This year, Winston broke from tradition to introduce two completely new rod families—the Nimbus and the Kairos. The Nimbus doesn’t stray as far from Winston’s pedigree as the Kairos, though its “Big Sky Blue” color does stand out in amidst a sea of classic Winston green.

Whenever I watch other flycasters, I have a habit of analyzing their casting. I mentally deconstruct their strokes to determine which parts are technically sound, and which parts wither under scrutiny. I ponder what suggestions for improvement I'd pass along if asked, and how I might phrase the wording of those suggestions. Many flaws of technique require a wholesale rebuilding of the casting stroke. Others are more easily fixed. Among the latter is off-plane movement of the rod, a common reason why many fishermen struggle to place their fly where they’re aiming.