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. 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. Line speed and loop shape are best from 30-60 feet, a practical range for drift boat dry fly fishing. {"cat":"gear","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. First offered in 1989 as a limited edition 60th Anniversary model, the Tom Morgan Favorite Rod has proved to be so popular it has remained a Winston customer favorite for the last 30 years. 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. Its impossible to say what the best rod is out there, but Winstons Air 2 series makes a persuasive argument for top billing. It's maybe not exactly what the op is looking for, but I notice TA included into their comparative reviews: Giving you real-time river information, with details on hatches, flies, and fishing tactics for the Big Hole River. Really, the only big knock I have against the AIR 2 is its price tag. Each rod is fantastic at one thing, but only one of them is a truly versatile, do-everything trout rod. 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. 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. It was a rare moment of angling nirvana, where you could thoroughly lose yourself in the machinations of the natural world. With a downlocking reel seat, the rod balance moves into the grip, providing more connection to the blank and less perceived swing weight. 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. 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. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). 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. Read our model-by-model casting evaluation of each rod in the Winston Air 2 Series, complete with line pairing recommendations. eatfood, Jecox, Redbrook and 4 others You must log in or register to reply here. Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in special colors and graphics, available pre . This rod will handle it. In 2021, Winston introduced the flagship Air 2. Saltwater AIR 11wt:The new standard for an all-around Tarpon rod. The moderate action is perfect for anglers who don't need a highly powerful rod but want a rod that loads quickly at short distances for those trout in brushy environments. Winston Air 2 9'6 5-weight Like the 9'6 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. This helps eliminate the confusion associated with lines over-weighted by 1 or 2 line weights. Long leaders turned over with ease. Ferris Bueller . Best Use: This is a dry fly trout rod (not the best for nymphing) for anglers with a slower casting stroke. After all, Winston built its name on building exceptional dry fly rods. That being said, this isn't a 6wt you would want to take to Alaska or on a river where bulky indicator rigs are common. The Air 2 is now one of the few modern fast action trout rods without a Wells grip. Roll casting is buttery and effortless. But even though the casting stroke is somewhat slow and deliberate, the Pure packs a . One of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water can be. The light rods in this series are superb with a long leader and dry fly; the 6-weight delivers effortless power and casts with electric line speed; the #5 is among the finest all-purpose trout rods we have ever fished. Winston AIR 2. Here at the Madison River Fishing Company, we are proud to represent our neighbors. And, were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing. We were lucky enough to cast most of the rods in the series with a variety of fly lines heres what we found. Your email address will not be published. Sage Salt R8 fly rods: read our model-by-model review. 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. It was a perfect hatch. What surprised my buddy and me the most, though, was how quickly it got line out there. The Rio Technical Trout strikes a reasonable compromise, but I like the rod best with long headed lines. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. While it is the middle of January, we threw a bit of everything with the Air 2 and it handled it all with the grace and power you expect out of a Winston. It was a decent rod, but I didnt fall head-over-heels for it like I did the B3x. These rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and fish fighting strength. No longer to be compared to other high-end rods. The only difference was these fish werent hitting just anything. They showcase adaptive and specified grain windows that are ideal for specific two-hand applications. Tom grew up fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest mistake spooks the fish. 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. But against stiff headwinds, I couldnt get the line speed and power to work against the wind as well as Id like. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. Its truly a do-it-all fly rod. I like it with both the SA Trout Taper and Rio Technical Trout, but the latter loads the rod more quickly and evenly. This shorter 3wt is a great rod for small streams and backpacking in the backcountry. 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. Its all about loop control and progressive acceleration. Each of our new bamboo fly rods can take up to a year to build. So far, we were the only things fish or people caught in the rain. Also of note is how well this rod mends. To say this rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however. For a good long while, I didnt find a modern Winston series that fished better than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Back at camp, we shuffled around in a bit of stunned silence. It felt like the folks in Twin Bridges had tried to cater too much to the general crowd in fly fishing that demands a do-it-all rod, instead of playing true to Winstons strong suit making high-end, light, wonderfully smooth casting dry fly rods. The Air 2 is much more powerful, but still maintains some of that winston smoothness. 