Puget Sound Archives - Emerald Water Anglers

Upcoming Events – Nov. & Dec.

November 20, 2019 by adminewa Leave a Comment

Well, we apologize for not getting this up sooner, things have just been a bit crazy around these parts lately. Good news is, they are finally here, our fly fishing events for the next 6 weeks and beyond. Fly tying, customer appreciation, spey and single hand casting classes mixed with the Holidays…yep it is going to be a busy season so grab a beverage, sit down and peruse the schedule, it may take awhile!

Currently, we are booking Puget Sound trips (has been fishing very well lately) and steelhead in all forms for the remainder of the year and the winter/spring season. We will book solid this year so if you know you want to dance on the water with us, let’s get you scheduled soon!

Look for more fly fishing events to be added here soon, what is new with EWA as a company. Follow us here:

Instagram @ewaflyshop_seattle and @emeraldwateranglerswa
Facebook for Store and Travel
Facebook for Women’s Group News and Events

Fly Tying – Women’s Bug’s n Brew’s and our coed Tie One On. Click links with each event to register:

Bug’s n Brew’s – Women’s Only $25 per class per person
December 3rd: Marbou Popsicle (Intermediate)
December 17th: Skagit Mist (Advanced)
January 7th: Skwala Stones
January 21st: Blue Wing Olives

Tie One On – Coed $25 per class per person

November 29, 2019 – Black Friday
November 30, 2019 – Shop Small Saturday
We will be open normal hours those days and the store is currently STUFFED and ready for you to come pick up gifts early if that is your thing!

December 5, 2019 – Customer Appreciation Night 5pm – 9pm
Come hang out, enjoy live music from Ryan Barber, register for gifts you really want so friends and loved ones from near and far can get you exactly what you are looking for this year.

Patagonia will be in the house with the new Swiftcurrent waders to try on and size perfectly so you can take advantage of a pre order opportunity that evening to get just the right size. These are the first ever wader with a 100% recycled outer fabric so come check them out. Of course refreshments provide and this is dog and kid friendly!

December 10, 2019 – Wild Steelhead Coalition Reception – $TBD
Come join and meet the people working hard for our wild steelhead. More information coming very soon.

On River Spey School – $225 per person – Learn from our well versed professional staff of guides/instructors the fine craft of spey casting and swinging for steelhead! This is a full day, on the river school covering casting from both banks, head variations and coinciding tips, reading and cover water. 3 anglers max per school, call to reserve, equipment can be provided.
December 1, 2019 – 1 spot remaining
December 13, 2019 – 3 spots remaining
January 10, 2020 – 3 spots remaining

December 25 & 26, 2019 – Store Closed
We may have some staff available to guide on the 26th but please provide as much notice as possible and have a wonderful Holiday Season.

January 9, 2020 – Coastal Cutthroat Coalition Event –$35
Annual fundraiser for this organization doing good work for our local wild sea run cutthroat both in the salt and fresh water. Will be at Hula Hula again, please bring your liver.

January 29 – 30, 2020 — F3T West Seattle — Admiral Theater — $16
This is the season opener to get hyped about this sport and all it encompasses. Filmmakers travel to all corners of the globe to pursue exotic fish like GT’s, Arapaima, Payara, Taimen and even Rainbow Trout! Always a great time tickets available online or at the store. Tickets available soon!

January 25, 2020 — EWA Spey Day — Snoqualmie River under Fall City Bridge — 9am – 3pm — FREE
The premier spey event in western WA, come cast the latest and greatest in two handed rods and lines with our staff, sales reps and special guests. This is the perfect opportunity to hone your skills, get some one on one instruction or figure out the optimal match of line and rod for the winter season.

February 15 & 16, 2020 — The Fly Fishing Show — Lynnwood — $16
We will be attending the show again this year. Great opportunity to hear Dave McCoy talk on Puget Sound and fly fishing around Washington. See his all new photos and insights on how, when, where and with what on some of our most dynamic fisheries. We will not be attending this year…sorry!

May 9, 2020 — EWA Fly Fest — @ Location TBD – 9am – 3pm — FREE
Our annual kick off of summer event will be better than ever with more classes including spey casting, more guest speakers and more reps from the industry and of course the guide cook off.

