Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. 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. While some fast action rods fling the line and fly, this one loads and explodes with truly optimized mechanics. 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. 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. This isn't an all-around 5wt, but for the anglers who prefer to fish dry flies with finesse, this is one of the best 5wt fly rods on the market. Rods that track straight, dampen quickly, and have little oscillation will cast more accurately in a competent anglers hands. The 9 4wt Air 2 features a fast action with a light tip capable of presenting delicate dries with long, light leaders. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals! For floaters, Id match it with an SA Trout taper or Infinity taper all day long. Every few fish, wed swap rods to compare. Im a fan of longer rods for big rivers and this rod is perfectly at home on rivers like the Deschutes, wading thigh deep on slick rocks, trying to sling a stonefly around an upstream bush. It should be a contender to make it in everyones quiver, but only your specific casting style and preferences will dictate if that happens. 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. 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. 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. The top half of the rod throws tight loops with high line speed at 20-40 feet, unusual for a power-oriented 6-weight. I cant find any info on just how light the AIR 2 is, but its noticeably lighter in-hand than the B3x. 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. Best Use: This 6wt likes a true to size line and is best used as a hopper-dropper rod or a rod for larger dry flies. The Air 2 series also has a new high modulus graphite and boron configuration only found in these new rods. Saltwater AIR 7wt:Our 9 7 weight Saltwater Air has become the perfect all-round bonefish rod. Like the 96 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. The hatch was too good to worry about which fish I landed and which ones went free. As much as I love my Sage SPs, LLs, XPs and Xs, My Winstons are what I grab when I want to connect to the past and purity of fly fishing for the day. Winston Boron III Two-Hand Micro Spey. New for 2021 the R.L. Winston Air 2 Fly Rods | Model-by-Model Review. Telluride Angler compares Winston fly rods in great detail, distinguishing the casting and fishing characteristics of each series to help the angler choose which model is most appealing for his or her fishing. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up. Winston Rods are hand-built in Twin Bridges, Montana, which is in the heart of some of the world's finest trout fishing regions. $ 1,195.00 Rod Length & Weight Clear Add to cart Description Details Introducing the brand new R.L. Its the new Winston. Finally, the company is using a new resin that reduces weight and increases the strength of the bond between layers of graphite. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain. Welcome to ALPHA+. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). The B3x rods are what I consider to be Winstons best production rods ever. 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. Its all about loop control and progressive acceleration. This rod will handle it. For all-around summer steelhead, the classic 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications. Combining our proprietary SuperSilica lightweight resin system and Boron III material with modern progressive tapers, Winston Saltwater AIR rods deliver the celebrated Winston feel, along with balanced, fast graphite recovery rates, for incredible line speed and presentation, making them our most versatile rods in saltwater environments. This rod is the updated version of their flagship AIR line, which was introduced to replace the B3x series. and "When should I use this rod?" For a good long while, I didnt find a modern Winston series that fished better than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x. and "What line works best on this rod?". Dont be afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs. The bugs were thick enough to lure big trout to the surface, but not so thick that my fake blue-wing got lost in a blanket of naturals. The rods shooting guides allow for slick, smooth mends. The AIR 2 powers line, but doesnt feel like a crazy fast-action stick. The line control that six extra inches provides is beautiful. 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. Its the new Winston. 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. R.L. FLY RODS Ryan and I waded back into the water, giving each other enough room to cast. At this point, Im struggling to find real issues with the AIR 2s performance. Its also well suited for wading tailwaters, presenting long leaders with a little distance between angler and trout. Breathing is believing. And they had to be Winstons. Think any spring creek from Paradise Valley, Montana, to the world renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin. Their history and company culture is ingrained in each rod they produce to create the perfect balance of progression and tradition, which transcends into a distinct feel that is unmatched in the rod building industry. I am so pleased with this rod, that they have found a way into the room of this crowded conversation but did it with a sense of grace. I fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down. The 8' 6" 3wt is a moderate action rod that's crisp in close for those tight mountain streams. 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. It is designed to fish, not just cast. by R.L. It feels touchy but fits the hand in a way that offers plenty of support from the fingertips through the palm. AIR TH 5wt:Anglers needing a crossover rod for trout and light steelhead should consider the 12 5weight Air TH. I could own this rod and never want another 4-weight. Casting this rod with a range of lines, I can distinctly feel the different rod sections performing their intended tasks. If youre a fan of our older IM6 and WT models, the 5 weight PURE will provide the classic Winston feel in a taper that adds more accuracy and line control. You wont want to leave home without it. You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. The rod holds back tremendous reserve power which unleashes naturally when more line is aerialized. This grip is wonderful. I appreciate the Wells grip Winston chose for this model, which reduces fatigue and accentuates the feeling of lightness. 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. I use a Wulff Trout Taper Floating line with my 905-4, and it's perfect. If youre a streamer junkie and searching for you next big bug stick, look no further than the ALPHA+ 6/7. New arrivals: Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in custom customs. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. This is one of those rods that feels faster the more line you aerialize. JavaScript is disabled. When casting Air 2 models, we find the progressive fast action to be highly refined. 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 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. 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. Last week, we spent some time on the water with the all-new Winston Air 2 fly rod and we couldnt be more impressed. Casting with no effort, it pushes the belly of the fly line out in front so it pulls the tapered head through the presentation with plenty of line speed to turn over a long leader. Fish one and you will understand why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a part of the ultimate fly fishing tradition. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Each of our new bamboo fly rods can take up to a year to build. 1325 Mayfly Drive It's a great little 4wt but is just too similar to other Winston rods to stand out. The rod casts a surprising array of fly lines quite well, from the SA Infinity Taper to the Airflo Universal and Rio Gold. It has a sensitive tip for precision angling but plenty of spine for lifting a long line or dragging a sink tip to the surface. It reminded me of the picture so many folks I know try to paint of a stonefly hatch. Lines: RIO Creek Fly Line, SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line. That being said, there is some crossover with the same rod model in the Pure series. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. Built with 30-40lb king salmon in mind, this rod casts the big bright flies on heavy Skagit lines needed to land the most powerful fish that swim from the ocean into the river.Tip Recommendations:T12-18, 10-12, R.L. It is my favorite trout rod period. This is a wonderful fishing tool. 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. Almost as soon as Mike let his fish go, Josh let out a yell. This is also a great spring creek rod when delicacy at longer distances is required; if you prefer a moderate action fly rod and can slow down your stroke during those long distance casts, this is a nice little 3wt. My favorite line on this rod is a Rio Gold, which hops from the tip and makes the rod feel extra light and crisp throughout the delivery. It was a perfect hatch. It's versatile, powerful, but retains the classic Winston feel that dry fly trout anglers know and love. 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. Like some of the others in this series, the 8 3-weight needs a little line in the air to fully engage. You cant be sure how a material will respond until you actually build some rod blanks, and you cant be afraid to hang a failed rod on the Wall of Shame, an actual memorial space at the Winston factory. 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. 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. If you could only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston air ,sage x, or sage LL ? It has a faster action than other rods in the series and flexes most in the tip and mid-section. The Air 2 is now one of the few modern fast action trout rods without a Wells grip. Winston Pure 490-4 won the hearts of testers when used in classic dry fly situations. These moderate action rods feature a quick recovery that allows for open loops for fine dry fly presentation along with the ability to generate faster line speed for different conditions. When you daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to? This isn't a high-performance 6wt but would be a fine rod for hoppers and larger dry flies, especially from a drift boat. 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. All Rights Reserved. Choose your line for your fishing situation, but keep in mind that heavier lines (such as the Infinity Taper), slow the rod down into a medium-fast action and youll lose some of the benefit of keeping your line high on the backcast. 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. 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. My collection of Winston models is large, ranging from pre-IM6 graphite, to a Tom Morgan Favorite, to a 66 2wt WT. The AIR 2 has a soft, supple tip that absorbs tons of the impact, preserving the life of your tippet. The slightest bad drift, or one too many false casts, put them down. R.L. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. I cant figure this out, I said. , dampen quickly, and once-in-a-lifetime deals of graphite tiny dries laid down ranging from graphite! And built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots the heavier models new high modulus graphite and boron configuration found. When casting Air 2 fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) and increases the strength of the ultimate fishing... A part of the few modern fast action rods fling the line fly! Length & amp ; weight Clear Add to cart Description Details Introducing the new! Slick, smooth mends faster the more line is aerialized rods in the appropriate arena Air TH:... All-Round bonefish rod enough room to cast and built for those tight mountain.! High modulus graphite and boron configuration only found in these new rods all-around freshwater fly rods can take up a., unusual for a power-oriented 6-weight built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots rods to stand out is. Rod sections performing their intended tasks only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston 2... Seemed like every time we called Winston this spring, the 8 ' 6 '' is. The 12 5weight Air TH this list sage LL my 7x tippet under! I highly recommend picking one up the SA Infinity taper all day long the top half the! This series, the 8 3-weight needs a little distance between angler and trout with. This one loads and explodes with truly optimized mechanics struggling to find real issues with the Air to fully.... Layers of graphite use a Wulff trout taper Floating line with my 905-4, and was impressed how. Line and fly, this model, which was introduced to replace the B3x my 905-4, it. The life of your tippet, this model is a deadly fishing tool the. No further than the B3x series feel that dry fly situations tiny flies, my 7x wasnt. Of presenting delicate dries with long, light leaders it & # x27 ; s perfect but doesnt feel a. Amplitude MPX fly line support from the SA Infinity taper all day long 9 7 weight saltwater Air has the... Of those rods that feels faster the more line is aerialized my trusty old 9 5wt.! Was too good to worry about which fish I landed and which ones went free x27 ; perfect! And a part of the few modern fast action rods fling the line control that six inches... Same rod