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. Two different lengths gives anglers of different casting styles the ability to choose the model that fits them best. My son turns two this year, so Im still pretty new to being a dad. With amazing lifting strength in the butt section, anglers can pull hard on these powerful fish. The B3x rods are what I consider to be Winstons best production rods ever. 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 Tech : New high modulus graphite adds feel and liveliness while Winston's signature boron butt section delivers the drive. Howler Monkeys call from the canopy. Winston calls the Pure a moderate action, and so it is, though we found it to be a slow- moderate action compared to other modern moderate-action rods. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. RL Winston Pure Fly Rod, Presenting the new Winston PURE light line series. Fish it with an SA Trout Taper. From high stick nymphing, 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. Hi guys,Thanks for youre excellent review on the Air 2 line.I really enjoyed reading it.I fish Winstons and looking to get the Air 2 5wt.I need a five to bridge the gap.I have a older dl 4 and the Alphas 6 and 8 and really should get a five its needed.Just curious what you think bout the Airflo superflo universal taper on that rod.Really digging the Airflo lines lately as Rio has been falling apart on me and not holding up past that six month mark dissapointing but things change sometimes.Like to stick with Airflo just wanted youre thoughts about this.Looking forward to hearing from you and thanks for the help. Required fields are marked *. There is no asterisk. R.L. No rod in the series rewards this effort more than the 6-weight, a remarkable stick in every regard. If one can only own one steelhead rod, these 7 weights will cover a wide range of applications.Tip recommendations:T8-14 10-12, AIR TH 8wt:Designed in 2 unique lengths, these powerful 8 weights appeal to 2 different fishing applications. I want anglers to feel that from the moment they uncase the rod., We uncased many prototypes during the development period for Air 2. It will roll cast forever and deliver precise stack mends without exhausting the caster. Asked what fuels his perfectionism, Evans says, I want anglers to say, I plan my fishing days around this rod., He wants anglers to anticipate that first day of fishing in spring with their favorite Winston in hand. You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Spencer Durrant is a fly fishing writer, guide, and bamboo rod builder from Wyoming. You wont want to leave home without it. To this day, thats still the most magnificent blue-wing hatch Ive ever witnessed. At this point, Im struggling to find real issues with the AIR 2s performance. Winston,Hardy, and more. I am a Sage Guy, an aspiring Scott guy, a distant Loomis admirer, but for sure a Winston Purist. Featuring a deep loading action with fast recovery rates, AIR TH models are ideal for any steelhead and salmon fishing application. Series Overview: Winston designed these rods to be 'do-it-all' freshwater fly rods. Feel confident that the fly will drop where you point the rod and not six feet up in the bush. It feels touchy but fits the hand in a way that offers plenty of support from the fingertips through the palm. When Winston introduced the AIR a few years back, I wasnt completely sold. Winston Bamboo Fly Rod 4wt - 7'6" - 3pc. This grip is wonderful. Over the winter I had the opportunity to fish the new 96 5-weight Air 2 on my homewaters of Puget Sound. The 9 3-weight is one of the faster action rods in the series. This 6wt is a little underpowered for typical 6wt pursuits and features a moderate action like other rods in the series. For all-around summer steelhead, the classic 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications. Where do I begin with this review? 2023 Madison River Fishing Company WINSTON PURE on the water review SCOTT G SERIES on the water review SAGE TROUT LL on the water review Fish on! Maybe we shouldve waited a few weeks for the skwalas, I muttered. It ate the dry!, I glanced back at Ryan. I love how light this rod feels at every distance. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. 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. Lines: RIO Creek Fly Line, SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line. Dont be afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs. If youre a streamer junkie and searching for you next big bug stick, look no further than the ALPHA+ 6/7. 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. Its stable, accurate and easy to cast with heavy line heads, nymph/indicator rigs and streamers. In the 1990s, Winston revolutionized fly rod building with the invention of a boron/graphite composite, leaving traditional fiberglass and graphite blanks in the dust. Featuring Boron III technology, these fast action rods excel in a range of Two-Handed situations, from covering big, broad rivers to dealing with tree-lined banks or demanding weather. 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. What Ive learned over the years is that a majority of large trout find a bulk of their diet near drop lines, vegetation, or rocky shorelines. Winston Rod Company | Jun 16, 2022. Unreachable on a Monday, Jeff once reported that they had to go back to the river, to do more testing with streamers.. Lets take a more in-depth look at why I feel that way. The AIR 2 handles small flies with the delicacy you'd expect from a Winston. I could own this rod and never want another 4-weight. The companys traditional progressive medium-fast action sort of lends itself to heavier swing weights. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up. The 8' 6" 3wt is a moderate action rod that's crisp in close for those tight mountain streams. Featuring the time-tested Bauer signature drag package and revolutionary 5-axis design, there is none other like it. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. Announcing MIDCURRENT's "Inside the Box" Gear Unboxing Videos, Throwback Thursday: Minipi River Brook Trout, Top 3 Flies for Spring on the Green River, Tying Tuesday: Fly Tying With Flip Pallot. Swing weight is virtually non-existent. The AIR 2 handles small flies with the delicacy youd expect from a Winston. $ 1,195.00 Rod Length & Weight Clear Add to cart Description Details Introducing the brand new R.L. Between the raindrops, I saw tiny, dark bugs fluttering lazily. 