Catchbook - Social Fishing Network

  “The Wow Cast. The Holy Smokes Cast. The highly coveted Are You Kidding Me Cast

These are just a few of the new casts discovered by Jerry Siem, Sage's rod designer and chief guru during the development of the TCX fly rods. Jerry has created a radical new series of fly rod tapers in order to harness the increased energy produced by Sage's Generation V Technology.

The TCX series also utilize the latest Fibre Alignment and Graphite Core Wrap Technologies. The result is a fly rod that's much lighter (upwards of 20%) stronger and more powerful than its predecessor. Most importantly, the enhanced line feel means intuitively better timing and an extraordinary level of casting ease.

Whether you're reaching for previously impossible lies, trying to reach that distant cruising trout, casting in to the teeth of a gale or just showing off on the casting pool, the TCX rod provides skilled anglers with the ultimate tool for success when facing the most challenging casting or fishing situations.” That’s the sage blurb so what’s it really like? I received my new 10ft TCX 7# in January paid, apart from the excess, for by my insurance company after my TCR was smashed in a land rover crash in South Africa.  It's finish is as you’d expect although I am not a total fan of the few strands of red whipping. The first thing I noticed once I had put it together was how stiff it was. I joked with my friend, as I placed he reel on the rod, it felt like a stick. I was trying it with a Lee Wulff Triangle Taper 7# floater, a line which I use with all my other 7 weights, and the first casts were interesting if not inspiring. The action was undoubtedly fast, and not too fast, but it did not seem to really respond to my line. I varied my casting style and noticed that although it cast a long straight line it lacked feel. It felt to me that it would respond better to a heavier line which might turn it from the casting tool that it is into a fishing rod which is a joy to use.