I received an 8' five weight two piece Winston IM6 graphite rod in the mail today. The serial number is in the 15,000 range. It really seems to be a sweet rod and is in great condition. I looked in a Winston catalog from the 90s before they discontinued the 8' five weight rod and it shows the action as medium-fast. To me this rod feels like its action is more like medium. It should really be a nice fishing rod.
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Opinions on Classic Slow Graphite?
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 Arctic Grayling |
Winston graphite rod | ||
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Master Guide
Posts: 504 (02/13/10 03:42:36) |
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Arctic Grayling |
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Master Guide
Posts: 506 (02/13/10 04:50:36) |
docbluedevil wrote:Doc- I found a picture of my 8'6" five weight DL4 while looking for Winston glass rod pictures:  |
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charboy |
SOFTER GRAPHITE | ||
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Sport
Posts: 1 (02/15/10 12:19:24) |
Where does Sage GFL series fit in...had this blank for a long time, started building on it since getting on this site. |
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jgestar |
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Posts: 4547 (02/15/10 13:25:39) ezOP |
Charboy,
Welcome to the Fiberglass Flyrodders! I'm glad we got your rod building back in gear. The Sage GFL series was their first line of graphite, so I would expect it to be slower than their later models. I do remember the Graphite II RP rods were considered to be much more powerful than the original GFL Sage rods. Would you by any chance have more of those Fisher blanks lying around? Tom |
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charboy |
SOFTER GRAPHITE | ||
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Sport
Posts: 3 (02/15/10 14:09:19) |
Oh Tom...I wish I did, but no. |
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Lanyard Stretcher |
Fenwick Eagles | ||
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Guide
Posts: 118 (02/15/10 17:08:19) |
I fished for a bunch of years with a USA Made Fenwick Eagle E90 6wt. I caught my first fly rod steelies on this rod. The rod is faster than the glass Fenwicks but no where near fast. Those steelies had the rod bucking and bending in the cork. The Mad River 12 lber destroyed my graphite Sage reel, warped the innards. After that fish I bought the same rod in 8 wt. and hung a SA 7,8,9 on it. I caught a bunch of King Salmon on that rod, the largest at 33 lbs. The Eagles were supposed to be HMG blanks that were not sanded and had less expensive hardware. I just dusted them off today and I'm going to give them a few days on the river this year. They are nice caster that with a good double haul, allow you to cast a 90 ft line into the backing.
I did have a brown blank HMG 4 piece 6wt. that felt much faster than the Eagles. My buddy now owns that rod. Mike
Last Edited By: Lanyard Stretcher
02/15/10 17:25:42.
Edited 2 times.
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aurelio corso |
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Guide
Posts: 48 (02/19/10 20:40:10) |
Just got my fenwick hmg gff 704 grey one serial #59,181 very slow sweet caster with dt 3 or 4 but just not accurate until i put a 3wt rio gold,now it casts like a sniper rifle.If anyone has this rod please send me a message, like to know what kind of line you like....aurelio
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wacokid54 |
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Master Guide
Posts: 676 (02/21/10 23:01:07) |
Lanyard Stretcher, your post gave me a good chuckle. The Fenwick Eagle rods may allow me to cast a 90 ft line into the backing, but my casting stroke forbids it; not have snowball's chance in hell of accomplishing that feat!! I have been having so much fun with glass that I have not given those eagles a chance to soar. I will have to make a point to get them out this year; especially the 7 weight. It was my go to rod for everything for quite a while....the only decent flyrod I owned. I used it for everything from brookies to northern pike, with a Pflueger 1495. Still fishing that reel, also!
Come on springtime! wacokid54 |
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Lanyard Stretcher |
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Guide
Posts: 124 (02/22/10 00:05:22) |
Waco kid54,
Casting the whole line was accomplished by casting from the front deck of my bassboat with a towl covering all of the line grabbing devices standard in a boat. All of my wf 6 type IV sinker was stripped out and coiled infront of me. Being careful not to step on the line, I worked my line out with a strong double haul then shot the line. It was done more than once but not consistantly. Having all that line piled at your feet tends to hang up, stopping the cast short. It was fun casting! Mike |
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Bamboozle |
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Master Guide
Posts: 207 (02/22/10 09:06:53) |
I figure one of my first graphite rods has to be one of my favorite classic slow(er) rods. That is an 8'6" 2pc 6wt Orvis Limestone Special from the 1980's that I still own and trot out on occasion.
After that it has to be my Winston DL4's which I guess are classic since they are discontinued. The 3wts are AMAZINGLY slow and the rest put a big smile on my face whenever I use them which is a bit less now that I have a lot of glass. Throw a Winston 8'0" 2pc 4wt Tom Morgan Favorite into the mix and I guess you could say I am a VERY happy graphite owner. FUBO |
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 frogmorton |
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Master Guide
Posts: 384 (02/22/10 11:26:06) |
Those DL4's really stayed under the radar for most graphite anglers. The action of the 3 and 4 wts is akin to the Fisher Winstons. I've never had a chance to fish a TMF or a JWF which seem to have alot of faithful admirerers. Arctic Graylings 8' 5wt Loomis rolled IM6 is another Winston rod I'd like to fish.
