2025 Winston Single Hand Rods - A Fresh Look!

Why the Latest R.L. Winston Rods Deserve a Fresh Look
For decades, Winston’s green rods have had a legendary "feel" — so distinct that experienced anglers could pick one out blindfolded. But something exciting is happening in Twin Bridges...
Winston has taken a bold leap forward. The iconic feel remains, but today's lineup adds new performance, power, and versatility across the board. Whether you're a dry fly fanatic, a stillwater tactician, or a saltwater warrior, there’s a new Winston rod dialed in for your pursuit.
 

Highlights:
Pure 2: Still buttery, now with backbone. A dream for dry fly purists with surprising muscle in wind.
Air 2: Light, deadly accurate, and now available in 7 and 8wt  —  perfect for single-hand steelhead.
Air 2 Reach: Built for nymphers and stillwater anglers. Long, strong, and ultra-manageable.
Air 2 Max: Winston’s best saltwater/big game rod ever. Lightweight power that plays nice with a variety of lines.
 

If you’ve loved Winston for its feel, get ready to love it for performance too.
Read the Full Article about Winston's - The All-Star Team!

Shop R.L. Winston Fly Rods

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Winston Fly Rod Tour

Yellowstone trip - Pit stop Winston Fly Rods

Tour of Winston Fly Rod Company with Adam Hutchinson

Unless you plan it, it can be hard to fit all of the things you want to do on a vacation. Making time to visit Winston was at the top of our list and with the help of Adam we were able to stay the night and get a personal tour the next day.

If you have not had a chance to visit the factory yet, it should be at the top of your list. Adam personally walked us through the factory including their mini museum and told us the history of Winston Fly Rods.

As a Winston Dealer we know that if you are looking for a rod that has that perfect fit and finish...it’s going to be a Winston. Their craftsmanship and attention to detail is unlike any other.

Travis has been to the factory many times before but, this was my first time. The process is so amazing to me, while it has evolved over time the process still includes many hands at each and every step of the way. These rods go through a strict process and much of it includes the hands of people whom have worked here for a long time and their passion and love goes into each and every rod built.

Adam showing the kids how to locate the spine of a rod.

For me, one of the most fascinating parts of this tour was in some eyes a very small part but if you have ever picked up a Winston rod then you have seen their trademark inscription on every rod. Yes, this is done by hand still…..and while it’s the job of mostly one person they are training others to be able to perform this task as well. Think about what happens when she wants to go on vacation!

The calligraphy pen and ink jar used to write on each and every rod. It’s beautifully done and just another piece of the rod that gets the personal touch of human hands. Adam says they have tried ways to use a computer or other means to do the inscription but none of them compare to the good ole pen and ink.

While their information is protected in a “cloud” there are still books kept with each rod made, production date and serial number. This also ensures that each rod is track-able which is great for their dealers but also good for consumers because it makes each rod track-able in case it is ever stolen.

A big Thank You to Adam, and everyone else whom all have a part in this amazing company.


- Lyndsey Duddles


P.S. The mini museum and tour is open to the public. You might want to call ahead to check available times.

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

R.L. Winston BIIIX Super 10 Fly Rod Series

View the Winston BIIIx Super 10 Rod Series

Winston Microspey vs Sage Trout Spey

Maybe Trout Spey isn't new! 

But there's a new trout angler reaching out for new two hand trout rods and lines and defining a new passion for today's trout angling.

It wasn't long after my first trout spey catch to realize that I had a lot to learn about two hand trout spey. With much time spent researching I came to realized there wasn't much out there to help my new found interest. Basically the forefront of trout spey was and to some extent still is an open chapter in the bigger picture of modern trout fishing today.

I've had the privilege to spend some time with the best new rod offerings available from Winston and Sage. The most recent is the Sage ONE 3110 Trout Spey. I want to emphasize "spend time with" because I'm not just writing a review from an experience in a casting pond or one day on the water. I actually have these rods and spend most all of my winter and spring chasing trout with them.

Attacked my Streamer on the swing

Winner? Microspey or Trout Spey

It's not that easy. Even after countless days on the water with several models of both makes I still don't have a clear choice of which is my favorite. As we speak I am trying to pick another new rod between two choices to add to my quiver while day after day I go back and forth tormented over which one to purchase next.

Review the facts

Sage One 4116-4

I started fishing trout spey in fall of 2013 with the Sage ONE 4116. At that time it was Sage's smallest offering. If you follow my Trout Spey Chronicles then you're aware that I'm quite the fan of the 4116. After all, it was the rod that provided my first trout spey catch and since I'm opening up personal firsts then I must also admit the 4116 provided my first ever brown trout catch. Not just spey brown trout but actual brown trout catch. And since I am in the mood to admit personal feats I must confess I was not really a trout enthusiast until I discovered trout spey and the Sage 4116. So right away it's hard for me to not be a little biased toward the Sage. Aside from all that, I have always felt a little over-gunned with the 4116 for much of the trout water I wade.
Favorite Line matches
RIO Scandi Short Versitip 320gr
Airflo Switch Streamer 330gr

When deciding on what size trout spey to own one should really consider the primary use. Is this rod intended to chase giant Alaskan Rainbows with mouse patterns or will it fish a local tailwater with bunny streamers. Will chunky streamers be your go to or do you plan on swinging small streamers and soft hackle rigs?

