Sage released the Pulse fly rod series to replace the older Response fly rods as a ‘workhorse’ rod for all anglers. This mid-range, fast action rod is versatile and packs plenty of power, but is it worth spending $450 to buy it? How does it compare to other top fly rods available at a similar price?
We wanted to find out, so we analyzed every little detail about the Sage’s Pulse fly rod series. Read on to discover our verdict on the Pulse fly rods and whether you should invest in one of these rods by Sage!
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Available Sizes
- 7′ 6″ 3 WT
- 8′ 6″ 3 WT
- 10′ 0″ 3 WT
- 8′ 6″ 4 WT
- 9′ 0″ 4 WT
- 8′ 6″ 5 WT
- 9′ 0″ 5 WT
- 9′ 6″ 5 WT
- 9′ 0″ 6 WT
- 9′ 6″ 6 WT
- 9′ 0″ 7 WT
- 10′ 0″ 7 WT
- 11′ 4″ 7 WT
- 9′ 0″ 8 WT
- 9′ 6″ 8 WT
All About the Sage Pulse
The Pulse is another stellar product from the well-known rod manufacturer, Sage. With the Pulse, you get the excellent craftsmanship, superior componentry, and incredible performance we’ve come to expect from Sage. They are promoting it as a versatile, workhorse rod, and we’d agree.
The Pulse is powered by Graphite IIIe Technology, which creates an incredible combination of feel and power. It’s easy to cast, and you can cast heavy or light lines on any river, lake, or creek. For a mid-priced model, you get brilliant value for money, as it’s pretty close to those higher-end rods.
You can buy the Sage’s Pulse in sizes from 3 weight up to 8 weight and lengths of 7’6 right up to 10′ rods. So you’ll be able to find the perfect rod to meet your needs. There are both freshwater and saltwater models, making them suitable for every angler, no matter how or where you prefer to fish.
Sage Pulse: Benefits and Features
So you’re interested in the Sage Pulse, but you’re not sure yet if it’s the right rod for you? Let’s explore exactly what this product has to offer for fly fishing enthusiasts by taking a look at its performance, weight, action, and build!
Weight
The Sage’s Pulse isn’t the most lightweight rod, but it’s not bad. A 7wt, 10 foot Sage Pulse fly rod weighs in at 3.25 oz – a bit heavier than those high-end, super light rods. One of the most common complaints we’ve heard about the Pulse is about the heavier swing weight, but we still think the overall excellent performance counterbalances this negative aspect.
Build Quality
The Pulse has a brilliant build quality, making it excellent value for money. The components are all high quality and it looks cool, too. The neon green blank color might not be for every angler, but it looks sharp and fresh against the darker green wraps and black trim.
The Pulse has a very comfortable grip: a half wells snub-nosed version for the freshwater models and a full wells grip complete with fighting butt for the saltwater models. You also get a stylish, single uplocking reel seat in glossy black anodized aluminum with a rosewood insert (or aluminum for the saltwater rods).
The look is finished off by a Fuji ceramic stripping guide plus hard chrome snake guides. The overall effect is elegant and sleek and will look great out on the water. You get a nylon rod tube with a divider to store your rod safely in between fly fishing trips.
Action
This rod is officially referred to as a fast action rod, but the general consensus is that this rod falls somewhere between medium-fast and fast action. Thanks to the latest graphite technology, you get a bit more flex and give in the blank which is essential when playing a fish, so you’ll lose less fish overall.
Sage has nailed the action on this rod. It’s progressive, which means that the tip is softer with more sensitivity, but the butt section has all the power you need for those long casts. And unusually for fast action rods, you get a lot of feel and connection with your fly.
Versatility
The Sage Pulse is about as versatile as a rod can be! You can fish this rod at any distance with ease, although it truly excels at mid-distance and long-range casts. If you like to fish big water, the Sage Pulse is the ideal fly rod for you. However, this rod also gives a decent performance at close range, although it does lose a bit of that accuracy. You might not be able to get those perfectly tight rods, but you’ll still catch fish.
The Sage Pulse is capable of casting out heavy rigs and weighted flies, but you can also have a lot of success with dry fly fishing, too. You’re not limited to one technique with the Pulse. Thanks to the latest Sage technology, there’s plenty of flex within the blank so you don’t lose fish.
Warranty
As always with Sage products, you get the generous lifetime warranty. Should anything happen to your rod, they will replace or repair it for you, so that’s one more worry off your mind.
Sage Pulse FAQ:
Here’s where you’ll find answers to all of your questions about Sage fly rods!
Who owns Sage rods?
Sage is owned by Far Bank Enterprises, a Seattle-based investor bank who also own Redington and RIO. Don Green and Bruce Kirschner created the company and ran it until 1994.
At this time, they decided to take a step back from the business, staying on as Vice President of Research and Development and President respectively. It was at this time that Jerry Siem joined the Sage team as the new chief rod designer.
Where are Sage rods made?
All Sage rods are made at the original company headquarters at Bainbridge Island, Washington, where Sage has more than 175 employees.
You can also see our post here on Sage Fly Rods Reviews here.
The Wrap Up
So there you have everything you need to know about the Sage Pulse fly rod! It’s powerful, eye-catching, and well-made, making it a great choice for a reasonably priced workhorse rod. You can take the Pulse out with you anywhere you fish, but it’s especially suited to casting long-distance or throwing out those big, weighted flies.
If you want to go fishing on a windy, blustery day, the Sage Pulse is the rod to go for. It deserves a place among any angler’s fishing gear and rods and will be one that you take out fly fishing all the time. So what are you waiting for? Give it a test run at your local fly shop or add it to your Amazon cart now to get your hands on this superb all-rounder fly rod.
What it gains in power and performance, it lacks in precision at the close range, however. If you like to fish small streams or you want a very lightweight rod, check out our other rod reviews at Fly Fisher Pro to find the perfect fly rod for you.
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Thanks for your review! It was very useful. I actually have just bought a sage pulse 7wt. Do you have any line recommendation for it? Thanks Again. Al
Hey Al no problem, happy to help. The line depends a lot on what you’re going to be fishing for? Our top recommendations in the 7wt range are here: https://flyfisherpro.com/gear/lines/best-7-weight-fly-line/