R.L. Winston Boron II-MX 5wt. 4-piece Rod (590 BIIMX)

A few years back Winston brought forth a revolution to new age graphite rod design.  Whereas most graphite rods contain different modulus of graphite, Winston implemented the use of Boron technology in the butt section.  Boron, being tested to be 5X stronger and 3X lighter than graphite, allows the rod to decrease in weight while not sacrificing, but rather improving, integrity and strength.   Because of this, all Boron series rods are extremely light when compared to other rods of their caliber.  These Boron series rods have become the foundation for the future of R.L. Winston; producing first the BIIT, then the BIIX, and now the BIIMX, maximum, which designates its power, stiffness, and fish-fighting capabilities.  New to 2008, the BIIMX Series are the fastest action rods ever to come from a Winston line, and with this, partially go against the grain of the Winston typecast. 

Chris Hart, a rep for Winston in the Montana area, was kind enough to let me demo this rod over the past five days.  I fished it hard, chucking heavy rigs into heavy water.  These MX rods are designed with this situation in mind, being stiffer and more powerful than the BIIX, and having the ability to really cut through heavy winds and cast at greater distances.  Unlike the Sage Z-Axis, the BIIMX has a delicate tip with fast recovery, and as far as fast-action rods go, it maintains a traditional Winston rod load and level of sensitivity as they do present dries fairly well on the water. The MX comes standard with a double locking anodized aluminum reel seat, which I think is one of the best features of the rod itself; you can’t really budge the thing.  In combination with the new ‘Fish Fighting’ cork butt, the reel seat and butt section are tough, and up to most tasks on the water.  Personally, I do like the rod and how it casts; however, I would not make the purchase with the thought of obtaining an all-purpose, fit-all rod.  Its stiffness will prove limiting at times, and moreover, this is a rod built for the high-intermediate angler and above, and or the angler who is a fast-action fisherman through and through.  I just can’t see a novice angler being able to cast the rod with efficacy in getting the rod to do its desired purpose and exhibiting its true ability.  The MX series is offered from a 5wt to a 12wt, and from what I hear, a 4wt. will be put into production in 2009.  You won’t know a rod is for you until you cast it, so to the wind with all this, just get out there and try it out.