About the brand: R.L. Winston Fly Rods
This is the second installment in our series that looks at different fly fishing brands (you can read the first about Sage). In this post we’ll look at the venerable R.L. Winston company. Known for their high tech boron/graphite composite rods as well as their high end bamboo fly rods, Winston rods has been making fly fishing rods for over 75 years.
Winston fly rods is based in Twin Bridges, Montana with the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Jefferson, Ruby, and Madison Rivers at their backdoor - ideal research and development grounds for their craft. Roughly forty craftsmen work at Winston to create some of the highest quality and visually appealing fly rods on the market. With graphite rods starting at $200 and incredible bamboo fly rods up to $3,000, their selection of rods cover the full spectrum.
A Winston is not just a fly rod. It is a commitment to doing something the right way. Without compromise.
-R.L. Winston Rods
First look at the new Sage ZXL fly rod…start saving!
This past week I had a chance to take a look at the new Sage ZXL fly rod at the local fly shop. My feelings are that, despite it being a new fly fishing rod on the market, it may be one to save your pennies for.
According to Sage, the ZXL is what you get when you match their G5 technology with the “silk-smooth” action of their SLT Series. The translation of this is that Sage has removed all the unnecessary weight in the rod while still maintaining its strength and improving its casting and fishability. One interesting detail we noticed is that they’ve made the grips a little narrower. This change will probably be welcomed by 95% of the anglers out there since it makes the fly rod more comfortable to hold. What about the other 5%? They’re the ones with freakishly large hands that prefer to fly fish with broomsticks.
Sage VT2 Fly Rod Review
The fly fishing rods from Sage’s VT2 series are typically known for their versatility. Often considered to be great rods for beginners, these rods fit into Sage’s lineup between their Z-Axis rods and their traditional style rods. The Sage VT2 rods have a sensitive, light feel with a smooth power curve. The combination of these attributes give it a fast line speed and make for easier casting.
In the Sage VT2 series, there are rods ranging in length from 7′ 9″ to 9′ 6″ designed for line weights 3 to 10. All of these come in four sections.
Looking for more info about the Sage VT2 fly rods? Look here
These three reputable fly shops all carry the Sage VT2:
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| Price: $410-440 FREE Shipping |
Price: $410-440 FREE Shipping |
Price: $410-440 FREE Shipping |
2008 Line of Sage Fly Rods
For the upcoming year, there will be several new Sage fly rods on the market. Here’s a quick breakdown of the additions to their already strong line-up of fly fishing rods:
- Bass Series Fly Rods - they have two new rods intended for bass anglers. There is a new 7′ 11″ big mouth and small mouth models. Both come with their own Sage fly line, also tailored to bass anglers.
- Sage ZXL Series Fly Rods - built using Sage’s G5 technology, they are boasting that this rod has “silk-smooth” action.
- A few new models have been added to the Z-Axis series.
- A few new models have also been added to the TXL Series models.
Read some of our other posts for more info about the current line of fly rods from Sage.
Fly Rods Sage sage fly rodsVisitor Story: Choosing a Sage fly rod
Recently I decided to purchase a new fly rod for myself as a special end of summer gift. I spent countless hours searching the dozens or even hundreds of fly fishing sites and stores online. It was time I would have much rather spent out practicing my fly cast or catching the afternoon hatch. Maybe my story can help you.
I was looking for a medium weight fly rod with good action. I didn’t want another cheap, mass produced one that would leave me feeling like I was casting with an old wooden broomstick.
In my search, I first looked for a brand that met my needs. I wanted a brand of fly rod that would stand by their rods, has a strong reputation for making great rods, and one whose rods just plain felt right. For me, Sage fly rods seemed to fit my requirements nicely.
Fly Rods Sage sage fly rods Visitor Stories visitor storyPrevious Articles
Welcome to Fly Fishing Reviews
Fly fishing stories and reviews on the best rods, reels, flies, waders, and other fly fishing gear available. We review only the best brands of fly fishing gear including: Sage, Simms, and R.L. Winston.
