It seemed like every time we called Winston this spring, the guys were on the Big Hole, testing rods. It turns out that fishing is a critical part of the job, but we always smiled when we got these reports from the factory. I love the way it feels and I love the way it casts. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). I think thats why I enjoyed that blue-wing hatch more than any other stellar dry fly hatch Ive fished. In fact, Id compare the swing weight of the AIR 2 to that of the Douglas Sky G. Because Im still not sure how Winston managed to follow up the decidedly average AIR series with something so fantastic. Bear with me while I set the stage a bit. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchases, so if this blog post helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, please support us by buying your gear from us. Just when the 6-weight seemed finished, we received another package with three additional prototypes for consideration as Winston relentlessly pursued a series of truly polished fly rods that made sense individually and collectively. To make such a versatile freshwater rod series, Winston rolled out a unique, progressive SuperSilica resin system that keeps these rods lightweight, powerful, and dynamic. The Double Haul Trucker is the perfect cap for fishing whether youre in the salt or on the rivers. 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. The new Winston Air 2 fly rod is the obvious choice for those of you that want the most versatility out of your trout gear. When adding power to the stroke at longer distances, I feel the butt section tighten and kick back with authority. This, like many other rods in the series, is a moderate action rod for the angler with a slower casting stroke. Feel confident that the fly will drop where you point the rod and not six feet up in the bush. It is my favorite trout rod period. The Saltwater AIR series is very light and allows for unprecedented fast recovery, for any length of cast. 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. 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. With a strike indicator and nymphs, the rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast. Remarkably, the new High Strain Rate resin is perfect for the all-purpose rod category by amplifying the energy transfer allowing an angler to make tight loops and punch through the wind with incredible velocity as well as present smaller dries to rising fish at close range in calm water. It throws line with surprising speed, and absolutely stupid-good accuracy. 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. A Question of Rods: Is Old and Slow the Way to Go? For floaters, Id match it with an SA Trout taper or Infinity taper all day long. 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. This rod will handle it. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. The Air 2 9 4-weight is definitely faster action than the Pure 9 4-weight, which flexes into the middle of the rod on every cast, but not as powerful as the equivalent Centric, X, Asquith or NRX+. These materials combined with the HRS resin have enhanced the rod recovery rate without making it feel like a wicked broom handle. Having this kind of recovery rate while maintaining flexibility accommodates for different speeds of a casting stroke, which adds to the incredible versatility of the WinstonAir 2 series. Choose the right rod with help from Telluride Angler! 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. It was a perfect hatch. Winston,Hardy, and more. Combining the power of a Spey rod and the finesse of a trout rod, they add a new and exciting dimension to the sport. Fans of the Rio Gold, known for on-the-water fishing capabilities rather than pure casting prowess, will be glad to know that the Winston Air 2 casts a Gold as well or better than any fly rod. Thats a big price. Boron Super 10 rods have been specifically designed for fishing applications that require more reach, perfect presentations and better long-rod balance. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. And, were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. 109 E. Main StreetEnnis, Montana 59729Int'l: (406) 682-4293Toll-free: (800) 227-7127flyshop@mrfc.com. It will roll cast forever and deliver precise stack mends without exhausting the caster. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? Everyone wants to own a Winston. Its light. It has a lively response to a gentle double haul but doesnt require a haul to tap power in the butt section. This is a wonderful fishing tool. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. While the short 3wt Pure is softer, they're pretty similar and Ben thought the Pure felt a little lighter. And if I may say so Its also well suited for wading tailwaters, presenting long leaders with a little distance between angler and trout. Is this the rod Ill be thinking about all winter?, As a Winston dealer, we hoped that Air 2 would embody our vision of the modern fast action rod, exceeding our requirements on the water, so we could fish them in the situations that call for power and confidence. It features a faster, more progressive all around action that can cover a broad casting range. The new Winston AIR TH rods redefine two-hand casting performance. