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Leland on the Sage 6012 Series Fly Fishing Reel

In the land of Ernest Hemingway, the tarpon holds court, and the Sage 6012 Series Fly Reel, 11-12wt has the right stuff for a fishing destination like the Florida Keys! Just 9 5/8 ounces in weight, this reel is the perfect match for your Xi2 cannon! The brute power of this reel is softened by a minimalist design that will please even the most old school flats angler. With the help of "aerospace grade 3-D modeling software," the 6012 is loaded with features to maximize strength and performance. From its heavy duty, yet butter smooth graphite and stainless steel sealed disk drag system to its innovative quick-change concave spool design, this reel has all you need to feel confident when that 300-pound silver king rips into your cockroach!

Specifications:

• Line Weights: 11-12
• Line + Yards of Backing: WF-12-F + 300 #30
• Weight: 9 5/8 oz
• Machined Aircraft Aluminum
• Innovative lightweight design includes an aggressively ported foot and frame
• Quick-change spool mechanism
• Large arbor for fast line pick up
• Simple no-tool left/right retrieve conversion
• Frame engineered with help of computer software to reduce weight and maximize rigidity
• Sealed graphite and stainless steel disk drag system for optimal heat dissipation and durability
• Single rotation drag knob with numbered settings
• Concave spool design for for added strength and backing capacity
• Black or platinum finish
• Ballistic cloth and neoprene protective reel case
• Design: An extremely light high performance reel designed for optimum performance and maximum frame and spool rigidity

Leland on Specifications

The best reel for monster Florida Keys tarpon. This reel is loaded with innovation and design sensibility. It takes 11 and 12-weight fly lines, and with an ingenious concave spool design, there's plenty of room for the insurance of extra backing. Both reel and spool are fully machined from Aircraft Aluminum and the whole assembly weighs just 9 5/8 ounces. The innovative quick-change spool mechanism is easy, fast, and reliable so you can change out warm and cold water specialty lines in a flash. Left handed? No problem, the left/right retrieve is easy to convert and does not require a tool. The repeatable drag system is sealed from the elements, and constructed of solid graphite and stainless steel for optimal heat dissipation and low start up inertia.

Leland on the Sage 2009 Reel Program

Sage, known as the top producer of world class fly rods, has made a serious push in fly reel design and manufacturing for the 2009 season. With an impressive line of 6 different reel series, fly anglers now have access to a fantastic selection of reels in all fishing categories and at all price points. With race car designs, heavy duty drag systems, and durable, yet lightweight frames and spools across the board, Sage has perfected the high performance fly reel.

Sage's Research and Development team is second to none and their razor's edge in-house testing facility gives these accomplished engineers the freedom to play with myriad designs throughout the development process. Prior to production, a reel design is built, tested, re-tested, and tested again ... on highly sophisticated computer software programs to streamline the process and optimize materials science and strength to performance ratios.

The 2009 Reel Program from Sage was centered on a tenacious desire to develop and deliver reels that live up to the Sage rod legacy. The new series of Sage Reels consists of a whopping 24 models, all designed with innovation and solid reliability in mind. These reels have been tested hard both in the R&D lab by Sage's own Materials Scientists and Engineers and in the field by hard-working professional fly fishing guides.

The result is a cohesive group of top notch fly fishing reels to fit any angler's need.

Whether it's the sweet outgoing click of a relatively simple yet robust CLICK series for your favorite Sierra trout rod or a the tight repeatability of the monster sealed graphite drag on a 6000D for your Florida Keys tarpon outfit, Sage fly reels comfortably exceed the demands modern anglers put on their gear.

Leland on the Sage 6012 Series Fly Reel, 11-12wt

With its muggy air, long history of Spanish rule, funky mix of colonial and modern architecture, laid back party attitude, abundant wildlife, and fantastic cuisine, it's no wonder the Florida Keys have attracted everyone from conquistadors to adventurous novelists, artists, and sporting enthusiasts.

