I'm just curious. Why would it not be viable and effective? Are you going by age or is there something else going on to make you think it's not gonna work?

 

Yes concerned about age. It’s been in a garage cabinet for almost 15 years. Since then I’ve been nymphing and floating dry flies with an indicator from a drift boat with a #4.

 

The Sage Z Axis rods have a cult like following for a reason. Never fished where you are, but I’d offer this: if you can’t catch fish with that rod don’t think you’re going to catch fish with a newer rod either. I still have my Z Axis 5 wt and it is a fabulous rod. That rod has the most precise ferrule fit of any rod I’ve ever owned, I mean it’s actually mind blowing how precise the pieces fit together. It’s like someone spent hours hand fitting the ferrules. In other words, the rod was built with great care. As good as my 5 wt is I can’t imagine your 8 wt is a dog.

How does it cast for you? You must have liked it back in 2010 or I imagine you wouldn’t have bought it, the rod didn’t start sucking in the meantime.

Maybe you just want a new rod, that’s cool. Since your current rod is essentially new I’m sure you could sell it quite easily to a Z Axis fan for top dollar.

 

fish it.

 

z axis is as good as all but the very top modern rods in my opinion. I still use my z-axis 5wt for trout. I see no reason to replace it. I feel like sage hit their peak with tapers about that time... since then materials have gotten slightly better... maybe 5%... if its not broken dont replace it.... unless you just dont like the feel of the way it casts.

 

Absolutely, fish it. Most importantly, learn the waters/tides of this area, a z-axis will not be your limiting factor for catching fish

 

Thanks guys. I was just worried about the age and have never used it. Looks like I just saved $1,000. I bought some fresh line at Haddrells Fin and Fealther Thurs. I’ll practice casting the old girl today off my dock.

This is a big change from drifting and wading the Henry’s Fork and South Fork of the Snake River with dry flies and indicators. I bought a tide book, loaded the app, and have caught several reds and trout from my neighbor’s bay boat since moving back. I’m learning the area quickly.

My skiff is being rigged at Cape Romain Marine and won’t be ready until the 22nd, so I have time to adjust to shooting heavier line.

 

I’ll take it off your hands if you decide you need a new rod! 🤣 I have been trying to steal my best friends 10wt z axis for several years.

 

Sounds like you've decided to keep it. If it's been in sock/tube and out of sun, the age shouldn't affect it at all.

And Haddrell's is a good source for local knowledge/tips.

 

In a sock and in an aluminum tube in a dark garage cabinet. After listening to you guys, I’m in love with her

 

Count yourself lucky to have a NOS Z-Axis. It has a nice moderately fast action and is easy to cast. Very similar to a Loomis GLX, which can still be purchased new. The big difference is Sage's marketing strategy of constantly discontinuing models to attract buyers to the latest and supposedly greatest. There are several top-end rods available now that are marginally better, but you would need to be an astute caster to notice the difference. Fish it and enjoy it!

 

I agree with above. The Z- Axis rods are my favorite Sage rods of all time.
The only benefit of a newer salt water rod, would be the weight. And only if one was blind casting all day.
I love and use my Z-Axis all the time

 

I still make bad decisions with my 8 wt z axis

 

I would for sure fish the hell out of that rod. Why? firstly, because it's "free" since you already have it. second, the likelihood of you actually having a better experience that is truly attributable to the rod vs. your own abilities is relatively minimal. Have there been "advances" in technology since that rod was made? Sure, I guess. Do they make it worth dropping a thousand dollars to replace a functional piece of equipment? Not to me!

When I first was getting into fly fishing I went and got a TFO rod and practiced and practiced and... you get the idea. I went with my dad to a club meeting down in Naples where we heard all about tarpon fishing and then spent the next hour or two with some casting instructors. At some point I told my dad I wanted to get a different rod cause I was feeling like I needed something "better". Having never cast the TFO before, he took it from me, made two test casts, then pulled out the entire line and landed at his friend's feet 100 feet away. "So what's wrong with this?" Of course I went on to spend thousands on new rods anyway, accomplishing nothing more than what I'm now sure I could have with that TFO. The point is it's not the rod that makes the biggest difference. It's the skill of the caster. Enjoy that sage.

 

It’s the archer not the arrow. Nothing wrong with a z-axis. In 6 years the only new rods I have bought are 8 ,9 , both Scott tidals and the Winston 10.Except for those 3,in 20 years,bought off the used rack. Being a life long shop rat and casting different rods,when someone goes to latest one,I get the old one. The fish don’t care what rod caught it.

 

Whuuuuut??????

Fish it til ya break it.

 

Put on the new line and did about 30 minutes of double-haul casting off the dock this evening. I surprised myself. 😁 Only one wind knot, and in a stiff breeze too. In two days I’ll be shooting line halfway across the Wando. I really like it. The backing looked brand new. I left it.

So funny. 24 hours ago I considered it might be too old to use and a mediocre rod to begin with. One post later and I realize my hoarding an unused rod was like finding a low mileage 356 Porsche in my grandpa’s barn. I’ll put the $1,000 saved into a grab rail and casting platform.

 

Now all the vultures on this site looking for a quality rod for cheap will scatter.

 

As long as were praising Sage; I've got a 9', 5 wt, 2 pc Light Line from 1988! It was and still is my favorite rod. Age has done nothing to diminish it's feel and action. It could use a little cleaning up but I wouldn't give it up for any other rod. If I were you, I'd fish the Sage knowing you could not do much better for any amount of money. Enjoy.

 

Z-Axis - KEEP (still using several)
One- crush and burn the fragments
X- Keep

 

I came for the recipes, generally let down.

 

This made me chuckle. IYKYK.

 

There’s a number of anglers out there who actually prefer those 2010’s era Sage rods! I’d say keep it!

 

The Z-axis 8 and 10 were fantastic rods with a very wide range of application. I'm sorry I sold my 8, though it is long gone now. When I first picked up the R8s (mostly the core but also the salt), it was the z-axis that came to mind first!

 

Moat of my rods are late 90s early 2000s and they are still in use tiday and I mainly flyfish newer is not always better imo

 

I’m actually liking the feel of the older rods. Probably my inexperience, actually pretty sure it’s my inexperience older rods just have more feel for me. Easier for me to load them!

 

I’m actually liking the feel of the older rods. Probably my inexperience, actually pretty sure it’s my inexperience older rods just have more feel for me. Easier for me to load them!

I came to fly fishing when the RPL series was state-of-the-art; and they're still the gold standard for me.

I came for the recipes, generally let down.

took me a while, but I finally got it.....