Upcoming Events – June

June 5, 2019 by adminewa Leave a Comment

June 1, 2019 — EWA Fly Fest and Guide Cook-Off — Me-Kwa-Mooks Park– FREE
Our 5th year of this event and we are already excited for it. So many cool new products, new staff and new techniques to show and share with all of you. Event is from 9am – 3pm with the cook-off happening at 12:30. Class schedule will be posted about a month in advance.

June 1, 2019 — Summer Steelhead Fly Tying Demo w/Katy Watson — @ EWA Store @6pm — FREE
Come watch as British Columbia steelhead guide and Spey – O – Rama contestant Katy meets and greets, answers questions and shows how to tie some of her favorite low water patterns for BC steelhead.

Intro to Fly Casting — Lincoln Park, north parking lot next to baseball field — $25 — Equipment Provided

Wednesday, June 5, 6:30PM sign up here
Wednesday, June 12, 6:30PM sign up here
Saturday, June 15, 9AM sign up here
Saturday, June 22, 9AM sign up here
Wednesday, July 10, 6:30PM sign up here

June/July/August — Photographer Series — @ EWA Store @7pm — FREE
Come learn from some of our leading industry photographers on how to better compose images, tell stories and be better with your DSLR camera or smart phone. Here is who is on deck so far…

June 20 — – Matt DeLorme, Telling a Store in 10 Images @ 7pm at EWA Store – FREE
July 20 — – Dave McCoy, Underwater Imagery @ 7pm at EWA Store – FREE
July 25 — – Colton Jacobs, iPhone Composition @ 7pm at EWA Store FREE
August 1 – Earl Harper, Portraits in the Field @ 7pm at EWA Store – FREE

July TBD — Get to Know Your NGO — @ EWA Store @7pm — FREE
A full room of our favorite non profits from around this region doing great work for our land, water and fish. Date coming soon..

May 30, 2020 — EWA Fly Fest — @ Location TBD – 9am – 3pm — FREE
Our annual kick off of summer event will be better than ever with more classes including spey casting, more guest speakers and more reps from the industry and of course the guide cook off.

VIDEO Patagonia and Danner – River Salt and Foot Tractor Wading Boots

March 9, 2019 by Caldwell Rohrbach Leave a Comment

If you fish and wade around slick boulders, basalt ledges, heavy pocket water or just need the most stability a wading boot can offer, you owe it to yourself to try these boots!

Footage: Caldwell Rohrbach
Edit: Caldwell Rohrbach
Copy: Greg Fitz

Talent: Tom Mahan & Andrew Burr

June 2nd – EWA Fly Fest Schedule

May 18, 2018 by adminewa Leave a Comment

Last years podium from the EWA Guide Staff Cook Off with Jason Rolfe taking top honors for the second year.

Hello everyone, it is almost time for our 4th Annual EWA Fly Fest at Me Kwa Mooks Park here in West Seattle where we invite everyone to come on out and join us kicking off the summer season. We will have the sales reps from Thomas and Thomas, Winston, Gloomis, Echo, Scott, Hardy and Sage with every rod under the sun to test cast.

We will also have a few free clinics to work on casting, approaching Puget Sound and the creeks and the introduction of our SWING ON program which is all two handed all the time!

Here is the schedule for clinics and so on at the fly fest this year and we may still be adding a few things so check back and worst case scenario, show up:

8am – Women’s Casting with Karlie and Devon
9am – Festivities Begin
9am – Saltwater Tactics – Dave, on beach across the street
11am – Planetary Fly Fishing – Travel – Dave, under tent
10am – Small Streams, Where, When and How – Ben, under tent
11am – Women’s Meet and Greet – Karlie/Devon under tent
1pm – Staff Cook Off – Everyone
2pm – “SWING ON” All Things Spey Discussion – Rohr
3pm – Double Haulin’ – Dave
4pm – Last Minute Q&A, Pack Up and Call it a Day!

We look forward to seeing everyone out there soon.

G.Loomis IMX PRO Short-Spey Rod Review

January 3, 2018 by Caldwell Rohrbach 1 Comment

From the moment you pick up the IMX Pro 7 11’11” you know this rod is different. It redefines lightweight while also maintaining a strong enough rod to turn big fish in heavy water. Where I used to think a 13′ 7wt and a 9′ 8wt with a single hand skagit line were the perfect quiver on a number of Washington rivers, I now think the compact modern “Short Spey” will take the place of both.

