Sage Spey II Fly Reel

A workhorse spey reel, specifically engineered to match two-hand rods and handle large, anadromous fish.

Greg Fitz

September 7, 2024

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Sage | Spey II Fly Reel

product description

“Sage’s new SPEY Reels are designed specifically for the anadromous angler, providing an ideal mix of enhanced, modern performance and refined, traditional design. Internally, SPEY Reels utilize a redesigned, sealed, carbon fiber disc and dual-clicker drag system that ensures dependability, eliminates unwarranted spool rotation, and offers exceptional resonance.” – Sage

company ethos

“Craftsmanship is our people. We’re not a big faceless factory, but rather a workplace of craftspeople who design and build the world’s best fly rods and reels using our hands and hearts.” – Sage

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The Sage Spey II fly reel is an updated version of the company’s disc-drag reel designed specifically for two-hand rods. The reels feature an improved drag system (sealed, carbon-fiber disc with a dual-clicker), classic aesthetics and a closed frame to prevent shooting line from getting snagged or caught. The reels are available in three line sizes (5/6/7, 6/7/8, 8/9/10) and two colors (black, granite).

For starters, this reel is a workhorse. I also should admit some bias: My favorite disc-drag reel for my two-hand fly rods is the previous generation of Sage’s Spey Reel, so I was predisposed to appreciate the updated version.

I balanced the Sage Spey R8 8130 two-handed fly rod with the Sage Spey II (6/7/8) fly reel–it worked fine, but I’d recommend trying the larger size as well, to compare. It might be nice to have a little more weight at the handle. Although it’s not a deal breaker, some added weight could help the ability to balance larger fly rods.

The drag is powerful and smooth, and I really like the subtle gradations of tension and the large, knurled adjustment knob. The closed-frame design, to keep shooting line from getting caught between the spool and frame, was a sophisticated design consideration–it’s also hard not to appreciate the classic, subtle aesthetics and the sound of the dual-clicker drag.

The reel construction (6061-T6 aluminum) is stout enough to drop on the rocks without bending the spool, and the width (1.75-inches) provides plenty of capacity and the ability to quickly take up line without being overly wide.

I often fish click-pawl reels when I’m steelheading, but when I reach for a reel with a disc drag, I’ve long appreciated the simplicity and dependability of Sage’s spey reels–the new Spey II builds on this long history and is a great, new addition.

Pros

Stout construction and closed frame.

Powerful, smooth drag with precise drag control.

Classic look, sound and aesthetics.

Cons

Could be a touch heavier to help balance long, two-hand fly rods.

The reel is imported, but not a huge knock.

At $550, the Sage Spey II is positioned as a high-end fly reel and investment for the anadromous-focused angler. The reel is well-designed and provides precise drag adjustments to help control large, sea-run fish. I found the reel a pleasure to fish with.

Price: $550
Model: 6/7/8 Spey II Reel
Sizes: Line weights 6-8
Weight: ~10+ ounces
Colors: Black, bronze, granite
Drag: Sealed, carbon-fiber disc with dual-clicker drag system
Construction/Materials: Cold-forged 6061-T6 aluminum
Arbor: Large (4.3-inch diameter)
Width: 1.75-inches
Warranty: Sage warranty policy

Sage’s new SPEY Reels are designed specifically for the anadromous angler:

Sage warranty policy.

Sage doesn’t offer an “unconditional” lifetime warranty, like some other companies do. They’ll fix what they deem to be a manufacturer defect for free, but that almost never happens.

“Every new Sage rod, blank, and Sage series reel purchased through an authorized dealer is covered by our original owner warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty is limited to repair and replacement of the rod, blank, or reel and does not cover direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, or any other type of damage resulting from the use of the product. This warranty does not cover misuse, neglect, normal wear, fire, theft, missing/lost rod sections, intentional breakage, modification or customization of the finished rod, or damage during the assembly of a blank into a finished rod by a non-Far Bank custom rod-builder.”

Likely buyers

The Sage Spey II fly reels are built for the serious two-hand angler, looking for durability, clean line management and the ability to maintain the correct rod/reel weight and balance.

Conclusion

The Sage Spey II fly reel is built with a rock solid frame and dedicated anglers chasing migratory fish will appreciate look, design and functionality. These reels are great spey fishing tools–beautifully made and with the ability to handle powerful fish and hold up to the routine abuse that happens over the course of a season.

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