Skip to main content

Sage Trout LL

I didn’t expect Sage to come out with a light-line trout rod just a year after the introduction of the Sage Dart series—available in 0- through 4-weights—but there’s a degree of specialization here that maybe only very experienced dry-fly fishermen can understand or appreciate. While the Dart is made for small flies and small water, it’s still a fast-action rod made for throwing bullet-shaped loops. As the throwback name indicates, the Trout LL is more traditional. Available in weights 3 through 6, the Trout LL is also made for rising trout and small flies, but the rod loads more deeply into the midsection at close and medium ranges, and is more suited to technical situations where you have some space to work and you’re not worried about firing a single backcast in and around obstructions.

Our tester used the Trout LL for scum-sucker browns in Green River backwater eddies. You should also consider it for pods of trout sipping in shallow riffles on the Missouri, or a single big brown feeding on Hendricksons in glassy water on the Delaware. These are situations where you don’t need to shoot quickly to a tight spot, you approach warily, carefully measure the cast, and delicately allow the line to unroll in the air, watching as the energy dissipates and the fly and leader fall gently to the water. The Trout LL also excels anywhere you are fishing 6X or even 7X tippets, and you need a limber rod to act as a buffer.

Beyond the casting aesthetics, this is one of the prettiest rods we’ve had in our hands for this Gear Guide issue. It doesn’t scream “Look at me!” Instead the mahogany blank, bronze and gold trim wraps, walnut wood reel seat, and snub-nose, half-wells cork handle are things you’ll appreciate when you’re standing alone at twilight waiting for the hatch to begin. $800 | sageflyfish.com

//content.osgnetworks.tv/flyfisherman/content/photos/Sage-Trout-LL-Rod.jpg

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
Destinations/Species

Simms Presents - Destination: Skeena

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
News

Just Do It: Nike and Drake Plunge into Fly Fishing

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
News

Abel x Nocta Fly Reel

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
How-To/Techniques

G. Loomis's “Feel Connected” Episode 2: "Rolled Up"

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
Gear

How to Tie Chicone's Magnum Mantis Fly

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
How-To/Techniques

Fly Tier's Bench: How to Tie Egan's Poacher

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
How-To/Techniques

Small Stream Hopper Fishing

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
Destinations/Species

The Tightest Line

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie Craven's Mr. Jones Dry Fly

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie Craven's Mr. Jones Dry Fly

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
How-To/Techniques

How to Fight Trout Effectively and Get them in the Net Quickly

From Patagonia: “Each time we remove a dam, life comes rushing back in. For years, we've known that dams are lethal. Now...
News

Patagonia Advocates for Dam Removal

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Fly Fisherman App apple store google play store

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use