The Payload is Sage's big-fly delivery system. Short, strong blanks designed to be fished with overweighted lines — the “6+” on the butt means it wants a heavier-than-standard 6 weight line, and Sage publishes the exact grain range for each model. Articulated streamers, musky bugs, bass poppers, sink tips: this is the rod that turns them over without beating you up.
We stock the complete Payload lineup, all six models. Handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, Washington.
Full lineup — note the grain recommendations
| Model | Line | Recommended grains | Length | Pieces | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 689-4 | 6+ | 200–230 gr | 8' 9" | 4 | 3⅞ oz |
| 789-4 | 7+ | 230–270 gr | 8' 9" | 4 | 4¹³⁄₁₆ oz |
| 889-4 | 8+ | 270–320 gr | 8' 9" | 4 | 4½ oz |
| 989-4 | 9+ | 320–370 gr | 8' 9" | 4 | 4¹³⁄₁₆ oz |
| 1090-4 | 10+ | 370–420 gr | 9' 0" | 4 | 5¹¹⁄₁₆ oz |
| 1193-4 | 11+ | 420–480 gr | 9' 3" | 4 | 5¹⁵⁄₁₆ oz |
All four-piece. Current pricing is on the selector above.
The grain window matters more than the number on the butt. Modern streamer lines are already built heavy, and pairing this rod with a standard-weight trout line will underload it badly. Tell us what you are throwing and we will match the line to the window — that pairing is most of what makes this rod feel right.
Picking one
- Trout streamers from a boat? The 689-4 or 789-4.
- Bass and pike? The 889-4 covers poppers through mid-size pike flies.
- Musky? The 1090-4 or the 1193-4 with its extended rear grip — built for figure-eights at the boat.
Components
- Blank: Konnetic-family construction, fast action, Tannin finish with burgundy wraps and bronze trim
- Guides: tangle-free Fuji ceramic strippers, oversized hard-chromed snakes that pass big loop-to-loop connections
- Reel seat: heavy-duty aluminum uplocking
- Grip: Super Plus full-wells with cork-composite fighting butt; 3" extended rear grip on the two biggest models
- Included: black ballistic rod tube with embroidered logo
Warranty: Sage original-owner warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Ed's Fly Shop, 432 E Main St, downtown Montrose, Colorado.
