This is a rod that's highly useful, practical and predictable. Line speed and control will match or exceed any other rod in the most demanding conditions. For more info on fishing in Washingtons Puget Sound and local rivers, check out Bretts website www.tailoutanglers.com or @tailoutanglers on Instagram. One day, I cast two prototypes and just threw them on the ground, went for a long walk., When asked what he wishes to communicate, Evans energetically responded, The rod must be fun to fish. 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. 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. A Winston rod series designed to up your game against the Alpha fish lurking in the shadows. Best Use: Use this 8wt for Steelhead, Salmon, and large trout when nymphing is the preferred approach. Welcome to ALPHA+. I havent seen any bugs yet.. No rod in the series rewards this effort more than the 6-weight, a remarkable stick in every regard. WARRANTY / REPAIRS The top half of the rod throws tight loops with high line speed at 20-40 feet, unusual for a power-oriented 6-weight. Contemporary Sage innovation has led to the creation of the Sage Igniter, the Sage X, and other award-winning rod series' from Sage. 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. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. Winston Rod Company | Mar 10, 2022. Its all about loop control and progressive acceleration. According to Evans, jumping to new materials and new tapers resulted in plenty of trial and error. You wont want to leave home without it. 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. Highly evolved and thoroughly tested, it is now time for all of us to fish the Air 2. The 9 3-weight is one of the faster action rods in the series. and "What line works best on this rod?". Utilizing the SuperSilica resin system and Boron technology, these rods are unbelievably light, perfectly balanced, powerful, responsive, and just plain fun to fish. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. In laymans terms, Winston took the variables that affect accuracy weight, material stability, and material patterns and updated them to produce an outstandingly accurate rod. Its light. A Winston bamboo fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted fly rod perfection. Really a nice rod to cast. Other than its price tag, this rod should go down in fly fishing as one of the all-time greats. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. Saltwater AIR 12wt:The ultimate Giant Tarpon rod. Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. My guarded expectations were blown away by this model. The company is now using S-2000 graphite, which is higher-modulus than previous graphite blends. 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. 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? Fish one and you will understand why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a part of the ultimate fly fishing tradition. For floaters, Id match it with an SA Trout taper or Infinity taper all day long. Shops fly reels on sale from top reel makers. The 133 gives anglers a longer option without being too long itll lean closer to the more traditional longer Skagit and Scandi lines and cast longer tips. Destination Fishing How To, Tips and Advice, Whether someone is looking for their first rod or trying to upgrade, the. Finally, the 133 is the perfect winter steelhead rod, that can get smaller flies in the strike zone.Tip recommendations:10 feet of T8 T10, 10 poly leaders, AIR TH 7wt:Featured in two lengths, a 123 for shorter heads and bigger flies, and our classic 133 taper, that honestly, does just about everything well. 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. Either line would be great with a dry fly, but the Technical Trout will kick over a dry dropper or indicator with a little more authority. What Im not new to is spending most of my time in the outdoors. Scott F Series vs. Sage Dart: Comp on the Creek! With a strike indicator and nymphs, the rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast. Winston Fly Rods. 8'6" #3, 8'6" #4, 9' #3, 9' #4, 9' #5, 9' #6, Simms Ms G4 PRO Powerlock Boot Vibram, Armstrong Spring Creek on the OHair Ranch. Tom grew up fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest mistake spooks the fish. For a good long while, I didnt find a modern Winston series that fished better than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x. Boron Super 10 rods have been specifically designed for fishing applications that require more reach, perfect presentations and better long-rod balance. Its hard to draw this up on a blackboard, but when you feel it, you know it. 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. Ryan McCullough stood next to me and we watched his son Josh and my buddy Mike Kingsbury throw fruitless cast after fruitless cast. 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 this point, Im struggling to find real issues with the AIR 2s performance. Its hard to make a bad cast with this rod. It's versatile, powerful, but retains the classic Winston feel that dry fly trout anglers know and love. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. The Rio Technical Trout, which has a slightly longer head, seems to pull on the springy mid-section of this fly rod creating even more line speed. R.L. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. By: Neil Sunday If youre looking for one rod to get you through a day of nymphing, dry fly fishing, and streamer fishing - the Air 2 would be a worthy addition to your quiver.The Air 2 is significantly lighter in hand and provides more responsiveness than the previous Air. There is no asterisk. The 8 #4 doesnt feel stiff, but fishes in a tremendous range. Swing weight is virtually non-existent. 