Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Winston Nexus - USA Built Under $500

Winston Nexus

USA Built Under $500 - Article 1262017

This article series is intended to review Fly Fishing Rods and Reels under $500. The criteria for these reviews is that the actual product is tested in real world fishing conditions. They are not just wiggled in the showroom or cast in parking lot or show pond.

In doing some research I realized there are a few rods that demand our attention. They fit a budget, provide fish-able actions and are made in USA by top well known manufactures such as Sage, Scott and Winston. My goal is to fish a few of these rods and report what I find. In this article I will review the...

Winston Nexus 890-4

$495 (Scale Weight 3.7 oz) (Published Weight 3.25 oz)
I liked this rod the first time I cast it at IFTD 2014 and I still like it today. It just feels like what I think a good graphite fly rod should feel like. The feel of this rod recalls me to a time when we never questioned if graphite was the material of choice for best fly rods of the day. It's light, it's responsive and does not feel complicated. The Nexus can be as easy as you want it to be and yet progressively it adds power as needed and/or requested.

Hard to turn down a Swinging D

Considered to be fast action but I like to rate the Nexus as a mod-fast action rod. Just relax a little and the Nexus really shows its positive attributes. While not designated as a saltwater fly rod it could certainly pull duty as one and might even be a great choice for intermediate level casters.

With the Nexus one can back off of the over-weighted two bump shooting head lines and get back to a more versatile comfortable fly line taper. I go as far to say that of these three most recent rods I've tested including Sage Motive and Scott Tidal, the Nexus probably holds the most true to line weight of any of them. My preferred line for this rod and the testing I did with it was the S/A Wavelength Titan series BUT, I downsized it by one size to a 7wt line. Since Titan is a two bump line by downsizing one size I bought it to a one bump level. The Nexus actually cast the same line in a 6wt size very well also but it wasn't enough line to easily turn over the big bass flies I like to fish with such as Feather Game Changers and Spun Deer Frogs. For average use the Nexus lines up great with a S/A Amplitude MPX or one of the new Winston Energy Fly Lines.

Bass Bug Box

I found the sweet spot of the Nexus is fishing normal. Dry lines and moderate flies like top water poppers, terrestrials and unweighted streamers is where this Winston really excels. It's light, comfortable in hand and easy to get in tune with your cast.

What! It's not Winston Green? While the Nexus is a deep black color rod blank it still has all the incredible finish qualities every Winston Rod is known for. It comes with a black powdered coated aluminum rod tube and cloth sock and of course Winston's Lifetime Warranty.

Final Thoughts

The Winston Nexus has an easy progressive taper making it comfortable for a wide range of uses. I guess the question you want an answer to is: Would I own this rod? Yes, but for the right reasons. I would buy the Nexus for the build quality and because it holds closely to line weight. I would buy it for it's relaxed action and comfortable casting stroke. I wouldn't buy it to be an all out big bug chuckin power stick but for average size streamers, salt flies, nymph rigs and dry lines the Nexus is a great stick and an absolute great value for the price!