A completely objective review of the new Method 7126-4
Sage METHOD 7126-4 Spey Rod Review
In the fly fishing world, we are constantly being told by media about “the next best thing”, the latest revolutionary clothing, tackle, flies or accessories that are going to make us more comfortable, increase our effectiveness, instantly improve our casting or just make us cool. Many of us in the spey game have become jaded with the media-driven you-gotta-have-this syndrome, greeting each new product announcement with a varied mix of interest and scepticism. In the end, the only way to really determine the value any of these products have for us is to try them yourself. That is not always easy or practical, as we often don’t have access to these new items or if we do, it is at our own personal cost so the process becomes a self-financed gamble.
As a long time spey fisherman, I have arrived at a point where my spey rod/switch rod needs are pretty much covered off by my current arsenal of preferred equipment. Having said that, I am not immune to curiosity and the recent introduction of the Sage METHOD spey and switch lineup did catch my attention. Other than a couple of blog reviews, there doesn’t yet appear to be much feedback available for this rod family. When it comes to evaluating spey rods, or fly rods in general, there is no substitute to actually casting them, and I was fortunate enough to have the recent opportunity to spend a day on the water with two Airflo spey line demo kits and a demo Sage METHOD 7126-4. Currently, the closest equivalent rod to this model that I own is the Sage TCX 7126-4, and that comparison is the one me and most of the spey anglers I know are interested in, so I took both to the river and following is a summary of what I found…
Rod Specifications:
Sage TCX 7126-4
Length: 12’6”
4 piece
Weight: 7 5/8 ounces
Line rating: 7 weight
Action rating: ultra fast
Color: green blank, olive primary thread wraps with red trim wraps
Fuji ceramic stripping guides, oversize chrome snake guides and tip guide
Smoke grey aluminium reel seat, two screw rings – up locking
High grade cork fore grip and butt grip, composite cork butt knob
Sage METHOD 7126-4
Length: 12’6”
4 piece
Line rating: 7 weight
Weight: 6 1/2 ounces
Action rating: ultra fast
Color: “magma” red blank, rust primary thread wraps with pewter trim wraps
Fuji ceramic stripping guides, oversize chrome snake guides and tip guide
Black aluminium reel seat, two crew rings – down locking
High grade cork fore grip and butt grip, composite cork butt knob
Test Tackle:
Airflo Compact Skagit heads
Tip: RIO T-14 tip, 10 feet
Leader: Maxima Ultragreen, 15lb, 3 feet
Fly: 4” intruder style weighted w/ 3/8” dumbbell eyes
Airflo Compact Scandi heads
Leader: RIO salmon/steelhead mono, 12 foot
Flies: #6 low water style, #4 Bullwinkle dry fly
Airflo Compact Rage heads
Leader: RIO salmon/steelhead mono, 12 foot
Flies: #6 low water style, #4 Bullwinkle dry fly
Nautilus CCF #12 reel
Airflo Ridge running line 30lb
Line Matches:
Sage TCX 7126-4 - My personal line match choices over the past couple of years for the Sage TCX 7126-4 have been the following, and I used these benchmarks as the starting point the METHOD 7126-4 trial:
Airflo Compact Skagit head 540 grain
Airflo Compact Scandi head 510 grain
Airflo Compact Rage head 510 grain
Sage METHOD 7126-4 – Skagit Heads
Started with the Airflo Compact Skagit 540 grain head using the sink tip-leader-fly combo above. The 540 grain head loaded the METHOD really well and cast nicely with an even feel and a smooth power transfer over short, medium and long (35’-65’-85’) casts. Using an easy spey stroke with equal top and bottom hand, the rod handled targeted casts naturally without any need to force the rod on the longer casts. This setup loaded well at short range using a lighter touch for close-in work, and as distance was gradually increased there was no need to tighten grip or change any part of the casting stroke other than increasing the D loop slightly and stopping the rod a little higher for more trajectory. Experimenting with grips and casting styles revealed that the METHOD liked a stroke with a more pronounced lower hand pull (although with a light touch) which reveals the “hidden” power this rod possesses, quite unexpected for a rod so light in hand. Then tried the same range of casts with an Airflo Compact Skagit 510 grain head and was amazed how that head lit up the METHOD on the first throw, sailing well beyond the intended mid-range cast and snapping the running line hard to the reel even though I still had enough stripped out on the water