To a die-hard steelheader, there's nothing better than
standing waist deep in cool, clear water, breathing crisp autumn air,
and feeling the tug of a hungry chromer at the end of the line.
Winston's new Boron II-MX 7wt 12'3" Spey Rod, 4-P- 7123 is a modern rod
that possesses the elusive line-weight-to-rod-length balance hard-core
chrome-chasers and salmon freaks need to fish effectively in a range of
situations and environments. At 12'3", it's designed with a bit more
length in the tip to manage and load a wider range of spey lines, while
keeping with the modern trend of shorter, more functional spey rods.
Winston's Boron II-MX 7wt 12'3" Spey Rod, 4-P, 7123-4 is constructed on
Winston's popular Boron II-MX blanks, sports hand-sanded premium cork
handles, a beautifully finished and bullet-proof aluminum reel seat,
and at a mere 6 1/8 ounces, it's a blast to cast from sunup to sundown; think of it as
the finely tuned high-performance luxury sedan of intermediate-length
spey rods.
New for 2009, Winston's Boron II-MX 7wt 12'3" Spey Rod offers the
modern Spey caster more length when today's shorter rods just
won't do the trick. This fantastic 7-weight rod measures in at 12'3" in
length and weighs just 6 1/8 ounces from butt to tip. The action is
fast and the Uplocking Featherlight Nickel Anodized Aluminum reel seat
is durable enough to stand up to the toughest steelhead, salmon, and
salt waters around while reducing weight and continuing Winston's
80-year-old tradition of designing, building, and finishing the best
and most beautiful fly rods the world has ever seen. This 4-piece
traveling gem is perfect for steelheaders looking to cast a wide range
of spey lines, but want to keep up with the trend of more functional
spey rods of shorter lengths. It's perfectly matched with a
Scandinavian-style shooting head of 493-524 grains. If "Scandi" lines
aren't your thing, rig up a Skagit system or long belly spey line of
50-70 more grains to optimize the load on the rod.
Specifications:
- Line Size: 7
- Grain Weight Rating*: 493-524 grains *Grain weights were determined using Scandanavian Shooting Head lines. When fishing a Skagit Head or Long Belly Spey line, you may want to add 50-70 grains.
- Rod Length: 12'3"
- Rod Weight: 6 1/8 oz
- Sections: 4
- Handle: 2 - Handed Grip
- Reel Seat: Uplocking Featherlight Nickel Anodized Aluminum
- Action: Fast
- Design: A compact and versatile spey rod designed by Winston and Andre Sholz, a world-class spey caster, to easily cast a range of spey lines from today's popular Scandinavian shooting heads, Skagit systems, and sink tips to more traditional longer belly lines
Look out spey rod aficionados, there's a couple of new kids on the
block. For 2009, and in conjunction with the business' 80th
Anniversary, Winston Rod Company of Twin Bridges, MT has unleashed its
wildly popular Boron II-MX technology on the world of spey rods ...
Steelheaders and salmon fanatics everywhere, get ready for a new
favorite spey rod!
The Boron II-MX 7wt 12'3" Spey Rod, 4-P, 7123-4 is the longer of the two new BII-MX rods out in 2009, and it is sweet.
This spey rod's got the length in the tip and the strength through the
mid section and butt to easily cast longer bellied spey lines and the
quickness and punchy responsiveness to throw big bugs on Skagit rigs
and sink tips. This rod truly shines, however, with modern Scandinavian
shooting heads of 493-524 grains, making short, compact backcasts under
thick cover a breeze.
At 12'3" in length the Boron II-MX 7123-4 is a true compact spey rod,
but fishes like a much longer rod. the extra length at the tip is
fantastic for managing long lengths of line on the water, yet the rod
is still short enough to make fishing in tight quarters possible.
With the same Boron II-MX blanks that have been proven over the last
year on big fish in fresh and saltwater across the planet as a
backbone, we know the Boron II-MX 7123-4 can stand up to the hardest
fighting steelhead and salmon, you can find.
