New Gear: Sage’s 2013 “CIRCA” Fly Rods

One sign of a prosperous company is its willingness to constantly reinvent its designs, despite the fact that some customers are perfectly happy with “current models.” Sage Manufacturing is one such company. Not many Sage rods have been duds, yet the company continuously revamps its line on top of earlier successes. First the Sage ONE, now the Sage CIRCA. The slow action rod is meant deliver the slow action that is so quintessential to traditional fly fishing without being “overly soft, willowy, and flat,” says the company.  Sage says: “the CIRCA does not mimic the type of slow action that has so far defined the category…. Instead, thanks to Konnetic technology’s ability to compact and align more carbon fibers into a smaller diameter blank, we were able to design a radically narrow taper throughout the length of the rod, resulting in consistently slow, yet responsive action from butt to tip.”

In the video below, Jerry Siem talks about the CIRCA and its design in the context of his mindset when he goes about conceiving of a new fly rod.  The full press release appears after the video.

Press Release

June 28, 2012 (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) – Sage Manufacturing, fly-fishing industry leader, delivers advanced technology to the world of slow action rods. The CIRCA collection reinvents the slow action rod category with a deliberately more relaxed casting tempo combined with a fast recovery, pinpoint accuracy and extraordinary overall performance. The CIRCA is the ultimate dry fly rod that will enable anglers to maximize the dry fly fishing experience with all of the performance expected from a Sage rod.

“The CIRCA collection debuted at the EFTTEX show in Paris earlier this month and won the Best Fly Rod award for 2012, which is our second such award within the past two years,” says Sage Marketing Manager, Eric Gewiss. “Given the competition for the award, the CIRCA is clearly a pioneering product that will cause the industry to take notice. This is unlike any collection that Sage has ever offered and is the ideal rod to add to any dry fly angler’s collection. I am extremely excited about this new and unique rod family. Konnetic™ technology is what has made it all possible.”

Using Konnetic technology, the CIRCA collection packs more carbon fiber into a smaller diameter resulting in a radically narrow taper through the length of the rod. This technology creates a consistently slow yet responsive action from butt to tip. Casts are methodically smooth and graceful yet pleasantly crisp and purposeful. Enhanced sensitivity gives anglers precision and control needed for delicate presentations making ‘match-the-hatch’ fisheries ideal for these fly rods.

“My goal for this rod was to apply the performance advantages of modern materials on a very sleek, slender shaft that would load down in the hand for a fishing tempo like glass, or bamboo while providing the crucial need for accuracy,” notes Sage Chief Fly Rod Designer, Jerry Siem. “The CIRCA is a rod that once it’s in your hands, enables you to improve as an angler by identifying where, why and how you can put a fly on the water. The CIRCA is definitely going to bring new life into the sport of trout fishing.”

Jerry Siem is featured in Sage’s newly produced CIRCA video which elaborates the CIRCA story.  Beautifully shot in Central Washington, the video is accessible on Sage’s website at http://www.sageflyfish.com/blog/06/2012/new-circa-fly-rod/

With six different four-piece models in the collection from 2-weight through 5 weight, the CIRCA fly rods feature a Green Tea shaft color with Olive and Slate color trim wraps. The Vera wood insert with black aluminum reel seat and winding check pattern create an aesthetically pleasing combination. A custom Sage snub nose half-wells grip completes the rod that comes in a black rod bag with iridescent Black Hills Gold silkscreen in a 1 5/8” Desert Gold rod tube with a black cap.

The CIRCA rod collection will be available through Sage specialty dealers in August and September for a retail price ranging from $745 to $775.

About Konnetic™ Technology:
Konnetic technology, the most recent and significant evolution in fly rod innovation, uses new materials combined with pioneering manufacturing methods and processes. This technology incorporates an optimized ratio of Sage’s proprietary resin to exclusive high modulus aerospace-grade carbon fiber.

The latest construction methods include Sage’s Advanced Modulus Positioning System (AMPS); a process that precisely aligns and positions carbon fiber materials to exacting tolerances for the greatest blank strength delivering extremely efficient energy transfer throughout the shaft. Using Sage’s High Compression Molding process, carbon fibers are compacted for optimum density and precise alignment while simultaneously fusing the 50% lighter all-carbon fiber inner core.

About Sage:
Founded in 1980, Sage was created with one idea in mind – to build the world’s finest performance fly rods. Passionate about creating fly fishing products that continually exceed expectations, Sage strives to seek performance advantages through new materials and designs based on a foundation of research and innovation. Sage also offers fly reels, fly lines, apparel, accessories and luggage for avid anglers. For more information, please visit http://www.sageflyfish.com