Sure, I spanked Sage for the unspeakably hyped copy announcing the release of their ONE fly rod, so it’s only fair they get a pat on the back for announcing their new Circa slow-action fly rod in… human terms:
Sage CIRCA – Fly Fishing with Advanced, Slow-Action Performance. from Sol Duc Buck on Vimeo.
Sadly, they passed on a sure thing when they ignored the genius displayed in this Emmy Award Winning* video script, but I admit to really liking the Hal Riney, “Morning In America” feel of Sage’s ad.
And they only threatened to go off the rails once when Siem says “The CIRCA is definitely going to bring new life into the sport of trout fishing.”
Well, those who have been fishing (or producing) really nice slow-action rods for a couple decades might disagree, but otherwise, kudos to the skinny pole builders from the Northwest.
See you at our power lunch, Tom Chandler.
(*Not an Emmy Award Winning script)
Really?
It’s the same video as the ONE with different audio. Just not very stoked on Sage these days- The ONE, going direct and most of all not acknowledging haw brittle G5 graphite really is…..
Creeker(Quote)
I am in love with my Sage rod. This video is phenomenal. I am trying to me a minimalist, but find myself wanting more Sage. Double kudos.
Ricky(Quote)
Beautiful video, all the better for the lack of fish porn.
Kentucky Jim(Quote)
Seeing that this philosophy of rod designing is guaranteed to ; ” bring new life into the sport of trout fishing ” – do you suppose that Scott will resurect the G series for a second thirty year production run ?
A portion of the marketing has already been paid for .. by a competitor.
KKF(Quote)
I’ve heard all sorts of explanations about what the G2 rods actually are, though a credible source suggests they’re the same G series tapers built with newer, lighter, higher-modulus materials. I cast a 6wt G2 and didn’t love it, but Ian still swears by the 8′ 4wt.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
*sigh*
Really? “Advanced, Slow Action Performance”?
We’ve all been indoctrinated for the last couple of decades that “fast action is advanced action” and slow is for beginners. Think Sage is going to be able to break through that common wisdom and sell rods to “advanced” fishermen?
I guess if it costs $800 it must be advanced, right?
[disclaimer -- I own and fish Sage rods among others, but I'm getting cynical in my old age]
Mark(Quote)
Interesting perception, though I’d suggest at least a few of us (you included) never bought into the “faster is better” school of rod design. Then again, faster rods probably are better for the kind of heavy indicator nymphing that’s become the norm for new fly fishermen.
And I heard some of the same “slow taper, high-tech materials” pitched our way for the SP series. I briefly owned a 9′ 5wt SP and it just felt stiff to me. Hope they’ve done a bit better with this.
In any case, I’m not so much commenting on the market interest in a slow-action rod as their return to more (ahem) reality-based marketing — at least as close to reality as most fly fishing marketing gets…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
+1 for Mark’s comment…For the money,I’d as soon get some old Phillipsons or Scotts….Heck,for Slow Action Performance the 6 wt Lami I’ve got is the way to go…….Hmmmm, A.S.A.P. rods….Comment on the consumers or another late night ad for male enhancement……..
JP2(Quote)
There was a time when you could buy 2-3 Phillipsons for the price of one of these, but sadly, those days seem past us.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
…slow action rods return to breathe in life, eh?
T, lemme repeat that to myself, make sure I didn’t fall face first into my toilet this morning and am still alive.
DarrellKuni(Quote)
We’ll send the Wonderdog down to lick your face and see (the risk is just too great for the rest of us).
Tom Chandler(Quote)
I like the part where Jerry turns over a rock to find a caddis larva and mayfly nymph, becomes one with the river, then matches the hatch with a Stimulator. I guess that doesn’t really matter when wielding a rod that can do CPR.
Ralph(Quote)
A “slow” action graphite eh? Seems like a natural to go hand in hand with casting soft hackles to the foam lines in a hot tub. ‘Scuse me while I just nip over to the closet and make sure the Orvis’s, Grangers and Winstons haven’t spontaneusly combusted in their rod tubes…Nope, still there and feeling mighty smug too I can tell you.
amabilis(Quote)
Gasp, I can’t breathe.
Whew, that was close, thank you Sage!
The CIRCA sounds like a step in the right direction.
I have a 3 wt. SLT somewhere in my closet. For a graphite stick it’s a fairly nice casting/fishing rod if I remember correctly.
Don(Quote)
Did you guys hear “breathe” in the video? I wasn’t sure, and the press release said “bring.”
Either way, it’s probably the big overshoot of the announcement.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Yep, “breathe new life into the sport”. The ghost of Harry Wilson is ROTFLHAO about now.
Despite the heroic nature of this rod, I can’t wait to try one.
Ralph C(Quote)
It would be interesting to try one, but at that price — and with a couple college funds to feed — it’s hard to imagine I’d pull the trigger.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
“The CIRCA is definitely going to bring new life into the sport of trout fishing.” … cuz, y’know, Orvis’ Superfine Touch just sucked the wind out of trout fishing last year…
Puh-leez. Got myself the 8′ 4-wt SFT this spring and never looked back.
Albert Yi(Quote)
I’ll bet the Circas aren’t the short-range monsters the Superfines are, but it would still be interesting to compare the two (especially with $300 distance between them).
Glad to hear you like/got the 8′ 4wt SFT. Impressively fun…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
It was your review that helped tip the scales toward this rod. Wicked fun to cast with sharp pointy loops made easy. This past weekend at the local casting ponds I experimented with putting my 10.5′ furled spectra tenkara line as the leader … it cast so beautifully I couldn’t wipe that silly grin off my face.
I’m very curious too on what the Circas will offer for $300 more. Personally I doubt it’s much anything other than “because we’re Sage and because we can”. Let’s see if I’m proved wrong.
Albert Yi(Quote)
…I’m loving my Hardy Stream (7ft 3 wt). 1/2 the price of the Circa, and it has a glass-like action because… it’s glass! If Sage had guts, they’d switch materials rather than try to emulate glass with carbon…
Mark(Quote)
“Then again, faster rods probably are better for the kind of heavy indicator nymphing that’s become the norm for new fly fishermen.”
Faster rods and heavy indicator nymphing is nothing but bobber and bait fishing. Why don’t these new “fly fishermen” save hundreds of $ and just use a bamboo pole and black line?
Bob B.(Quote)
Oh Hell, here we go again.
There were already 64 million comments about the SFT 4 weight! I almost bought one so that my Buds and I could have a shoot out this fall during the Iso hatch in the Adirondacks. At least, Orvis would give 20% off if you trade in a non-junk rod and anti up the $395! And now this!
It’s the next thing that we “have to have” when “want” because we’ve been sold is more like it. You can still only fish one rod at a time.
Me, I think that I’ll stick to homemade bamboo and fiberglass.
See y’all at the wrapping stand, or at the beach, John
JJP(Quote)
The first thing I thought when I saw this video not keeping a pulse on the industry as a whole by any means is….the Superfine Touch must have done something for them to come out with such a rod. I’ve yet to cast bamboo, and have cast a few fiberglass rods in my day.
In the end…..what ever brings that sh!t eating grin to your face when you know the line that is about to unfurl in front of you is going precisely where you meant it to and the feel along the way was fun, then I don’t think all the hype back and forth regarding fast action vs. slow action really matters a hoot. A stick cut from a plant, fiberglass, aerospace graphite…..let’s just go fish and take the complicated nature of all this marketing out of the equation.
Japhy(Quote)