Favorite Winston Rods

TMF, any of the DL4 series, 8'6" 3wt WT and a 9'0 6wt BIImx I use for smallies.

FWIW - My 8'6" 5wt DL4 is my first choice on the Letort & Big Springs. I like a longer rod to keep my backcast higher if I am kneeling and a heavier line weight for better control or when I do an impulse switch to a streamer.
 
For most of my dry fly fishing, I will use my Winston Pure in a 8'6/4wt. This rod does a great job of casting dry flies of all sizes to close and medium range targets, even with longer leaders - I usually fish 10'-13' leaders. I feel comfortable using this rod to find rising fish on streams of any size. They label this as a "moderate" action rod, but by today's standards I would consider is slower action.

The only time this rods limitations will being to show is when the wind is really picking up. If it is a steady breeze there should be not much of an issue.

Now that the first generation of Pure is discontinued and they have the Pure 2, I'm not sure what modifications they made other than the dimensions.
 
JJ1917 said:
Hello, new member here and am interested in hearing about your Winston Biix 8 ft 4 weight. Just purchased a 3 weight BIIt and love it.
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I have a B2x 804. It’s a great rod with a sweet Winston-like medium action. Sadly though, I haven’t fished it in a few years.

B2T is a legendary series, you should be happy with your 3-weight. Perfect for small-medium streams and dry fly rigs. Funny enough, I just bought the 864 “Staff of Moses” in the B2T line after searching for it for a few years.
 
mr7183 said:
I have a B2x 804. It’s a great rod with a sweet Winston-like medium action. Sadly though, I haven’t fished it in a few years.

B2T is a legendary series, you should be happy with your 3-weight. Perfect for small-medium streams and dry fly rigs. Funny enough, I just bought the 864 “Staff of Moses” in the B2T line after searching for it for a few years.
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Hello, thank you very much for your reply. BIIt is a fantastic rod. Looking at 5 wt DL4 and would like a " Staff of Moses " as well. Looking forward to your thoughts on that rod.
Only 4 wt Winston I own is a pre IM6 8 1/2 ft. It's a sweet and smooth rod.
 
JJ1917 said:
Hello, new member here and am interested in hearing about your Winston Biix 8 ft 4 weight. Just purchased a 3 weight BIIt and love it.
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You have a gem in your 3wt Biit. IMO, you have Winston’s best.
The Biix was a fast rod. A mid-flexing rod with an abrupt transition that I found kind of hingy. It was tough, for me, to get a short, fast-action rod to load comfortably in tight quarters.
The 8’ 4 wt Biit is a gem. It has a slightly different flex pattern than your 3wt (I find the 380 to be the slowest rod in the Biit series, very similar to a DL4). The 4wt has a bit more power in the butt section with a tad faster recovery. Great compliments to one another.
I also have a 5wt DL4 and the Staff of Moses. I brought two 590’s on a 4 week trip this July - the Biit and DL4. As with every other past trip that both these rods are brought, I get in to a groove with the Biit and the DL4 never see’s any fishing time. The Staff is another great rod, FWIW, the Biit 4wt’s all have their own unique action and are all awesome fishing rods.
 
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The 8'6" 3wt WT I mentioned in my earlier post is another extraordinary Winston, at least to me. I never had a desire for a 3wt in anything longer than 8'0" but when I read comments on the old Winston Forum, I was interested.

Fortunately for me, I read those reviews right around the time the rod was discontinued and I stumbled on one for sale at a fly shop on my way home from fishing. The owner had it on eBay when I walked in, he cancelled that sale and sold it to me at 40% off. 😉

It had an uplocking reel seat which I hate but before Winston discontinued downlocking reel seats I was smart enough to buy a few from the repair shop at a price that included installation. I sent the WT off to Winston with the seat of my choice and in week or so I had my ideal 8'6" 3wt WT.

It is the perfect rod for Tricos or other dry fly work on medium sized streams and can easily handle a smaller nymph rig if desired.
 
dragfreedrift said:
You have a gem in your 3wt Biit. IMO, you have Winston’s best.
The Biix was a fast rod. A mid-flexing rod with an abrupt transition that I found kind of hingy. It was tough, for me, to get a short, fast-action rod to load comfortably in tight quarters.
The 8’ 4 wt Biit is a gem. It has a slightly different flex pattern than your 3wt (I find the 380 to be the slowest rod in the Biit series, very similar to a DL4). The 4wt has a bit more power in the butt section with a tad faster recovery. Great compliments to one another.
I also have a 5wt DL4 and the Staff of Moses. I brought two 590’s on a 4 week trip this July - the Biit and DL4. As with every other past trip that both these rods are brought, I get in to a groove with the Biit and the DL4 never see’s any fishing time. The Staff is another great rod, FWIW, the Biit 4wt’s all have their own unique action and are all awesome fishing rods.
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Thank you very much dragfreedrift for your response it's very much appreciated!! Yes that Biit 380 is sweet .
Good to hear about the Biix rod , glad I chose the DL4 👍
 
Bamboozle said:
The 8'6" 3wt WT I mentioned in my earlier post is another extraordinary Winston, at least to me. I never had a desire for a 3wt in anything longer than 8'0" but when I read comments on the old Winston Forum, I was interested.

Fortunately for me, I read those reviews right around the time the rod was discontinued and I stumbled on one for sale at a fly shop on my way home from fishing. The owner had it on eBay when I walked in, he cancelled that sale and sold it to me at 40% off. 😉

It had an uplocking reel seat which I hate but before Winston discontinued downlocking reel seats I was smart enough to buy a few from the repair shop at a price that included installation. I sent the WT off to Winston with the seat of my choice and in week or so I had my ideal 8'6" 3wt WT.

It is the perfect rod for Tricos or other dry fly work on medium sized streams and can easily handle a smaller nymph rig if desired.
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Hi Bamboozle thanks for your reply. I agree with you about the unlocking reel seats , I love the old traditional downlock seats as you . Seems like anymore you need to get a custom made rod to get one these days . So glad you got to switch it on your WT .
 
JJ1917 said:
Hi Bamboozle thanks for your reply. I agree with you about the unlocking reel seats , I love the old traditional downlock seats as you . Seems like anymore you need to get a custom made rod to get one these days . So glad you got to switch it on your WT .
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If I didn't have those spare Winston downlocking reelseats I would have probably used it as an excuse to NOT buy the rod...

...I'm so glad I didn't. 🙂

JJ1917 said:
..glad I chose the DL4 👍
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In regards to the DL4's; they all cast wonderfully with a standard taper, true-to-weight, no gimmick fly line like a Cortland Peach, 406, Sci Angler Mastery Double Taper or a Rio Lightline. There are also folks who swear by a Wulff Triangle Taper.

What you don't need is a heavier than normal or aggressively front loaded taper as the rods literally cast themselves. I never tried one, but have a feeling a DL4 would feel overloaded with a line like a Rio Gold.

As far a reel choices go for the 8'6" 5wt, as a point of reference I use a reel with an empty stated weight of 5.5oz. That balances my rod (with a downlocking reel seat) pretty much at the winding check which is my preference. You can go with a heavier or lighter reel depending on your preference.

Enjoy your DL4!!!
 
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