Sage Launch 8wt Fly Rod review – To a switch rod?
Back in 2006 I purchased an 8wt Sage Launch fly rod at www.riversportsman.com and a Grey’s reel with shooting head fly line for beach fishing in front of little river. After catching a couple Coho on my new rod I was hooked. I used that rod for every river, lake and beach I fished around Vancouver Island. In fact, twice I used it on the North fork of the Clearwater river in Idaho for Steelhead and trout. This rod has seen 100′s of hours and 100′s of fish and only broke it once, on a gear busting 20lb Chum in the 
Puntledge river.
The great thing about Sage rods is the warranty, they will fix it and ship it back to you asap and you are back in action.
The beauty of the Launch (http://www.sageflyfish.com/) was the ability to make those long casts yet still have the sensitivity to feel even the softest bite. The launch is perfectly weighted and has excellent low drag casting eyes. I wish all fly rods came with these eyes as they are so simple in design and you don’t have to worry about the eye loosing its inner ring.
Last year I went to the local fishing store where I purchased this rod and was interested in buying a 6wt Launch, when I found out to my dismay that Sage discontinued that line of rods. Total Bummer!
Recently, I sold my Sage Launch fly rod because on the Stamp river where I river fish most often, I need a switch or spey rod to get to the waiting Salmon and Steelhead. Now I’m in the process of deciding which Switch or Spey rod I’m going to invest in, as the Launch will be a tough act to follow for any rod. I’m leaning towards a switch rod so that I can have the best of both worlds, the overhand or the two-handed cast. I had quite a few customers this fall who spey fished the Stamp from my drift boat, and to be perfectly honest, they out fished the gear anglers 3 to 1 in the thin faster moving water and did just as well in the slower moving water as long as it wasn’t too deep. I anticipate that the fly anglers from my drift boat this winter will do quite well as long as water conditions stay at normal levels.
My goal for this winter is to catch a steelhead larger than the 20lb wild Steely I got last winter, but this time on a fly rod!
Category: BC, fishing gear, Fly fishing, Product Review
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