Leland on Winston 5 wt, 8'6'' Fly Rod
If you love bamboo fly rods then you probably like to
use bamboo in most, if not all, trout fishing situations. Sure, it's a
thing of beauty to lay out those tiny,
delicate dries with your
grass-fed 3 weight. But what about bigger bugs, larger rivers, and
those demon winds that vex us in the west? This
exquisite 3-piece Winston 8' 6", 5 weight that
is capable of mastering those situations. Consider this beauty to be your all around choice when conditons call
for a little more "oomph". And remember, it's a Winston, one of the most revered
names in the
history of the art of bamboo rod building. As is the case
with most of our Winstons, this one won't last long. The hoppers are here now and the
October Caddis are just around the corner!
Leland on Specifications:
This 8'6" Bamboo beauty throws a 5 weight line for ultimate bamboo line control for larger flies, greater casting distances, and windier conditions. And it's not bad for delicate work, as well.
Specifications:
- Line Size: 5
- Length: 8'6"
- Sections: 3, with extra tip
- Handle: Cigar
- Reel Seat: Uplocking Nickel Silver with insert
- Action: Bamboo
Winston on Winston Bamboo Fly Rods:
"Hand craftsmanship, an incredible attention to
detail, and a wonderful slow action that provides superb line and loop
control. These are just a few of the qualities of a Winston bamboo fly
rod. To us, bamboo represents not only the heritage of the sport, but a
commitment to making rods from a proven natural material. Creating a
bamboo rod is a cumulative process. Years of design refinements,
testing, study, plus knowledge that has been passed down from rod
builder to rod builder go into every one. Pick up a Winston bamboo, and
you will be holding something extraordinary. Fish one, and you will be
amazed at the smoothness and delicacy.
Two Years in the Making:
There are no shortcuts in making a bamboo fly rod. The process can
take up to two years, a fair amount of time in this age of "now." But
that's what is required, for there are hundreds of steps involved.
Bamboo culms are selected for straightness, diameter, fiber density and
node matches. The culms are hand split so that the strips follow the
natural grain of the bamboo. Next is node sanding, then strip grading,
then heat tempering and taper cutting to 1/1000 of an inch, followed by
fluted hollowing, gluing, and varnishing. Only now is it ready to fish.
Fishing with a bamboo rod
is one of the great experiences in angling.
Bamboo is a proven
natural material that lets us make
slow-action rods
that feature incredible
touch and
feel, as well as superb line and
loop
control. For over 75 years, the name Winston has been synonymous with
fine,
handcrafted, bamboo fly rods. Creating bamboo rods is a
cumulative process. Years of testing, design refinements, study and
knowledge that has been passed down from rod builder to rod builder go into
every one. Each rod can take up to two years to build. Winston bamboo
rods are far more than things of
beauty, they are
extraordinary fishing
instruments."
Winston on Winston Fly Rods:
"We have a simple goal at Winston: perfection.
Everyone who works here takes an extraordinary amount of pride in the
rods they make. Pride in the performance and design of the rods, pride
in the aesthetics of the rods, pride in the very heritage of the
company itself.
Winston owners are no different. They care deeply about fly fishing
and truly appreciate quality. Our rods are made not just to meet the
expectations of these anglers, but to surpass them. Winstons cast
beautifully, fish wonderfully and the craftsmanship and attention to
detail are unmatched.
A Winston is not just a fly rod. It is a commitment to doing something the right way. Without compromise.
Some of the most innovative fly rods in recent
years can be attributed to Winston. Our LT 5-piece trout rods, for
example, revolutionized multiple ferrule designs. The Joan Wulff
Favorite was created specifically to meet the needs of women anglers.
Our BL5 and XTR rods proved the viability of advanced boron/graphite
composites. Introduced in 2004, the Boron IIx series represents a huge
advancement in fast action rods.
Overall, we believe the true measure of a rod is not the ultimate
distance it can cast, but how well it performs at the range of
distances it was intended to cast. And most importantly, how well it
"fishes". Every rod we make reflects this belief. Take our medium
action WT rods. These aren't designed to throw 100 feet of line, but to
make delicate presentations at 15 to 60 feet, where the vast majority
of trout fishing occurs. On the other hand, our very fast action XTR
saltwater rods are designed expressly for longer distances, or when you
need the stiffness and power to handle sinking lines and high winds.
We have been making Winston premium rods for over 75 years.
They are not mass produced. Our Winston premium fly rods are
hand-crafted by 40 some people whose lives revolve around creating fly
rods that are the epitome of quality and performance. Hold one, and you
will notice the flawless finish and details like engraved nickel silver
reel seats and hand-inscribed serial numbers. Cast one, and you will
experience uncommon smoothness, accuracy and power.
New for 2006 are our Vapor and Ascent rods. These mid-priced rods
are designed in Twin Bridges, Montana and offer Winston quality at a
remarkable price.
Yes, there maybe easier ways of making our fly rods, but that is not
the Winston way. We have no interest in building anything but the best."
