Exceptional Classic Winstons

I'm fortunate to have some outstanding classic rods that bring a whole bunch of enjoyment when fly fishing here in the Southwest. I'm talking only about graphite rods, and creek rods at that. Each of them are fabulous to fish on my beautiful New Mexico and Colorado streams, and they have helped me land a lot of trout through time. So yeah, the fly rods in my classic collection have fishing time and I know very well how they perform and compare to each other. I will say, however, there are a select few rods out of this collection of mine that I find exceptional, in regard to performance...and, have become a bit more collectable in the fly rod dealer market as well. Fortunately, I picked mine up before the second-hand market got hot. Below are the classics that are most special to me:

IM6 6'6" 2wt - this rod is the sweetest short 2wt rod anyone could fish in my western, willow choked, mountain Rios. You won't find a better rod in this category. Tom Morgan truly found the magic sauce with this rod design. The rod loads easily for various types of casts in tight stream conditions, yet is strong enough to manage trout in tight line moments. It casts so crazy good! Mine was built in 1996 with the optional down-locking reel seat in birds eye maple...its aesthetic is gorgeous and it fishes just as beautifully. This two-piece rod with a Loomis blank is a 'stand out' among the early Tom Morgan rod models, and will always be on my list of exceptional fly rods.

WT 7' 2wt - Another Winston that is amazing, and best in three-piece configuration! This is a very versatile rod for tiny mountain streams because it will handle both 2wt and 3wt fly lines for fine-tuning the action to a given steam environment. The rod's action is progressive, smooth, and a joy to cast. One of the rods in my top three rods I fish each year. Winston fans consider it the best-of-best regarding 7' 2wt models. The rod's length is short enough to go anywhere on my mountain Rios. 

IM6 7'6" 3wt - Quite simply the best 7'6" 3wt rod ever made. It doesn't take a back seat to any contemporary rod I've ever fished. Another rod that Tom hit the 'sweet spot' for fishing in small streams. I fish both a two-piece model as well as a three-piece model, and both are exceptional for light trout fly fishing. No doubt, there are many anglers still to this day, who wade the blue lines fishing with this classic 7'6" 3wt rod, and I'm thankful to be one of them.

WT TMF 8' 4wt - So, this will come as a surprise for readers who know Winston classics. Most will say the early IM6 TMF rods are the best. However, I like the TMF WT rod models due to them being ever so slightly firmer, yet still have that magical tip section they are famous for. It's an amazing taper and a pure joy to fish. This rod is my favorite rod to fish, if that means anything.

My early Tom Morgan era IM6 8' 4wt fly rod built in 1992 is almost identical in action and feel as the contemporary TMF of mine. It's a touch firmer in the tip section maybe, but ever so slightly. I fish it almost as much as the TMF...for a good reason.

Truth be known, I could go through my fly fishing life and be perfectly happy with only these amazing rods. They are all I really need for my home waters to have fulfilling fishing adventures. But why do that? There are other impressive rods in the storage rack to keep life exciting and me out of a rut. Yes, indeed life is short, so do what brings happiness to you! Just keep your cholesterol at an acceptable level...LOL!