Along comes Microspey

Winston BIII MS 4110-4

R.L.Winston BIII MS 4110-4

Having fished the ONE for a year when I first picked up the 4110 Microspey it felt a bit slower than what I had become use to thus far. Not bad, just different. But the Winston is very intuitive; so much so that after a day of fishing I had tuned to its feel and learned to really appreciate the deep loading which turned out to be a better skagit casting tool for me. 

Favorite Line Matches - 

Airflo Switch Streamer 330gr

OPST Commando Head 325gr

Winston BIII MS 5116-4

R.L.Winston BIII MS 5116-4

Cannon! Wow! I have to be honest and say this is a rod for big water and big trout, maybe even small hatchery steelhead. What's cool about this rod is that it has the same trout spey size grips as the other microspeys which gives it a nice tight casting box but equipped with deep load power one would expect from a bigger rod. I don't have as many hours clocked on this rod simply because most of the water I fish on a regular basis doesn't need this much rod. Just like the 4110 though the 5116 is just as intuitive making it easy to pickup and cast like a champ anytime. 

Favorite Line Matches

Airflo Switch Streamer 390gr

Winston BIII MS 3106-4

Couldn't resist Sculpzilla

This is one that I wish to add to my arsenal. I don't own one but had the pleasure to borrow Travis' for a good while. It's easy to look at this rod and think that it is for the light work like swinging soft hackles and yes it is too sweet for this purpose. But as I started to push the limits of this rod I got surprised with what it was capable of. At the time there were no appropriate sized skagit heads for it so I fished it with a RIO Scandi Short 270gr and later started to experiment with franken skagits in that same approx grain weight range. I quickly realized we had a rod before we had a production line to work with it. Keep your Scandi handy for light work and load OPST 275gr skagit for sink tip streamer swinging and stripping. This little rod is incredible with todays ultra short skagits. I've heard the Airflo Switch Float is great on this rod too but I have not had a chance to give it a swing.

Favorite Line Matches

OPST Commando 275gr

RIO Scandi Short 270gr

Enter Sage ONE Trout Spey

Sage ONE 3110

Coming down to size is what the 3110 is all about for me. The Sage ONE 4116 is quite at home skating mice for Alaskan rainbows and more than capable of tackling large western rivers but it does give you a sense of too much for many of the smaller streams that so many trout anglers call home. I wanted a lightened up version to tackle the more average size trout water. Sage must have read my mind or more likely someone from the inside felt the same as I did.
What's different besides size? For one, the handle a bit shorter than its big brother and it should be. Smaller rod, shorter handle! Of course it's also a little lighter. The 3110 feels like a smaller lighter version of the 4116 but there is a twist. I've always felt the 4116 was a bit fast for my skagit-ability. The twist in the 3110 is the skagit feel. This little rod loves the skagit lines, especially the OPST Commando heads. I found it favors the 275 grains. I paired that with a RIO Gripshooter and quickly found mojo with this setup.

Ice on rod guides and a Hot January Rainbow

The ONE Trout Spey feels right at home with all kinds of tactics. It's a super fun streamer rod and continues to surprise me with the ease at which it casts them. I also find it very sensitive when fishing small wet flies and of course it is magic with soft hackles.
Favorite Line Matches
OPST Commando 275gr
RIO Skagit Trout Max 275gr

Note: I like to load a little heavy. This rod did just fine with 250gr heads but I prefer 275 grain.

Sage ONE Trout Spey 2109

This is the other rod I wish to add to my arsenal. I have not fished it yet but I hear it's a sleeper. Ryan got behind it at George Cook's Spey Day and here are a few words he said about it..."Light in hand, crisp, casts good distance for its size and feels like you could cast for a week and never get tired. One sweet little rod." Ryan believes George had it lined with a RIO Skagit Max Short in 225gr. And Ryan and I both believe it would be a perfect candidate for a OPST Commando 225gr head.

Pros and Cons

Side by side - Sage ONE Trout Spey & Winston BIII MicroSpey

Hard to find any Cons but here's what I like. I like the Sage grip. It just fits me perfect and feels right. This is true for all Sage rods including single hand models. In the Winston I like the finish. That classic Winston green with attention to little details like a nickel silver winding check just gives these rods class.

Conclusion

There is no loser here. If you like Winston rods you will like the Microspey and likewise with the Sage. You can help me end my torment and tell me which one you want me to review next.

Click to respond:  Winston 3106 or Sage 2109?

