Winston Pure 2 9’0″ 4-weight

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   This model lends itself to artistry on long leader presentations. If you’re the angler who fishes dries on the Missouri, Green, San Juan or Delaware while all others are running strike indicators, this rod was designed for you. The difference in actions between the Pure and Pure 2 series is most evident in the 9’ rods. The improvement in loop control and range is undeniable in this model, an elegant, silky caster from 20’ to 60’. It has a lighter tip and more even flexing profile than the original Pure (we often refer to “even flex” as “progressive”), loading deeply with a cellular connection to the line, imparting a remarkable feel of control. Line speed builds gradually in the cast. Rather than jerking the line with each casting stroke, an open loop tightens with distance, which helps turn over a long leader without causing a tailing loop. Casting this rod feels like draping the presentation delicately before a rising fish, lightly placing the dry fly with one’s fingertips. You can’t push this rod in the wind, knock tight loops off the tip or otherwise change its nature as a medium-slow action fly rod, but it’s a paintbrush with the finest bristles that has masterpiece potential on the river.

   A gradual line taper is a must on this rod. The Scientific Anglers Trout taper casts beautiful loops at distance but requires a deliberate casting stroke to form tighter loops under about 40 feet. It’s a great line choice for windy conditions where the angler is already inclined to cast with more power. Under calm conditions, I prefer the Rio Elite Technical Trout which loads the rod just a little bit deeper with a relaxed casting stroke. With either line, the caster will use a long, accelerating casting stroke to build line speed. Choosing a line for myself, it would be the Rio Technical Trout.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   This is your classic long leader dry fly 4wt. It has the best feel of all the rods in the Pure 2 lineup and is silky smooth. If you prefer a longer and slower, 4wt this is an excellent choice. It mends and roll casts better than almost any other 9’ 4wt on the market and flexes deep into the blank, a rod that any Winston fanatic is sure to adore. It is not going to be the rod you want to reach for if it is overly windy, but when the conditions are right and the fish are looking up, you’ll have a hard time finding another rod that is as well suited for the job. Of all the lines I threw on this rod, the SA Amplitude Trout is my personal favorite. It pairs very well with the slower rod and doesn’t flex the tip as much as a heavier headed line.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 4 out of 5

   This rod is very similar and very different from its predecessor. I have owned and fished a Pure 904 for a while now and I loved the rod because it made me focus through my entire casting stroke. I couldn’t cheat the rod and when I hit it perfectly it felt closer to knocking a bird out the sky with my shotgun than any other rod. It was also a pain in my ass at times. I found it really wanted an SA Trout taper, and if you had any wind or a larger fly it would struggle with accuracy. So, I loved that rod, hated it, cursed it and longed for it and I doubt I will ever let it go.

   The new Pure 2 904 gave me a lot of the same feelings but with a taper that provides for a smoother and more uniform curve of the blank from cork to tip top when loaded. The little bit of extra mass in the tip pulls the upper middle into the curve at the tip. This provides a lot of sensation through the casting stroke but requires more input from the caster, a taper that does not hide a line it doesn’t like. You will feel the tip being heavier in your hand than you expect. A lighter line or finer taper does not cure it, sometimes it exacerbates the effect. The correct line cures it and really makes these rods a joy to cast. On the Pure 2 904 that line was the Rio Technical Trout. Lighter in the hand than the original Pure and more lively, this rod makes you sit back and savor the casting experience. Rock back with the line and come forward smoothly. You get a little more line speed with the Pure 2 904 but this rod is still not a 4-weight for a windy day. I found that this rod was ok in close, but very good from 30 to 50 feet. It felt tuned for those distances. The casting cadence is mellow to upper mellow, don’t push it, but if you do it just right it’ll knock a bird out of the sky for you.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)