Winston Perfect Reels

Some classic fly gear are more special than others. And, the Winston Perfect Reels are firmly in the "special realm" of fly reels. Once I began fishing a Winston Perfect 2 7/8" reel, it didn't take long for me to discover how impressive these old reels pair up with my classic 2wt and 3wt Winston rods. And, Winston fans who fish Winston IM6/WT fly rods in 4 or 5 weight models, they will always seek out a Winston Perfect 3 1/8" fly reel...if they don't already have one.

These reels are anodized in a deep green color that pairs so nicely with Winston rods...just a natural fit, without doubt. Archived information from past Winston and Hardy sites state the Winston Perfect reel models are about an ounce lighter than the Hardy Perfect reels. My fishing experiences find them performing impressively well on select Winston IM6 and WT fly rods. Also, the Winston Perfect reels are period-correct for those rods, with the aesthetic being nothing short of classical goodness.

A couple of my favorite pairings with these reels are: Winston 6'6" IM6 2wt fly rod with the Winston Perfect 2 7/8" fly reel; and, the Winston WT TMF 8' 4wt fly rod with the Winston Perfect 3 1/8" fly reel. For a small stream angler, it doesn't get better than these two kits, for fishing various sized trout creeks in the back country.

Bauer has never offered a click-check fly reel, and still does not under R.L. Winston ownership. As a result, I would think a great number of Winston fans would support a collaboration between Winston and Hardy to reproduce these iconic reels. Or another option for R.L. Winston's Bauer company...to design and manufacture a classic looking reel with a click-check system, for those of us who enjoy fishing the blue lines in the mountainous regions of America.

Photos: Winston Perfect 3 1/8" Fly Reel, spooled up with an Orvis Hydros Trout fly line.