for much longer casts to come. The METHOD rod really liked the 510 grain Compact Skagit head, I found again that the same moderate stroke loaded the rod easily allowing very natural-feeling power transition that released smoothly at the rod stop and shot the line effortlessly and on target. I will categorize the 540 grain head as the blue collar “power” line choice featuring a heavier rod load “feel”, this head able to easily handle and manage longer, heavier sink tips (I cast a 13 foot T-14 tip with no problem) and T-14/T-17 MOW tips as bigger payloads for more demanding conditions. The 510 grain head is the white collar “crisp” choice with a lighter feel for more general purpose use with moderate sink tips and lighter MOW tip packages covering most conditions. It will really come down to the applications and feel each angler is most comfortable with suited to water/flow conditions requiring sink tips. I was temped to rig up the Airflo Compact Skagit 570 grain head for a few casts, but the two Skagit head choices tested felt so dialed in that I asked myself “Why would you?” That question may be answered in another test by someone else.
Sage METHOD 7126-4 – Scandi/Rage Heads
I’ll say at the outset, the Scandi/Rage head tests went much like the Skagit head tests did. Started with the Airflo Compact Scandi 540 grain head using the long leader-small wet fly/dry fly setups noted above. As with the Skagit line test, the 540 grain head loaded the METHOD comfortably and produced easy and accurate casts with good rod load feel over short, medium and long casts. There was little noticeable difference between casting either the small wet fly or the more bulky, wind-resistant dry fly, the 540 grain Scandi head presented both with accuracy and as much delicacy as intended based on how much power and trajectory adjustment was applied. The METHOD’s limber power allowed the caster to manage the long floating taper very effectively and the rod further proved it’s versatility when a modest upstream breeze came up and I powered several casts directly into it with the dry fly, still able to kick over the fine-tipped line, leader and fly with authority. The next choice was the Airflo Compact Scandi 510 grain setup with the same leader and flies. As with the lighter Skagit head test, the thirty grain reduction added briskness to the cast and delivery, providing the ability for a moderated presentation that would likely suit smaller fly sizes than the ones I used. The METHOD - Scandi 510 combination allowed a lighter touch during D loop formation, cast and delivery but didn’t give up anything on the power side, especially when combined with a slightly more emphasized lower-hand pull. The angler’s choice will again depend on individual preference. A move up to the 570 grain Scandi head resulted in a combination that was just okay and delivered the flies with power, but it was tougher to create narrow outbound casting loops and the rod felt overloaded and the action boggy. Conversely, dropping down in size to a 490 grain Scandi head may suit casters that prefer a very light load. This line under-loaded the rod for my taste, considerably reducing flexion during D loop and delivery and taking away some of the best attributes of the rod‘s unique action. I have no doubt a skilled spey caster could make this head work on the METHOD if they desired although I believe the 490 grain line weight would limit fly size options and reduce fishing versatility over a range of conditions. As most of you know, the Airflo Compact Rage heads are a hybrid line combining the short head/condensed weight attributes of the Skagit line design with a modified version of the long, gradual taper common to the Scandi style heads. These “in-between” heads are often useful when fishing consistently shorter casts in tight conditions where back cast room is very restricted or for floating line presentations in consistent wind. These hybrid lines accommodate most full floating line tactics, Polyleader/Versileader options and light-medium sink tips. I’ll summarize the Rage tests by saying that my findings and preferences were identical to the Scandi head trial in terms of line weights vs. rod responses. I recommend Rage 540 grain head for average casters/load “feel” enthusiasts and the Rage 510 grain head for more advanced casters/bottom hand “touch” casters. I used a long mono leader for this test, those anglers preferring more line stick for the anchor during the middle part of the cast to assist rod load would be able to achieve that through the use of Airflo Polyleaders or RIO VersiLeaders.
