What are some of your opinions of R.L. Winston Rod Co. & their rods ?
I’ve only cast two: the WT and the BIIx. Loved them both!
They’re beautiful rods, too.
I own a WT and love it. I have test cast a few more WT’s in a few different weights and now want to add them to my rods. Winston is my first go to rod when I walk out the door to go fish. Love the rod period.
Andy B
I have two Winstons and like them both.
They are not my favorites, but they each get a lot of use.
Ken
There is a fine line between fly fishing and and just standing in a river looking like and idiot.
I took a BIIx to Florida for Tarpon this season, everyone loved it… It got more use than my Loomis GLX, or the Sage Xi2. The BIIx is a unique rod, is fast yet its not stiff, and very light. I plan on getting another one soon.
Josh [url=http://www.rogueflyshop.com:e4061]http://www.rogueflyshop.com[/url:e4061]
I have a an older IM6 (now the WT) and 5-piece LT travel rod (which I built from a blank). Very happy with both rods.
John G.
Albuquerque, NM
Great rods, well made, best known for thier medium and slower action rods.
I’ve got the Boron BIIx in a 9 ft. 5wt. Love it love it love it. -RobJ
“The years of searching in the dark for the truth that one feels but cannot express, the intense desire and the alternations of confidence and misgivings until one breaks through the clarity and understanding are known only to him who has himself experienced them” - Albert Einstein
I agree with the above posts. Somehow, I seem to have accumulated a number of IM6s, 5 pc LTs, BL5s, XTRs, XDLTs, and a new B IIx my wife got me for Valentine’s Day. I like rods in a variety of actions, from the slowest bamboo to the fastest graphite. These classy rods are the best medium to medium fast action rods you can own. (I’ve also had good luck with their customer service when I’ve done something stupid with the rods and need a repair.)
I’m a Sage guy in general, but I cast a BX II 6 wt with a weighted double nymph rig on a recent outing. I as VERY impressed.
I have owned and used Winston Rods for about 40 years. I have two of there first glass rods made in a 3 and 4 wgt models. Tom Morgan gave two to me and two to Hal Jansen for talking him into making them. I have owned a few of there cane rods and many of there other rods.
Let me say that no one company makes every rod that you will like. Winston doesn’t either. They will all have a few that you do not care for. It is best to try the rods out and find which you like and that preform the way “YOU” like a rod to preform.
I must add that you will find no rods that will be better made in fit and finish. They are top of the line. If you like the action of there rods you can’t go wrong buying a Winston. Ron
Check out there IBEX rods I have two of them and like both real well. Ron
I bought a BIIx 9’ 5 weight this year and liked it so much I went out and bought a BIIx 9’ 4 weight. Awesome rods!
Ron
Sorry to be vague;but I was curious what the loyal following thought since David Ondaatje bought Winston 14 yrs. ago & the direction the company is going since Michael “Woody” Woodward was president ? Quality going down hill to help the bottom line or still keeping their tradition ?
Steve:
I own lots of Winston?s but I feel things have changed to certain degree in my short association with the company. Winston IMHO is going the way of most other rod companies with faster action rods growing in number and more moderate rods going away. I got involved with Winston for the medium action rods and managed to get well stocked before things really changed.
Since I became associated with Winston I’ve seen more rods discontinued than added to their line with the Retro and DL4 being the most notable. While the WT is still alive I expect rods in that line will be dropped as well. I?ve also seen for myself and heard of quite a few quality issues; more than I?ve heard about with other rods in this price range. I had more than my share of issues from squeaky cork to excess glue left on a blank although all were resolved to my satisfaction except for a little inconvenience. I heard of misaligned guides and bad wraps on some rods too. I also know that going to preformed cork grips and the elimination of reel seat choices at no additional cost is another recent change in the cost cutting arena.
I know there are a lot of fans of the BIIx out there but I don?t own one. I also know that some fans don?t want to acknowledge the issues or problems but like any other rod company blind allegiance can get you in trouble. I DO recommend their rods however but with the caveat that things have changed since I bought my first Winston in 2002.
I have an older IM6 8’6" 5 weight I have always enjoyed.
picked up a 7’6" 5weight along the way, more of a collector thang.