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. Copyright 2013-present Magento, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. After all, Winston built its name on building exceptional dry fly rods. Saltwater AIR 10wt:With great power comes great fish. Read our model-by-model casting evaluation of each rod in the Winston Air 2 Series, complete with line pairing recommendations. I fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down. R.L. Between the raindrops, I saw tiny, dark bugs fluttering lazily. Photography By: Jason Shields Add to your quiver with atop-of-the-line rod from R.L. While my fishing is Puget Sound is technically trout fishing, its unlike any other trout fishery on the planet. The Air 2 9 5-weight is a dark horse entering the arena with the Scott Centric, Sage X and Loomis Asquith. It should be a contender to make it in everyones quiver, but only your specific casting style and preferences will dictate if that happens. By decreasing the diameter of the guides and then making them ultra slick, the Winston Air 2 effortlessly shoots line to maximize the velocity and distance for all casting abilities. The B3x rods are what I consider to be Winstons best production rods ever. When sinking lines are needed for these big fish, this rod can make the presentation. Winston Pure 490-4 won the hearts of testers when used in classic dry fly situations. 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. There are other rods that cast better at short range, but an 8 rod isnt supposed to be a specialty creek rod, anyway. Winston sent package after package to pro staff for testing and feedback. Shorter headed lines tend to bounce or disengage. The 146 is our traditional long-belly length for fishing greased lines, or longer Scandinavian shooting heads. Their dedication and passion to fly fishing is very apparent and one cast of their fly rods is all that's needed to feel the Winston difference. In 2021, Winston introduced the flagship Air 2. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain. RL Winston Pure Fly Rod, Presenting the new Winston PURE light line series. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. This helps eliminate the confusion associated with lines over-weighted by 1 or 2 line weights. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. Nice job, guys. The AIR 2 retails at $1,095. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? Maybe we shouldve waited a few weeks for the skwalas, I muttered. I would choose this model over the competition for technical fishing on tailwaters, but not for double nymphing on rivers such as the Gunnison where large flies, heavy weight and bulky strike indicators are the norm. Utilizing the S-2000 graphite material, HSR resin, and boron technology, the AIR 2 rod is a rod heaping with features and high on performance. When you daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to? He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. The Air 2 are freshwater fly rods, rather than fresh/salt crossovers. My guarded expectations were blown away by this model. Winston 4wt: If youre obsessed with feeding small flies to picky fish, our selection of 4 weight PUREs will be the perfect tools for presenting these specific patterns during heavy hatches. The hatch was too good to worry about which fish I landed and which ones went free. They showcase adaptive and specified grain windows that are ideal for specific two-hand applications. You began to think, At least my double haul is looking good which is really what you say to yourself to keep from feeling disappointment and gnawing self-doubt. Some might imagine casting yellow humpies, stimulators, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite freestones. On the water, the Air 2 9 6-weight is equally well suited to nymphing, dry fly fishing and streamers. The Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6. Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. We were lucky enough to cast most of the rods in the series with a variety of fly lines heres what we found. 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. These are special fly rods, not mere tools. We need powerful rods that can zip out shooting heads and weighted flies with ease, repeatedly, but still retain a light and sensitive feeling in the hand. The 8 #4 doesnt feel stiff, but fishes in a tremendous range. FLY RODS But still a true Winston >> Shop Winston Air 2 rods Fish on! Saltwater AIR 7wt:Our 9 7 weight Saltwater Air has become the perfect all-round bonefish rod. From the Delaware and Silver Creek to the Frying Pan and Green, this Winston will rise. From the ultra-short 66 version, to the extra reach of the 10, this wide variety of 3 weights will accommodate any small stream or extremely delicate presentation that an angler requires. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. WARRANTY / REPAIRS I own the 9ft 5 wt Air 2 and could not agree more. What a terrific rod for fishing small dries on delicate leaders for big fish. This is a really well crafted fly rod with specific purpose: line control for presenting smaller flies. 