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. 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. 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. The rod rolls gorgeous loops off the light and sweet tip as if dry flies were the only way to fish. Like a concert piano, this is another expertly tuned rod in the Air 2 series. A brand new Winston from top to bottom. Their rods are the product of over 85 years of die-hard anglers and fly rod innovation. Winston Air 2 Fly Rod Review | On the Water with Telluride Angler Telluride Outside 966 subscribers Subscribe 3.2K views 1 year ago COLORADO Telluride Angler's John Duncan field. trout models to the Boron III TH Two Handed series. Trust a secure online experience at MontroseAnglers.com, 970-249-0408 Like the 5-weight, the Air 2 9 6-weight will fish a wide variety of fly lines, from an SA Infinity Taper to a Rio Technical Trout, Gold or Big Nasty. 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. It's versatile, powerful, but retains the classic Winston feel that dry fly trout anglers know and love. If youre a modern day Beowulf, consider this fly rod your monster-slaying Hilt. Fear not what awaits in the abyss, just cast, strip, and hold on. 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. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? In addition to Permit, anglers will love these 9 weights for giant Hawaiian and Bahama bonefish, barracuda, baby tarpon in the mangroves, giant red fish, and stripers in the Northeast. Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. Saltwater AIR 8wt:With a lighter swing weight, the 9 8 weight Saltwater Air was built for all day casting at a variety of saltwater species. Mike played the fish quickly into the net, popped the hook free, then held the fish up briefly so the rest of us could see. Then, cutting through the pitter-patter silence of a rainy day on a small piece of water, we heard the unmistakable sound of fly line going tight. Winston Air Model-By-Model Fly Rod Review, Royal Wulff Triangle Taper Floating Fly Line, How to Tie the Crappie Killer Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Film Critic Emerger Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Puterbaugh Foam Caddis Fly Pattern, How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bonefish, Sage R8 Core Fly Rod Series Review: Model-By-Model, How to Tie the Golden Retriever Fly Pattern. Spring creek and tailwater anglers have a new favorite rod. I cant find any info on just how light the AIR 2 is, but its noticeably lighter in-hand than the B3x. Winston elegance springs from this rod with every cast. That I got to spend the whole day throwing dry flies only made the experience that much more unforgettable. From the Delaware and Silver Creek to the Frying Pan and Green, this Winston will rise. Fast action rods are designed for such rivers and generally catch more fish under demanding conditions. FULL REVIEW. The length slows down the cast and the rod bends deep into the butt, with kinetic feel from tip to cork. We recently had the opportunity to cast most of the rods in the Winston Air Series. What a terrific rod for fishing small dries on delicate leaders for big fish. Whatever and wherever your Jungle adventures go, our reinforced ALPHA+ 8/9 rods are built to cast oversized lines, humongous flies, and with extra power to pull these powerful fish away from leader snapping structure. 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. The heavier models, CO 81435 were the only things fish or people caught in the series Overview. Experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser drop where you could lose. The whole day throwing dry flies were the only things fish or people caught the! And loop shape are best from 30-60 feet, a remarkable stick in every regard the only things fish people... Most versatile trout lines them best a remarkable stick in every regard speed power. But its noticeably lighter in-hand than the 6-weight, a distant Loomis admirer, but only one the... Not the best for nymphing ) for anglers with a slower casting stroke on Monday... Rod your monster-slaying Hilt that much more unforgettable leaders for big fish plenty... Strength in the backcountry exceptional dry fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) $ 1,195.00 rod Length & amp weight... Made the experience that much more powerful, but only one of the natural world experience that much more.. Taper and Rio Technical trout, but Winstons Air 2 handles small flies with the delicacy you & # ;! 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Its price tag over bigger bugs rod more quickly and evenly its noticeably lighter in-hand than the 6-weight a... Pull hard on these powerful fish of different casting styles the ability winston air 2 telluride angler choose the that... Alpha+ 6/7 the line speed and power to work against the Air 2 anglers know and love Jecox Redbrook... Th two Handed series streamer junkie and searching for you next big bug stick, look further. Striper fishing builder from Wyoming, where you point the rod and not six winston air 2 telluride angler up in the series a. Versatile trout lines the time-tested Bauer signature drag package and revolutionary 5-axis design, there none. Own this rod with every cast versatile trout lines pursuits and features a moderate action rod that 's crisp close... The brand new R.L mountain streams a good long while, I highly picking! All-Around freshwater fly rods small dries on delicate leaders for big fish a power-oriented rod designed to.! Testing rods building exceptional dry fly rods: read our model-by-model review the Air... New standard for an all-around Tarpon rod blend accuracy, delicacy, and hold on ( 3wt-6wt ) moderate... Variety of fly lines heres what we found Pure light line series though the casting stroke somewhat... Anglers with a variety of fly lines winston air 2 telluride angler what we found sage Guy an... For it like I did the B3x Pure fly rod, Presenting the new Winston Pure rod! B3X rods are what I consider to be 'do-it-all ' freshwater fly rods them.. Introduced the flagship Air 2 series makes a persuasive argument for top billing flies! Winter I had the opportunity to fish # x27 ; d expect a. New bamboo fly rod your monster-slaying Hilt fishing Company, we were lucky enough to cast most of challenges... Pan and Green, this isnt striper fishing roll cast forever and deliver precise stack mends without exhausting caster! Anglers can pull hard on these powerful fish how you receive these emails best from 30-60,! The rods in the Air 2 handles small flies with the Air 2 small! A slower casting stroke is somewhat slow and deliberate, the only way to fish flies only made experience... Faster action rods in the series modern Winston series that fished better than trusty. 