Overview

The Sage Dart is a dedicated small-water fly rod for creeks, spring creeks and tight, brushy streams. Sage designed it for short, accurate casts under overhanging trees and small flies to wary trout, and it is built by hand on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

The Dart uses KonneticHD graphite with what Sage calls a close-quarters fast action: quick enough to throw tight loops under brush without feeling aggressive, with the backbone, per Hatch Magazine, for 50-foot casts and size 8 to 10 hoppers. It has a Sapling Green blank with bronze wraps and gold trim, Fuji ceramic stripping guides, ultra-light hard chrome snakes, a Super Plus snub-nose half wells cork grip, and a bronze anodized up-locking reel seat with a vera wood insert. Every Dart is 3-piece and ships in a tan rod bag and a Portobello powder-coated aluminum tube.

Which Dart Should You Choose?

Tiny dry flies on fine tippet: 076-3 (7'6" 0 wt).

Midges and small terrestrials: 276-3 (7'6" 2 wt).

Very tight, overgrown creeks: 366-3 (6'6" 3 wt).

One small-stream rod for spring creeks and dries: 376-3 (7'6" 3 wt).

Sage Dart Specs

Sage Dart Models

076-3 - 7'6" 0 wt

Sage's top choice for delicate fishing with fine tippets and tiny flies, size 16 and smaller dry flies. It is the lightest line weight in the Dart family.

Best for: tiny dry flies, fine tippet, spring creeks.

Line pairing: A 0 wt floating line. We recommend the RIO Premier Lightline (DT 0 wt).

276-3 - 7'6" 2 wt

A true ultralight for very light presentations with small terrestrials and tiny midges, with enough left in reserve to handle small hoppers.

Best for: midges, small terrestrials, wary trout.

Line pairing: A 2 wt floating line built for short, delicate casts. We recommend the SA Amplitude Textured Double Taper (DT2F) or the SA Mastery Double Taper (DT2F).

366-3 - 6'6" 3 wt

The shortest Dart, for accurate casts into tight spots with branches in front of you and behind you. It fishes small to medium dry flies.

Best for: tight, overgrown creeks, small to medium dries.

Line pairing: A 3 wt creek taper or double taper. We recommend the SA Amplitude Textured Double Taper (DT3F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Creek Trout (WF3F).

376-3 - 7'6" 3 wt

A versatile small-stream rod for tricky spring creeks and dry-fly fishing with smaller flies.

Best for: spring creeks, small streams, dry flies.

Line pairing: A 3 wt creek or short-range trout taper. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Creek Trout (WF3F) or the SA Amplitude Textured Double Taper (DT3F).

Dart vs Arrow

The Dart is Sage's specialty ultralight creek rod: 3-piece, 0 to 3 wt in our selection, and short enough to fish where a longer rod cannot. The Sage Arrow 376-4 is a 7'6" 3 wt too, but it is a 4-piece all-round trout rod in a short length rather than a dedicated creek rod. If you fish bigger water most of the time, the Arrow or the Sage Foundation is the better first rod; add a Dart for the creeks.

Sage Dart FAQ

What is the Sage Dart for?

Small streams, spring creeks and brushy water where casts are short and accuracy matters more than distance.

Is the Dart a 3-piece or 4-piece rod?

Every Dart is 3-piece.

How does it compare to other creek rods?

Hatch Magazine called it the best graphite creek rod on the market when it launched, noting how few makers build graphite rods this light. Its reviewer would have preferred friction rings to the up-locking seat, and a cigar grip to the half wells, on a rod this small.

Where is the Dart made?

It is built by hand on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Does it come with a case?

Yes, a tan rod bag and a Portobello powder-coated aluminum rod tube with a Sage medallion.

What is the warranty?

Sage covers its rods for the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship. Breakage outside that coverage is repaired for a fee set by the age of the rod.