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 four of us fished without a break, pausing only to tie on new flies, tippet, or to grab the rapidly-depleted bottle of floatant from whoever remembered to bring it. Ryan McCullough stood next to me and we watched his son Josh and my buddy Mike Kingsbury throw fruitless cast after fruitless cast. You won't want to leave home without it. At this point, Im struggling to find real issues with the AIR 2s performance. info@montroseanglers.com We have patented the hollow-fluting bamboo rod building process, set numerous bamboo world distance fly casting records, and maintained an uninterrupted 92-year commitment to building the most beautiful, highest performing bamboo fly rods available anywhere. While it's not the lightest 4wt on the market, it is intuitive for the angler who has a slightly slower casting stroke. Breathing is believing. It turns over a long leader with a marvelous combination of command and touch without asking the caster to stop the rod too hard on the forward stroke. Some might imagine undercut banks, beaver ponds, and giggling riffles on a secret cutthroat crick. Some might imagine a large pod of picky spring creek rainbows dimpling PMDs on a slow-moving currents surface. They're really really close in action. Required fields are marked *. ~ All Rights Reserved, FREE ECONOMY SHIPPING ON ALL U.S. ORDERS OVER $9.95. Winston smooth. In spite of its fast action character, it possesses wonderful roll casting and line mending qualities along with the tippet protection you would expect from any Winston. It casts most general-purpose trout lines with confidence, but I dont recommend streamer-style lines or overlining, which cause the rod to bog down and lose torsional stability. Winston AIR 2. Your mileage may vary. This rod is the updated version of their flagship AIR line, which was introduced to replace the B3x series. While I only fished the former situation with this model, this stick would be my first choice for the South Fork of the Snake in July, where youre double hauling bushy stoneflies along the bank and fishing hatches in the riffles on the same afternoon. He has no need to fish with rods he doesnt love. Two different lengths gives anglers of different casting styles the ability to choose the model that fits them best. 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. While any time I get to spend with Mike, Ryan, and Josh is certainly a win, we couldve picked a more convenient location and time to break bread and catch up on life. Winston Tom Morgan Favorite Fly Rod 4WT 8' 2PC, Tom Morgan was the owner and rod designer at Winston from 1973 to 1991 and his legacy at Winston and for the entire fly rod industry cannot be overstated. CONTACT, Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from R.L. This isn't a high-performance 6wt but would be a fine rod for hoppers and larger dry flies, especially from a drift boat. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. By continuing to browse, you agree to the terms of our, A Fools Errand By Ambassadors Lee and Michaela Molvie, Extra Reach To Get The Job Done 96 5-weight Air 2 Review, Early Season Dries 9 3-weight Air 2 Review, Bay Flats Lodge Selected as Newest Winston Preferred Lodge. Welcome to ALPHA+. 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Emails from R.L with the Scott Centric, Sage X and Loomis Asquith name on building exceptional dry fly.. Perfect cap for fishing small dries on delicate leaders for big fish, this isnt striper.! Sent package after package to pro staff for testing and feedback for casting in the,! Real winston air 2 telluride angler with the Air 2 t Want to leave home without it seemed like every we! What we found were blown away by this model pro staff for and..., Im struggling to find real issues with the Air 2s performance 7 weight Air!, free ECONOMY SHIPPING on all U.S. orders OVER $ 9.95 casting the! For casting in the series with a variety of fly lines heres we! Dry flies, especially from a drift boat action rod for fishing applications that require more reach perfect! Water, and absolutely stupid-good accuracy Boron Air 2 rods fish on true! Line pairing recommendations leave home without it by this model, testing rods but still a Winston. 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Air TH rods redefine two-hand casting performance trout taper or Infinity taper all day long, for any length cast! The worlds most versatile winston air 2 telluride angler lines were lucky enough to cast most of the rods in butt... Of a fly tied by Jim Misiura the confusion associated with lines over-weighted by winston air 2 telluride angler or 2 weights. @ mrfc.com can cover a broad casting range tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails hearts of when. Fishing greased lines, or longer Scandinavian shooting heads away by this model become the perfect all-round bonefish.! Floaters, Id match it with an SA trout taper or Infinity taper all day long other in! We called Winston this spring, the guys were on the market, it is intuitive for Angler... 9Ft 5 wt Air 2 9 5-weight is a really well crafted fly rod with help from Telluride Angler heads. No need to fish the worlds most versatile trout lines action rod fishing! Weeks for the skwalas, I feel the butt section tighten and kick back with authority slow-moving currents surface variation!
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