Founded in 1980 by renowned rod designer Don Green and quickly joined by Bruce Kirschner (formerly of K2 Skis), Sage was created with one idea in mind - to build the world's finest performance fly fishing equipment. Using innovative, world-class materials and years of experience gained while working with Fenwick and Grizzly rod companies, Don revolutionized the fly fishing world.

When Sage started business on Bainbridge Island, WA it was first known as Winslow Rod Company, named after the small town on Bainbridge Island. Although the name quickly changed to Sage, the location on Bainbridge Island is still the same today. Starting with just six employees and about 1,500 square feet dedicated to manufacturing, today Sage has grown to 175 employees working in a 30,000 square foot space. The following story sheds light on Sage throughout the past 4 decades.

While overshadowed by Sage’s rod innovation and expertise, Sage has designed and manufactured reels since the introduction of the 500 Series in 1984. The same meticulous design, attention to detail, and “form follows function” mantra from Sage’s rod design and manufacturing drives Sage’s reel innovation.

For over three decades, Sage has been an industry leader in reel design. In the early years, Sage partnered with world-class reel manufacturers including Hardy and Dannielsson, as well as ownership of Lamson in the mid-1990s. But the noticeable leap came in 2001 with the introduction of the 3000 Drag Series. Featuring a Sealed Carbon System Drag (SCS) using exclusive high-grade USA carbon, the 3000 Drag was a game changer for Sage and the angler looking for a high performance drag system. Sage pioneered the use of carbon in a drag system, a far superior material that is durable, consistent, lightweight, and reliable.

Today, Sage continues to seek performance advantages through new materials and designs. Since Sage handcrafted our first rod in 1980, Perfecting Performance has been the ethos. It steers Sage’s never-ending pursuit of new material technologies, innovation of rod actions, and engineering of reel designs. It’s reflected in Sage’s lifetime warranty and customer service experience. It fuels Sage’s stewardship of the watersheds we enjoy and the engagement with the fly fishing community. It inspires the Sage team to share ideas, push boundaries, and find beauty in the details. And drives Sage’s commitment to US craftsmanship, and the shared passion for the art of fly fishing.