This is the first short spey of it’s kind and I do differentiate this from other switch rods. THIS IS NOT A SWITCH ROD! This is the next generation of Spey rods that marry’s the feel of a 13′ rod with the fast action necessary of modern short skagit heads.

The first time I cast this rod was with a 480 grain Skagit Scout line (18.5′) and 44lb Impact mono running line and there wasn’t a situation this rod struggled with. We fished the Deschutes for two day’s in high water and cast a number of tips effortlessly including: 10′ Flo Tips in the t-10 and t-14 ranges as well as straight sections up to 12’ in t-10 and t-14. We battled high winds as well as cold temperatures and were able to feel a few nice tugs on the end of our line. (Since that trip, I have enjoyed fishing the 480 grain Skagit Switch line, just a foot longer than the Scout at 19.5’.

When you cast this rod, you seem to forget how compact it is until you find yourself tucked under overhanging trees and wading deep, tight against the bank.

The other thing you can’t seem to believe is the price of this rod. Compared to other rods in excess of $1000, this rod excels. For $575, this rod is a home run and one that I can’t wait to get out and fish. A component I typically overlook on other spey rods is the reel seat. However, on this one you are drawn in by its modern looks, sleek design, and smoothness.

For those gearing up for our winter run fish, the 7wt is the perfect addition to your existing lineup or a single rod quiver for the new spey angler.

As for trout spey, I think you can stop searching once you land on the IMX Pro 4wt 11’11”. This rod has all the power you could want but still has some major play when fighting a fish. For those searching for the lightest rod, that can still throw big streamers and heavy sink tips, the 3wt can be another great option. Karlie Roland prefers the 3wt.

As for the con’s associated with this rod, it is hard to come by. We literally cant keep these on the shelf. If there was one thing that I had to change, it would be the bottom grip, I prefer a slightly larger knob but that is one that you quickly forget once fishing! GLoomis knocked this one out of the park.

Other lines we enjoy on the IMX Pro 7 11’11”: Skagit Switch G2 510, Rage Compact 450, Scandi Compact 450

Karlie: 3wt 270 Scout, 225 OPST Commando

Give us a call with any more questions or feel free to stop by the shop to see for yourself 206.708.7250.

Photo’s and text: Caldwell Rohrbach

Upcoming Events – January

January 2, 2017 by Caldwell Rohrbach Leave a Comment

Special Events

January 14-15, 2017 – Spey Casting w/ Dec Hogan $250 per angler/per day
Spend a day with the legendary spey caster, rod designer, conservationist and world renowned steelhead whisperer. Dec will talk all things spey from dropping that loop to which head and tip for what type of water and finally how to successfully play and land these majestic fish when solo with a two hander. This class will be conducted on the water on one of our local steelhead rivers, most likely the Skykomish, river conditions depending. Space is limited so sign up now! To sign up email shop@emeraldwateranglers.com or call 206-708-7250.

January 20, 2017 – 2nd Annual EWA 5 Minute or Less Film Fest – 7pm @EWA – FREE
Here we go again, our crazy evening of fly fishing shorts is on again. Pretty sure we can get the winner this year again shown at the F3T here at our West Seattle showing in early Feb. RSVP via email: shop@emeraldwateranglers.com or phone: 206-708-7250

February 1 & 2, 2017 – F3T in West Seattle (Feb. 2) at the Admiral and downtown at SIFF (Feb.1)
The crew will be here sporting the latest in fly fishing film eye candy from around the world. More details to come soon but keep an eye on these dates.

February 3, 2017 – Women’s Meet and Greet @ EWA Store 7 – 9PM – FREE
Come meet our newest staff member and Women’s Program Director, Karlie Roland. Sit down, enjoy some wine or beer and finger foods, chat fly fishing and private shop. Karlie will lay out her plans for the program moving forward and also listen to ideas from you on. Schools, outings, celebrity clinics and hosted travel are all on the radar…what else?

February 11, 2017 – EWA Spey Clave – Ben Howard Boat Launch on the Skykomish River – 10AM – 3PM – FREE
Our area needed it so he we go. We are bringing our favorite two handed rod companies together to provide an on water demo and instruction session for those new to the spey game and those looking to try a number of rods side by side so they can make an informed purchase.

