Hi guys,

My first post is a question.

I found a good price for a Sage Z-Axis 586-5 and purchased the rod right before I left on a 2 week fishing trip. Rod arrived, I, checked the ferrules, guides, tip etc., and threw it in with a couple of other rods and reels for my trip.

Like a dummy, I never mounted a reel on the new rod! Get to the stream and the Orvis and Hardy reels I own will not fit inside the Sage reel seat. The foot of the reels are a smidgen too long and a little too thick to fit between the locking ring and the handle (1/8" - 1/4" too long).

What the heck, shouldn't any decent 5/6 wt reel fit on any 5wt rod?

Does this mean I have to buy a Sage reel to fit the rod?

Thanks in advance if you guys can shed any light on the matter.

The Sage reel seat (Struble U20) is a good fit with many reels. I had a new style Orvis Battenkill LAII reel that would not sit properly on my Sage or Winston rods. Your options are to file down the foot of the reel, change the reel, or change the rod. If it was mine..i would sell the reel and buy a Sage 2550 reel, it's a far better reel anyway in my opinion. The old style Orvis Battenkill LA is also a better fit, this would be next option.
cheers Diarmid.

I've a few Sage rods and a reel or two and have never encountered a problem

Sorry to hear of your predicament, that's a real bummer ( no pun intended) - what I certainly wouldn't do is file down any other reel seats to fit the rod - that could greatly reduce any future resale value of the reels, particularly say a Hardy etc. It may also affect their mounting on other rods in future.

Personally speaking, unless there was a very good reason to keep the rod and there is a disclaimer from Sage stating that only their reels fit their rods and other current maker's reels may or may not fit that particular rod's fittings, I'm afraid I'd be looking along the lines for a possible refund as it seems not fit for purpose.

However, that's just me and others may disagree and you may be happy to purchase an additional reel(s) to fit but, whichever route you choose, it does beg the question as to why in the 21st Century, a rod from an upmarket rod manufacturer is unable to accept a reel seat from another equally up-market reel manufacturer without modification.

Tony

Welcome to the Forum bladebev.

A thorny problem for a first post; I would suggest there is nothing wrong with your Sage reel seat and that any decent American made reel would fit. I've used various Ross Evolution reels, Waterworks ULA, as well as various Swedish made Loop/ Danielssons, on my similar size Sage SLT and Z-Axis rods. Never ever had any problems.

I've dug out this previous post which includes a drawing from REC, another quality reel seat manufacturer.

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Save the softmouth trout

Thanks for the speedy response guys, especially the AFFTA standard.

Dimension "A" on the chart is the offender, the reel seat opening measures 2 1/4" and my reels are measuring 2 1/2".

Methinks an e-mail to Sage is in order and probably a return.

I have never had any problems with a Struble 20 seat and i have tried a lot of reels.. Is your rod a factory rod, does it say B behind the model number??

Jerry

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Welcome to the Forum Bladebev.

It does seem ridiculous to me too. Surely any suitably sized reel should fit the rod.
If I was in your position, I think I'd be tempted to return the rod too, however I recently bought a Z-Axis 9' 5wt, and got a Sage 2550 reel to go with it. I completely agree with Diarmid that it's a fantastic reel, and balances beautifully with the rod.

It's such a great rod / reel combination, that I'd be very sad to send the rod back, even if it's the right thing to do!

Keith