by R.L. Winston Rod Company | Aug 6, 2014
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND WITH WINSTON AND YOUR TWO-HANDED CASTING EXPERIENCE?
Since I was about 6 years old, someone from Winston had visited our Steelhead lodge in northern British Columbia on part of the Skeena River system almost every year. Since then, I’ve been using Winston rods and have been exposed to their evolution. Back then almost everyone used longer single-handed rods in 9 ½ or 10 feet when fishing for steelhead. It’s only been over the past ten years or so that people have really begun to use two-handed rods more than single-handed. I began two-handed casting almost exclusively about 20 years ago as fisherman were beginning to come to the lodge with two-handed rods so I wanted to learn all about them.
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by R.L. Winston Rod Company | Jul 29, 2014
Boron III LS 9′ 4wt.
When it comes to trout fishing you’ll find me stalking spring creeks hunting for risers. This means small dry flies on a long leader with light tippet. The Winston 4-weight Boron III LS is my fly rod of choice. This rod has perfect feel and provides me incredible accuracy – the exact precision needed to place a fly to a trout that won’t budge from his lie. My fly line lands on the water ever so gently and when the trout sips my fly the finesse rod absorbs the shock of my hook set and protects my light tippet. There’s no better fly rod for fooling large stubborn trout on challenging spring creeks than Winston’s 4-weight Boron III LS.”
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by R.L. Winston Rod Company | Jul 22, 2014
Beckie Clarke owns Fernie Fly Fishing and has been a fixture in the local fly fishing community in British Columbia for over a decade. She joined the Winston Pro Advisory team as a freshwater specialist in 2013. A formidable angler and dedicated conservationist, she shares the story of Fernie Fly Fishing and the special challenges of targeting bull trout.
You’ve quickly established yourself as one of the top female anglers in a sport and industry that has been typically dominated by men. How did you first get involved in the sport?
I was fortunate enough to grow up in British Columbia where adventure and the outdoors seem to be engrained within the lifestyle of most families. It engulfed ours that’s for sure and from a young age fishing was always part of that equation. My grandfather was the fly fisherman of the family and I adored him. I would like to think I inherited all his skill ;-). The first time I dedicated any attention to learning to cast a fly rod was with his old gear. I was inspired at a young age with a keen sense of adventure so a life and career in the outdoors seemed inevitable. My original quest as a kid of becoming a mountain guide evolved into a fly fishing guide; that’s where it all seemed to fit.
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by R.L. Winston Rod Company | Jul 15, 2014
What is the current film about?
“Our Two Hands” is an investigation into our society’s complex and intimate relationship with fly fishing for Salmonids. How did we arrive at this crossroads of conservation and sportsmanship and what are the creative alternatives to the currently flawed management practices for Salmon and Steelhead?
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by R.L. Winston Rod Company | Jun 13, 2014
Q: You’re well known as a two-handed specialist. What is it about that particular discipline of fly fishing that attracted you?
TL: I was first drawn to Spey fishing when I lived and guided in the Great Lakes region, back in the mid-nineties. Swinging a fly with a two-hander just had a feel that was unmistakably soulful. Ultimately, two-handed fishing is what made me move to the Deschutes. I wanted to immerse myself in the sport on a river that screams for Spey rods.
From a fishing perspective the benefits of a long rod are huge. You can cover endless water, make long casts in the tightest of spots and most importantly, you have total control of your presentation. Plus, Spey casting is really fun! Nothing in our sport measures up to uncorking a long, perfect Spey cast and hooking a raging steelhead. (Well… Tarpon are right up there)
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