Rod Performance:
For context, let’s take a subjective look at the Sage TCX vs. the Sage METHOD rods
Sage TCX 7126-4: The TCX 7126-4 spey rod comes from a family of TCX rods that are among the fastest designs ever made by Sage. It’s attributes include a strong butt and mid-section, a fast, responsive tip and the capability to create super fast line speeds. As well, it offers a wide grain weight window and is tolerant of being over-lined by those who prefer a heavier casting load feel. The rod’s ability to handle long, heavy tips like 15 ‘ of RIO Type 6 and Type 8 as well as 13+ feet of T-14 along with the capability to deliver all these with tight loops at distance is remarkable. The TCX 7126-4 is a light, fast, responsive rod that rewards good casters with it’s unique action and fishes much bigger than it’s 12’6” length would indicate. The flex pattern under load is pretty much from just ahead of the butt section stripping guide forward to the tip, flexion coming mostly from the top two thirds of the rod’s length. The commanding butt comes into power best with 525 grain or better Skagit lines in combination with longer sink tips in the #8 plus weight range. This big boy butt also provides good lifting power to help control larger anadromous species. It is well finished, light in hand, the handle is a good length and is slimmer and more comfortable than the late 90’s-2000’s Sage “fat boy” cork handles many anglers felt compelled to turn down for improved feel. This Sage rod does sacrifice some feel for power, is definitely not for those that enjoy a fuller flexing action and more relaxed fishing pace and I find it is quite demanding in terms of angler skill to make sure all parts of the cast are near perfect in order to get the most out of the rod’s action.
Sage METHOD 7126-4: I’ll be honest, the METHOD 7126-4 spey rod surprised me. The fact it is rated by the manufacturer as “ultra fast” colored my expectations before I even strung it up. When I finally did line it and waded into the river preparing to cast, I wasn’t prepared for the lightness and limber feel in hand. The first few casts with a Skagit line and sink tip were impressive. As the casts became longer, the smooth load, “natural” feeling transfer of power along the rod and the effortless release of energy into the line and leader to finish the cast really got my attention. The first half hour was spent learning how to reconcile the inherent power of the rod with the lively performance it delivered. The METHOD has a feeling of life that I have seldom experienced in a spey rod. It is progressive without being wimpy, loading equally well on short, medium and long casts. Rod flex under load begins around a foot ahead of the cork handle and it always feels like there is more power to draw from while at the same time an inherent forgiveness. Mending line effectively on the swing or while high stick fishing a short slot is another benefit this rod possesses. When you mend with the METHOD, the line and rod are in it together and it is an organic action that you can execute with both accuracy and feel as if both components are one. Fittings, reel seat, finish and cork handles are all first rate, I am kind of fussy about having slender grips on spey rods and the METHOD’s was comfortable right from the get go. Here’s the thing, I have no idea what “Konnetic energy” is, but this rod is supposed to have it and offer us the benefits of what the new Sage technology brings. I don’t know if it is Konnetic energy or what, but the METHOD rod does two things that no other rod I have cast does: First, it recovers from the delivery at the end of each cast faster than any rod I have cast that wasn’t a pool cue. Delivery – Stop – Fishing. Secondly, I am no scientist but this rod is “directionally stable”. That is the only way I can describe how uncannily straight it casts. The fly goes exactly where you intend it to go. Short, long, in between… I may never know why, but that is how it works and I really appreciate that fact. The only fault I can find with the Sage METHOD 7126-4 is that with the down locking reel seat, the bottom grip seems short and those of us with big hands may feel the lower hand is a little crowded below the reel. On the other hand, I found this setup made me more conscious of using a lighter grip with my lower hand which seemed to actually help my casting, so perhaps something to get used to.
Overall, the Sage METHOD 7126-4 has a lot to offer. It is light, lively, powerful and accurate. I recommend that if you are planning to test any new tackle that you give this spey rod a try, because it has a lot to offer and just might live up to the hype after all.
Scott Runciman – October 14, 2013
Thanks Scott!
