Desert Sportsman is pleased to announce the arrival of the much anticipated Sage Xi3, 99, and Vantage series rods!
The “Xi3″ replaces the Xi2 series and is constructed from Sage’s new “Salt H2O Technology” graphite. We recently fished some Xi3 prototype rods in Belize and the performance was nothing less than astounding. The rods are extremely light in the hand in respect to their line designations and provide line speeds that cast large saltwater flies with little effort. MSRP: $695-$775.
Sage also introduced the “99″, an industry first dedicated nymphing rod. Built from the legendary G5 graphite and measuring 9′9″, this rod has a taper specifically designed to handle heavy nymph rigs including big indicators, big flies, and lots of lead. After having the opportunity to fish the 99, our initial reaction was enhanced mending and line management along with the ability to sling unreal amounts of lead on long leaders. This rod would be an excellent choice for chironomid rigs on our lakes. MSRP: $699.
The “Vantage” replaces the ever-popular Launch series of rods and will provide anglers with unparalleled performance at a reasonable price. The Vantage is an unbeatable value and will outmatch any other rod in its class. Like every Sage rod, the Vantage is built in the USA, has a lifetime unconditional warranty, and offers graphite technology that is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. MSRP: $225-$255.
Desert Sportsman has every new rod in stock and ready for your next adventure. Please contact us for more details: info@desertsportsman.com
My first few steps into a stream last week were met with a great deal of excitement and anticipation! I couldn’t wait to get my new Simms Rivershed boots in the water considering I’ve spent the last 25 years wading and slipping in felt sole boots. The hike into this stretch of creek completely blew me away. I’ve naturally become accustom to sliding and skiing my way into most canyons with the precarious combination of felt soles and pine needles. The new Vibram StreamTread soles, however, seem to bite the ground and offer the same stability you expect out of a great hunting boot.
The slight film of algae that appears on the rocks this time of year always causes me to exercise extreme caution. When I stepped into the water and began wading, I had an immediate feeling of security and solid stance despite the otherwise slick as ice nature of the bottom. The more I waded upstream the more I was in shock over the stability I had and my confidence began to grow. I found myself not paying as much attention to the stream bottom and was able to look for fish as I waded.
Another pleasant advantage I enjoyed was the weight difference these light weight boots offered. I can’t even begin to tell you how relieved I was not slogging the dead weight of the water soaked felt soles around the stream banks and eventually, up and out of the canyon. To say the least, these boots changed the way I wade and greatly decreased my fatigue level at the end of the day. I fished the new boots for two solid days and put several miles on my feet without feeling the usual day after aches and pains I’ve experienced in the past.
Do yourself, your feet, and your wading confidence a favor … Stop by Desert Sportsman and grab a pair of Simms Vibram StreamTread boots!
After years of refinement and testing, the highly anticipated Abel QC series has just been released. Built around Abel’s legendary cork drag system and a new “Quick Change” spool design, this reel is sure to set the standard by which all other high quality reels will be judged.
The simplicity of the quick change mechanism allows users to change spools effortlessly while fishing. Simply back off the drag, rotate the knob on the spindle, and the spool is free. This attribute is especially useful in areas where fish are found at varying depths requiring the use of different lines for specific presentations.
While the innovative design and and overall appearance of the new QC series is a departure from Abel reels of the past, the build quality and reliability is Abel quality through and through. The reel has a unique out-going click and retrieve click that is different from any other Abel reel offered in the past. The QC has the same great low start-up inertia cork drag and wide range of drag settings that make Abel reels so desirable.
The new Super 7/8 QC weighs 8.8 ounces with a spool diameter of 3.750″ and spool width of .950″. The reel holds 200 yards of 20# backing with a WF-7-F line and 175 yards of 20# backing with a WF-8-F line. Retailing for $760 in standard black, the new QC is available in any finish currently offered by Abel. Stop by to check out our selection of QC’s and take a look at the new standard in high performance fly reel design.
A few months back, Mike O’Connor and I had the opportunity to fish the Sage TCX on the California Delta. After the first few casts Mike and I were completely amazed by the high line speed this rod is able to generate. Crafted from Generation 5 Graphite, this rod takes distance casting to the next level and beyond. Need to throw big casts, big flies, heavy-grain lines, or deep nymph rigs? This is the weapon of choice…
Since it’s recent introduction, Desert Sportsman has outfitted many anglers with the TCX. The overall impression of those anglers has been the ease of casting and incredibly light nature of the rod despite it’s magnum power. We have seen casters of all skill levels perform very well with this rod.
The TCX is a great looking rod with extra-flor grade cork, premium hardware, and a stunning vibrant green color. We have teamed up with Abel to offer a “TCX Green” finish on a variety of their reels suited for the TCX rod. Please contact us for more details…
