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.