If that wasn't enough, this rod's got the legendary finishing touches
we've known from Winston for 80 years. From the beautiful, hand-sanded
premium cork handles, to the Uplocking Featherlight Nickel Anodized
Aluminum Reel Seat, to Winston's calling card deep green finish, this
rod screams quality.
We can't wait to take Winston's new Boron II-MX 7123 spey rod to
California's Trinity River for some frenzied half-pounder action!
Leland on Winston
Craftsmanship, craftsmanship, craftsmanship.... Winston has built one
of fly fishing's best reputations through an unmatched attention to
detail. R.L Winston is one of the oldest fly rod manufacturers in the
world, and for good reason. Founded in 1929, the company was located
on 6th street in downtown San Francisco, just blocks away from Leland.
Raised in the Bay Area, Winston evolved on the waters and casting ponds
that helped establish the area as a fly fishing mecca.
Throughout the company's history they have stayed true to the idea that
there will always be a market for those who appreciate fine
craftsmanship. Soon after the company's inception their reputation as
a high quality rod company blossomed. Within only a few years their
rods were being used in tournaments throughout the United States.
Winston bamboo fly rods quickly became known as some of the finest
anywhere. Bamboo rods made in the San Francisco shop have become some
of the most sought after in the world. Although the majority of rods
produced today are graphite, they still manufacture bamboo. Only 100
bamboo rods are made by the company each year, a testament to the time
put into their individual creation.
In the 1950's the company began to develop fly rods made of
fiberglass. Created by one of Winston's true innovators, Doug Merrick,
the 'glass' rods produced during that time have become collectables.
Today, in an effort to enable the modern fly fisherman to taste what
once was, the company reintroduced a fiberglass series of rods, the
Winston Retro.
Winston has managed to employ their decades of experience building rods
in the company's current rod designs. Maintaining the soul that has
always been present in their rods, Winston produces some of the
industry's finest graphite rods using the industry's most advanced
materials. While at the same time maintaining the soul that has always
been present in their rods. Today, Winston offers fly rods for every
fishing application. They currently have over nine separate rod
series. The Winston line can accommodate the needs and wants of every
angler. Series such as the LT and WT represent some of the best mid
and full flex rods available, where as the Boron IIx and Boron II MX
will impress anglers seeking a tip flex rod. Regardless of the model,
if its soul your after, a Winston will deliver.
Winston on Boron II-MX Spey Rods
"For 2009, we're proud to introduce Boron II-MX two-handed rods.
Slightly faster than our Boron IIx Series, these rods will easily load
the newer, shorter head fly lines yet remain responsive to the angler
in tight surroundings. Boron II-MX rods are ideal for a variety of
situations on salmon or steelhead waters and are perfect for the angler
looking to fish a switch rod.
Boron II-MX two-handed rods were created with the help of our technical
advisor Andre Scholz, one of the world's top spey casters. All rods
come with a copy of our educational DVD, Introduction to Spey Casting
with Andre Scholz."
Winston on the Boron II-MX 6wt 11'6" Spey Rod, 4-P, 6116-4
"Slightly longer for a great balance on line weight, this new rod will
be the next step up from the 11'6" and perfect for tight lies on the
Deschutes and Great Lakes tributaries. Depending on your fishing
application, this rod will run in the range of 493-524 grains.*
*Grain weights were determined using Scandanavian Shooting Head lines.
When fishing a Skagit Head or Long Belly Spey line, you may want to add
50-70 grains."
Winston on Winston
Quality and craftsmanship aren't lost arts. They're alive and well in Twin Bridges, Montana...
Twin Bridges, Montana, is where you'll find a small group of people
committed to making the finest fly rods in the world. A Winston rod
features a flawless finish, precisely aligned guides, a hand-sanded
grip, and a reel seat made with the finest components and engraved with
the Winston logo. All of our rods undergo multiple inspections for
quality and come with an Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee.
Winston: On Turning 80...