While trout spey isn't new we are very fortunate to be living in a time when the equipment is starting to match the sport. Awesome time it is for the New Trout Spey Angler!

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop Internet Sales Manager | Product Specialist

Read more: Trout Spey Chronicles

Soft Rods and Light Lines

Winter Brownie

Soft Rods and Light Lines a 2 part series.

Part 1: The rods

I have always had an affinity for soft, smooth fly rods, rods and lines that were a joy to cast, that kept you from being in a hurry and that often resulted in fish. For me, fly fishing started on a whippy fiberglass rod, a Daiwa I think, and a Martin reel handed down from my dad. I really began to learn how to cast on that rod, and maybe that feel has stuck with me till today.

Winter Trout'in

The modern fly fishing world is full of catch phrases like “high tech, high modulus, fast action, ultimate performance” etc, etc… which is all fine and good, but is that always what you really want in a trout rod? I tend to think not. Many would argue with me, which is fine, to each their own, but give me a medium to soft rod, an appropriately weighted line and put me on an intimate trout stream and I am in heaven! Not only will you be able to make nice, delicate presentations, but you will fight fish in a much more enjoyable way and lose less fish! Soft rods have all the give you need to keep fished hooked and to protect the lightest of tippets. OK, you probably have heard all of that. Here is where I deviate from the standard soft rod talk; I like medium to soft rods for everything, including streamers. You will have to adjust your cast, get the right line, but in the end you will have a rod that you can do it all with. A nice medium 5 or 6wt will allow you to fish with anything. Throw a size 4 streamer in the morning, nymph during the day, and get the midges out there delicately in the evening.

In the shop we often talk about rods that we would never part with, that we would be buried with, rods that have soul and that speak to us. I have 5-6 trout rods that certainly fall into that category, and you guessed it, they are all medium action graphite, glass or bamboo rods, and most have the name “Winston” on them.

Bamboo

If you have never fished a softer rod, you owe it to yourself to try one. I recommend you start with glass, as it is the most easily accessible and the easiest on the wallet. The revamped Fenwick Fen Glass rods, which we just received in the shop, blew all of us away. These are by far the lightest and most balanced glass rods on our rack, and just a joy to cast. Built on the newest S-Glass technology, they have a rod for every scenario; the lineup amazingly includes 3 to 8wts! Grab the 3wt for a high mountain stream or take the 8 out for steelhead or bass. Whatever you do, take a dip back into simpler times with a modern glass rod!

If you are having a hard time adjusting your cast or transitioning from fast rods, the Winston Boron III-LS, G Loomis NRX LP, Sage Circa and Scott G2 rods are perfect for you. You are still going to get that classic smooth feel, but with modern light graphite and exceptional performance. All of these rods have a reserve of power for when you need it, and with the Winston, a boron flavored butt section is to thank for that. These rods are awesome, and really what any “modern” trout-oriented fly rod should be like. We definitely have more people choose trout rods like these over faster rods after casting them side by side.

Now let’s say you have tried all of that, or you want to connect to a time before high tech. Enter cane. Rod tapers so well known they are named after their creators: Leonard, Payne, Garrison and Powell to name a few. Rod shops and builders as famous as coliseums and Greek gods: Winston, Orvis, Thomas & Thomas, Morgan, Brackett and Oyster. A historically designed taper and well-crafted bamboo rod is the closest feeling I have had to pure fly fishing joy. They cast like an extension of your body and they absolutely come alive when you hook a fish. Even a little 10 incher will give you a rush. You will find yourself giggling like a school girl when you fish cane. This grass, and yes bamboo is a grass, the best of which grows in only one region of Asia and given the name Tonkin, has the perfect attributes for a fly rod: strength, flexibility and quick recovery. Do yourself a favor and see what the fuss is all about. You only live once!

Most bamboo rods require patience to acquire and often involve wait lists. I waited 3 years for my first… That’s why we at the Gorge Fly Shop keep some on hand, just to fulfill your cane desire. The Winston shop has carried on the tradition of building beautiful and smooth casting bamboo passed down through many generations of world class rod builders and innovators. Check out our current selection here of R.L.Winston Bamboo. We can all relate to the impulse buy, especially for something as far fetched as a bamboo fly rod, so we decided to keep some on hand to help you get your fix. If you are looking for the ultimate gift for the fly fisher in your life or for the person that has it all, a Winston bamboo is it.

Part 2: The lines

We live in a remarkable time as fly fishers. Fly line design has gotten to the point where you can find the perfect line for any rod and any application. The downside is that the number of choices can become daunting. I will try my best to keep it simple when it comes to lines for medium to soft trout rods. For the past few years it has been a pretty simple equation for me. If you had a medium to soft 8’6” or longer rod, go with the RIO Trout LT in a WF (weight forward), and if you had a shorter rod go with the DT (double taper). These lines are appropriately weighted for softer rods, have a nice long taper that casts beautifully, and they roll cast well in tight quarters, especially the DT. Don’t be fooled though, you can easily chuck a big bugger or sculpin with these lines! But the real beauty of this line is in accurate, delicate presentations; from dry flies to small streamers.