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Arctic Grayling |
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Master Guide
Posts: 525 (02/23/10 04:15:08) |
It seems like the DL4s aren't getting as much love lately on Ebay as they were a couple of years ago when they were really being talked up on the Winston forum. I'd like to see what the six weight fishes like. I don't think I've ever seen one of those on Ebay. I would think it would make a pretty nice stillwater rod.
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Bamboozle |
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Master Guide
Posts: 208 (02/23/10 06:39:52) |
Arctic Grayling wrote: A lot of used Winston's aren't getting a lot of love on eBay. A buddy of mine recently picked up two Retros for way less than I've seen them sell for a year ago. I think one of the reasons you don't see a 6wt DL4 pop up on eBay is because they probably didn't sell many. If I remember correctly, it was the LAST edition to the DL4 line, being added the year before the series was discontinued so it had a shorter lifespan than the 3-4-5 wts. They did manage to sell one though.  I have that rod and use it a LOT in the early part of the year before the major Eastern hatches kick in. It has an action similar to the 5wts but with obviously more oomph. While I wouldn't call it a nymphing rod, it gets the job done for me with both nymphs & streamers when I'm forced to fish them. But when I have to change gears and drop a size 24 Griffith's Gnat or a size 12 Little Black Stone above a lone riser, it's great to have a rod in hand that makes changing gears such a pleasure. Although I don't seriously do the stillwater thing with fly tackle, I would think the 6wt DL would be a sweet rod for that. Good luck in your search if you decide you want one! FUBO |
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aurelio corso |
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Guide
Posts: 51 (02/23/10 08:40:34) |
I'm still waiting on doc to get down here so i can try his 3 wt. This is a great time to buy on ebay and it won't last to much longer....aurelio
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tabornatives |
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Master Guide
Posts: 264 (02/23/10 09:49:32) |
ac,
why do you think the market will improve for sellers? rich
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jgestar |
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Posts: 4574 (02/23/10 10:04:06) ezOP |
There is a wider variety of good gear on eBay now than at any other part of the year. Some really fine pieces have showed up and will continue to be offered. Bad side for buyers, the prices are higher.
It's good for sellers because the prices are typically peaking for the year. As we pass May and June the prices will slump for a few months. Tom |
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docbluedevil |
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Master Guide
Posts: 828 (02/23/10 10:26:50) |
Ahh, I've been missing DL4 conversation!
AG - Very nice looking DL4. I didn't know they were offered with a cap and ring with zebrawood! Smart looking. aurelio corso wrote: Aurelio - I'm definitely gonna make it down to northern New Mexico this year. The waters you describe just sound great! And I"ll bring the 8' 3 wt DL4 just for you.  frogmorton wrote: frogmorton - IIRC, I'd even say that the 8' 3wt DL4 is slower than the my 4 wt Stalkers, in my hand. I'll have to get them out and compare them again. By initial waggle, one is shocked that a 4 pc graphite rod can be such a noodle. But when fished, it's pleasantly surprising to find how great a 3 wt caster it is and how much backbone it has with a good fish on! This rod is a freak of nature, and I like it! [Now, the DL4 8'6" 4 wt is a completely different animal, with a faster tip approaching an LT series.] 
Last Edited By: docbluedevil
02/23/10 10:46:51.
Edited 2 times.
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aurelio corso |
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Guide
Posts: 52 (02/23/10 19:51:00) |
Rich ,we run a b+b in noth new mexico for fishermen and the last 2 months we have had 10 inquiries and 3 bookings,normally we don't get any calls untill april or when get's to hot in texas.DOC ,looking foward to it got a fenwick gff 704 last week made in 73 or 4 and it is slow and almost prabalic landed a 18" rainbow on it a couple of days ago on the culebra it doesn't freeze over due to underground thermal springs.....aurelio
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Arctic Grayling |
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Master Guide
Posts: 527 (02/24/10 02:09:23) |
Hey Doc!
I didn't know it had a cap and ring or a zebra wood insert until I received the rod!!!! It was a very pleasant surprise! And guess what Doc???? I bought the rod from a Colorado fly shop! P.S. If you think a DL4 three weight is a noodle, you should fish the 9' three weight Pre-IM6 that I have! If feels more like glass than graphite! |
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Arctic Grayling |
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Master Guide
Posts: 528 (02/24/10 02:11:03) |
Bamboozle-
Yeah, I saw those Retros and was surprised that the price didn't jump up at the end of the auction. |
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- Welcome, Messages, Claves, News, and FAQs
- Fishing with Fiberglass Fly Rods
- Glass Tech
- Collecting Fiberglass Fly Rods
- What's New on the Market
- Rod Pictures
- Classic Fly Reels
- Another Spin on Glass
- Rod Building & Tackle Tinkering
- The Tying Bench
- Fiberglass Fly Rods For Sale
- Fiberglass Fly Rods Wanted
- Fiberglass Flyrodders Wiki
