For those of you who are interested, the following is of course only my view point and as always one should try a rod before buying it. I'm only posting it because this is a new model for 2005 and I haven't seen any reviews yet and several people have asked on various forums if anyone has used one.

I have recently bought a Sage TCR 697-4 rod and have spent enough time with it now to form a few opinions. Also, I must say, that even though I like most of the Sage rods I've tried or own I equally like many of the other rods out there by different makers. My favorite being a Thomas & Thomas. Basically I'm trying to say I'm not a one eyed Sage man.

This rod is the 9'6" 6 wgt. four piece model with a full wells grip, saltwater type up-locking reel seat as found on most Sage rods and the usual small fighting butt. I have two other Sage TCR rods, a 590 and an 890 so I couldn't help but make comparisons to those two rods.

Anyway I've found the TCR 697 a powerful, fast but nevertheless smooth, quite sweet rod. To be sure it doesn't feel as sweet as a Winston BIIx (which I personally like a lot) or a Sage SLT but then it obviously wasn't designed to be like them. It is certainly faster than a Sage XP 696/697 rod too as to be expected.

However the TCR 697 is no where as fast an action as the TCR 590 or the TCR 890 and is slightly slower than the TCR 690. This is no doubt due to the extra length - 9'6". Also I suspect that Sage has taken on board a lot of the criticism that has been leveled at the earlier TCR rods. Too stiff, a casting rod, not a proper fishing rod etc. etc. Just about all of which I personally disagree with.

I could chuck a 7 wgt. WF, 100ft. but to me this rod does feel better with a 6 XXD with more than 70 ft. of line out.

I used mine with a Rio Nymph 7 wgt. for short distance nymph, indicator fishing and here the rod excelled because it had the length for mending and the stiffness and speed to set the hook quickly on a take. If I were doing the same type of fishing at a longer distance than I was, then using a 6 wgt. nymph line would be better. I suspect it would be great rod to use for stillwater fishing, especially when the wind gets up and you didn't want to go up a rod size. The rod is also available without the full wells grip and fighting butt in the model TCR 696-4.

About the only criticism I have of this rod is that I find the full wells grip to be too large - which is something I've noticed on all the Sage TCR full wells grips. Then again, I have smaller hands than average. A lot of anglers, especially the man with larger than normal hands, would no doubt find the grip okay.

Overall I found the TCR 697 a brilliant light steelhead rod and that's what I bought it for.

Hi Kiwi...

What size nymphs and what leader/tippit configuration(s) are you using on that new TCR?

Best,
5/0

Hi 5/0,

I'm using very heavy nymphs. generally, two size 12's with largish tungsten beads or a super large gold tungsten bead, plus lead on a size 10 hook with an unweighted size 12 Glo Bug and a yarn indicator. I generally use a 12' straight level leader of 6-8lb Maxima Ultra Green. If the river is clear I'll use the same length 8lb Umqua Super Fluro. Tapered leaders just impede the sinking process.
Where I fish the river is on the small side and swift, usually around 6' deep. The fish which are lake run wild rainbows average around 5lb or more and fight like blazes (whatever that is).

Regards

My only experience with the TCR series was with a 9' 5wt and 9' 8 wt. I'm pretty sure these rods were prototypes cuz they were not on the market yet.
I'm no stranger to fast rods but these rods redefined fast. If your DH was not timed perfectly you lost control of the line. I found myself pressing both rods to get them to load, perfect candidates for overlining IMO.
I hope what you say is true that Sage has softened the rods up but my experience with the TCR found them to be very specialized.

Hi Bucko,

Personally, I wouldn't even try fishing the TCR 590 with a 5 wgt. line - I think that particular rod was designed with the WF5 casting competitions in mind. However take the same rod and put a SA XXD 6wgt. or a SA GPX WF6 or a Rio Grand WF6 and you have a very crisp, smooth although still fast rod.

I also find the TCR 890 to work better at practical fishing distances in fresh water with an WF9. having said that, I find it an easier stick to load with a long belly WF8 such as the SA XXD or Rio Longcast (now discontinued - unfortunately) than the TCR 590 with the WF5.

I see the TCR is now also available (besides the new Spey models) in an 11' for a 7 wgt. Haven't tried one and haven't heard of anyone who has. Would be an interesting rod to try. The TCR rods have advantages for the type of fishing I do, which is mainly with very heavy nymphs and big flies in sometimes very strong winds for relatively largish rainbows (5lb+). I haven't found anything better yet for this type of fishing and those conditions. They would be the last rods I would use if I was going dry fly fishing on some gentle spring creek on a calm day or if I did a lot of roll casting.

You're right when you say the TCR are specialist rods. Then again all of the so called top rod makers produce specialist rods with some absolute gems amongst them. We're spoilt for choice.

Best regards.
Kiwi

Agree 100%... I'm not a big fan of real fast rods, but I do like this taper A LOT. I have a few BIIx and Z-Axis rods, which I don't consider to be real fast, but as fast as I fish most of the time. For wind, or managing deep sinking type VI or VII lines it shines... throws windcutter and bass tapers well too.


TL's~

I also just noticed that Sage didn't quite get this rod... the new TCX configs have very limited 9'6" offerings, and not in a 6wt... Booooooo!