I’m a huge fan of lighter weight fly rods, small wild trout,
and complete solitude while picking pockets in Sierra canyon water. A day off during
the summer grind is an invitation to lose myself and explore more unknown
sections of the North Fork Yuba River. But this trip was even more special because
my small water weapon was the Sage Dart 0 weight. Thanks to Sage and RIO Rep
Alex Ramirez of Outdoor Specialty Products, he offered me the opportunity to
test and review this awesome little rod.
The Sage Dart series features a short-range fast action for
chasing wary trout in still and clear water, close quarters, or obstacle-ridden
streams. This innovative rod is specifically designed to drive precise loops
under the branches of a conifer while still providing delicate presentations
and delightful feedback to the angler. The KonneticHD materials combined with
performance-friendly fast action gives fly anglers the ultimate competitive
advantage against highly selective trout. The 0-4wt models at 7'6" provide
the backbone of this family with ultra-light performance. These rods come in 3
piece sections allowing for a truer action without sacrificing a ferrule in the
middle of the critical flex zone.
In the first 5 minutes of fishing it was apparent that this
was not like any other small water rod I had ever casted. The overall flex
pattern felt a little less than full action with a softer tip, yet a hearty butt
section. The first noticeable difference was the pin point accuracy. I could
deliver my #10 Stimulator with a dropper to technical pockets with ease, over
and over again. Secondly the rod was perfectly balanced with the smallest Sage
Click reel in a 0/01/02 size. While holding the rod in the center of the
Snub-Nose half wells grip it was as level as can be.
The rod was so much fun to
cast and make presentations with, but the real pleasure was playing small fish.
I could really feel the weight of the fish and the rod was bent over in a
beautiful arc, yet the backbone was powerful enough to land each wild rainbow quickly
and easily. I never knew fighting an 8 inch trout could be so exciting!
The Sage Dart 0 weight exceled even more with higher
performance, matched to RIO’s new Creek line. This line has an aggressive head
which loads the rod quickly at a shorter distance, but keeps a nice loop while
casting at a greater distance. It was a breeze to be able to cast 40 feet with
the little Dart. The Creek line will open doors for any lighter weight rods. I
plan to buy this line for my vintage Walton Powell first generation graphite 8’
4 weight and cannot wait to see the difference. For the 7’6” Dart I used a 7 foot
leader to 5x which made a big difference with effective turnover rates.
The lightest, most precise casting small water rod I’ve
ever fished, the Dart is destined to become a cherished tool in the small water
trout angler’s quiver for years to come. I rate this rod at 5 stars.
Dart Features:
-KonneticHD Technology
-Sapling Green blank color
-Bronze thread wraps with Gold trim wraps
-Ultra-Light hard chromed snake
guides and tip-top
-Tan rod bag with brown logo and model tag
-Portobello colored powder coated aluminum rod tube with Sage
medallion
Alex Ramirez ~ Outdoor Specialty Products
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