IM6 vs Air - 7'6" 3wt

For several years my go-to 376 rod has been a Winston IM6 7'6" 3wt in three-piece configuration. For sure, this fly rod fits me and my streams ever so nicely. However, it's also getting a bit rare and valuable to be bush whacking through stream-side willows in search for the wild one's. The old classic IM6 rods have spiraled up in value during the last five years, making me fish them very carefully...yup, it's possible to break one. Hence, I’m beginning to use a more contemporary rod, not as valuable re-sale wise, but more easily replaceable in event of an accident.

That contemporary rod is a Winston Air 7'6" 3wt that will replace the IM6 as my regular 'gamer' rod. Well, not exactly replace, but to give some fishing relief for my favorite 3wt rod and help keep the old classic rather minty. You know, I have never compared them in a casting test and thought it would be fun to do so. So now that we have a warm day, I'm off to the local park for side-by-side testing using the same fly line, of course. I like to mark off 20, 30, and 40 feet as targets on these tests in the park. Those distances are typical casts I need to fish my home waters.

IM6 7'6" 3wt - This rod is ever so sweet at hitting 20 and 30 foot targets with accuracy...still in the "sweet casting zone" and pretty accurate at 40 feet, but loses that sweet feeling beyond that 40 foot target. A progressive feeling while loading the back cast. You can feel the rod bending down to the cork, and effortless on the forward cast to the optimum casting range. Just a very comfortable and accurate rod for my home waters.

I would say it's a medium action rod, with a deep bend, that recovers as fast as many contemporary rods of today. Yup, this rod and its action have been a favorite of mine for many years. The sliding band reel seat, teak spacer, modified 6" cigar grip, and dark green blank is a trademark with Morgan era Winstons. Beautiful!

Air 7'6" 3wt - This rod has a bit more power than the IM6 model and can more accurately cast a line to 40 feet and beyond with ease. The "sweet casting range" for this rod is 20 to 45 feet, no problem, but begins to have accuracy fall-off with casts beyond that range. I would say the rod's action is medium fast, with a firm butt section and fast tip section recovery. However, the rod still maintains a smooth progressive bend when loading the rod for a cast...just not as easily and deep as compared to the IM6 taper. The Air has an up-locking reel seat, elder spacer, modified 6.5" cigar grip, and dark green blank that says it's a Winston.

In summary, I like them both and I'm happy to have some options for fishing various streams throughout the southern Rockies. The IM6 has a more lively feel to its casts and for sure will be rigged up when fishing little streams with in-close casting. And, the Air will be rigged up for when I want some power for bigger trout at longer distances.

It's this more lively feel with the IM6 that makes it such a winner in small stream fishing environments. Yup, still my favorite 7'6" 3wt rod.