RIO LightLine

I was very excited to hear that Rio was releasing another line choice in the soft rod game; the LightLine. This line is perfectly weighted to load medium to soft rods from graphite to cane. I have had a chance to fish the DT (Double Taper) version on my glass, classic Winston graphite and Sweetgrass bamboo and let me say it is phenomenal. The taper is built to traditional standards of weight and length; these rods were often built around the limited availability of lines at the time. The line lands so softly that the fly can make a bigger splash than the line. It floats down at the end of your forward stroke like a feather. The DT in particular is a wonderful line to roll cast with too. DT lines have fallen from the limelight as fast modern graphite has become the norm, but make no mistake, they are wonderful to cast. The extended rear taper helps you keep your casts subtle and helps load the rod for a roll cast at any reasonable distance.

If you have a medium-soft rod (and you should) and live anywhere near small streams and spring creeks, from the Northeast limestones, Driftless spring creeks, or high mountain streams of the West you need to try this line. The taper has enough weight in the front to quickly load your rod for casting in tight quarters. It will seriously load up with 10ft of line out or even less. If you are familiar with the old Sage quiet taper lines, then you will dig this one. I would have loved to have this line as I cut my teeth learning the myriad of spring creeks in the SW Wisconsin and NE Iowa; that’s for sure!

With ice on the guides!

My final words on these lines, both the Rio Trout LT and the Light Line, and soft rods in general are this: slow down… Take your time; get in a rhythm with the creek, your rod and the fish. Relax your tempo, take a chill pill, take a step back and remember why you enjoy fly fishing in the first place.

Ryan Van Duzor
Gorge Fly Shop | Product Specialist
541.386.6977

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

What are we fishing? Winter Steelhead Gear

John fighting a Chrome winter Steelhead while the snow falls

We get asked a lot what gear we are personally using here in the shop. Well, it is winter steelhead season here, our favorite time of year to fish, and all of us at the shop are polishing up our rods and reels, collecting lines and sink tips, and tying flies like madmen. John, Ryan and I fish as much as anyone else out there and this is the gear that we are rocking for the winter.

John:

G. Loomis NRX 13’ 7/8
Galvan Torque T-10

G. Loomis NRX

The G. Loomis NRX 13’0” 7/8wt is one of the sweetest rods out there. It is light in hand, and the grain window is huge, but it fishes best with lighter lines than most 7 weight rods, and likely all 8wt rods. Most 7 weights fish well with a 500-550 grain Skagit head, but this rod is dialed in with a 475 grain Skagit, yet it still has plenty of backbone to land those big winter hogs that John gets into.

It is really easy to cast, even though it is a fast rod. Most fast rods are difficult to stay dialed in with. Once an angler starts to get tired after a few hours, their casting stroke falls apart. With faster rods, casts can get ugly quicker than with slow rods, but with the NRX, the balance between the flex in the tip and the stiffness in the butt end gives this rod some room for error and recovery when casting. There is also tremendous power behind this rod even with how light it is and how light the grain window is.
The thing that really drives John to love this rod is that it is comfortable in hand. The cork is high end, thin and very easy to hang onto and fish all day.

John likes this reel for several reasons. The price is right, it looks cool and has a sweet sound. Those are the superficial reasons, which often seem to be more important to consumers than the solid construction, the easily adjustable drag and smooth overall function. This reel is light in hand, but balances the lightweight NRX perfectly. Galvan makes “spey weights” for adding weight to a reel in order to counterbalance heavier spey rods, but this is unnecessary with the NRX. Another reason that John likes the Torque is that in all of the years that we have been selling reels, Galvans rarely, if ever, come in for repair work, less than any other reel per unit sold. We’re not saying that they are maintenance-free, but they are definitely very reliable and low-maintenance.

The RIO Skagit Max lines are smooth and easy to cast. Rods shorter than 12’6” are best served with a Skagit Max Short, while rods between 12’6” and 14’0” take the Skagit Max perfectly. Long rods over 14’0” will take the new RIO Skagit Max Long. We have had a few guys tell us how they tried the Max Long on a shorter rod and didn’t like it all that much.

John likes the Rio Skagit Max because of the bright orange back end and the subtle blue color that still shows up well in low light. It casts well too, but mostly John likes it because when matched with 50# RIO Slickshooter and chartreuse backing, it creates a nice Seahawks colored theme on his reel.

Ryan and I couldn’t choose one set-up each. We both take two rods/reels to the river, so you get to hear about both of them.

