Winston Pure 2 7’3″ 2-weight

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   One of my favorite rods in the series, the Pure 2 7’3″ 2-weight is everything it’s supposed to be and nothing it isn’t.  I cast it with both an SA Amplitude DT2 and also an SA Trout Standard WF2 line and loved them both.  The rod casts with lilting grace to about 35′, then we’re finished.  The WF Trout Standard can shoot beyond 35′ in a pinch, but there is no need.  This is a creek rod.  The criteria for a rod like this are 1)  how does it feel?  and 2)  is it well-designed?   The trademark Winston touch weeps from every pore of this wonderful ultra-light fly rod, ponderous elasticity tickling your palm on every swing.  It feels like a 2-weight and fishes like a 2-weight.  Especially with the benefit of water loading, the rod fishes supremely at short distances and turns over 9-10′ leaders with natural accuracy.  It performs beautifully on small water but won’t cross over to tailwater fishing or broader waters because a 7’3″ fly rod simply can’t engage a long leader.  Versatility would compromise purpose, but the flex profile and relationship between each part of this fly rod are immaculately tuned.  The overall action, progressive load, lightness throughout the blank and response to input from the angler are in the top percentile of any light line fly rod, truly a joy to fish.   This is one of the finest graphite creek rods I have handled, a rod I will fish alongside my favorite fiberglass rods on the cutthroat streams of SW Colorado.  

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)