Time for a Rewind—VHS Cassette Tape Style.
The year is 1991, and yours truly is walking down the stairs on Christmas morning as a Roster Tail-chucking, worm-dunking “expert” trout fisherman.
That’s what I knew. And spinning rods were the norm in our family growing up.
But even at 8 or 9 years old, there was something about fly angling, and especially casting, that drew me in. It was a combination of the endless variety of flies and those effortless loops that fascinated me as an elementary school kid.
Finally, after years of nagging my parents relentlessly, I unwrapped a Sage Youth Outfit that was sitting under the tree when I was ten.
The kit was complimented with a Mel Kriger introduction to fly fishing VHS cassette tape. True story.
This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill 9-foot, 5-weight. Not even close. It was a two-piece, 7-foot, 9-inch, 6-weight. My parents added the Mohagany Dun-colored DB Dun rod case for good measure.
If you know, you know.
And the rod was slow. Not quite fiberglass slow, but slow by today’s standards.
I’ve always believed the “old timers” were such good casters because they learned on bamboo and fiberglass—some of the slowest rods ever made.
But things started to shift in the mid-’90s.
The concept of “faster” and stiffer rods quickly became the norm. Distance and laser-tight “V-loops” were the goal. These rods with faster graphite technology took over. Sage and other companies sold a lot of fast rods. They were new, fun, and damn near cast themselves.
Rods like the Sage RPL, SP, and Z-Axis immediately come to mind.
Fast-forward to 2025: Sage just took a giant step backward—and I mean that in the best way possible. With a nod to the rods of the 1980s and early ’90s, Sage has introduced the Classic R8.
Seemingly overnight, it became the rod for dry fly anglers when it launched this winter.
I’ve been lucky to have the 9-foot, 4-weight in my and my clients’ hands for quite some time now.
And honestly? I’ve missed the Classic’s smooth, “buttery” feel. It brings back memories of deep loads, a slower tempo, and delicate presentations. I can’t help but think: This is what fly casting is supposed to be like.
Of course, rules are meant to be broken. Nothing’s stopping you from chucking a heavy hopper-dropper rig with this rod—and you can—but you might be missing the point.
For anglers looking to headhunt, spot, stalk, and slow the angling experience down, I can’t think of a better tool. This rod shines with flies size 14 or smaller, especially when paired with the RIO Elite Technical Trout line.
If you really want to round things out, pair it with the traditional look of the Sage Trout reel. Bonus points if you go with the bronze color—it just feels right.
Images of big trout, sipping size 20 BWO emergers in a slow foam line on the Little Truckee, immediately come to mind.
The key? Take it slow.
This moderate-action rod responds best to a smooth, easy tempo. Accelerate gently through the stroke. It doesn’t hurt to loosen your grip after the stops..
Make that loop tight, and #letitfly.
