Sage Maverick Fly Rod Review

When looking for a fly rod for saltwater fishing there is a lot to choose from. In today’s review, we are going to look at the Sage Maverick fly rod, a stiff fast action rod that is well suited to windy days out on open water or the salt flats. We will look at the best and worst features, how they compare with other rods in the Sage line up, real-world reviews, and our recommendations. We also include links where you can find good deals on this rod if you find it is right for you.

With a saltwater rod, you are going to trade subtle feel for stiffness and toughness. When out on the open water, especially on a boat where the rod might get banged around when fighting a fish, this toughness and impact resistance is valuable. The trade-off is they fall short at roll casts and mending.

Place in Sage lineup

Sage is an American company that makes there rods on Bainbridge Island, WA. Started in 1980 Sage makes rods and reels as well as accessories and apparel. They offer a lifetime warranty on their rods which cover any defects in materials or workmanship but won’t cover if you accidentally slam it in your car door.

The Sage Maverick is the entry-level rod in their saltwater series. While it is the least expensive in Sage’s line up it falls in the middle price in the market overall. Sage also offers the Salt HD and The X rods which come in at a higher price point.

Rod Action

Sage engineered the Maverick to be slower in the butt section but faster in the tip, making for a quick line pick up and quick presentations. This is what you want for placing your fly in front of fast-moving fish in windy conditions.

Technical Details

Number of Sections: 4

Cover: Comes with cloth cover and hard tube case

Body

The body of the Maverick line uses Sage’s Konnetic technology which is a proprietary mix of fibers, resin and compression process which leads to a lighter, thinner and stronger rod. This is important for a saltwater rod which can see a lot of abuse fighting fish and getting banged against the sides of the boat when a fish runs under. The higher-end Sage rods use Konnetic HD which has even higher energy return.

Even though it is new, users have good feedback on the Maverick line with it being both easy castings and allows you to do gentle presentations. The stiff butt and flexible tip allow for a quick pick up of a lot of line off the water without excessive false casting. That stiffness profile also keeps a lot of distance in the bank for long casts and windy days.

The blanks of the Maverick are a deep pacific blue. The reel seat and threads are anodized aluminum to help resist corrosion in the saltwater. An EVA foam fighting butt caps the rod for fighting those bigger fish.

Handle

The handle is natural cork with an ergonomic palm swell making for a comfortable day of casting.

Rings

The butt and tip rings are oversized as well as the snake guides to smoothly handle the leader when bringing in fish. This will make it easier to fight the fish right to the boat. They are all hard chrome finished to add durability and reduce corrosion.

Sizes in the Series

Model	Line Weight	Length	Handle	Weight	Tube
690-4 MAVERICK	6	9ft	FWEFB*	3 13/16oz	30in
790-4 MAVERICK	7	9ft	FWEFB*	3 15/16oz	30in
890-4 MAVERICK	8	9ft	FWEFB*	4oz	30in
990-4 MAVERICK	9	9ft	FWEFB*	4 1/8oz	30in
1090-4 MAVERICK	10	9ft	FWEFB*	4 3/4oz	30in
1190-4 MAVERICK	11	9ft	FWEFB*	5 1/8oz	30in
1290-4 MAVERICK	12	9ft	FWEFB*	5 13/15oz	30in
1486-4 MAVERICK	14	8ft 6in	X-FWEFB†	6 9/16oz	28 1/2in

*FWEFB – FULL-WELLS WITH EVA FIGHTING BUTT
†X-FWEFB – EXTENDED FULL-WELLS WITH EVA FIGHTING BUTT

User Reviews

Pacific Angler TV really liked the rod for short to medium casts. The combination of a fast tip with stiff butt meant you could place your line quickly and accurately at a short distance while still having the power for 60-foot casts. They tested an 8 weight.

Red’s Fly Shop like the rod as it is an easy casting rod for such fast action. They said that at the price the rod doesn’t have a rival. They rate this as the best value in a bonefish rod.

Users have found the Maverick is a nice step-up in performance at this price point. Great control combined with deceptive casting power makes this a nice addition to the Sage line-up. The different weights are targeted towards different fish with the 8 aimed at bonefish, the 9-10 targets permit and the 11-14 perfect for tarpon and other bigger fish.

For best results, base your line on the fish you are targeting. RIO makes a fly line for bonefish and tarpon. Depending on the fish you have options of sinking and floating tips further refining your presentation.

Maverick Vs Salt HD

For the same weight rod, you will be able to cast further with the Salt HD due to it’s more refined bend profile and Konnetic HD material but the price is almost double.

Our Rating

We give the Maverick line of saltwater rods a 5/5 at their price point. You can definitely get a better rod but be prepared to pay near double or more for a small improvement. The combination of fast action with ease of casting makes this a great rod for both new and experienced saltwater fly fishermen.

Whether looking to fish the shallow flats or head out into deeper water, the Maverick line has rod options that will be well suited for just about any saltwater fly fishing scenario. If you are looking to add a saltwater fly rig to your quiver then you can’t go wrong with the Sage Maverick.