Ryan's Winter Setups

Ryan:

Sage ONE 7116 Switch
Tibor Signature 9/10

Winston Boron III TH 7133-4
Tibor Riptide

Ryan has been a big Winston fan (like me) for years now. The new Boron III – TH 7133-4 is another beautiful, powerful, smooth rod from Winston, and it is the star of the Winston Spey lineup. The 13’3” 7wt is the go-to year-round steelhead rod for the Northwest. It has a deep load and a smooth, powerful release. Coupled with a great finish, good grip and excellent components, Ryan loves this rod for all of the reasons mentioned above, but there is one thing that drives him to. Winstons are smooth and it’s hard to describe until you have cast one, but there is no “smoother” rod out there.

Another reason that Ryan is high on Winston is that the boron in the butt holds a
“reserve” of power for when you need to turn a fish or push that cast a few more feet. It is what they call the “Boron Advantage”.

The Winston is loaded up with the new Airflo Skagit Compact G2 540 grain head, and it matches perfectly. The 540 grain is a great match that allows an angler to throw larger flies, and as a Midwestern Muskie fisherman, Ryan sure likes his big flies. The G2 Skagit Compact line is just about perfect. Ryan likes it because the two tone color scheme is pleasing on the eyes and the length is just right for 12’6” – 14’0” rods. He knows that it does everything that you could ask of a Skagit Head.

Ryan also picked up a Sage ONE 7116-4 earlier this year. Switch rods are not the go-to rods around here, but having one in the arsenal is a must if you are a steelhead junkie which Ryan has become (especially because of the lack of muskie). He picked this rod up because it is very lightweight, and easy to cast. The Sage ONE is fast, but not too fast and it is the easiest switch rod to learn on. Matched up with a RIO Skagit Max Short 475, this 7116-4 will huck big flies and heavy sink tips, yet it will maintain tight loops at long distances. He picked this up primarily to fish Rock Creek in Stevenson where he lives, but switch rods are the preferred method to fish big boulder gardens on large rivers, and to rule the small coastal rivers like the Wilson and the Trask.

Now Ryan loves his Tibor Reels. I have never seen him fishing anything else. He loves them because they are rock solid in fresh or saltwater, but the biggest reason he loves them is reliability. Much like why John loves his Galvan. After years of abuse, dropping, kicking, and scratching these reels all up and down, he has never had a problem with any of his Tibor reels. In fact, he just ordered the new Signature 9/10 to put on his switch rod. He does like to remind me that there have been more world record fish caught on Tibors than any other reel.

Andrew:

Burkheimer 7134-4
Lamson ARX 3.5+

Echo Glass 7110-4
Hardy Salmon Marquis #1

I love my Burk! If you follow the blog, you may have noticed. I can go on for days about the quality of the rod from the cork to the guides to the finish, but in the end, it is very easy to hold all day, it casts like a dream and I love the way it handles fish. I have a more complete write-up in Why I Love my Burkheimer. This rod loves the Airflo Skagit Compact G2 540 grain head, but I have been fishing the S/A Third Coast Skagit 520 grain head on it recently.

The new Scientific Anglers Third Coast Skagit a very good, very overlooked line in the spey world. Scientific Anglers, in general, does not get much love in the spey world, but this new line casts just as well as any RIO or Airflo head. The Third Coast has a good color scheme, and it turns over big flies and tips with ease. I have been very impressed with it so far and would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a Skagit line.

Echo Glass 7129 Rod Review

I recently picked up the Glass Switch 11’0” 7wt and I am in love! This rod is converting me into a switch rod believer. I was already a believer in the slower action of fiberglass due to the incredible power behind it. I no longer own any spey rods that I would consider to be fast action. Glass is great for guys that get lazy with their cast after a few hours. A lazy cast on a glass rod still goes the distance with ease, while many faster rods get frustrating about five hours into a long day of fishing.

Echo Glass

I matched the Echo Glass Switch 7110-4 up with an OPST Commando 350 grain head and it is an absolute joy to fish. There will be a full article on OPST heads shortly, but just know that the OPST heads run at 75-100 grains lighter than their Airflo Skagit Switch and RIO Skagit Max Short counterparts. We’ll get into why in that other article, but if one were to fish the Airflo Skagit Switch or Rio Max Short in a 420-450 range on this rod, they would be very happy. The OPST head is amazing in the fact that my casting time and stroke is shorter, so I am spending less time in between casts and more time with my fly in the water.

Now I am a Lamson guy, much like Ryan is a Tibor guy. I have a ton of Lamson reels and the reason is that I bought a couple of them when I first started fishing and I liked them enough that I bought another, and another, and here we are. In the thirteen years of owning Lamson Reels, I have had zero problems with any of them that I did not cause myself. (I bent a spool when I sat on it, and I failed to rinse one out after fishing in saltwater and the bearing rusted).

