I am trying to get a feel for the general publics opinion on Sage and Winston. I have always been a Sage person. I like the looks of the rods, I like the way they fish and I like their feel. Always have.

About two months ago, I started doing a bit of research on Winston. I never really paid much attention to Winston. About two weeks ago, I cast my first Winston. Let me say that there is some truth to the addage of "Winston Feel". The way their rods cast is beautiful. It is almost hard to explain.

With that being said, I wonder what everyone thinks about the two companies. Here are my thoughts:

1.) Sage has been refered to as the "Must Have" rod brand.

This I can understand because of the amount of marketing that they do. Every where you look, there is an advertisement for Sage. Every picture, there is a Sage (or so it seems). Most new people in the sport purchase Sage as their first high end rod. Most casting tournaments are won with Sage.

2.) Winston has a cult following.

It seems as though Winston does not do the in your face marketing that other companies do. Yet, despite this, they hold their own in the rod market. After people have been fishing for a while they progress from Sage to Winston, or another manufacturer.

Both manufacturers make a good looking rod, however, it seems that Winston has the edge in quality. Although the new Xi3's are a great looking rod with upgraded parts, including some nice looking cork.

So.....................................Coming from a Sage person, I think I may be going to Winston!

What are your thoughts on:

1.) ZXL vs. BiiT

2.) Z-Axis vs. BiiX

3.) Xi3 vs. Bii-MX

Thanks!

Cheers!

It seems to me, OTH, that every time you try a new rod brand, you seem to find a new favorite. Yesterday Sage, today Winston, tomorrow who knows?

My opinion is that first and foremost, brand means nothing. I don't buy rods as fashion statements or to impress my friends, I buy them to be fishing tools.

So to that end, it's down to the individual rod and its suitability for the intended fishing purpose. The maker's name is completely meaningless because one model may be perfect for the intended fishing situation while another from the same maker may well be completely unsuitable.

The rods you list in your this vs that comparison are all good rods, but for different fishing situations. Without knowing your intended use, the only thing you're going to get is individuals recommending for you what they own or want to own. What's good for them may or may not be good for you, it's not possible to know without knowing how you intend to use the rod.

Moreover, what about St. Croix, Loomis, Scott, Orvis, Gatti and the other top tier rods? Why limit yourself to just 2 brands?

Grouse

I like Winston rods. Up until last year when I started to fish bamboo, I used them exclusively for over 10 years.
I started fishing with Loomis and Sage (I moved over from spinning and had a huge collection of Loomis IMX which I virtually gave away) but when I saw my first catalog in 96 I was intrigued. They promoted a rod which was not only visually attractive, but also the feel was very important, and fishing performance at "practical distances".
I think they are an extremely innovative manufacturer, whilst still keeping a firm foothold in the traditional. Whilst everyone was making ever more stiffer broomsticks, Winston continued to make beautiful rods which cast beautifully at the prescribed distances. Although many of their series which were incredibly innovative never were big sellers due to their actions which were "too soft" for many's liking, those who appreciated their true value were saddened by their demise, and a big second hand market exists for these (DL4, LT3, and probably soon the WT & LT5).
Winston prooved in the late 90's that it wasn't necessary to make a broomstick to create a powerful, long-casting rod in the BL5. A modern marvel with boron in the butt and a fibreglass tip, it allowed the caster to quickly load the rod then shoot over 100' with a couple of false casts but still had that "Winston feel". It was a Kudos winner for Winston and I believe they followed this up with the BIIx and BIIt, their second generation boron rods.
Curiously in the years to follow, many of the other manufacturers followed in their steps to create less broomstick like rods which are more fishable.
Whilst their reputation has mainly been in the freshwater rods, their saltwater offering have been no slouches and the introduction of the MX gave them something to compete with in the market of fast rods.
Sure you can find cheaper rods which catch fish just as well, or rods that cast further, but if you want a rod which is finished incredibly well for a production rod, is still in the main hand produced in the good old US of A, feels really nice when casting, and you have the extra cash to spend on something a little different and special, then you can't go wrong with a Winnie.

