Winston Boron III LS Fly Rod Review

Jul 20, 2013 · 3 min read

The Winston Boron III LS has been discontinued by Winston. To learn more about rods that are currently available, check out our full lineup of Winston Fly Rods.

When I asked David Heller, Winston's new VP of Marketing, for an iCast preview, he was very tight lipped. However, he did let us know that there would be some new products coming out, and that means great new rods. So here's what all you Winston fans have been waiting for: Boron II is now a thing of the past. The last remaining Boron 2 rods (B2t and B2x two-handers) have been upgraded to Winston's latest technology. While there hasn't been a massive change in the speys, the upgrade of the BIIt is one that will turn heads. It's not only higher performance, but it's quite a departure from Winston tradition.

Outfit

Fit and Finish

Three Winston Boron III LS fly rods with light cork handles and blue-silver ventilated reel seats on green table

Winston goes modern! (tweet this)

You would never expect Winston to make a splash in the Fit and Finish category – they are as traditional as rods come – yet, they've done it. The new LS comes with a VERY different (for Winston) skeletal reel seat. We'll see if they stick to this as the only option. I can tell you that Winston purists will probably shudder at the thought of anything but box elder... but we'll see! The other noticeable piece is the extremely thin blank, which is more or less in line with the way dry fly rods are moving these days. Everything else on the rod is pure Winston: emerald green color, amazing finish, top-notch cork.

Weight

We don't have a published weight on the rod, but it feels VERY light in hand. It may even be the lightest feeling 4-weight I've ever casted. This is probably due, at least in part, to the added weight in reel seat.

Distance

The LS, as you would expect, is not a long distance champ.

Accuracy

The LS is a light presentation rod... and as you'd expect it's super accurate at 25'. The rod also performs quite well at 40'. Once you start getting past 50' the slower action and slower recovery begins to show, but that's a longer cast than you'll need to make when you're fishing this rod anyway.

Flex & Feel

The B3 LS is a replacement for the BIIt (the T stands for traditional). As such, it's a medium action and relatively full flexing rod. By comparison, it's higher performing than the B2t was, and a tad faster, but it's still in the same category. It's got incredible presentation abilities and can get you closer to the big fish.

Nymphing and Streamers

While you could probably do some light nymphing, the LS is essentially a dry fly specific rod. If you're looking for a more well-rounded Winston, check out the B3x. I wouldn't cast any heavily weighted flies with this rod.

Warranty

Lifetime! It's a $50 fee for broken rods. Price: We don't have pricing just yet, but I'd expect it to come in at about $800.

Conclusion

If you love the traditional feel that Winston has always had, you'll like their latest creation. It's perfect for spring creeks and smaller streams and is one of best presentation rod ever created. If you're go-to rod is a Sage ONE, and you were hoping for a fast action dry fly rod, this isn't it. The jury is still out on the new reel seat, but I think it's solid. Pair this rod with Rio Trout LT or SA Trout Tapers for the ultimate dry fly presentation combo.

Pros

A nice increase in performance over the BIIt
Super lightweight feel
Near perfect presentation

Cons

Winston purists might not love the new reel seat
I'm still waiting for a faster, more-forgiving, Winston

Written by

Ben Freeman

Ben Freeman founded Trident Fly Fishing in 2012 to cut through the marketing fluff and provide anglers with the technical info they actually need. He’s built his reputation by putting gear to the ultimate test in the world’s most unforgiving fisheries. With fishing stamps from over 22 countries and 17+ states, Ben’s passport is a roadmap of bucket list angling—from landing a 25lb Golden Dorado in Bolivia and 150lb Arapaima in Guyana to sight-casting for Roosterfish off the beaches in Baja. Whether it’s battling 60+mph winds to land a 20lb Rainbow at Jurassic Lake or a full day of casting 8in streamers in Mongolia, Ben has spent decades ensuring his gear performs when a trip of a lifetime is on the line.

At Trident, Ben serves as the lead gear geek, specializing in the deep-dive mechanics of rods, reels, and lines. Over the past 15 years, he's reviewed 250+ fly rods and 150+ fly reels and is likely one of the most prolific rod reviewers in the world. But he doesn't just curate the catalog; he scrutinizes every taper and drag system through the lens of a traveling angler who knows what it's like to have gear fail a thousand miles from home. For Ben, the mission is simple: leverage his experience across nearly 100 species to ensure that when you head into the wild, you’re equipped with gear that has been vetted by someone who has actually been there.

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