R.L. Winston Rod Co.

Alpha Fly Rod

Finding a fly rod that can actually cast over-weighted fly lines and heavy fly patterns well—and not just get by—can be a tall order to fill, so we were excited to see R.L. Winston Rod Co. specifically designed a rod to do just that. The aptly named Alpha is an aggressive fly rod designed for aggressive fish (read: piscivorous trout, musky, tarpon, dorado, bass, etc.). As such, it boasts a stiff blank and blisteringly fast action to push heavy lines and flies through gusty conditions and give you the upper hand needed to pull fish away from cutbanks and brush. What’s more, each Alpha rod has a suggested grain window, like a spey or switch rod, to help take the guesswork out of picking the right fly line for whichever rod you select.