I love the ARX (Lamson ARX 4+ Spey Reel review) for a couple of reasons. The first reason is the Heavy Duty caged frame. Monofilament running lines (like the OPST Lazar Line) tend to sneak through the gap between the frame and spool, but the Heavy Duty frame makes that impossible. The HD frame also adds integrity, making it more difficult to bend the spool or frame. There is still plenty of surface area to palm the reel, and the drag is just as smooth as any other Lamson reel. It balances well with the Burkie and it looks cool too.

I will soon be getting a Hardy Salmon Marquis #1 to put on this new Echo Glass Switch 7110-4. Right now, I am fishing an older Lamson Velocity 3.5. The Echo Glass has a classic look with classic, old-school materials. I want to match it with a reel that has that same classic look and feel to it. The Hardy Salmon Marquis #1 is a good fit. It has a click-pawl drag system, the same system that has been used for over 100 years for good reason. It is the AK-47 of drag systems. It is nearly foolproof and will work no matter what you do to it. There isn’t much stopping power to a click-pawl reel, but it does have the most classic sound that has ever been produced by a reel. It also has a heavy-duty frame to prevent mono from slipping, extra reinforcement for accidents, and the #1 a good size for the Glass Switch, plus the price is right.

You may have noticed a trend here. We love reels that are reliable, especially reels that tend to have a long history of solid performance across the industry, as well as with us personally. Each of us likes a reel that is cool looking, but for the most part, we look for a reel that is unlikely to fail.

We prefer rods that are easy to hold onto for a day of fishing, as well as rods that are forgiving and easy to cast. We all have different casting styles with different tempos, but for all three of us, the most important thing is a comfortable grip that is fun to cast all day.

As far as lines go: Winter time is Skagit time. If you are fishing a spey or switch rod, but not fishing a Skagit head, then you are missing out on fish and making things harder than they need to be. RIO, Scientific Anglers and Airflo all make equally impressive lines, and any angler should be happy with any of them, but the most important thing is to match the right length and grain weight to the rod. The OPST head is a bit different, but amazing in its own way. Again, we’ll get to that later.

Well, that is what we are fishing here at the shop this winter. Now it’s just a matter of putting these fine products on the water and getting into a fish or two.

Andrew Perrault
Gorge Fly Shop | Product Specialist
541.386.6977

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Greg's Top Picks from I-Cast / IFTD 2015

Every year more and more I look forward to IFTD. Yeah we get to preview all the new products but more than that it's a chance to actually spend some quality time with the individuals we spend countless hours on phone calls and emails working together in the common goal of delivering the products we all benefit from. I can promise you this it's still, and hopefully always will be driven by pure passion for the sport much more than just corporate sales figures. Most everyone I meet in this industry is a passionate angler and I believe nothing is ever going to change that!

Kicking off with Fly Rods

Winston - Last year I quoted "There is a way different vibe at the Winston booth and I like it!", I'm happy to report that vibe is alive and growing!

Boron III Plus

Winston BIII Plus

The BIII Plus Comes in Freshwater, Saltwater and The new Jungle configurations and replaces and 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 were these predators lie! I am certain we will be delivering solid reviews on this new series of rods once we get them in our hands and on the water. Stay Tuned! 2 Freshwater sizes, 6 Saltwater sizes and 3 Jungle Series sizes expected to arrive in September. $855 - $895

Sage - Sage came to the show with more new rods than some rod companies have in there entire lineup. I assure you there is a new Sage rod this year that will spark your interest.

MOD - "The MOD is a Modern Interpretation of a Moderate Action"

Mod Single Hand Trout - In a world where fast action rods seem to be the norm there is an ever increasing craving to get back to roots of days gone by when fly casting was relaxing and rod actions lend themselves to the finesse nature of the sport. Meet the MOD! Built on the Konnetic platform the MOD represents what modern graphite and technology are capable of achieving. You don't grab this rod to take out in the parking lot to impress your friends but instead you take it to your favorite river and enjoy a relaxing day of fishing.
5 models 2-6 weight all 9 foot. Retail $850

Mod Two Hand - The MOD two handed spey model could easily be that rod that writes a new chapter in history. It develops its power with such ease and grace. Basically takes no effort to make great cast with the MOD. Set a good anchor point, swing into a D-loop, pull some underhand and watch your fly reach orbit, It's really that easy. Just two models of the MOD Spey...6130-4 and 7130-4. Retail $1050

Little ONE - Replaces the TXL-F line of spring creek rods. These rods are so light and crisp and the Konnetic Technology provides unparalleled accuracy. 5 sizes: 082-4, 182-4, 282-4, 382-4, 482-4
Retail $850

ONE Trout Spey - You can rest assure I will be doing a full review of this new addition to the Sage ONE family once I've have some time on the water.
Two Sizes: 2109-4 and 3110-4. Retail $1050

BOLT - Ultra Fast Generation 5 Technology. Anglers looking for long distances, fast line speeds and quick recovery will appreciate the BOLT.
5 sizes, 490-4, 590-4, 690-4, 790-4, 890-4. Retail $650

