Fly fishing gear is a big part of Casting Across. I’ve always enjoyed the aesthetics, the marketing, and, most importantly, the function of fly fishing gear. Consequently, I’ll review new products on the site from time to time. But appreciating fly fishing gear shouldn’t only be about  the latest model or newest technology. The things that you’ve fished with for years – for decades ought to be celebrated as well.

It is in that spirit that I put together this gear review. Although some products are old or even out of production, their value compounds with use, experience, and familiarity. We should enjoy what we use when we fly fish, especially if we’ve enjoyed it for a long time.

---

“Would you want to pick out a new fly rod for your birthday?”

I can only assume that teenage me had been talking incessantly about fly fishing. Every trip to Arkansas, my dad would take me up to one of the big tailwaters and I’d get to fish for a day. Although it was only one day, out of one week, every four months or so, I took it seriously. An entire duffel bag carried my waders, vest, and net. My two-piece rod went on the plane with me. It’s cumbersome presence wasn’t the issue that started the new rod conversation.

The issue was that I was fishing the wide rivers of northern Arkansas with a three weight.

Again, I assume that teenage me was chattering nonstop about how I should really have a six weight and how it should be faster and how it would be nice if it broke down for easier travel and… my birthday was coming up. For the late 90s, the budget I was given was quite generous. I had already established a habit of memorizing tackle catalogs, so I knew more or less what I would be able to get. And at that time, one company was first on my list.

Across the room from where my bed was situated, I had a Sage poster. It was the same image that was on the cover of their 1996 catalog. Long story short, that association put me on a path that led me to the Graphite III VPS: a nine-foot, four-piece, six-weight.

The VPS was a mid-range offering that Sage introduced in 1998. However, it became a favorite among many anglers because it was built on the Graphite III blanks of the well-loved RPL. The RPL  series was considered as a standard bearer in the early part of the decade. As Sage moved on to the next generation of high-end rods, the VPS utilized the “old” technology with economical hardware. The result was a budget-friendly fly rod that could cast extremely well.

The VPS fit the ticket for Arkansas tailwaters. Small flies could be delivered delicately at distance. More importantly, it could handle heavier payloads. Back at home, it opened doors to fishing my local spring creeks with larger streamers and weightier nymphs. Additionally, it was the rod that paved the way for my warm water fly fishing: smallmouth in the Shenandoah, largemouth in subdivision ponds, and even shad in the Potomac. Even though it was only listed as being medium-fast, it is a powerful rod. With a steady stroke the butt and middle sections move the line forcefully but with control, allowing the quick tip to unroll a cast with precision.

It also came through in another important area for me at the time. Aesthetically, the VPS is a classic fly rod. The warm brown blank is complemented by forest wraps tipped in kelly  green. Although the reel seat and guides are nothing remarkable, the craftsmanship and attention to detail are flawless. Even though it was not part of a premium rod line, I appreciated  (and still appreciate) the quality and the beauty.

The Sage VPS is still a workhorse for me today. It functions as a half-step up from my core five-weight trout rods or glass six-weights. If the river, weather, or fish require a little more, I bring my VPS six-weight. I own faster and lighter rods that do similar things, but my 20+ year-old Sage does a  bit of everything in a way that gives me confidence.

I can’t remember many birthday presents. The Sage VPS, bought over 20 years ago in Arkansas to use on the Little Red and the White Rivers, still stands out today.

---

Sage phased out the VPS in 2005. The RPL, which featured the same graphite and taper, was produced from 1989 until 1997. The successor to the VPS was the VT2, which was replaced by the VXP. Sage also produced a much different, more delicate tapered “VPS Light” in the early 2000s.

Today, the Pulse series fits the same niche in the Sage rod lineup.

Because of the popularity of the RPL and VPS series, many rods can be found on the second-hand market. A quick search showed a handful of VPS 690-4 are out there… none of which are mine, of course.