Anybody throw Sage Speys?

[Grampa Spey]

I own the ZA 6126, 7136 and 7110. The later two are strong rods, but I went to the Death Star just in case.

At my age, a battered old 73 year old, I don't think that I would want to run into a fish that out gunned the Death Star.

If you get a Death Star save yourself a lot of time/money and misery re lines. Have Steve Godshall slice and dice one of his SGS lines for it.

Got to the Speyorama on Friday this year and try different rods and the lines they have for them. You might just find what you want.

New to the site, but not newto Spey.

I'm looking for a new Spey rod - perhaps an 8 weight.
I currently use a 6126 ZAxis (yuba/Feather). 7136 ZAxis for American and overall Steelie and Salmon; but I'm looking to bulk up for BC this year.

I actually felt outgunned for the first time with my 7136 on the Bulkley last year and may need 14-15 8/9 weight for these large rivers.

Has anyone got experience with the Sage TCX or other alternatives?

Not a Sage bigot, but i know what I like...

[Grampa Spey]

Gary has wrapped and done his two handed cork magic/art on 3 Sage Rods for me, the 5120, ZA7110, and ZA7136.

Gary brought the these rods down to the Speyorama the year of his finishing the rod, and I with the help of experts matched lines/leaders to the rods.

Various super casters at the various Speyoramas wanted to try each rod after we mated with the proper line.

Bob Pauli and a couple of lads from across the pond mated my ZA6126 with the Rio AFS Shooting head 6/7 and Rio's 15' floating Versi leader. It got rotated around by the experts for most of the afternoon until I rescued it. Good casters didn't want my name, they wanted Gary's name and the rod id # and the line and leader.

Similiar results happened with the ZA7110 and ZA7136.

A couple of years ago I bought my Death Star finished by Sage to the Speyorama. Until Steve Godshall sliced and diced one of his SGS lines, not too many people wanted to cast it. Most of those, who tried it without Steve's line handed it back rather quickly. After Steve did his magic with one of his sliced/diced SGS lines, I had a hard time getting the rod back.

I have a brace of Sage spey rods from Gary Anderson (ACR). I divested myself of all others over these two rods.

A couple of years back, I took a spey lessons from a venerable FFF instructor.
This guy was so good and so far up in the ranks, he was an "examiner" of instructors; went all over the world grading guys getting licensed. He liked my Sage from Gary so much I had difficulty getting it out of his hands so I could practice what he was trying to teach me! He ended up ordering one for himself. How's that for an endorsement.
Selah.......

[Don Powell]

B.C. offers many opportunities...
You need to tell us where and what month you plan to fish for meaningful advice...
I have used anything from a 10' 6 wt single hand to a 14' 3" 9 wt double hand from March to October to land 48 B.C. steelhead since 2005. It remains my favorite place to fish and I am going there twice more in 2012.
Incidently, I fished the Bulkley and easily landed five steelhead during my week there on Gary Anderson's 12' 9" 6 wt and my Meiser MKS 12' 6" 6/7/8.
Bigger is not always better...
Please divulge information as to where and when you plan to go and you may receive helpful guidance...
I have never felt "undergunned" while fishing in B.C. but there have been many times when I would have enjoyed the steelhead I landed with a lesser weight rod.

[steel2theReel]

Thanks all for the posts!

I have to do my homework now...

[aaron]

If you get a Death Star save yourself a lot of time/money and misery re lines. Have Steve Godshall slice and dice one of his SGS lines for it.

Never understood this, I've seen more people struggle with A SGS taper than with something out of the box from Rio or Airflo. TO each their own though.

[Willowemac]

Based on fishing the Bulkley and Sustut the last 5 years, here is my experience;
- Sage Zaxis 8129 lighter in hand than 8134 and can handle tight spots. Will handle any fish and tips you want. Both are good choices
- Sage Zaxis 7136 is fine for most situations, but not as good as 8129 for tight quarters and heavy runs where you can't move (if 40" fish on)
- Sage TCX 8119: fantastic. With a skagit short 525 will throw anything a mile, great in tight spots, and the length is great for fish fighting. My current choice. This rod and a Meiser Highlander S 1307 are my go-to rods

A 7 wt. should be fine for the Bulkley. A 6 wt. is fun on the Morice. But the Sustut (and Babine) has runs and fish that are best fished with an 8. And ACR and Bob Meiser know their stuff. The Anderson Explorer 8 wt is a bargain. With an Airflo 570 you can handle anything. Since you don't need 8 wts done here, that rod is a good option

[steel2theReel]

Thanks to all who responded. I ordered and received a "Death Star".

Shoots line like a champ with a Scandi head on it.

WoW!