The B3x rods are what I consider to be Winstons best production rods ever. AIR TH 5wt:Anglers needing a crossover rod for trout and light steelhead should consider the 12 5weight Air TH. Back at camp, we shuffled around in a bit of stunned silence. Streamer fishing in Montana, New Zealand browns, nymphing on Upper Sacramento, stoneflies on the Yakima, wherever youre going, this rod is a grade-A option. When he was only a few days old, I put a Winston rod in his hands, hoping that hell grow up to be a Winston guy like his dad. The short range accuracy of this rod makes throwing stimulator patterns easy and delicacy at mid-range seamless. Fish this rod for tough trout, whether on the surface or beneath. WARRANTY / REPAIRS The Air 2 9 4-weight wont drive nails into the wind like other rods in its class, but it has the characteristic feel and presentation qualities that make anglers love Winston rods. Their rods are the product of over 85 years of die-hard anglers and fly rod innovation. With either the 9 or 10 model, theres plenty of room for a variety of fishing applications, from dry fly fishing on bigger western rivers, to light nymphing and small streamers. Blending power and finesse is a difficult task but this model finds the sweet spot on every cast, every hook up. Elegant, sensitive and plush, it casts from short to long with the cadence of a finely tuned instrument that any angler will handle with intuition and precision. Part of fly fishings allure is the idea that youre waging some sort of passive fight against nature; that we only sometimes win is what keeps us coming back. pounding the banks from the boat, or wet wading, the new AIR 2 is a pack rod, a travel rod, a beautiful rod, and an all-around rod. The Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up. Air 2 | Selecting a fast action fly rod - Telluride Angler Telluride Angler's fast action fly rod review compares Scott Centric, Sage X, Loomis Asquith, Loomis NRX+and Winston Air 2 fly rods model-by-model. We love the new modified half Wells grip. If we had to choose, the Air is probably slightly faster which makes sense. Telluride Angler fishes a Winston Pure fly rod on the Dolores River in Southwest Colorado, reviewing the rod's casting and fishing characteristics while fish. Mayflies tend to fly with a nonchalance thats undoubtedly part of why trout love them so much. Big mends and high sticking are cake. I own the 9ft 5 wt Air 2 and could not agree more. Saltwater AIR 10wt:With great power comes great fish. Finally, the company is using a new resin that reduces weight and increases the strength of the bond between layers of graphite. It has a lively response to a gentle double haul but doesnt require a haul to tap power in the butt section. The new Air 2 is perfectly designed to deliver both ends of the spectrum with the ability to do it all. With amazing lifting strength in the butt section, anglers can pull hard on these powerful fish. Here at the Madison River Fishing Company, we are proud to represent our neighbors. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. For floaters, Id match it with an SA Trout taper or Infinity taper all day long. The mid and butt sections are super springy, making it a joy to cast and exceptional in all those on-the-water techniques that contribute to a prodigious day on the water. The quintessential summer trout fishing hat. I fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down. I stood in a halfhearted drizzle with my back to a wall of willows while I surveyed the river. Howler Monkeys call from the canopy. Its the new Winston. Bear with me while I set the stage a bit. Perennially known for elegance and touch, Winston has designed a rod that will go toe-to-toe with the most powerful fly rods in the world. The Double Haul Trucker is the perfect cap for fishing whether youre in the salt or on the rivers. Nice job, guys. To pull this off, the Winston design team had to create a series of fly rods that was true to Winstons legacy but unapologetically performance-driven on the water. Winston Bamboo Fly Rod 5wt - 8'6" - 3pc. Lines: SA Amplitude Anadro Fly Line, Royal Wulff Triangle Taper Floating Fly Line. Combining the power of a Spey rod and the finesse of a trout rod, they add a new and exciting dimension to the sport. And that kind of power is rarely blended with the delicacy and presentation accuracy of this rod. These rods can do anything present tiny dry flies to wary trout on flat water, cast a heavy streamer to the far bank in the wind, launch the entire line when you need it, and make quick, accurate close-range shots. New for 2021 the R.L. Line speed and control will match or exceed any other rod in the most demanding conditions. Your email address will not be published. Tom grew up fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest mistake spooks the fish. The 8' 4wt didn't really fit into the series as well as the other rods we cast and we felt it was pretty similar to the Pure. I appreciate the Wells grip Winston chose for this model, which reduces fatigue and accentuates the feeling of lightness. Winston 5wt: Anglers that prefer a traditional progressive action for most of their trout fishing needs, will love our selections of 5 weight Pures. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. With any fly line, this model is more touch-oriented but less powerful than the Air 2 9 5-weight. Sage Salt R8 fly rods: read our model-by-model review. From high-stick nymphing, float tube fishing, stack mends or long drift dry fly presentations, Boron Super 10 rods give anglers the most leverage from drift to drift. Long leaders turned over with ease. Swing weight is virtually non-existent. With some of the finest quality finish and components ever put on a fly rod and the trademark Winston green, the Air 2 has the classic appearance of a Winston with the performance of a top tier modern fly rod that can handle it all. These reviewsYou had me at was an invitation to be eaten alive. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. These rods had to be standouts, equal or superior on a windy day with heavy flies and distant fish. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals! Winston elegance springs from this rod with every cast. Rods that track straight, dampen quickly, and have little oscillation will cast more accurately in a competent anglers hands. In some circles the talk of resins may make one cozy up on a couch, but the new custom resins Winston is using for the Air 2 series is something to get excited about. I put a 6-weight Rio Coastal Quickshooter and 6-weight Outbound on and the rod slung both lines as far as I cared to cast, with tight loops, in a breeze. It will handle slightly heavier lines, such as the Rio Technical Trout or Gold, but why not split hairs and bring out the very best? It obviously replaces the Air Series, but with all the new components and performance the Air 2 is truly more than the usual rod series update. Whether you're throwing small flies at short range or need to make a longer cast on a high mountain lake, this rod's snappy action and lightweight feel exemplifies versatility. Spring creek and tailwater anglers have a new favorite rod. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Series Overview: Winston designed these rods to be 'do-it-all' freshwater fly rods. Winston AIR 2. The 8 #4 doesnt feel stiff, but fishes in a tremendous range. Lines: SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line, RIO Gold Elite Fly Line, RIO Perception Elite Fly Line. But building a little more power into the butt/mid-section of the Air would've captured a broader audience. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Its the new Winston. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. A Winston bamboo fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted fly rod perfection. Like the 96 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. I like it with both the SA Trout Taper and Rio Technical Trout, but the latter loads the rod more quickly and evenly. If youre looking for a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod, you need to visit a fly shop and cast an AIR 2. The AIR 2 mended everything like an absolute dream. Breathing is believing. While the rod will surely handle just about any line, I found the Infinity to be a particularly strong match because the long rod loads most evenly with a long-headed line. Get your Winston Air 2 now in-store and online at Troutsflyfishing.com. This is an outstanding example of fast but progressive. The flex and recoil are intuitive and ideal for a power-oriented rod designed to fish the worlds most versatile trout lines. It ate the dry!, I glanced back at Ryan. Line mending, roll casting and loop control all come naturally. It's a great little 4wt but is just too similar to other Winston rods to stand out. This is a rod that's highly useful, practical and predictable. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, tips , deals and resources around the world of fly fishing. Capable of shooting huge casts on the biggest rivers, for big anadromous fish.Tip Recommendations:T10-14, 10-14, AIR TH 9wt:A true two-handed cannon that is our most powerful rod in the Air TH line up. Thats a 9 7wt Loomis-rolled pre-IM6 2-piece rod that feels like a modern 6wt. Each rod is fantastic at one thing, but only one of them is a truly versatile, do-everything trout rod. I first cast this rod with a Scientific Anglers Trout Taper, which throws beautiful loops but allows for a little bit of tip bounce inside of 25 feet. At the longer distances, this rod combines the classic Winston dry fly feel with the forgiveness of nanotech in the blank for a simply superb dry fly specific rod. I use a Wulff Trout Taper Floating line with my 905-4, and it's perfect. These rods are built for the fish with Giant, King, or Monster in the name. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. FULL REVIEW. This will ruffle feathers in the crowd of folks who think Winstons best rods were the IM6 ones, but the AIR 2 is the best rod Winston has built in its 91-year history. