Leland on the Sage Launch 690-4

The Launch 690-4 fly rod is a rod for when the flies are getting bigger, but the budget isn't! You can look long and hard and never find a better fly rod for the money. This would be a great small summer steelhead rod, too!

Specifications:

• Line Size: 6
• Rod Length: 9'
• Sections: 4
• Weight: 3 9/16 oz.
• Handle: Cigar
• Reel Seat: Uplocking with wood reel seat
• Action: Medium-Fast

Leland on the Sage Launch

Once again Sage Fly Rods has set the standard with their Launch introductory fly rods. The Launch Fly Rod is a fine example of what can and should be done for the angler with a tight budget. These fly rods deliver flies with the precision expected from all Sage rods. They were designed using the techniques learned from the development of G-5 technology used in Sage's jewel, the Xi2, and are fishing rods first and casting rods second. They deliver high line speed and fly accuracy while transferring all the fish fighting feel to the angler.

Leland on Sage

 
We at Leland have been selling Sage Fly Rods since our shop first opened its doors in 1985. Without a doubt, if you polled experienced fly anglers across the country, and the world, and asked “Who is the premier fly rod manufacture on the planet?” , the answer you would receive most often would be “Sage”. The popularity of Sage Fly Rods is no accident. Fly anglers tend to be picky folks and they usually expect a lot from their equipment. If they’re not satisfied, they have no problem selecting a different piece of gear that will work better for them. It’s not the glossy ads or the fancy names, people buy Sage Fly Rods because they PERFORM. Innovation, quality, durability, and great customer service go into every Sage Fly Rod and continue after you purchase one. Regardless of your experience level, your casting style, or your budget, Sage builds a rod that will be your trusted fishing companion for years to come. Sage has ten separate fly rod series, encompassing the spectrum of fishing applications, from small trout streams to blue water big game.

Leland is proud to be the largest volume Sage Fly Rod dealer in the world. And we’ve achieved that status, like Sage, through hard work and exemplary customer service. We stock and sell every single fly rod model that Sage manufactures. Please call us if you need assistance in selecting the right rod for you.

Sage was founded in 1979 by Don Green, an experienced rod blank builder and one of the architects of the modern fishing rod, as owner of the Grizzly Fiberglass Company, which later partnered with Fenwick. It was originally called Winslow Manufacturing (after the city of Winslow on Bainbridge Island, Washington) but within a year had changed its name to Sage. Emphasizing high quality fly rods sold only through specialty stores, Sage rode the crest of the fly-fishing boom in the post “A River Runs Through It” years. Today, although there is no industry repository for exact numbers, Sage is probably the world’s largest producer of premium fly rods and employs over 130 workers in their manufacturing facility. The proximity of Bainbridge to the Boeing Aircraft manufacturing plants near Seattle and Toray Composites in Tacoma provides access for Sage to a wealth of knowledge from the aerospace industry, the primary end users of graphite fiber.

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.

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.

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 SLT and Xi2 Sage rod series. 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 in 2007, perhaps the best fly rod series ever built, Jerry and Sage have raised the standard for fly rod performance.

Sage on the Launch Rod Series

Medium-Fast Action Rods: Available in line weights 3 through 9.

"The three years we spent developing G5 Technology clearly demonstrated that the key to better casting is the ability to feel the rod load. So when we designed our new Launch Series rods, we applied what we've learned to create a smooth, progressive power curve and an extremely high strength-to-weight ratio. Loosely translated, that means Launch Series rods provide an exceptional level of connection or feel, allowing the anglers all the abilities to cast better and more easily."

Sage on Sage

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.

The people who make up Team Sage are some of the finest anglers in the world. Their expertise, wisdom and experience are an important part of our design process, and their contributions to the fishability of our products are immeasurable. But more than that, these are great people to fish and work with, and we're proud to call each of them friends.

Some say Sage rods are legendary for their magical properties, their propensity for placing flies just above the ripple. We don't know about magic, but we do know that every Sage rod is made by hand and we make rods for anglers of every stripe.

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.

If you're new to the sport of fly fishing, you've probably discovered there's a lot to learn. From reading holding water and understanding fish habitat, to learning your fly patterns and how to rig your equipment - there are a million details to consider.
So if you get frustrated, remember the infinite details that cause frustration to the beginner are the same details that offer the veteran fly fisher continual challenges and endless excitement. No matter how many years you've been fly fishing, there is always more to learn. So start simply and be patient, because there's a whole new underwater world that you can have a good time getting to know and traveling to discover.

"Every part of this earth is sacred. Every single pine needle, every shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing, every humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of our race. You are part of the earth and the earth is part of you."- Chief Seattle

How we relate to our environment has a direct effect on the state of the planet. By getting out in the woods, wading a mountain stream and admiring the vibrant colors of a rainbow trout as you carefully release it, you become close to nature and develop a bond you strive to nurture and protect.

Please help Sage in the effort to preserve and enhance our natural resources by practicing catch-and-release fishing and encouraging other anglers to do so. Your children and theirs will thank you for it.

Sage is a proud sponsor of The Federation of Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, the Haig-Brown Institute and California Trout.

Sage continues to seek performance advantages through new materials and designs, marketing its products through a network of specialty dealers. Yet more than ever, Sage remains focused on one goal, which is best summarized by its statement of purpose: We are passionate about our business of creating fly fishing products that continually exceed the fly angler's expectations. Wherever in the world your fly fishing takes you, it is safe to say that Sage has the products to enhance your fly fishing experience.

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