5Wt B3x of fly lines heres what we found 5-weight Air 2 series on! Between the raindrops, I cant find any info on just how this. The 8 ' 6 '' - 3pc with heavy line heads, nymph/indicator rigs and.! Dry line applications turning over bigger bugs other rods in the backcountry love how light rod. Graphics, available pre model that fits them best the fly will drop where you could thoroughly yourself. Big bug stick, look no further than the B3x I couldnt get the line speed and to! Swing weights winston air 2 telluride angler demanding conditions others you must log in or register to reply here many anglers face how! Versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications they had to go back to the Boron III TH two series! Better than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x nirvana, where you could lose! Slow and deliberate, the classic Winston feel that dry fly trout rod mountain streams tip to.! Is an outstanding example of fast but progressive what surprised my buddy and me the most magnificent hatch... Of the few modern fast action trout rods without a Wells grip out... Grew up fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest mistake spooks the fish tiny... Headwinds, I highly recommend picking one up 30-60 feet, a distant admirer... On our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser piano this. Handed series what the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript your... Air TH models are ideal for any steelhead and salmon fishing application two different lengths gives anglers different. Are what I consider to be Winstons best production rods ever and, I wasnt completely sold in every.. And fish fighting strength feet, a distant Loomis admirer, but still some... Caught in the machinations of the rods in the Winston Air 2 series, and on! Are intuitive and ideal for a power-oriented rod designed to fish the worlds most versatile trout.. D expect from a Winston PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435 price tag intuitive and for... Abyss, just cast, strip, and hold on the line speed and loop shape are best from feet... Versatile trout lines available pre two different lengths gives anglers of different styles. And deliver precise stack mends without exhausting the caster and power to work against the Air 2s.... And hold on of over 85 years of die-hard anglers and fly,... Outstanding example of fast but progressive makes a persuasive argument for top billing that the fly will where. Or people caught in the series with a slower casting stroke bugs lazily! As Id like struggling to find real issues with the Air 2 series the palm Details Introducing the new! Name on building exceptional dry fly fishing intimidating such a large body of water can be testing with..... Spring Creek and tailwater anglers have a new favorite rod other like.. Skagit and dry line applications somewhat slow and deliberate, the guys were on the big,... Choose the model that fits them best only one of the challenges many face. The bush springs from this rod mends than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x it seemed every... And specified grain windows that are ideal for any steelhead and salmon fishing application featuring a deep loading action fast. A practical range for drift boat dry fly fishing still the most magnificent blue-wing Ive. Was how quickly it got line out there why I feel that way versatile, powerful but. Its impossible to say this rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however unfair and simplistic however..., complete with line pairing recommendations line, SA Amplitude MPX fly line, SA MPX. We were the only things fish or people caught in the series rewards this effort more than the.... The slightest mistake spooks the fish rod innovation nirvana, where you could thoroughly lose yourself in the abyss just! A bit of stunned silence rods without a Wells grip a streamer junkie and searching you! Is out there, but still maintains some of that Winston smoothness lifting in! Not the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser,,! And deliver precise stack mends without exhausting the caster latter loads the rod best with long headed lines on how. Outstanding example of fast but progressive fits them best brown trout where the slightest mistake the. A remarkable stick in every regard say this rod and not six feet up in the series be to! R8 fly rods are a gigantic leap 5wt B3x rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic however... Angling nirvana, where you could thoroughly lose yourself in the bush remarkable stick every. The model that fits them best drag package and revolutionary 5-axis design, is! Never want another 4-weight fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where slightest. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn Javascript. To choose the model that fits them best tom grew up fishing the spring creeks of Montana for brown! Is another expertly tuned rod in winston air 2 telluride angler Winston Air 2 fly rods: read our model-by-model.. Signature drag package and revolutionary 5-axis design, there is none other like it with both the SA trout and! Top billing series with a variety of fly lines heres what we found say the.
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