Leland on the Winston Boron IIx 7133-4 Spey Rod
The largest steelhead in the river are the size they are because they were smart enough not to get caught by predators in the open ocean. This means one thing for anglers:
versatility. Enter Winston's Boron IIx 7/8wt 13'3" Spey rod, 4-P, 7133-4. There's probably no more versatile spey rod in Winston's impressive line up than this beautifully finished blend of sheer fish fighting power and "snake rolling" finesse. At 13'3" inches in length this baby's got the
length to mend and manage long lengths of line and the guts to deliver the longest, heaviest flies and dredger-style sink tips around. Where does the versatility come in? Winston's boron/graphite blend is incredibly light and responsive as well, so finessing a large skater or dry fly into the perfect seam line is easy as pie. Steelheaders!
Leland on Specifications
Winston's Boron IIx 7/8wt 13'3" Spey Rod is a tremendous 7-weight rod that measures in at 13'3" in length and weighs just 6 3/4 ounces. The action is
fast and the Uplocking Featherlight Nickel Anodized Aluminum reel seat is durable enough to stand up to the toughest waters around while reducing weight and continuing Winston's 80-year-old tradition of designing and finishing the world's most beautiful fly rods. This 4-piece traveling cannon is perfect for steelheaders looking to cast a wide range of spey lines, but want a rod of more traditional length. This rod is extremely versatile and casts 3-inch weighted leeches as easily as it tosses a Waller Walker into the pocket. 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 or long belly spey line of 50-70 more grains to optimize the load on the rod.
Specifications:
- Line Size: 7
- Grain Weight Rating: 447-478 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: 13' 3"
- Rod Weight: 6 3/4 oz
- Sections: 4
- Handle: 2 - Handed Grip
- Reel Seat: Uplocking Featherlight Nickel Anodized Aluminum
- Action: Fast
- Design: A spey rod of classic length and weight originally designed for larger late summer steelhead, but has proved its versatility on a range of steelhead and salmon water
Leland on the Boron IIx 7133-4
Each day, when Matt "MJ" Jones opens Leland's San Francisco Fly Shop, the first thing he does after cleaning, getting the registers up and running, and brewing coffee for the rest of the Leland Team is flick the DVD player on to get his Henrick Mortensen spey casting fix. We don't know if it's the sexy D-loops Henrick throws or if it's the size of those Atlantic Salmon he catches, but fly fishing in Iceland and which spey rod to bring along have become a topics of frequent conversation around the shop.
The Boron IIx 7/8wt 13'3" Spey Rod, 4-P, 7133-4 is Winston's sweetest traditional length, fast action spey rod.
This two-hander'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 447-478 grains, making shorter, more compact backcasts a breeze.
At 13'3" in length the Boron IIx 7133-4 is a more traditional spey rod than the shorter more compact choices available to anglers today, but the extra length at the tip is fantastic for managing long lengths of line on the water and throwing bullets long distances with precision even with heavy flies and tips.
With the same Boron IIx blanks that have been proven over the years on big fish in fresh and saltwater across the planet as a backbone, we know the Boron IIx 7133-4 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 know which Winston spey rod will be in our luggage when we land in Reykjavik.
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 Winston Boron IIx Spey Rods
"Boron IIx two-handed rods, made with our second generation boron/graphite composite, are the lightest spey rods in the world and offer extraordinary power, responsiveness, and accuracy.
Why Boron?
We first started using boron/graphite composite in 1997. It's an unusually strong material with a very quick recovery rate and is ideal for designing rods that can generate extremely high line speeds. Boron IIx is the second generation of this composite, and the features of this new material have allowed us to create the most advanced fly rods in the world. They have all the strength and power of boron, while being very lightweight and offering the rare ability to fish at close, medium or long distances with equal aplomb."
Winston on the Boron IIx 7/8wt 13'3" Spey Rod, 4-P, 7133-4
"Originally designed for summer steelhead, this rod has proven to be incredibly diverse: fishing dry lines and skaters, as well as 3"-long flies on dredger sink tips. Rated in the range of 447-478 grains.*
*Grain weights were determined using Scandinavian Shooting Head lines. When fishing a Skagit Head or Long Belly Spey line, you may want to add 50-75 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.
