Have you been waiting for classic Winston feel and legendary Winston componentry on a mid-priced fly rod? Well, the wait is over. Winston’s new Nimbus Fly Rod packages everything we love about the more expensive Winston green sticks into a more affordable rod option. Remember the Nimbus 2000 broom from the Harry Potter Series? Like the broom, this rod has some magical powers. Read on to find out why.
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Winston Nimbus Outfit

• • • Winston Nimbus 9’ 5wt Fly Rod
    • Lamson Litespeed Fly Reel
    • Scientific Anglers Mastery MPX Fly Line

Fit and Finish

The Nimbus has a classic-looking reel seat, similar but a little less ‘pretty’ than other Winston rods. The reel seat is complemented by a high-quality wood insert. Moving up the rod, we see typical Winston style. The Nimbus has a cigar grip and top-notch finishing on the rod. Winston has mixed up their classic green blank color and the Nimbus has a blue rod blank instead of typical Winston green. All-in-all, the Nimbus is visually appealing and the finish on this rod is functional, durable, and stylish. We expect nothing less from Winston, and they’ve delivered stellar componentry on the Nimbus.

Weight

The Nimbus is sort of medium-light for a 5wt rod at 3.12 ounces. While the overall rod weight is not as light as other high-end 5wt rods like the Orvis Helios 3F or the Sage X, 3.12 ounces is a competitive weight for a mid-priced rod. Similarly, the swing weight is solid, too, at 65.6 gm2.

Distance

The Nimbus promotes moderate power at 60 feet, but this isn’t a distance champion. The Nimbus can certainly get the job done at distance, but it’s not as good beyond 60 feet as a host of faster rods (Helios 3D). Winston purposefully designed this rod to be smooth and classic inside 60 feet.

Accuracy

The Nimbus is pretty accurate across the board. The rod is slow enough to make pinpoint casts at short range but retains its accuracy when extended to typical trout distances and beyond. The Nimbus is really a dry fly and light nymphing rod so don’t expect crazy accuracy at long distances. Winston has purposefully designed the accuracy sweet spot of the Nimbus in the 20-50 foot range, and the rod is smooth and caster-friendly in that range.

Flex and Feel

The flex and feel of the Nimbus tell us it’s made for technical dry fly streams and smaller trout streams. At 30 feet, the Nimbus is buttery smooth with tons of feedback. The medium-fast action blank means the rod is great rod at 45 feet as well. The Nimbus is a moderate action trout rod, so don’t expect ripping power or the ability to hero cast all day long. That being said, Winston rods are generally slower than other comparable rods and a slower action means more finesse, easier delicate presentations, and a classic trout rod feel.

Line Choice

Scientific Anglers Mastery MPX is preferred when casting the Nimbus.

Warranty

Winston Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee.

Price

$650

Conclusion

Unsurprisingly, Winston continues to make wands with magical powers. The Nimbus is designed with a purpose and does its job well. Don’t overextend this rod; it’s made to be fished in a particular way and is buttery smooth and highly efficient when used properly. The Nimbus is a pure pleasure to cast and pays homage to its pricier cousins, the Winston ‘green sticks’. Winston has created a mid-priced rod with loads of style and finesse; some may even say the Nimbus is magical.

Pros

• Buttery smooth medium-action
• Classic Winston componentry and style

Cons

• Not a fly rod made for casting long distances