It all began in 1929, when the first rods bearing the Winston name were
made. Rods that soon earned acclaim for their groundbreaking design and
exceptional quality. 80 years later, Winston's reputation stands alone
in regard to innovation, craftsmanship and superior performance. So
grab your fly rod. Make a cast. Fish hard. Hook up. That's how you can
help us celebrate 80 years of Winston.
Winston: A Rod Building Philosophy
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. We led the industry in
the use of boron/graphite composite with our BL5 rods, introduced in
1998. In 2004, we introduced the Boron IIx series - a huge advancement
in fast action rods that feature our second-generation boron/graphite
composite.
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. Our Boron IIx rods
are the first and only rods with not only the power to cast 100 feet of
line, but also the finesse to make delicate presentations at 15 to 60
feet, where the vast majority of trout fishing occurs.
Introduced in 2007, the Boron IIt series proved that advanced boron
technology could be used to create exceptional medium-action rods.
New this year, the Boron II-MX is the third rod series developed by
Winston featuring our unique Boron II technology. Though extremely
powerful, the fast action Boron II-MX is amazingly lightweight and
responsive.
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.
Winston: A Short History
WHILE THE YEAR 1929 is a rather infamous date in financial circles, it
is cherished by anglers worldwide. For that is the year, following the
stock market crash, that Robert Winther and Lew Stoner acquired the
Western Fishing Rod Company of San Francisco. Almost immediately, the
bamboo rods these two men built earned a reputation for performance and
exceptional quality. These rods were called "Winstons", a contraction
of the two men's last names.
1930's
In 1933, Robert Winther sold his interest to employee Red Loskot, an
accomplished fisherman and member of the Golden Gate Angling Club. The
next year, Stoner developed a patented hollow-fluted rod design for use
in tournament casting competition. In the next few years, rods using
this design would shatter a number of world distance casting records.
1940's - 1950's
In 1945, Doug Merrick took a job at Winston. In 1953, he purchased Red
Loskot's interest. When Lew Stoner died in 1957, Merrick became sole
owner. The 50s are also when Winston began using a new material to
build rods: fiberglass.
1960's
The tradition of rodbuilding excellence continued in the 60s, when
renowned angler and hotelier Charles Ritz, President of the
International Fario Club in Paris, presents Merrick with a medal for
"Outstanding work and knowledge pertaining to split bamboo rods."
1970's
The 1970s were years of change at Winston. Tom Morgan purchased the
company from Merrick, and a year later Glenn Brackett became a partner.
In 1975, Winston began building rods from graphite and in '76, the
decision was made to move the company from San Francisco to Twin
Bridges, Montana in order to be near the world-class trout fishing of
the Beaverhead, Big Hole and Jefferson rivers.
1980's
The 1980s saw the introduction of IM6 graphite, which is still used in our WT trout rods.
1990's
David Ondaatje bought Winston from Morgan and Brackett in 1991. Under
his leadership, the company began rolling its own blanks, moved to a
larger rodbuilding facility in Twin Bridges, and introduced such
groundbreaking rod designs as LT 5-piece trout rods, the Joan Wulff
Favorite and BL5 and XTR rods, both of which utilized advanced
boron/graphite composite.
2000 - present
In 2004, we introduced our Boron IIx rods, a lightweight, very powerful
fast action series. Using the newest advances in 2nd generation
boron/graphite technology, they feature the widest casting range of any
rods we've ever made. 2006 saw the launch of our Vapor and Ascent rods.
These two rod series offer entry-level anglers Winston quality at a
very affordable price. 2007 saw the advent of the Boron IIt,
extraordinarily lightweight rods that combine the powerful, highly
responsiveness of Boron II with the legendary smoothness and delicacy
of our more traditional action rods.
NEW for 2008 is the Boron II-MX, our third rod series to feature the
unique Boron II technology. MX stands for maximum power, distance and
fish fighting capability. And though fast and powerful, our Boron II
technology allows the Boron II-MX to be amazingly lightweight and
responsive.
