Winston Elite

It was 2001, the year R.L. Winston launched the new WT rod series, leaving the IM6 brand name in the history annuls. Ever since Winston started in late 1994 rolling their own blanks, and even though they kept the name IM6, they were manufacturing the same blank that eventually became the WT in 2001. The Winston Traditional (WT) used the same tapers to manufacture the blanks that were used in Winston's IM6 rods during the years of 1995 through 2000. So, the WT was essentially a rebranding for marketing in 2001. The reliability, consistency, and quality with WT fly rods became the best ever for R.L. Winston. And, the company's move to manufacturing their own blanks proved to be a winning business strategy.

This was a perfect time to launch the "Winston Elite" program, which was a true custom fly rod program offering WT fly rods to be built per a customer's preference...including distinctive wraps, choice of grip styles, special reel seats, and travel cases. The Winston Elite rods were quite expensive for a graphite fly rod in 2001. The rod alone would set you back $995 and if you added the reel, line, and case package, it totaled for $1250. Yup, factoring in inflation, the rod alone in today's market would run about $1800. It would be interesting to know how many of these rods they sold during the three years they offered this custom program.

A Winston Elite fly rod will come on the market from time to time. The downside, the original owner's name is etched on the tube cap, and inscribed on the rod blank. No, I don't have one of these fine custom rods. However, I do have standard, factory, WT rod models with Winston Perfect fly reels locked into them...which is the very same rod and reel used in the Elite program. They go with me for most of my fly fishing adventures.