Five years ago I broke my LT rod in two by falling on it as I climbed over a barbed wire fence! In England, I looked up the phone number of Winston in late afternoon as they are six hours behind UK time. I gave them a ring. A polite gentleman answered the phone to whom I gave the serial number. He asked me to wait a minute as he got the ledger. I heard his boots advance across the wooden floor, then return. He said, yes your rod was made in June 2001. I'll send you a replacement section if you send me the broken bits -- which I did. Three weeks later, I had the new sectioning my hands. Beautiful and green -- no $ charge.
No they did not move over seas. As virtually all rod manufacturers do, Winston had their low end Passport rods manufactured over seas but everything else is still made in their facility in Twin Bridges, Montana. They have since discontinued their low end Passport series and none of their rods are built over seas. The best rods on the market with excellent customer service.
twill143 I can honestly say I disagree with the customer service statement.. back when I broke my USA made Ibis rod and they sent me a down grade to an Ascent, when I complained to the Winston company I was told ' that's the equivalent now to the Ibis''and that's the best they would do for me' which is just bull.. no way does this Ascent rod even come close to the feel or make of the Ibis.. it may say Winston on the rod, but in no way has the feel of what I expect from a Winston rod.. Orvis at least upgrades you if they don't/ cant fix or replace the rod you had broken.. I will never Buy another Winston..
My experience with Winston rods i very limited. I have mostly heard and read of the legendary quality and smoothness. Couple years ago I finally purchased a Winston Pure and boy was I disappointed. The blank had a pretty significant bend to it. There were 3 defective guides including the tip - the coating was blemished like sandpaper. And one guide was mounted 10 degrees off line. In my world this is unacceptable for a premium rod. The Pure casted OK but was on the hefty side for a 4wt finesse rod, the feel is subjective of course. I wish mine was some kind of fluke, but there were too many things wrong with the rod to ever trust Winston again. Sorry for the buzz kill.
Jurgen Ritzhaupt No New Brunswick resident can affort one, not likely. Lol. To be honest, I've never seen any fly rod labeled "salmon rod" or "trout rod", or anything else.
your screwed if you need a replacement... forget about it.. it took them 5 months to replace my broken rod..and I had to fight for it..not to mention they down graded the rod to the Ascent which is like casting a 2x4 compared to my 4 weight IBIS... They really let me down! I was use to dealing with Orvis whom would if they did not have same rod would upgrade if need be. So you can imagine how much of a disappointment it was to find Winston had done what they did.
John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The qualifier in the quote was “to many”. “To many it is the spiritual home.” The claim wasn’t made that it is so I don’t see any reason for you to get all patriotic about The river Cuck in England being the rightful spiritual home lol
If a river is spiritual in your heart and mind. Then it is the spiritual home of flyfishing to you. Many wouldsay it is the Catskills. I say it is the Pocono Mountains Little Bushkill. The memories will never leave!
Those dudes floating down the river at 20 miles per hour in a boat without life vests have a better chance of catching a cold or, WORSE than a trout!! WInston Rods are great but take me to the LEADER every time.. $100 is more than enough to spend on a fishing rod... you need to RELAX . Not worry about breaking yer rod.
