I shopped a replacement 5wt for over a month! Let's list em, Hardy NSX/Zephrus, Orvis Helios F, G-Lomis NRX+/LP, Scott G-series, and I'm sure a few others. All are EXCELLENT choices but for me, the flex, swing weight, finish, color, and above all else, soft presentation, the Winston Pure is the one! It has a far more traditional swing with the power to throw anything. Yes, anything from a heavier streamer to the most delicate of tiny flies. I have a Scott G-series 3wt. for smaller streams, the likes of Bear Creek etc. I even like my G-series for Clear Creek but more often than not, reach for my Pure. I get better reach, a softer landing and more backbone for when that bigger brown strikes. But it's also just fun!

Sure there are, arguably more accurate rods. There is NOTHING more 'Pure' in a modern rod, however. Buy this rod when you are thinking tactical. Buy this rod when you are thinking enjoyable. Buy this rod when you want to world to melt around you and there is nothing more than you, nature, and the river! Breath deep and exhale! Casting this thing is like fly fishing yoga!

I was looking for a 4wt rod to up my dry fly game and bought the Winston Pure based on advice from my friends at Trouts. They didn't steer me wrong. The action and accuracy of this rod with the lighter line weight allows me to lay down soft, dry fly presentations without spooking fish. I bought a 9 foot so I can use it for dry/drop and light nymphing rigs as well. It excels at trailing nymphs off a dry fly in the riffles. This rod is equally adept at picking off small fish in creeks or fighting large fish on big rivers. With an Abel Super Series Black on it, it is balanced and light in hand and shares equal time with my 5wt rods on any river.