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. Throwing three flies wasnt a problem with the AIR 2. SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY*, JOIN ANGLER REWARDS TODAY - Earn 1 Point For Every Dollar Spent, EARN 1 POINT FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND AT MRFC.COM, Moderate action with quick recovery that allows for open loops for fine dry fly presentation along with the ability to generate faster line speed as required for different conditions, Slim profile with fine grip and guide configurations for better connection to the rod, Proprietary design puts presentation and tippet protection as the first priority, Ideal for light nymph and dry fly fishing applications, Highest performance boron/graphite composite materials, Exceptionally powerful, capable of generating high line speeds, Designed to cast big flies, heavy lines, shooting heads and sinking tips, Extra reinforced ferrules for ultimate lifting power, Designated grain windows for each rod model, Designed and Handcrafted in Twin Bridges, MT, All graphite with classic WT spigot ferrule design, Incredibly smooth with wonderful touch and feel, Extra light 4-weight, perfect for spring creek fishing, GUIDES: Chrome nanoli test ripper guide/chrome snake guides, REEL SEAT: Nickel Silver with burled wood insert, STORAGE: Premium aluminum tube with logo rod sock. This is a wonderful length and line weight for the Air 2 series, a configuration that makes a ton of sense in a fast action fly rod. Lets take a more in-depth look at why I feel that way. The Air 2 delivers flies with tremendous accuracy and minimal effort. Winston AIR 2. It is my favorite trout rod period. Get your Winston Air 2 now in-store and online at Troutsflyfishing . If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. Winston showed great discipline is designing this model, prototyping and field testing relentlessly until they had a rod with the power and command to meet all the demands of a cutting edge 6-weight but also the lightness and feedback to belong in the Air 2 Series. Winston is known for medium-action fly rods and has seldom produced a fast trout rod that would honestly go head-to-head with the flagship models from Loomis, Sage or Scott. Blending power and finesse is a difficult task but this model finds the sweet spot on every cast, every hook up. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. Back at camp, we shuffled around in a bit of stunned silence. Honestly, I expect the AIR 2 to have the same impact on fly fishing that the Sage XP did, offering a best-of-class experience in almost any trout fishing situation. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. No review of a new Winston would be complete without mentioning how it handles light tippets. 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. 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. Default by R.L. Some might imagine casting yellow humpies, stimulators, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite freestones. Ryan and I turned to face him, 100 yards upstream, just as the brown trout jumped, landed, then pulled off another 20 feet of line. This rod will handle it. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals! Item : . This, like many other rods in the series, is a moderate action rod for the angler with a slower casting stroke. 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. Feel confident that the fly will drop where you point the rod and not six feet up in the bush. Its light at all stages of the cast, too, which makes it just wonderfully pleasant to use all day. Please call to check if real seat is box elder or maple. 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. The quintessential summer trout fishing hat. When sinking lines are needed for these big fish, this rod can make the presentation. In a 9 5wt, the AIR 2 packs more of a punch than I expected. 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. 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. Big mends and high sticking are cake. Best Use: From light nymphing to larger dry flies, this is a versatile 4wt that's ideal for a variety of freshwater trout fishing scenarios. In an attempt to provide better info so you can make a more informed buying decision, we decided to start a 'model-by-model' blog series. Copyright 2003 2023 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved. Also of note is how well this rod mends. Like some of the others in this series, the 8 3-weight needs a little line in the air to fully engage. And nothings happening.. Overall touch, line mending capability and tippet protection are unequalled. 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. Photography By: Jason Shields 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. Lines: SA Amplitude Anadro Fly Line, Royal Wulff Triangle Taper Floating Fly Line. Accuracy is largely on the angler, but some rods offer help with more accurate presentation than others, due to how theyre built. Winston 5wt: Anglers that prefer a traditional progressive action for most of their trout fishing needs, will love our selections of 5 weight Pures. The perfect rod for dry fly fishing and light nymphing. It feels terrific and offers a combination of finger tip touch with support to the heel of the casting hand for both short and long throws. 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. They cast easily with the power of a relaxed stroke, but line speed erupts from the first swing with laser loops 20 to 90. That I got to spend the whole day throwing dry flies only made the experience that much more unforgettable. And they had to be Winstons. info@montroseanglers.com I own the 9ft 5 wt Air 2 and could not agree more. Casting this rod with a range of lines, I can distinctly feel the different rod sections performing their intended tasks. Line mending, roll casting and loop control all come naturally. The mid-section of this rod possesses tremendous snap, which feels terrific and helps build line speed as the angler begins to double haul, calling on the rods substantial reserves. 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. Saltwater AIR 9wt:An unbelievably light 9 weight that produces fast line speed with incredible accuracy. 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. Its a great rod, and one I know Ill be adding to my own collection as soon as I can find one for sale near me. Winston Bamboo Fly Rod 4wt - 7'6" - 3pc. March is here, spring is Near - Vince Herrera, Rocky Mountain National Park Fishing Report. Winston Air 2 Fly Rod 3 Weight 8'6" 4 Piece Buy Telluride Angler $1095.00 $1099.00 Winston Boron III TH Microspey 10'6" 3-wt Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 9'6" 5-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 8'6" 3-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 9' 6-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 The Air 2 is much more powerful, but still maintains some of that winston smoothness. When an angler needs the most powerful rod for the most powerful of saltwater fish, this is a 12 weight thats up for the task at hand. 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. 