One of the major draws of the Keys is the unmatched opportunity to catch giant tarpon on the fly. These fish are large, aggressive, and singularly beautiful with their haunting black eyes, massive silver scales, and bucket-shaped mouths. Giant tarpon strike quickly, run hard, and stretch fly fishing equipment to its limits. So if you're attracted to the idea of traveling to the end of the line and casting 80 feet to monster silver kings, you'd better be ready to bring some serious gear.

Looking more like a fighter jet than a fly fishing reel, the 6012 screams unbridled performance. From a light weight aerospace-grade machined aluminum frame and spool -- the whole assembly weighs just 9 5/8 ounces -- to a repeatable and sealed graphite and stainless steel disk drag system, we know it'll do more than just look pretty on the reel seat of our favorite tarpon rod. The folks at Sage used high-tech computer software to design and test this reel, and it shows. With innovations like a clever and reliable quick-change spool mechanism and a concave spool designed to maintain and increase structural rigidity while adding valuable backing capacity, you'll be sure you've got the very best shot at catching the biggest fish at Mile Zero!

We dare you to give the Sage 6012 Series Fly Reel, 11-12wt and its sleek performance design a test drive. The only question you'll have left: Black or platinum?

Leland on Sage

Sage has been as committed to performance and innovation as any fly rod manufacturer in the world.  Their dedication to research and development has produced some of the finest fly fishing rods ever conceived. Models like the XP and RPLX helped put Sage in a class reserved for only the best manufacturers. And many argue models like the Xi2 and the Z-Axis have sent more than a few companies scurrying to catch up.

Sage, under the guise of company founder Don Green, has been pushing the envelope with state of the art materials from the moment the company opened it's doors in 1980. Sage was the first company to incorporate the use of IM6 (Graphite II) graphite in their fly rods. Through out the years Sage's use of graphite evolved, from graphite II and then to graphite III, and finally graphite IV. Today, all their high-end rods contain Graphite IIIe, a blend of both graphite III and IV. To date, graphite IIIe has the highest strength to weight ratio on the market.  From the outset, the company's goal has been to create rods that generate high line speeds. As thousands of Sage owners will attest, the design of their rods enables the fisherman to have extraordinary line control. Casting a Sage fly rod means placing your fly where you want it, not where you hope it goes.

In 1994 Sage brought in Jerry Siem to take over rod development and design. Siem, a Minnesota native, has been responsible for the development of the XP, SLT and Xi2.  These fly rods quickly found themselves on rivers, streams, and flats all over the world.  They are characterized as exceptional casting rods that allow both the novice and the expert to enjoy them tremendously. With the advent of the TCR in 2003, then Xi2 in 2004 and now the Z-Axis, Jerry has raised the bar for what is known as "fast action rods".  Sage has nine separate rod lines (excluding their impressive Spey rods), encompassing the spectrum of applications.

Located on Bainbridge Island Washington. Sage was once a company composed of less than ten people, and has now grown to over 130 employees.  All of the rods in the Sage line are manufactured under the same roof. On average, it takes thirty-five days and over one hundred separate hand steps to produce a single rod.  All Sage fly rods come with an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Sage on Sage Fly Reels for 2009

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to build a fly reel. But if you want to create the finest, highest-performing new reels on the market, it certainly helps.

Meet Kurt Van Wyck, formerly of Rocket Research, where, among other things, he worked on grout breaking new starter system design for F-16 fighter jets. These days, Kurt brings his passion for innovation to Bainbridge Island and the somewhat more recreational world of fly fishing.

About four years ago, Kurt and our entire team of engineers and material science specialists discarded all traditional design conventions and dove into a complete rethinking of the modern fly reel.

The result? A new lineup of reels that spans the full range of fish, fly lines, and bank account sizes. All designed with advanced, aerospace-grade 3-D modeling software. All featuring a distinctive, minimalist design ethic. And all built with the quality, performance, and fishability you expect from Sage.

In other words, maybe you do have to be a rocket scientist after all.

