Gorge Fly Shop Blog: R. L. Winston

Handcrafted in Twin Bridges, Montana

All Winston rods have a "Feel"!

When I first fished a R. L. Winston Fly Rod I felt something was very different about it. I couldn't quite identify what made it different from other fly rods but I continued to fish that rod and very soon we became "One". From that day forward I can easily describe to you what makes all Winston rods different from others. Winston's rods possess a certain harmonious personality that combines with an intuitive feeling that allows an angler to relax and enjoy the art of fly fishing. Where does "Feel" come from? Having met many of the great people behind the doors of the Winston factory I can say without hesitation that the "Winston Feel" comes from a collaboration of passionate anglers who unselfishly apply all that passion into the fly rods they build and fish with everyday. That's what you feel when you fish a R. L. Winston Fly Rod.
That is the Difference!...

R.L. Winston has been in business building fly rods since 1929 and are some of the finest rods built today. Each one of the hand-crafted rods receives its own personal serial number and has so since day one. Much pride comes from owning the work of functional art of these fine American built rods. These rods will carry their value from generation to generation for years to come. At Gorge Fly Shop we honorably respect every Winston rod purchase and value our customers just as we value the rod they're purchasing.

The New Boron III Plus

Winston BIII Plus

The BIII Plus Comes in Freshwater, Saltwater and the new Jungle configurations and replaces the BIII SX Saltwater Series. Saltwater rods today are so versatile that labeling one salt specific just doesn't completely describe increasing usefulness of these rods. From trout streamers to jungle predators like peacock bass or golden dorado and all salt species in between this new series of rods are built to perform and exceed your expectations. Much lighter than the previous SX and much livelier! The freshwater and saltwater models certainly exceeded my expectations but it was the Jungle model that set off my adrenaline. While casting I could vision myself launching big flies from a boat into the wind and delivering them to the targets where these predators lie!

BORON III PLUS from R.L. Winston Rod Co. on Vimeo.

BIII Plus features -

6 thru 12wt. Saltwater Rods, 8 and 9wt. Jungle Rods, 5 and 6wt. Freshwater Rods
Highest performance boron/composite materials
Exceptionally powerful, high line speed progressive action
Overcomes the most challenging fishing situations
Turns over big flies with accuracy
Smooth casting - won’t fatigue the angler
Features Winston’s new "shooting guides” for turbo charging casts.
Winston Green hard anodized all-aluminum reel seat engraved with company signature logo.
Embroidered rod bag and Winston green super-light graphite rod tube with company logo.
Handcrafted in Twin Bridges, Montana

Freshwater -

Rod Weights: 9’ 5wt. and 9’ 6wt.
Action: Fast
Grip: Full Wells
Sections: 4
Guides: Hard chrome over-sized snake ‘Shooting Guides’ with chrome nano-lite stripping guides
Reel Seat: Winston Green up-locking hard-anodized, all-aluminum with double locking rings behind pocketed slide band. Engraved with company signature logo.
Nickel silver reel seat optional
Storage: Super-light graphite rod tube embossed with company logo plus logo tech rod sock

Saltwater -

Rod Weights: 9’ 6wt. thru 9’ 12wt.
Action: Fast
Grip: Full Wells
Sections: 4 Guides: Hard chrome over-sized snake ‘Shooting Guides’ with chrome nano-lite stripping guides. Over-sized tip-top
Reel Seat: Winston Green up-locking hard-anodized, all-aluminum with double locking rings behind pocketed slide band. Engraved with company signature logo
Storage: Super-light graphite rod tube embossed with company logo and signature plus logo tech rod sock

Jungle -

Rod Weights: 8’9” 8wt., 9’ 8wt., 9’ 9wt.
Action: Fast
Grip: Longer 7” Full Wells Grip with 1 ½” fighting butt, for improved grip handling in jungle conditions
Sections: 4 Guides: Oversized Hard chrome over-sized snake ‘Shooting Guides’ with chrome nano-lite stripping guides. Over-sized tip-top
Reel Seat: Winston Green up-locking hard-anodized, all-aluminum with double locking rings behind pocketed slide band. Engraved with company signature logo
Storage: Super light-graphite rod tube embossed with company logo and signature plus logo tech rod sock
Design Specs: Reinforced throughout to combat larger species. Designed to cast a range of lines for jungle conditions. Quick loading, with a strong tip to efficiently turn over big flies, a stronger mid-section for control, reinforced mid #3 section and butt section for added lifting power

2016 Model BIIIX - (New Shooting Guides)

Available now is the new 2016 Winston BIIIx Fly Rods. What is different you ask? Only one change occurred and that is New "Shooting Guides." Do guides make a difference? In fact they do and I found that out while casting each one separately and not knowing which one had the NEW Shooting Guides I was able to tell the difference and identify the fly rod with the new guides. I like the idea that Winston took an already near absolute perfected fly rod and chose one component to change that would make a noticeable improvement. It shows the commitment Winston has to take an already world renown product and continue its evolution into the future.

Friction Free Shooting Guides

Features -

Rod Weights: 3wt. thru 8wt.
Action: Fast
Grip: Cigar on 81/2’ 3wt. thru 9’ 4wt., 81/2’ 5wt, 9’ 5wt, and 9’ 6wt.
Full Wells on 10’ 4wt. Full Wells w/ fighting butt on 91/2’ 5wt., and 91/2’ 6wt thru 8wt.
Sections: 4 and 5
Color: Winston Green
Guides: Hard chrome snake ‘Shooting Guides’ with chrome nano-lite stripping guides.
Reel Seat: Nickel silver with burled wood insert
Storage: Super-light graphite rod tube embossed with company logo signature plus logo tech rod sock.