Wading into the river while its current flows around you, you snap and toss out line to catch the wonders beneath the river's surface. It's a passion many share. For years, Sage fly rods have been part of fly fishing's heritage.
Don Green
Sage was founded in 1979 by rod designer Don Green. It started out as Winslow Manufacturing, after the name of the town on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The company's name was soon changed to Sage and in 1980 retailing expert Bruce Kirschner joined the company. Green and Kirschner ran the company until 1994.
Joshua Green Company
Sage was sold to the Joshua Green Company in 1994. Green is now vice president of research and development while Kirschner acts as chief executive. The company's rod division remains a cutting-edge part of its product line.
High End Market
Sage only makes high-end fly rods and will produce as many as 60,000 rods a year. That's far fewer rods than made by competing Asian manufacturers.
Research & Development
Sage employs four full-time research and development engineers exclusively to design rods.
Limited Distribution
Sage eschews larger stores and mass-market retailers, choosing only to distribute to specialty fly shops and fishing stores. This limited distribution helps Sage maintain its reputation for quality.
About The Author
A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Coufal now resides in California. He has written for publications including "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Coufal attended Syracuse University and was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey, Belize and much of Alaska.