PULSE - Replaces the Response. Fast action Graphite III in a full line of single hand, switch and spey models. Fast action but still connected.
Retail Single Hand $450, Switch $550, Spey $650

G. Loomis adds several additions to the Pro4x family of rods.

Pro4x Lite Presentation - Built on the wildly popular success of the NRX Lite presentation.
Four sizes: 269-3, 376-4, 486-4, 590-4
Retail $325 - $375

More Pro4x additions include: 

• 790-4 Salmon/Steelhead rod
• 790-4 and a 1290-4 Saltwater
• 4106-4, 6110-4, 8116-4 Switch rods
• 12'6" 5/6 Spey, and 6/7 Spey
• 7'6" 7/8 Short Stix

Echo continues their tradition of delivering uncompromising rod actions

Gecko Outfit

Echo Carbon XL and Ion XL - The big news here is "LIGHTER!" I got a chance to cast both models and found them to be excellent rods with actions that would suit a wide range of anglers and with a very forgiving price tag. 8 Models of Saltwater grade Ion's retail at $159.99 and 6 Models of Carbon freshwater rods retailing at $139.99

Echo Glass sees some additions
Sales of Echo glass rods have been off the hook and often times they are exceeding supply. Glass is back and in a big way! Three new groovy models are coming soon to fill the need of big water anglers. Included are a 486-4, 586-4 and 690-4. Retail $219.99

Echo is also adding to their Shadow II Nymph rods and additional models to the popular Base line of rods.

Echo Gecko is now going to be offered in an outfit complete with rod, reel, line and rod/reel case. Retail $169.99

Redington continues to up the bar of value and performance

Hydrogen

Redington Hydrogen - An incredibly good trout rod! Super light weight and a great mod-fast action. This rod really impressed me as an incredible value for an import rod. It casts and looks great. Pair it with the new Redington Zero reel and be a hero! 11 New Trout sizes including three nymph models. Retail $299.95

Chromer

Redington Chromer - Feature custom polymer gripping sections on the top and bottom handles. No trouble gripping mono with these grips! 3 switch rods and 5 spey rods coming in at $399.95

Reels...

Nautilus X-Frame

Nautilus - The new X-Frame is super light and has all the features you know and love From Nautilus including super smooth sealed carbon fiber disc drag, Activseal and Giga Arbor. While most open frame reels appear fragile I can assure that the X-Frame displays a bold look and the X beams provide amazing strength. Lighter than ever with sizes from 3/4 to 8/9 and priced from $275 to $395. Look for it around the new year.


Ross - Lots of good news coming from Ross Reels, The best is yet to come but for the immediate future the two existing imports get a complete make-over. Look for them in November

Left-Glimpse of a future New CLA, Middle-Rapid, Right-Eddy

Ross Rapid - Replaces the aging flyrise with a new large arbor design and enclose reliable rulon disc drag. Sizes 3/4 to 7/8 and prices are $100 - $120

Ross Eddy - A New entry level reel replacing the old standby Flystart. Utilizing a strong cast design coupled with large arbor and smooth disc drag the Eddy offers value at a price that's hard to find. 3/4 to 7/8 and price $70 - $80

Galvan Grip

Galvan Grip - Galvan Unveils it's newest creation called "Grip". The Grip features a fully sealed version of Galvan's Torque MicroTune drag system known for its silky smooth startup and reliable powerful performance. Three models to handle all your bonefish to tarpon needs. G-8, G10 and G-12 with prices starting at $525 for the G-8 and topping out at $625 for the G-12. Expected around October

Hardy Ultralite CA DD 

Hardy - Ultralite series gets an entire makeover. Two new models include a CA DD (Conical Arbor Disc Drag) and a MA DD (Mid-Arbor Disc Drag). The Ultralite CA DD reel is an ultra large arbor giving it incredible line pickup and reduces drag gain on long runs. The Ultralite MA DD offers extra capacity with its mid arbor design. Both reels feature a Color coded drag knob for easy reference. Sizes and prices coming soon




Sage Click -
I've always like the Sage click reel and with the redesign it looks better than ever. It's also lighter than ever with even the largest 4/5/6 size still comes in under 2 oz. Besides cosmetic upgrades the new Click has an even larger arbor than before and more open area for palming.
3 sizes from $259 to $299




Redington Zero - Looking for a good lightweight large arbor click pawl trout reel for a reasonable price than look no farther. Redington kept the cost down on this reel by utilizing die cast construction but it doesn't have the appearance of a die cast reel. Comes in two sizes a 2/3 and 4/5 and two colors (Sand and Black) with price set at $89.95




Redington Behemoth - Like the Zero the Behemoth is also a die-cast constructed reel offering up very impressive carbon fiber drag force. It's utilizes large arbor design for fast line retrieval and a V-shaped spool for backing capacity. Behemoth comes in four sizes (5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12) and two colors (Black and Gunmetal) and retails from $109.95 - $129.95

Best Accessory

Hatch Nippers - Hatch continues to expand their superior line of products with a new pair of Nippers. The Nippers feature machined aluminum bodies with super hardened carbide cutters. Also incorporated is a hook eye cleaner. Nippers include the lanyard and retail for $100. Three colors: Red, Blue and Silver

Hatch Nippers

Fly Lines

Rio Skagit Trout Max

RIO...Too many changes to list...Most of it is current lines going to ConnectCore low stretch core technology. If you have not expereinced ConnectCore do yourself a favor and try it with the next line you buy.

