Has anyone experienced or heard any feedback on the new Winston Boron IIx rod blanks? I am thinking of building one but am curious to ask before getting one of these.

I am also strongly considering the Lamiglas XMG 9ft. 8wt 4piece over the Winston but thought I would ask to see what anyone has heard of experienced with them.

Thanks,

Gregg Osland

I have used one. Thought it was great and had zero complaints. But I also think it's overpriced compared to many other blanks that are just as good. I don't think these have much boron in them but I do like the feel.

The XMG 50 Lamiglas blanks are nice also I have a 10 ft 5 wt and a 9 ft 6 in 7 wt both fine rods. The Lamiglas Perigee blanks also make a fine rod. globalflyfisher.com and flyanglersonline.com have both built and fished these blanks and posted reviews.

Love em! Course--being a native Montanan and having known a number of friends who worked in the factory doesn't make me biased at all! I personally feel a difference between WInston and other blanks. Not saying it is better than another rod, but I REALLY like the feel for my casting style. You might test drive one at the local dealer if you are unsure. The resell value of the Winston rods is hard to beat... Good luck!

Thanks for the replies! Thanks for letting me know about the reviews Spencer. I will look for them today and read what was mentioned. It has been a while since I have been to the board so I will have a little searching to do but will probably find them in no time.

Gregg Osland

Like Arron, I have a resident Montana/Winston bias. Having disclosed that , I have to say that everyone that I know that has one really really likes it. Many of the people that I know that use them are self admitted Winston snobs, but they are also guides and people with 30+ years of fly fishing. Last week I got to fish with a 9' 3 weight IIx loaner, very nice rod. Where the Winston people took a medium action rod (IM6/38 Mil Mod) blank and stiffened the lower section with boron, another more reasonably priced company did the reverse. Test cast a Winston Boron and then if you can compare it to Batson RX8+ blank. Batson softened up the top section on their previous generation (RX8) and made a darn good blank. Don't get me wrong, if Winston would sell their blanks to builders at less than full retail (OK 10% than full retail) I'd build on their blanks most of the time. Just my two cent worth.