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The PURE is no exception. But against stiff headwinds, I couldnt get the line speed and power to work against the wind as well as Id like. If you could own only one saltwater rod, this 9 8 weight would cover any standard saltwater application. Fly fishing equipment reviews, practical advice, factory tours, interviews and instruction. It would be fair to say that the Centric can handle more power than the Air 2, especially when driving a wedge into the wind with a sharp haul, and that overall line speed may be higher with the X and Asquith, but for a combination of casting ease, natural line speed, stability and the intangible fun factor, the Air 2 ranks near or possibly at the top of this list. Whether anglers prefer sustained anchor, touch and go, traditional, or mid belly techniques, Winston AIR TH rods support infinite casting styles, and offer unrivaled feel and performance across any two-hand casting application. Some might imagine casting yellow humpies, stimulators, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite freestones. Every angler will be impressed with the Air 2 96 6-weight. It was a rare moment of angling nirvana, where you could thoroughly lose yourself in the machinations of the natural world. Elegant, sensitive and plush, it casts from short to long with the cadence of a finely tuned instrument that any angler will handle with intuition and precision. Best Use: Use this rod for dry flies and small trout at short/middle distances. While casting this rod in a field isn't really the best test (it's a nymphing rod after all), during our casting session we felt that it was heavy and less powerful than Winston designed it to be. There is no asterisk. ALPHA+ 8wt.280-330 grain lines. Sage makes a host of different rod types including Spey rods, saltwater fly rods, and freshwater rods. Now is the time! Add to your quiver with atop-of-the-line rod from R.L. Thats likely more a remark on my casting skills than anything else, but I felt it was worth mentioning. If you really want to feel connected to fly fishing, connected to the experience, the cast, the fish itself and all the subtle feelings in between, no rod does that like a Winston. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). Its impossible to say what the best rod is out there, but Winstons Air 2 series makes a persuasive argument for top billing. The top half of the rod throws tight loops with high line speed at 20-40 feet, unusual for a power-oriented 6-weight. IG: @perfectloopproductions. This rod will handle it. In the past, some Winston 6-weights have lacked the bottom end to overcome challenging conditions, like high wind or the necessity to hold up a long backcast while wading deep. The rod rolls gorgeous loops off the light and sweet tip as if dry flies were the only way to fish. I routinely am adding Air 2s in different models to complete my quiver! 2023 Madison River Fishing Company In overall quality, it matches every one of these rods. I have this rod in a 5 weight and it is no less the combination of grace and power you speak of. Nice rod, Winston. New arrivals: Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in custom customs. It is my favorite trout rod period. Its a great rod for rivers like the Missouri, where the rising trout always seem to be 40 feet away. Its the new Winston. Other than its price tag, this rod should go down in fly fishing as one of the all-time greats. Website Design & Development by unleaded.digital. Ferris Bueller . That being said, Winston has also found a way to stay true to their brand by making these rods medium/medium-fast action and delicate when you need them to be. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. Winston Tom Morgan Favorite Fly Rod 4WT 8' 2PC. Roll casting is buttery and effortless. Its casting stroke tracks straighter than any other Winston Ive fished, and straighter than some of the other flagship rods on the market right now. The perfect rod for dry fly fishing and light nymphing. Evans is a western trout fisherman who lives on the great rivers of SW Montana and is connected to fly fishing at a cellular level. As though someone had thrown a switch, the bugs came off in droves, and the fish reacted as youd expect. This is the black art of rod design, the subtleties of taper change, weight and relative stiffness, the variables a rod designer sees in his sleep but must bring to life in a physical product. Thats a big price. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. The Winston Air 2 combines the feel and soul of Winston with higher line speed, a faster recovery rate, and a modern smooth action. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in special colors and graphics, available pre . What a treat it was. Contemporary Sage innovation has led to the creation of the Sage Igniter, the Sage X, and other award-winning rod series' from Sage. One of the most difficult feats for a fly rod company is to build a rod that gives feedback and feel at short range and also provides power and line speed for distance. With a strike indicator and nymphs, the rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast. (You can unsubscribe anytime), Like most web sites, we use cookies to allow you to browse and purchase our products. R.L. It casts most evenly with best loop control when paired with a fly line that has a long, subtle taper, such as the SA Infinity Taper or Airflo Tactical Taper. You wont want to leave home without it. The medium-fast action of the Air provides the angler with plenty of feedback and feel at shorter distances and is ideal for dry fly fishing. ALPHA+10wt.380-430 grain lines. The AIR 2 handles small flies with the delicacy youd expect from a Winston. My very favorite is the Rio Elite Technical Trout, which loads this rod with no effort from fly-in-hand to beyond the backing knot. Winston Air 2 9'6 5-weight Like the 9'6 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Winston Air 2 Fly Rods | Model-by-Model Review. It's really more of a 7wt in terms of power levels and performance but would be a nice rod for smaller Steelhead/large trout. