker]

Cast them both.....I have and absolutely love the Sage Large Mouth rod...It shoots huge 10 inch streamers, monster deer bugs tied on on 4/0 hooks like a cannon......I use an 8 wt sink line with it as well as the bass taper line it comes with and both work awesome. The line rating is about a 10/11 that comes with it. I can use a little heavier tippet so to rip flies out of lily pads and weeds....The rod acts like a crane....I have caught hubge large mouth, small mouth and blug gills with it....It's stiff enough to handle the big ones, and soft enough to play out the little guys.....hope that helps....

[flytire]

The only reason to buy either of these rods would be if you intended to enter BASS tournements ,and use a flyrod.

not entirely true

they can be used for pike fishing, saltwater fishing etc etc etc

from the ross website

The perfect fly rods for...
■Pounding streamers against the bank of your favorite river from a dory
■Dropping flies on top of a pod of tailing carp in a city park or farm pond
■Chucking bait flies into mangroves from the front of a skiff
■Swinging flies to salmon in a wild and scenic river
■Winning a bass tournament

[AlexC]

the key to the sage rods is the line that comes with them. A lot of 'regular" fly rods will act and feel just as great when throwing big flies if you're using the right line.

[steeldrifter]

the key to the sage rods is the line that comes with them. A lot of 'regular" fly rods will act and feel just as great when throwing big flies if you're using the right line.

Perfectly said Alex, that is the key to those "bass rods" they are selling now.


flytire I think what atroutbum2 meant by the "only reason to buy one is for a bass tournament" is because if the length. "Most" times a rod in 8'6"-9" is going to be better for fishing larger flies like big 5"-8" streamers. So I agree with what he said about them, unless your planning on fishing a tournament where there is a 8' limit them a 8'6" - 9' length will most likely be a better choice in most cases.

Steve

[atroutbum2]

The only reason to buy either of these rods would be if you intended to enter BASS tournements ,and use a flyrod.

not entirely true

they can be used for pike fishing, saltwater fishing etc etc etc

from the ross website

The perfect fly rods for...
■Pounding streamers against the bank of your favorite river from a dory
■Dropping flies on top of a pod of tailing carp in a city park or farm pond
■Chucking bait flies into mangroves from the front of a skiff
■Swinging flies to salmon in a wild and scenic river
■Winning a bass tournament

the key to the sage rods is the line that comes with them. A lot of 'regular" fly rods will act and feel just as great when throwing big flies if you're using the right line.

Perfectly said Alex, that is the key to those "bass rods" they are selling now.


flytire I think what atroutbum2 meant by the "only reason to buy one is for a bass tournament" is because if the length. "Most" times a rod in 8'6"-9" is going to be better for fishing larger flies like big 5"-8" streamers. So I agree with what he said about them, unless your planning on fishing a tournament where there is a 8' limit them a 8'6" - 9' length will most likely be a better choice in most cases.

Steve

SD, thats exactly what i ment in my post. the sage bass rods were designed to allow flyfishers to enter the tournaments because of the rod length restrictions that B.A.S.S . imposes on their events.