Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/496918
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 8 1 If you're looking for a versatile fly line that will shine in most any trout-fishing situation, the VPT deserves your serious consideration. Bozeman Reel SC 325 ($675) The SC 325 (S-Handle Classic for 3- to 5-weight lines) is old school. No sealed and adjustable drag, no extra spools, no exposed palming rim, no unnecessary bells and whistles—just impeccable construction, top-flight materials, a traditional S-shape handle, classic good looks, and a chance to follow in the footsteps of angling pioneers such as Lee Wulff and Joe Brooks. The reel's style dates all the way back to Edward vom Hofe, and if you love the history and tradition of fly fishing, or if you're a bamboo aficionado, then this gorgeous, raised-pillar, click- drag model from Bozeman Reel is right in your wheelhouse. Winston Nexus 6-weight, 9-foot Fly Rod ($485) To be frank, I wasn't doing handstands when I heard about the new Winston Nexus rods. I was a big fan of the rod series the Nexus replaced, the GVX, and it's never easy to improve on an already exceptional rod lineup. (Newer, as many of us have learned over the years, is not always better.) But this particular 6-weight is a sweetheart. It's both powerful and accurate, yet it's reasonably light in the hand and very smooth. Just as important, it's fun to cast and fish. The 6-weight Nexus will handle trout and smallmouth bass, and I suspect it would also be a great farm pond rod for panfish and largemouth. The cosmetics are a little unusual, in that Winston went with black rather than its traditional green, but the rod is still attractive, with excellent attention to detail. All in all, this new Nexus is a gem of a rod at a very attractive price.