Sky-lined on a remote mountainside, stands the best kept secret in Alaska. A quaint timber-framed lodge, constructed of materials entirely imported from Finland, overlooks the meandering banks of the Copper River. It’s at this lodge, appropriately named The Ridge, that four to six anglers per week can have one of the premier experiences that Alaska’s […] The post The Ridge Selected as Newest Winston Preferred Lodge appeared first on R.L. Winston Fly Rods ..read more

Shivering cold, asses planted inside the puddled, hastily assembled tent, soggy feet hanging outside the zippered doors while a steady deluge of rain pounds the fly with enough intensity we have to shout to make conversation. “Damn it, Kenyon,” I yell, feigning indignation. “You just had to get that one last fish, didn’t you?” We […] The post Chasing Blue Lines appeared first on R.L. Winston Fly Rods ..read more

  by Alex Gonsiewski When people think of iconic anadromous species, Steelhead or Atlantic Salmon are often the first to come to mind. For this trip, we were after the thug of all sea-run fish – the Chinook Salmon. Every year, from mid-June to early July, there’s a dedicated and slightly crazed group of anadromous anglers that travel to Southwest Alaska to pursue these powerful fish. These anglers are recognizable by their long spey rod tubes at Anchorage airport – there’s are no single hand fly rods in sight. Ultimately, anglers come here for a reason – a Chinook grab is is like trying ..read more

A beautiful “Gloria” getting ready for release.    “Gloria” is a name you might hear being yelled when fishing any number of rivers surrounding Asheville, North Carolina. Sometimes its a coaxing whisper, other times it’s shouted out of  frustration, and on the best of occasions, it’s exclaimed in a cheerful G-L-O-R-I-AAAAAA! My client is a dry fly purist and a wonderful person to vicariously fish through. She calls all of her trout “Gloria.” On this particular day, I heard Gloria’s name being called several times from the back of the boat on the South Holston River. The first ..read more

WORDS: Captain Justin Bachert PHOTOS: Asher Koles My approach towards fly fishing and guiding for tarpon, overall, is based off of an accumulation of my past experiences – as a mariner, waterman, and angler. Our ecosystem in south Florida, and in the Florida Keys is seemingly ever-changing and being able to adapt to those changes is what we all need to focus on. As a guide that has spent a profuse—if not borderline-offensive—amount of time on the water… there seemingly isn’t a short, concise description of what it takes to be an effective in Tarpon angler. When you find yourself on the bow ..read more

As I write this, I wonder how many Muskies have been landed on Winston rods? How many big ones? As a gentleman that arrived at fly fishing in one of the most unlikely ways – Muskellunge – the question is natural, I suppose. Winston, at least in Musky Country are revered, yet not the typical tool we often consider for the job. With all the rigamarole that comes with Musky fishing- breaking rods in figure-eights, casting treble hooks and egg sinkers (can I even say that here?!??!), it’s obvious that musky fly anglers aren’t running towards the green tubes for their next green dragon adventure ..read more

The biggest lie in owning a boat is that it will result in more fishing. In my experience, it’s only led me to more time on the oars, vicariously fishing through the angler up front. Leaving me to chomp at the bit, some would say. Having a couple buddies that can row helps. On a drizzly day in March, I was lucky enough to find myself between the leg locks on the front of my drift boat looking forward to some spring fly fishing in Montana. Skwala stoneflies clumsily fluttered past us and crashed into the rushing water below. A silhouette appeared from under the bank and, quicker than the dark o ..read more

The biggest lie in owning a boat is that it will result in more fishing. In my experience, it’s only led me to more time on the oars, vicariously fishing through the angler up front. Leaving me to chomp at the bit, some would say. Having a couple buddies that can row helps. On a drizzly day in March, I was lucky enough to find myself between the leg locks on the front of my drift boat looking forward to some spring fly fishing. Skwala stoneflies clumsily fluttered past us and crashed into the rushing water below. A silhouette appeared from under the bank and, quicker than the dark olive stonef ..read more

As your eyes dry out from searching the lake, a sharp sting sets in to the fingers from stripping the iced fly line across creased skin hundreds of times, and hope slowly fades. You began to think, “At least my double haul is looking good” – which is really what you say to yourself to keep from feeling disappointment and gnawing self-doubt. Either way you’re out there right? And it feels good to cast the big rods again. Aside from a few days spent in the Florida Keys chasing the big three, your eight and nine weight Winstons have been gathering dust this summer. Now, rigged with cold water li ..read more

Photography By: Jason Shields IG: @perfectloopproductions Stillwater fisheries can provide opportunities to catch some of the largest trout in the world. One of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water can be. What I’ve learned over the years is that a majority of large trout find a bulk of their diet near drop lines, vegetation, or rocky shorelines. FINDING FISH An effective strategy is to view fishing windows from a high perch or vantage point. Even if you are fishing by yourself it will let you know how close to the edge the fish is cruising, how d ..read more