I JUST bought an 8’3" 4 weight LT (5 piece) fished it only once… pretty sweet rod.
their customer service is superb.
their rods are phenomenal.
What else could you ask for???
Later,
Peter
BTW: you are one of the funniest people on earth… if that’s you or are you a different one?
[This message has been edited by Later, Peter (edited 01 August 2005).]
Define ‘Uncompromising’.
Does that include a smaller selection of rod tube sizes?
Rod tube caps that seem cheaper and certainly don’t function as well?
Fewer and fewer rod size choices?
No standard wood insert choices but one?
The elimination of the standard uplock or downlock reel seat choice?
Guides that for the past few years STILL make it to the customer mis-aligned?
Preformed grips that are loose and squeaky?
A low-end line of rods once assembled in Twin Bridges, eventually assembled in a third-world country, recently discouninued because, lemme guess… a cheaper source was found?
No, I’m not too very happy with the direction Winston is going lately. It seems the history and pride that made this company a benchmark in the industry is falling victim to owners and corporate heads who have no passion for the what makes a Winston different from your everyday run-of-the-mill department store rod.
All that said, I’m certain the 3 BIIx’s and the TMF I own will have more company from Twin Bridges just as long as they look, feel and cast like they do, are still built in Montana and the warranty remains in place to cover their flubs.
I don’t mean to rant but it does hurt to see a fine product from a company with one of the best reputations in the industry risk it all on shortcuts and cost cutting.
Someone should inform ‘Woody’ of Winston that scrap and rework COSTS ANY company money, not to mention credibility!
[This message has been edited by Jackster (edited 02 August 2005).]
I just had my first oppurtunity to try out the Winston rod repair process. I noticed a mis-aligned guide on my BIIx rod. I sent the rod back and Winston took care of it just under two weeks. The problem I have is how in the world does these rods make it past the QC area with guides that are grossly misaligned? I know of three other poeple who had the same issue. If I had any complaint at all it would be that Winston needs to pay closer attention to QC. We pay a ton of money for these rods and they should not be shipped out with mis-aligned guides. Other than this issue the Winston Rod Company is awesome to do business with and I will continue to buy their rods in the future.
Ron
I’m a Winston fan too! I only own 2 BIIx’s but definitely prefer my 9’#4 than the #5.
I have 4 older model Winstons. All are 3 piece. I like all of them and 3 have seen lots of use. 2 are Glass 5 wts from the late 1970’s. The third is a 3 wt graphite from the early 90’s before the company was sold. After the company was was sold, the new owners offered to sell me a lifetime guarantee on the 3 wt. for $50.00. I didn’t take them up on it. The glass rods have moderately slow actions and are delightful to use. The 3 weight is faster but still a great casting rod, and I have a 7 weight which doesn’t get much use. It was made from a blank. All in all, I’m very pleased with them and recommend them highly. Their new 5 piece rods intrigue me but I have a Cabelas “smuggler” at 1/5th the price that has been mistaken at least twice for a Winston since I use a Winston “Perfect” with it, so I see no need to spend the money on one.
I agree with Bamboozle…Winston seems to be getting too big for their britches. Maybe this is only superficial, but I blame the president “Woody” for much of it, because it is he who has control of everything that happens with this company, and its employees.
They’ve introduced what I consider to be the greatest advancement in fly-rod technology over the last five years, but the quality-control issues speak volumes about the expectations we as consumers have about this company, and the juxtaposition of the company as it is today.
I don’t for one minute think that the employees who build these rods, and who for years have consistently turned out a quality, nearly infallible, product, suddenly allow so many defective rods to slip under their noses. I think they’re POd about lots of things in-house, and the decision of Woody to send the IBIS line overseas seems to have precipitated this dissent…at least from a customer’s POV.
I own two Winston’s – an LT and Boron IIx. Both are absolute joys to own. But if I want to get technical about things, the newer Boron IIx has some imperfections that my LT does not.
Get one that’s built right and it’ll live up to it’s billing as the Cadillac of fly rods.
FWIW, T&T rods are my favorite. The workmanship is outstanding and consistent. The little LPS is my absolute favorite fly rod, causing me more smiles than even my Boron IIx.
I still like Winston and will continue to buy their rods; I just hope they get their internal business worked out.
Just a salvage operator’s opinion.
Fred Sanford