June 3, 2017 – 3rd Annual EWA Fly Fest and Guide Cook Off – 10AM – 4PM @ Me Kwa Mooks Park – West Seattle – FREE
The event we look forward to every year. Come join us for a fun day in the sun. Manufacturers reps are on hand to show off all the latest rod models from Winston, Sage, Scott, Echo, GLoomis and others, clinics by our talented EWA staff on the Sound, small mountain streams and steelhead. A host of IFFF certified instructors will be on hand as well. This will be our 10th Annual Guide Staff Cook Off where our guide team competes for the greatest shore lunch. 30 minutes and $40 to feed 3 people and you get to help choose the winner!

Upcoming Schools and Clinics

Tying Tuesdays!

We are launching a new fly tying series, “Tying Tuesdays”. As the name suggests, these will take place on select Tuesday nights and will focus on specialty fly tying topics. These classes are designed to introduce specific styles of tying to students with some tying experience – by no means do you have to be an expert to attend! Materials included. Max 6 students. To sign up email shop@emeraldwateranglers.com or call 206-708-7250. $40

Women’s Bug’s and Brew’s Fly Tying @ Elliott Bay Brewing (West Seattle) – 7 – 9PM – $40
Come join Karlie Roland for a sit down, fly tying instruction and socializing event just for you fly angling women out there.
January 19, 2017
February 23, 2017
March 9, 2017

Women’s Intro to Fly Casting – Karlie will be holding free fly casting classes starting December 10th and then every first Saturday of the month thereafter. During this intro class you will learn the basics of casting and proper technique to maintain a clean, accurate cast. Great for the beginners and novices looking for a refresher. You can sign up by e-mailing karlie@emeraldwateranglers.com, or calling the shop at 206-708-7250. MAX 6 people.

January 7th – 10am-12pm @ Lincoln Park in West Seattle

February 4th – 10am -12pm @ Lincoln Park in West Seattle
March 4th – 10am -12pm @ Lincoln Park in West Seattle
April 1st – 10am -12pm @ Lincoln Park in West Seattle

Intro to Fly Casting – This one hour group fly casting class is designed for first time or novice fly anglers. No experience, no problem! Our FFF certified casting instructors will have you competently casting a fly rod in no time at all! All equipment can be provided for class. To sign up email shop@emeraldwateranglers.com or call 206-708-7250. FREE

January 7th and 21st – 9am @ Lincoln Park in West Seattle

Intro to Fly Fishing Schools – 1 Day Classroom/On Water – All Equipment Provided – $195
These are the most comprehensive and intimate “how to” fly fishing school you will find in the region. We cap these schools at 3 per schools so we can have as much time as possible with you during the class. We teach from our own manual which we provide a digital copy of and cover casting, line management, essential knots, how to select flies based on entomology and answer all questions you might have throughout. Here are the current dates:
January 21, 2017
February 18, 2017
March 11, 2017
April 8, 2017

Upcoming Events – November

November 2, 2016 by adminewa Leave a Comment

We are crazy excited to announce we have finally hired our Women’s Program Coordinator which means our women’s events will be coming back beginning in December so stay tuned.

November 3rd – Writers on the Fly, “The Cascadia Tour” – 7pm to REAL Late @EWA – FREE 75 attendees maximum
Maybe our favorite event is back but in full throttle mode! We will be hosting 1 of 5 stops on the week long PNW tour with different readers in each location. Because of the popularity of this event over the past couple years and so we can get the writers some $$ for their appearance, we are charging for this event. Tickets will go on sale here shortly and will be expected to sell out. If you want on the list for this, please RSVP via email to Jason@emeraldwateranglers.com. Sponsored in part by Patagonia and Patagonia Books.

November 17th – Cuba, Now Open to the U.S. – 7pm @EWA – FREE
Come listen to long time fly fishing industry personality and photographer Jon Covich discuss the various regions Cuba has to offer and what to expect at each one. This will hands down be the best opportunity to Q&A one of the most knowledgeable people on this topic if you were considering a trip here.

December 7th – WDFW Salmon Management, North of Falcon – Ryan Lothrop – 7pm @EWA – FREE
Come join us for the inside perspective on how WDFW obtains their science and how they use it to make management decisions. Ryan Lothrop, Puget Sound Recreational Salmon Fishery Manager will talk about this and the issue surrounding our favorite fishery as well as answer questions. Please RSVP to this event via email or phone.

