TroutChuter.com
My grandfather grew up in Utah and over a span of years I inherited four unique items from him; a 1969 SS Camero with 16k miles on it, a vintage American flag with 48 stars (when Utah became a state), a fireplace poker set (?) and a custom made RL Winston bamboo fly rod. I abused the Camero and sold it for $900 when it was belching blue smoke and couldn’t make it up the snowy hill to our house, which in retrospect causes me great pain to even think about, especially whenever I see a fully restored SS glide by on the road. Ouch. But, I held onto the fly rod and am glad I did as it is a work of art and has inspired me to get into fishing. While most outdoor gear has a lifespan of about three seasons nowadays, the idea of using a 50+ year-old rod is appealing, especially as I know it meant a lot to him.
The RL Winston 9' 5 1/2 bamboo rod. I have yet to actually use it.
I’ve resisted fishing for most of my life as I have the attention span of a two-year old, but now that I have a real live two-year old of my own, the idea of calm, relaxing evening standing in a quite river is starting to make sense. Fortunately, lots of skiers are also into fly fishing, so I’ve had some excellent mentors and been able to get out about five times this summer. It’s fun to see new places (or at least old places in a new light), meet new people and start a new sport. I can always find good skiing, but I have yet to hook even the tiniest fish, which is fun in a perverse kind of way.
A few photos from a trip down the A Section of the Green River over the July 4th holiday:
This guy was also from Park City and was a five-star fishing machine.
Butch Adams (who shot many of the BD catalog images) rows while Craig Scholnick rigs in the back.
Like skiing, fishing is a good excuse to visit beautiful places.
Tools of the trout trade.
July 4th mayhem on the Green River. It was like this all day.
These two were landed with chilled PBR's.
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Category: Trip Reports
I’ve got serious rod envy – that Winston is a real treasure!
Great blog entry, I liked your newbie take on fly fishing. Keep us posted.
Fishing that bamboo Winston would be very perverse and very fun.
Its amazing sometimes how much bc skiers can have in common off the slopes. I learned to fly fish from my uncle 8 years ago, yet I have a custom built Fenwick I inherited from the grandfather I never met, that I’ve yet to use….
I have a long ways to go towards tightening up my game as I’m just a wadding junkshow at this point. It’s fun to see experienced people as they can have a slow day and only catch six fish, whereas I catch nothing and lose six flies in the process. There is a lot of knowledge involved in this sport.
Hooking, fighting, then landing a nice trout provides a rush very similar to skiing a steep, deep line. It’s rare and fleeting but so worth the effort.
I once landed a 39″ Chinook Salmon on an 8wt fly rod. Unbelievable experience. Yet I’ve had 12″ rainbows that were just as thrilling for different reasons.
I was just going through the rods that my grandfather gave me, including a Winston very similar to yours. I don’t fish much at all and was thinking of selling it, but now I’m thinking I should hold onto it…
Wow, fishing?? Are you skiing in Powder Park now also!
Na just kidding. We just spent 7 days floating the Middle Fork of the Salmon and I landed 8 fish while my friend must have pulled in over 70 cutthroat for the week. I have a 15.5′ raft that is available any time you want to get out on the South fork of the Snake – Great fishing and camping even for the kids.
I know, I know… first fishing, then Powder Park. One leads to the other. :)
But, my current obsession is Pack Rafting, and one of my only hesitations about it is that I don’t have anyone else to do it with, or know of anyone in Utah/Idaho who does it. I need an enabler.
Only 4.5 lbs and you can run some fun water with them.
Tom Turiano was into pack rafting. He gave a slide show here and showed numerous runs in the surrounding mountains. He would try to combine it all with hiking in, skiing something and pack rafting out.
holy christ that Winston is priceless. make sure you don’t slam the tip of that thing in your car door.
Glad to see the fishing bug starting to bite. I know you’re busy but if you have any interest in fishing the upper North Platte (up stream from Saratoga, WY)please let me know. I would be glad to take you. I’ve had access to a ranch for the last 20 years and with the water level dropping all of the floaters are gone and we would have the place to our selves.
I am practically drooling over that rod. It’s beautiful, and definitely a priceless treasure.
If you do decide to use it, you can get these cool magnetic U-shaped things to attach your rod to the car so it doesn’t slip and fall in the car door and get broken. Not that I would have any experience with that. :)
Wow just saw this post! that rod is amazing! let me know when you want to trade for say ahhhh a couple of Backcountry tees…errr yeah, that sounds perfect. ;)