First Impressions

The Winston Pure and Winston Pure 2 represent two generations of dry fly rod design rooted in feel, presentation, and restraint. While the original Pure became beloved for its deeply loading action and soulful casting character, the Pure 2 refines that experience with improved recovery speed, greater consistency across the lineup, and enhanced accuracy without sacrificing the unmistakable Winston feel. For anglers who value delicate presentations and the rhythm of casting as much as the fish itself, both rods offer exceptional experiences, just with slightly different personalities.

The new Orvis Ratio isn’t just another saltwater reel chasing higher drag numbers. It’s built around something far more important: control. After putting it to work in Belize on bonefish, permit, and juvenile tarpon, one thing stood out immediately. No reel we’ve tested delivers more stopping power per incremental turn of the drag knob. That precision changes how you fight fish, and ultimately, how many you land.

SITKA’s new CrossCurrent Zip GTX Stockingfoot Wader is built without compromise, featuring a 4-layer GORE-TEX® Pro laminate, a watertight YKK® AquaSeal® front zipper, and a mobility-focused fit designed to reduce drag and fish hard all day.

Looking for the best waterproof and water-resistant fly fishing backpacks? Whether you’re wading rivers, hiking to remote streams, or facing unpredictable weather, the right backpack keeps your gear dry, organized, and easily accessible. Discover our top picks from Fishpond, Simms, Orvis, Patagonia, and YETI, and find the perfect pack to make your next fishing adventure more efficient and enjoyable.

Discover my honest Orvis Helios review after fishing both the Finesse (F) and Distance (D) models. Lightweight, powerful, and accurate, the new Helios fly rod is one of the best trout rods I’ve ever cast.