January 14-15, 2017 – Spey Casting w/ Dec Hogan $250 per angler/per day
Spend a day with the legendary spey caster, rod designer, conservationist and world renowned steelhead whisperer. Dec will talk all things spey from dropping that loop to which head and tip for what type of water and finally how to successfully play and land these majestic fish when solo with a two hander. He might even go spend some time doing casting instruction with us too. Space is limited so sign up now!

February 1 & 2, 2017 (yet to be confirmed) – F3T in West Seattle at the Admiral and downtown at SIFF
The crew will be here sporting the latest in fly fishing film eye candy from around the world. More details to come soon but keep an eye on these dates.

Upcoming Events – August

July 16, 2016 by adminewa Leave a Comment

With guide season in full wing around here for the summer, we unfortunately have to back off some of our favorite events around the store. That said, we are constantly doing other educational and informative classes. Here is a quick look at what is on the calendar so far for the rest of July and August.

Events at EWA
August 15th @ 7pm — Mountain Streams for Summer Fly Fishing – FREE
Sam Lincoln will spend some time laying out how, why, when, with what and even some where for ending the summer in the mountains for native trout. A great excuse for picking up a new rod for yourself!
August 27th @9am – 4pm — 2nd Annual West Seattle Gear Grab – FREE
End of season blowout sale! 20-60% off Apparel, Rods, Reels, Packs, Waders, Boots, and More! Emerald Water Anglers will be teaming up with our neighbors at West Seattle Cyclery and Mountain to Sound Outfitters to offer a 1 day parking lot sale. All three outfitters will be closing out gear at 20-80% off. Fly Fish, Apparel, Cycle, Ski, Paddle, etc…gear for all outdoor enthusiasts and closeout prices! Located in the parking lot at the corner of 42nd and Oregon, across from Emerald Water Anglers.
August 29th @ 7pm — Fall Sea Run Cutthroat – FREE
Alex Collier will help you prepare for the fall season in our local saltwater by discussing tactics, equipment set up, addressing tides and fly selection so you can hit the beach with more confidence once the kids are all back in school!

September 8th @7pm – Getting Into Spey Casting – FREE

Join EWA Manager Reid Curry for an in store seminar on the basics of spey casting and how to take your first steps into the world of two-handed casting and fishing. If you have been toying around with the idea of getting into spey casting but don’t know where to start, this is the seminar for you!

September 22nd @7pm – Fall Fishing in Washington and Beyond – FREE

EWA Guide Staff will be talking about some of our favorite local and regional fishing opportunities for the fall season and how to take advantage of them. Fall is one of the most exciting times of the year to be an angler in the Northwest. Our guides will share info on seasonal opportunities for trout, sea run cutthroat, steelhead, and more!

October TBD — Sage Happy Hour – FREE
Come hang out with some of the gang from Sage, cast some sticks and enjoy some beverages and snacks. Small raffle and other incentives will likely take place, as we get closer more details will be available. RSVP at the store via email, phone or Facebook.
November 17th @ 7pm — Cuba, Now Open for Americans! – FREE
Jon Covich of Fly Water Travel will be on hand to share some great images and discuss all the viable options currently available for eager fly anglers to travel and experience in Cuba. In the past 12 months a ton has changed and Jon is on top of it. Please also RSVP at the store via phone, email or Facebook.
January 14th & 15th, 2017 — Spey Casting with Dec Hogan — 9am – 3pm — $280 per person — 6 Max per day
Come spend a day with a legend, Dec Hogan as he helps you fine tune your spey casting and shares stories of his colorful guiding adventures here in the PNW. Dec is a long time friend and one of the true Ambassadors of our sport. 2 different sessions with meet and greet, book signing and beverages at the the store on the evening of the 13th. This will fill quickly so please reserve your space now, lunch and equipment provided if desired.
January 20th, 2017 — 2nd Annual EWA 5 Minutes or Less Fly Film Fest — $5 per person, goes to Wild Steelhead Coalition
Last year we showed 18 terrific short films from some of our industries most talented filmmakers and this year will only prove to be larger and in charger…hopefully that makes sense. Please reserve your space now as we will cap attendance at 80 people. Beverages by Georgetown Brewing and food from Blueacre Seafood. Woop woop, see everyone there!