Sage on 6000 Series Reels

Introducing the flagship of our reel lineup and what we believe to be the pinnacle of contemporary fly reel design. Built around our exclusive sealed multi-graphite disk drag unit, 6000 Series reels resist salt, grit, and dunkings to deliver buttery-smooth performance under tough conditions. Big fish and high drag settings? No problem. Just twist the numbered, one-revolutioon drag know, strip out line, then return to the exact setting you've tested for consistent, reliable resistance levels. Every time.

Our "rocket science" 3-D software allowed us to remove all unnecessary weight and maximize strength with curved surfaces and complex geometry. Other gee-whiz features include a unique concave spool hub that increases strength and line capacity; simple no-tool left/right retrieve conversion; and an innovative one-click quick-change spool mechanism that stands up to even the most arduous bluewater slugfests. Did we mention we love these reels?

Sage on Sage

It all began over 20 years ago on a little island nestled in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains . . .

Founded in 1980 by legendary rod designer Don Green, Sage was created with one idea in mind - to build the world's finest performance fly rods. Using world-class materials and years of experience gained while working with Fenwick and Grizzly rod companies, Don revolutionized the fly fishing world.

When Sage started business on Bainbridge Island it was first known as Winslow Rod Company, and although the name quickly changed to Sage, the location on Bainbridge Island is still the same even today. Originally it had six employees and about 1,500 square feet of manufacturing space. Today it has grown to 130 employees working in a 30,000 square foot space.

At Sage, every piece of angling equipment we make is designed, tested and hand built with one goal in mind: Maximum fishability. It's a term we came up with a few years back to describe the kind of performance that helps you cast better, fish more effectively and have more fun. In short, every Sage rod, reel and line is specifically designed to help you make the most of your precious time on the water.

When you purchase something with the Sage name on it, you get a lot more than just a great product. You get access to the finest customer service in the industry, including our famously fast turnaround on warranty repairs, real person-to-person phone support on the Sage Techline and a worldwide network of the best dealers in the business. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, we're here to help.

When we say Sage products are made by and for anglers, we're not kidding. From Team Sage and our Sage Advisory Staff to our industry-leading guide program and active support of numerous angling and conservation organizations, we feel fortunate to work and fish with some of the finest people around. Welcome to the community-it's a good one, and we're extremely proud to be a part of it.

Sage on Fly Fishing

Kids at Play Remember when you got so excited you couldn’t sleep the night before fishing? Or how your hands shook with anticipation trying to rig up? Or the hopes held in a morning’s thrilling first cast?

Of course, after a lifetime of fishing, it’s awfully easy to become jaded. Tales of huge fish in exotic destinations are a long way from the kid who, fearing he’d sleep past dawn, lay on his back in the tent, holding tennis shoes above his face. In the unlikely event he should actually drift off, the shoes would bounce off his head to wake him. And that was just to catch first light at the local bluegill pond.

In the soul of every angler lives the kind of fun we felt as kids. It’s what keeps our love for fishing alive. A psychologist might say we’re harboring some kind of Peter Pan complex, but for us, it’s what fly fishing is really all about. It might also explain why people are always asking anglers when they plan to “grow up.”

We feel the same kind of excitement about introducing our new Z-Axis rods. We knew it wouldn’t be easy to replace our much-loved XP line, but after spending the last three years in deep R&D, we are positively giddy about these rods. When the people who work here start fighting over who gets to fish the prototypes, well, you know you’re on to something.

We’d also like to introduce you to J.D. Love and Brian Horsley, who provide the kind of on-the-water-every-day input that’s essential to creating rods with maximum fishability. J.D. and Brian are “serious” anglers, but even after decades of guiding, both retain a kid’s excitement about fishing. Our kind of people. Whether you last felt the anticipation that leads to sleepless nights and shaking hands a week ago or a lifetime ago, may you experience it again in the upcoming season. When are we going to grow up...Hopefully never. See you out there."