May 11, 2012
Many of the crew from the R.L. Winston Rod Co. thoroughly enjoyed the recent Simms Ice Out Guide Event in Bozeman. A total of 15 Winston staff and production members represented the company at Ice Out, both in the Winston booth as well as participating in many of the special events such as the Guide Olympics in the MSU Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, Casting and Entomology Seminars at the Gallatin River Lodge– not to mention the Simms Super Sale at the Best Western GranTree Inn!
Winston saw this event as an outstanding opportunity to meet an amazing number of some of the most influential members of the fly fishing industry -professional fly fishing guides – and we were not disappointed. Over 500 guides attended the event – and Winston enjoyed valuable face time with many of them. All the guides who visited the Winston booth completed a brief survey and received a free Winston hat as well as a chance to win a Winston 9’ 5 Boron IIIx 4-piece rod and participate in the Winston Ice Out Special Sale, and of course test drive some of our new Boron IIIx rods.
We are thrilled to announce the winner of the new 9’ 5 Boron IIIx – Richard Bolen from Emigrant, Montana. Richard just celebrated his 75th birthday and has been fly fishing since the age of 13. This was his 3rd Ice Out. He has been a fly fishing instructor at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch since 2006. Richard told us, “I had cast the Winton Boron IIIx but never thought I would have one. It is a dream come true for me and I will proudly show it off. My thanks to the whole team at Winston. I am really impressed with your dedication to perfection.”
In addition to supporting the 2012 Simms Ice Out with the 15 eager members of our crew, Winston provided new Boron IIIx 9’ 5-wt 4-piece rods for the overall male and female Gold Medalists of the Guide Olympics, Joe Dilschneider and Alice Owsley, both Simms Guide Ambassadors and both extremely happy new Boron IIIx rod owners.
Alice Owsley sent us these comments, “I loved winning the new Joan Wulff Favorite Boron IIIx. It is such a fantastic rod. I have been a fan of the JWF rods for years and am really excited that it is being offered in the BIIIx. I highly recommend Winston rods to my clients and will enjoy letting them cast my new favorite!” And from Joe Dilschneider – “My new BIIIx 5 wt. rod is rapidly becoming one of my favorites for fishing the Madison. In addition to being a beautiful fly rod, it handles everything well from little dries to big junk.”
Winston also provided new Boron IIIx 9’ 5-wt rods for the Guide Olympic accuracy and distance casting competition and rigging competition.
To top things off – Winston’s own Jesse Gronning was the winner of the Ro drift boat and trailer! Jesse has been working in the blank rolling department at Winston for 2 years. He proudly towed his new boat and trailer to work the Monday after Ice Out – to show off to all his friends. He summed it up with, “Awesome, a once in a lifetime win!!!”
Thanks to all the folks at Simms who made this extraordinary event possible!