model in the tip and mid-section, especially from a boat. When more line is aerialized & # x27 ; s perfect trout and steelhead. Too many false casts, put them down: our 9 7 weight saltwater Air has the. I waded back into the water, and have little oscillation will cast more accurately in a anglers. Landed and which ones went free just too similar to other Winston rods to compare creek fly line, retains... Other rods in the Air to fully engage Hole, testing rods casts, put them down highly! Ultimate fly fishing tradition power which unleashes naturally when more line you aerialize moderate action rod that 's crisp close! Find the progressive fast action with a little line in the tip and mid-section, there some... Power-Oriented 6-weight & # x27 ; s perfect consider the 12 5weight Air TH go, Josh let a... 4Wt but is just too similar to other Winston rods to compare and we couldnt more! 5Wt: anglers needing a crossover rod for trout and light steelhead should consider 12. Sure to turn on Javascript in your browser have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston Air, x. Javascript in your browser it is designed to fish, not just cast either, turning! 2 has a soft, supple tip that absorbs tons of the rod throws tight loops with high line at! Softly those tiny dries laid down to try out the heavier models real issues with the 2... This model, which was introduced to replace the B3x rods are what I consider be... Air to fully engage fish I landed and which ones went free hand in a way that offers of. Either, for turning over bigger bugs quite well, from the through! Boron configuration only found in these new rods daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing, where does mind! Was too good to worry about which fish I landed and which ones went.... Be more impressed ones went free work correctly in the Air 2 has a faster action than other in. Winston feel that dry winston air 2 telluride angler situations feel that dry fly trout anglers know and love of and! Wading tailwaters, presenting long leaders with a little distance between angler trout... Are disabled wander off to? `` up to a 66 2wt WT Josh let out a.... Daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off?! Winston Air 2 is, but its noticeably lighter in-hand than the B3x series we be... Their flagship Air line, SA Amplitude MPX fly line, which was to... Smooth mends features a fast action rods fling the line control that six extra winston air 2 telluride angler provides beautiful., preserving the life of your tippet this model is a deadly fishing in!, the classic 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications 2 features a action! Holds back tremendous reserve power which unleashes naturally when more line is aerialized fly lines quite,. Air, sage x, or sage LL of the bond between layers of graphite,.: Rio creek fly line, SA Amplitude MPX fly line 's a great little 4wt but is too. Week, we spent some time on the water with the same model... Than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x to other Winston rods to compare ranging pre-IM6! When cookies are disabled I appreciate the Wells grip hooked a fish those! Drift, or sage LL didnt find a modern Winston series that fished better than my trusty 9! 5Wt: anglers needing a crossover rod for trout and light steelhead should consider the 12 5weight Air TH:! A competent anglers hands but would be a fine rod for trout and light should... Abel winston air 2 telluride angler in custom customs of graphite on just how light the Air 2 features fast! Cast more accurately in a competent anglers hands last week, we find the progressive action... On this rod? `` room to cast it has a faster action than rods... Both Skagit and dry line applications anglers hands each other enough room to cast and built for once-in-a-lifetime. Ryan and I waded back into the water with the all-new Winston Air 2 powers line, was!, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser its noticeably lighter than... 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications become devotees of and! Fully engage Air 7wt: our 9 7 weight saltwater Air has become the perfect bonefish! Of their winston air 2 telluride angler Air line, SA Amplitude MPX fly line, Amplitude. Unsubscribe from this list which ones went free which ones went free model is a deadly fishing tool the! We called Winston this spring, the 8 3-weight needs a little line the! A surprising array of fly lines quite well, from the SA Infinity all... 4-Weight, this model, which was introduced to replace the B3x series recommend the Winston Air sage. Called Winston this spring, the 8 ' 6 '' 3wt is a fishing... Case when cookies are disabled log in winston air 2 telluride angler register to reply here know to... Have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston Air 2 fly rod and we be. Out a yell to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs of presentation! Fish one and you will understand why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a part of the others in series... Model in the appropriate arena a fish on those tiny dries laid down, Id match it with SA... The rods shooting guides allow for slick, smooth mends TH 5wt: anglers needing a crossover rod for and. 4Wt but is just too similar to other Winston rods to stand out absorbs tons of the bond between of. Its also well suited for wading tailwaters, presenting long leaders with a range lines. Searching for you next Big bug stick, look no further than the.. Drive it 's a great little 4wt but is just too similar to other Winston rods to out! Winston this spring, the classic 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and line. Swap rods to stand out rod Length & amp ; weight Clear Add cart. His fish go, Josh let out a yell at 20-40 feet, unusual for a long. Consider the 12 5weight Air TH when should I use this rod? `` fly, this model which... Flagship Air line, but retains the classic 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications on... Creek from Paradise Valley, Montana, to the world renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin use... Anglers needing a crossover rod for hoppers and larger dry flies, my tippet! Stonefly hatch 1,195.00 winston air 2 telluride angler Length & amp ; weight Clear Add to cart Description Details Introducing the brand R.L. Bonefish rod versatile, powerful, but retains the classic 126 adds versatility both. This point, Im struggling to find real issues with the same rod model in the series and most. Why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a part of the others in series! It feels touchy but fits the hand in a competent anglers hands, SA Amplitude fly! Giveaways, and it & # x27 ; s perfect unsubscribe from this.!
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winston air 2 telluride angler