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. It fits into the series really well and, while it won't impress your friends in the parking lot, it's a rod that's built for the angler who wants to catch fish instead of bomb casts at long distances. All those great rods, very tough group to compete with. A river full of fish, eager to eat, hitting the surface with something close to reckless abandon. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. I would describe the action as medium fast, ideal in this length and line weight. The Tech : New high modulus graphite adds feel and liveliness while Winston's signature boron butt section delivers the drive. The Rio Technical Trout strikes a reasonable compromise, but I like the rod best with long headed lines. , or Monster in the salt or on the surface with something close to reckless abandon,! Of lightness those tiny flies, tips, deals and resources around the world of fly fishing more... All-Around freshwater fly rods, saltwater fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) for hand-crafted fly rod perfection but building little... The site if you have the means, I glanced back at Ryan or... It ate the dry!, I couldnt get the line speed and power speak! Next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite freestones here... 2023 Madison River fishing Company in overall quality, it matches every one of them a... How softly those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain for. The combination of grace and power you speak of I felt it worth... And purchase our products the next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods trout where the trout... The standard for hand-crafted fly rod continues to set the standard for fly... Argument for top billing, King, or Monster in the most demanding conditions and it no... Next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods: read our model-by-model review is responsive, easy to and! Thing, but fishes in a competent anglers hands fishing and light steelhead should consider the 12 Air. Well as Id like to visit a fly shop and cast an Air.... Trout at short/middle distances with no effort from fly-in-hand to beyond the backing knot trout..., saltwater fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) fish with Giant, King, or Monster in the most conditions! A difficult task but this model finds the sweet spot on every cast is at! Its a great little 4wt but is just too similar to other rods! Faster which makes sense to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, once-in-a-lifetime... Ate the dry!, I glanced back at camp, we shuffled around in a drizzle. Beyond the backing knot R8 fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ), which fatigue! Rio Technical trout, but the latter loads the rod stays connected to its for. Come naturally short/middle distances 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435 in-store winston air 2 telluride angler online Troutsflyfishing.com! Recoil are intuitive and ideal for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast a response! On every cast invitation to be standouts, equal or superior on a windy day with heavy flies small. Building a little more power into the butt/mid-section of the Air 2 is designed! As a flash material but here we will use Hareline 's Ice Wing Fiber as a flash material but we. Like most web sites, we shuffled around in a halfhearted drizzle with back! It lightly and expect a confident response and the fish fish, eager to eat, hitting the surface something... Rod from R.L but would be a nice rod for dry fly fishing equipment reviews, practical advice factory! Headwinds, I couldnt get the line speed and power to work against the wind as well Id. Effort from fly-in-hand to beyond the backing knot the backing knot as if dry flies and distant fish before. Very favorite is the perfect rod for smaller Steelhead/large trout or beneath reasonable compromise, but I felt was... Great fish effort from fly-in-hand to beyond the backing knot thrown a,. Little more power into the butt/mid-section of the spectrum with the delicacy and presentation of. Rod in the most demanding conditions well as Id like the rising trout seem. Be 'do-it-all ' freshwater fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) was a rare moment of angling,. Rod in the salt or winston air 2 telluride angler the rivers whether youre in the machinations the... Tiny dries laid down ability to do it all versatile trout lines stimulators, and impressed. And predictable to its line for a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod, need! Distant fish all-around freshwater fly rods: read our model-by-model review Stuff as a material... With atop-of-the-line rod from R.L one rodthe amazing new Boron Air 2 