Skagit Trout Max - You will either love this or hate this new skagit head and here is why. It's short! Very Short! I did not like this skagit head at first but when I learned what was positive about it I ended loving it. Two key notes about this head. First is the shorter the rod the better simply meaning everyone out there that has been looking for or creating your own skagits for short switch or single hand rods, look no more, here it is! The second key feature of these short skagits is that they cast more off the tip of the rod than they do with water load. Bottom line is it makes them more versatile in many different situations than the more standard length skagits we're use to.

Single Hand Spey - More and more anglers are discovering the benefits of spey casting even with single hand rods. Armed with spey techniques you can go ahead and make a cast even if you have no backcast room behind you. Finally a line for single hand rods that really gives you the power to make these spey cast and also have a line that performs excellent overhead cast as well. This is a great choice for anglers that have always wanted to learn some spey techniques without having to invest in Specialized rods, reels and lines. Comes in #4 thru #8 weight sizes and retails for $84.95


Scientific Anglers

S/A...Just like RIO too many changes to list...I'll hit some highlights!

S/A Mastery Series news - The big news in this series is S/A has gone back to their roots and revised the lines that we all have come to know and love. Like the GPX, Expert Distance and the Bonefish taper, the very lines that has set so many standards in the industry! S/A did a re-evaluation on the mastery series and applied modern line technology to these long time favorites. We asked for it and S/A delivered...Thank you Scientific Anglers

Titan Line additions - If you casts streamers or bass bugs from foot or boat with single hand power rods than S/A's Titan series of lines might just become your new favorite. While they are a short shooting head the Titan incorporates a longer rear taper that can help in two ways. One, no need to strip all the way back to the fly line head to recast and two, better line stability on false casting. I guess you could also include better mend-ability. Titan started out as a freshwater floating line in the textured line category. Due to the overwhelming success of this taper S/A has decided to expand into clear tips, sinking tips, saltwater versions, big water tapers and even a smooth original version for those not interested in a textured line. Look for my post in the near future were I will break down the entire series of these awesome lines.

Airflo Bandit

Airflo
Bandit - Australia / New Zealand line. You asked for it and here it is! The bandit is an ultra stealthy line with the first 12' broken up with two tone bands. It also features a long rear taper for line stability on long casts. 4-8 wt...$79.95

Skagit Compact G2 (Generation 2)
Since introduction in 2007 there has never been a need to improve upon the skagit head that still defines what we know as skagit today.
Supple changes are what the new G2 is all about. Leading the way is Super-DRI Technology. 

With Super-DRI the G2 now floats higher than ever which helps tracking and improves mending. Slightly shorter overall and slightly increased rear taper requires less energy to cast, produces tight precise loops and is more stable in flight. Utilizing Zone Technology, the back of the head is more buoyant for better tracking and improved mending capability meanwhile the tip features increased density to help drive the cast on layout.
Look for it in September 2015


OPST - Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics

Pure Skagit Commando Heads
Designed by Ed Ward and Jerry French,  the new Commando heads take skagit casting to the next revolution. Get a complete look at this new product in OPST - Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics - $54.95 - In Stock
Pure Skagit Lazer Line
To Complement Commando Heads OPST releases Pure Skagit Lazer Line. This new shooting line is super slick, hydrophobic and easy handling. This is a line for those of us who love to launch a cast, sit back, maybe eat a sandwich while the line rushes out of the guides and pulls line off the reel as is comes tight. $31.95 - In Stock

My pick for this years best of the best!

Tough decision...And the Winner is...In my opinion everything I put in this article is a winner! That's why it's in the article. But if you must know here is three of my immediate favorites!

Seeing that so much of my summer fishing is predator fishing I can't wait to get the New Winston Boron III Plus Jungle rod in my hands. It really felt great casting it on the pond. I can't wait to throw some big bugs on it and tame some predators.

Equally I'm just as excited to get back to swinging streamers for trout! I am really looking forward to the new Sage Little One Trout Spey and see how it compares to the Winston Boron III Microspey. That will be a great showdown!

Going along with two hand trout swinging is the new OPST Commando head and RIO's Trout Max Shooting head. In my limited experience with these new lines thus far I really believe we are looking at the next Skagit Revolution!

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop Internet Sales Manager | Product Specialist

"Fly Fish the World with Us"