$10 Casting at Lincoln Park – Limited to 5 casters, all levels welcome, equipment provided. RSVP at via phone or email with the store.
September 10th @ 9am
September 24th @ 9am

Intro to Spey Casting @ Greenlake – Limited to 3 caster per class, all rods and reels provided. Please bring waders and boots as we are in the water for this class. $95
September 1st @ 10am
September 8th @ 10am
September 15th @ 10am
September 22nd @ 10am

1 Day Immersion Schools – Limited to 3 anglers, equipment provided – $195 per person
August 6th – Intro to Flyfishing School
August 28th – Intro to Flyfishing School
September 2nd – Intro to Flyfishing School
September 16th – Intro to Flyfishing School
September 25th – Intro to Flyfishing School

Rowing School – Limited to 2 boats – $225 per boat
August 18th – 1 space open

Pink & Coho Salmon Clinic – Aug. 20 @6:30pm

August 6, 2015 by adminewa Leave a Comment

Free in store event here at EWA. Staff guide Jason Rolfe will discuss flies, techniques and locations to help your success rate increase while on the Sound in search of these awesome fish. Please RSVP at the store either in person or via email…shop@emeraldwateranglers.com or phone…206-708-7250

Gear Review: R.L. Winston Nexus Rods

January 23, 2015 by adminewa Leave a Comment

Anyone familiar with the fly fishing industry knows the reputation of the R.L. Winston fly rod company: buttery smooth performance labeled as the Winston “feel,” top of the line technology and quality craftsmanship, and the iconic green color of their high-end Boron rod series. But there’s a new dog in the fight for Winston–the all new, mid-price point graphite Nexus rod series. If the Boron rods are the older, more mature siblings that listen to Miles Davis vinyl records, the Nexus rods are the younger, more rough around the edges siblings who prefer their music a bit louder, and with a bit more funk. Their all-black finishes serves as notice of the transition from the sensitivity and feel of the “Winston Green” Boron rods, to the bring your lunch pail to the river blue-collar Nexus rods whose graphite blanks have sacrificed a bit of feel in the pursuit of speed and power.

Make no mistake, however: these are still Winstons at heart. The burled wood inserts on the 3wt. through 9′ 6 wt. rods, the anodized aluminum reel seats on the 9’6″ 6 wt. through the 12 wt., the overall lightness in your hand, and just enough of that classic feel all let you know that you’re holding a rod built by a company that prides itself on quality. And while these rods certainly have their flaws, they are a massive upgrade over the former entry-level price point Passport rod series, and they continue the recent movement by the classic rod companies to put a rod series on the market at the entry to mid price point, but that have a touch of the feel and look of a rod three or four hundred dollars more expensive.

Over the last few days, Reid Curry and I have had the chance to cast the 4 Nexus rods that we are carrying in the shop–the 4 rods that fit into Western Washington specific fisheries: the 8’6″ 3 wt., the 9′ 5 wt., and the 9′ and 9’6″ 6 wts. So while this review isn’t completely comprehensive since it only covers 4 out of 17 rod models, a few things have jumped to the forefront on all of these rods that make it seem possible to make a generalization or two that most likely will hold true across the spectrum. Most notably in that regard is that these rods are definitely on the faster end of the rod action range, and we felt that each of the rods cast best when either over-lined by a full weight, or when matched with a more aggressively tapered line. A standard trout taper of the matching weight just didn’t keep the rods loaded, and in the case of the 3 wt., you just couldn’t feel the line much at all.