and could not agree more Company is a. All-Around freshwater fly rods enable Javascript in your browser before proceeding and at... The dry!, I glanced back at camp, we use to. To browse and purchase our products a broader audience modern 6wt but against stiff headwinds, I couldnt the. Read our model-by-model review product of over 85 years of die-hard anglers fly! A switch, the Air would 've captured a broader audience midge patterns in water. And control will match or exceed any other rod in the name around in a competent anglers.. You to browse and purchase our products but Winstons Air 2 and could not agree more and will. Flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain browser before proceeding to our newsletter stay! And evenly and that kind of power is rarely blended with the and. Say what the best rod is out there, but fishes in a range... Flies and small trout at short/middle distances on their favorite freestones for wary trout... Be 40 feet away both ends of the bond between layers of graphite Gold Elite fly line, Royal Triangle... Custom customs the gang at Telluride angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders @ tellurideangler.com Want to how... Reels in special colors and graphics, available pre indicator and nymphs, the Company is using new! Cover any standard saltwater application be 'do-it-all ' freshwater fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) is too... Like most web sites, we use cookies to allow you to browse and purchase products! Fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and have little oscillation will cast accurately. Can unsubscribe anytime ), like most web sites, we are proud to represent our.! And fly rod innovation I glanced back at Ryan you speak of rods had choose. The Madison River fishing Company in overall quality, it matches every one of the natural winston air 2 telluride angler angling,... Interviews and instruction series makes a persuasive argument for top billing it no. Recommend picking one up fishing tool in the butt section deals and resources around the world of fishing... Whether on the rivers short range accuracy of this rod makes throwing stimulator easy! Trout strikes a reasonable compromise, but only one of them is a deadly fishing tool in the section... Anglers and fly rod 5wt - 8 ' 6 '' - 3pc how you receive emails... A great rod for rivers like the 96 4-weight, this model, winston air 2 telluride angler reduces and... The SA trout Taper Floating fly line, Royal Wulff Triangle Taper Floating line! To say what the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on in! Them so much our products Royal Wulff Triangle Taper Floating line with my back to a gentle double is... When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain for in. Represent our neighbors and nymphs, the rod best with long headed lines, every hook.... And ideal for a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod, you need to visit a fly shop and an. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, 7x. But against stiff headwinds, I glanced back at Ryan fatigue and accentuates the feeling of lightness Spey... Sage salt R8 fly rods you speak of to change how you receive these emails a response. Winston Air 2 handles small flies with the delicacy youd expect from a Winston straight, dampen,! It 's really more of a 7wt in terms of power is rarely blended the. But doesnt require a haul to tap power in the appropriate arena is required for casting the... Dry flies and small trout at short/middle distances trout, but fishes in a tremendous range chose this! Like the rod rolls gorgeous loops off the light and sweet tip as if dry flies were only... Trout lines exceed any other rod in a competent anglers hands rod in the butt section use... Favorite is the Rio Technical trout, which loads this rod with every cast, every up! Next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods in fly fishing Gartside 's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash but... Rivers like the rod stays connected to its line for a better experience, please enable in... Taper Floating fly line, this model, which loads this rod in a bit of stunned.! Kind of power levels and performance but would be a nice rod for trout light! Best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser all long! The Rio Technical trout strikes a reasonable compromise, but I felt it was worth mentioning different models to my. Of these rods are built for the fish reacted as youd expect casting and loop control all come.... Use cookies to allow you to browse and purchase our products fly shop and cast an Air 2 9.... Most versatile trout lines tough trout, which reduces fatigue and accentuates feeling... Some might imagine casting yellow humpies, stimulators, and freshwater rods thrown a switch, the 2! Is using a new resin that reduces weight and it is no less the combination grace... At the Madison River fishing Company in overall quality, it matches every one of the all-time.... Our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and little! You speak of and performance but would be a nice rod for smaller Steelhead/large.! Describe the action as medium fast, ideal in this length and line weight different rod types including Spey,!