Sage Trout LL Fly Rod

Sage’s Trout LL just won the International Fly Tackle Dealers show’s coveted Best Freshwater Fly Rod award, and we reckon it’s well-deserved. We sent a 5-weight on a tour of Colorado this summer and fall, and tester consensus was that the Trout LL is a dependable medium action rod with a delicate tip that allows you to drop dries with finesse. Indeed, the 5-weight offered deadly dry fly presentation cast after tight-looped cast and consistently found its mark from 15’ feet and up. For mid-sized dries and even chunkier terrestrials, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more precisely tuned tool. Sage bills the Trout LL as a dry fly specialist, but don’t worry—rig up a dropper and the rod continues to keep pace with the best of ‘em. Of no surprise, Sage’s thoughtful construction and simple aesthetics are nothing short of museum-worthy: from the deep brown blank and the varnished walnut insert to the bronze up-locking reel seat, ceramic stripper guides, and chromed snake guides, every detail is purposefully built and flawlessly executed. While the price tag is admittedly steep, with the Trout LL, you get what you pay for.