I think Mr Grouse's view is absolutely right. Think of the fishing you will be doing and then short list the rods available. You can use the tackle talk to get everyone's choices, it will be varied and you will get some esoteric choices.

Then try them and pick a favorite. Just don't forget that the art of advertising is the art of suggestion!

Or you can take a more heretical approach. This is our hobby after all. Buy the ones you like and play with them, then sell them on until you get to one you really can't part with. Many seem to do this and they don't appear to lose to much cash!

I prefer the more considered approach. Consequently I have all different brands and price brackets. For example Sage is not going to be on my list for a full actioned, tiny rod for small overgrown streams.

__________________
Carl

http://www.wandlepiscators.net/
http://teiseangling.co.uk/index.htm

TOMORROW THE TRENT COULD BE YOUR FISHERY! When are YOU going to JOIN THE ANGLING TRUST?

I have a sage TCR and a Loomis GLX. I also have a Bloke XL50, and for my casting style, that's the rod i reach for first. Cost a fraction of the price, but is every bit as good a rod imo.

Famous Grouse is right. I went through the stage of having the must have. I have 4 Z-axis rods and 1 RPL and although I like them the only one I would class as a must have (for me) is the 10 foot 6wt for buzzer fishing.

And for the dries I have a lovely wee Stream Flex (greys) I would put my hands on first, no question, so all the other big expensive rods are made redundant.

And even the Sage (for me) I had to tweak the rods a bit to find what what worked for me. There is a good thread in the tackle talk on 'sage rod gurus' regarding line weight and Sage. Some took exception to me mentioning that I had to tweak but you have to find what works for you.

If I had to buy again I wouldn't buy untill I had tried. Then the chances would be I would have a mixture of every thing.
I won a fulling mill rod and I wouldn't hesitate to use it all day. I like the feel of it, and when fishing for 10 hrs or so that is all that matters. Isnt it???

When talking that kind of money you should be entitled to try and if it ment a travel it would be worth it. You might be surprised.

Add in loop, guideline..... might not be top tier, but their dam good! I completely agree with you here, imo a rod is nothing more than a tool for the job. I don't buy a high end rod for ego, heck for ego you catch more fish or cast better than the other guy, not have a more flash rod

There is nothing funnier than someone with all the gear and no idea Well from the outside, if they're happy then it doesn't matter, but it does make you chuckle!

I have tried quite a few top end rods and tbh i wouldn't buy them, not because they aren't good, they definitely are but because they in no way warrant the extent of the price difference.

Mayflyjunkie - bang on! Always try before you buy even if you have to travel a fair bit. An example, orvis helios, raved about, i don't like it

You are asking a question that is unanswerable.
Whats the best colour red or blue

The rods you mention are very different.
Buy what you like best and enjoy it.

For the record i dabbled with Winston's (i think i had a few BiiX and BiiT,WTs)
but came back to Sage and for the gentler thing now use Scott and TnT.

Unlike many people i find what the rod does far more important than this illusive feel thing.

I appreciate all of the answers and it was good to hear from all of you. I understand that it is a tough questions to answer. I also understand that to each, thier own.

I have cast both manufacturer's rods and enjoy them both equally well. There is no ego thing with me, these are just my two favorite manufacturers (I have fished others such as Loomis, St. Croix, etc.). The only quirk that I have, I like all of my rods to be from the same manufacturer. I guess this comes from my Bass tournament fishing background.

For me, I love the Sage, but they do seem to be the "it" rod and the one to have when it comes to fitting in and if you want to win a casting contest (at least it seems that way in the states). Winston seems to be (for me) the rod to have for pure fishing pleasure. A smooth casting, well built, good looking rod. I am leaning in the direction of the green sticks!

Does this not answer your question? I'd say you're leaning toward the winston from that......

Out of interest, do you ever think you are limiting yourself by only having one brand's rods?