So, without further ado, here’s our thoughts on casting these rods in front of the shop over the last 2 days (which maybe that’s an “ado” I should mention–these aren’t on the water tests, which could very well change the feel of these rods a touch):

8’6″ 3 wt. ($475)– As I mentioned above, we ended up with a 4 wt. line on this rod because the standard Airflo Elite Trout taper in a 3 wt. just wasn’t doing anything for it. Once we over lined it, the rod began to come to life (there’s a chance that a line like the Airflo Xceed in a 3 wt., which has a slightly more aggressive taper would also do the same for you). Either way, what you should hear in that statement is that this is a quick 3 wt. If you’re looking for a mid flex rod to deliver dry flies in tight quarters on small creeks, this probably isn’t the rod for you. We felt that even with a 4 wt. line on it this rod really started casting well after about 15-20 feet of line was out. As such, we could see this rod being fun to fish on some of the larger West side trout rivers, definitely on the Yakima, or in situations where you might be needing to throw weighted nymphs or smaller streamers for trout. This 3 wt. has enough backbone to it to really hold its own in those situations, while maintaining the lightness of a true 3 wt. rod. (As as side note, there’s a chance that the 7’6″ 3 wt. would be a totally different rod, as we’ll talk about in a minute with the difference between the 9′ and 9’6″ 6 wt. rods having noticeably different feels–the extra length of rod could lead to a faster rod, as it does in the 6 wt. If the 7’6″ does have a bit more bounce to it, then it could become a really good option for our smaller mountain creeks. Hopefully we can cast one soon to find out for sure.)

9′ 5 wt. ($475)– Hands down, this was our least favorite of the 4 rods tested. While it could be wedged into the “do it all” category that is reserved for 9′ 5 wts., we felt that it lacked a bit of the touch you normally look for in a lighter rod as well as the backbone you look for in a heavier one. With a standard 5 wt. trout taper line, the rod performed relatively well in the 15-30 foot range, but really started to lose power once you moved past 30 feet. When we lined it up to a 6 wt. of the same taper, the feel in the 15-30 foot range disappeared, and the troubles past 30 remained. If you’re looking for a “do it all” rod that can handle closer casting fairly well, and longer casting with a bit of effort, this rod can do it for you. But, there are certainly several other rods on the market that perform a lot better than this one in both of those departments.

9′ 6 wt. ($485)– Definitely our favorite of the 4 rods. If you’re looking for a “do it all” rod from this grouping, this one would be it, and it would also stack up fairly well with other “do it all” trout rods across the market. The action is nice and smooth throughout the casting range, and there is definitely a backbone hiding underneath of it that allows you to reach out with longer casts. This is a rod that would fish well on Puget Sound for cutthroat, pink salmon, and most likely even have enough power to handle cohos. On the flip side, you could also turn over dry flies pretty well, and it certainly could handle any nymph or streamer applications you would want to toss its way. One of the draw backs of this rod for us in the Puget Sound region is that the 9′ 6wt. only comes with a burled wood reel seat and no fighting butt–you have to step up to the 9’6″ 6 wt. in order to get those. While that obviously has no effect on rod action or performance, and if you’re only going to freshwater fisheries the wood has a more classic look, it would be nice to have the anodized option for those of us looking to fish this rod in the Sound so you don’t ding up the wood insert. Overall this is a nice rod for those not wanting to spend $700-800 on a high-end rod, but who want the performance sometimes missing from the entry-level rods. It will cover a lot of situations for you, and will do so well.

9’6″ 6wt. ($485)– In addition to the anodized reel seat and fighting butt, as well as the obvious length difference that gives you better mending control and clearance off of the water, the major difference in this rod is added power. While some rods lose power when length is added to the same line weight rod, this one has more backbone than the 9′ 6 wt. But, it comes at the expense of feel. This is a true nymph/streamer/Puget Sound rod that allows you to launch line with a relatively smooth action, but is one that would fall short if dry flies or finesse casting are in your daily schedule. One other thing we noted with this rod was that it cast best when matched with a true shooting head line like Airflo’s 40+. When matched with the Airflo Xceed (which does have a slightly more aggressive taper than a standard trout line), the rod just didn’t stay loaded on longer casts. Shooting head lines will also help in the Puget Sound/streamer/nymph situations where punching heavier flies on longer casts is crucial. Bottom line with this rod is that power is the name of the game. The added length can feel a bit cumbersome if you’re brand new to casting, but if the above mentioned situations are what you’re looking to do, this rod will handle them well.

All in all, the Nexus rods are a nice addition to Winston’s line-up…especially at the sub $500 price point. What they sometimes lack in feel and finesse, they make up for with power, a light weight feel in your hand, and a blank that tracks well throughout the casting range. Add in high-end looks and components, and you have a quality addition to the ever-advancing mid price point rod market.

By: Alex Collier

Seattle Fly Shop - Guide Service - Global Travel Outfitter