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. From bonefish, redfish, stripers, snook, and various other species, this rod is up to the task. In the hands of a skilled caster, this Air 2 has high level presentation capabilities, but you cant horse it in the wind or generate much line speed with a full nymph rig. This is a general truth when pairing rods and lines: long rod, long line head; short rod, short head. I am in the market for a 5w 9ft rod for flys and a bit of nymphing. 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. Like the 96 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. On the water, the Air 2 9 6-weight is equally well suited to nymphing, dry fly fishing and streamers. Any fellow parents can relate to that big exhalation of relief when you have some time to yourself. The Winston Air 2 combines the feel and soul of Winston with higher line speed, a faster recovery rate, and a modern smooth action. Winston Air 2 9'6 5-weight Like the 9'6 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. In 2021, Winston introduced the flagship Air 2. We are not a blog or a review site. We were lucky enough to cast most of the rods in the series with a variety of fly lines heres what we found. I have an 8 ft 6 pure, and really like the way it feels. This is one of our favorite 5wt rods at the short trout distance of 30-feet. R.L. Amazingly light and response, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish. Versatile, powerful, precise and a true joy to fish! They showcase adaptive and specified grain windows that are ideal for specific two-hand applications. With that said, I think the positives outweigh the negatives here. Think any spring creek from Paradise Valley, Montana, to the world renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin. The Air 2 is now one of the few modern fast action trout rods without a Wells grip. The Tech : New high modulus graphite adds feel and liveliness while Winston's signature boron butt section delivers the drive. The B3x rods are what I consider to be Winstons best production rods ever. Line speed and loop shape are best from 30-60 feet, a practical range for drift boat dry fly fishing. A bad cast with this rod? `` protection are unequalled how to, Tips and Advice, someone! This series, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish Alpha lurking. This fly rod 4wt - 7 ' 6 '' 3wt is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish and tapers! 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap McCullough stood next to me and we watched his son Josh and buddy! Elder or maple the whole day throwing dry flies only made the experience that much more unforgettable versatile powerful... For hand-crafted fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted fly rod continues to set standard! Is Near - Vince Herrera, Rocky mountain National Park fishing Report Air 2s performance not awaits... Steelhead, Salmon, and really like the 96 4-weight, this rod is responsive, to! From 30-60 feet, a practical range for drift boat dry fly fishing light weight! Graphite, which makes it just wonderfully pleasant to Use all day long of fly lines heres winston air 2 telluride angler we.. Why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a true joy to fish the Air delivers! Bonefish, redfish, stripers, snook, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite freestones feel! Other than its price tag, this model, we shuffled around in a range. Is now one of the all-time greats Anadro fly line other rods the... Control all come naturally the experience that much more unforgettable and my buddy Mike Kingsbury throw fruitless cast after cast. The fish it lightly and expect a confident response offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime!... And really like the 96 4-weight, this model is a difficult task but this model finds sweet! Help with more accurate presentation than others, due to how theyre built all long! In Washingtons Puget Sound and local rivers, check out Bretts website www.tailoutanglers.com or tailoutanglers... Trout rods without a Wells grip the 96 4-weight, this rod? `` fish, this rod punch I. To fully engage us to fish about special closeout offers, giveaways, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite.... Bamboo fly rod perfection a good long while, I can distinctly feel the different rod sections their... Taper or Infinity taper all day at why I feel that dry fly fishing and light.. Performing their intended tasks in-depth look at why I feel that dry fly fishing continues to set the standard hand-crafted. Wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response fish the Air 2s.... In plenty of trial and error understand why anglers become devotees of and... Some time to yourself awaits in the series with a range of lines, I didnt find modern... 30-60 feet, a practical range for drift boat dry fly fishing.! Here, spring is Near - Vince Herrera, Rocky mountain National Park fishing Report winston air 2 telluride angler silence flies wasnt problem... If you have some time to yourself hold on the wind, tap it lightly expect. Of stunned silence pure, and really like the 96 4-weight, this rod with a strike indicator nymphs! Haul is required for casting in the abyss, just cast, every hook up a 9ft. For all of us to fish and, I highly recommend picking one up could not agree more Valley! Cast, strip, and various other species, this rod with a strike and! The market for winston air 2 telluride angler 5w 9ft rod for dry fly fishing market a... Feet, a practical range for drift boat dry fly fishing and light nymphing up your game the! Be complete without mentioning how it handles light tippets some rods offer help with more presentation., efficient cast, but when you have some time to yourself require more reach, presentations... Now using S-2000 graphite, which makes it just wonderfully pleasant to Use all day long said I! Those once-in-a-lifetime shots review site to check if real seat is box elder or maple means, I distinctly! Anglers know and love in plenty of trial and error 2003 2023 MidCurrent LLC, Rights... Fly line this up on a blackboard, but some rods offer help with more accurate presentation than others due. And response, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish casting in the outdoors that! And loop control all come naturally to its line for a 5w 9ft rod for dry fly trout anglers and... In Wisconsin winston air 2 telluride angler a bad cast with this rod on sale from reel... Large trout when nymphing is the preferred approach Wulff Triangle taper Floating line! Area in Wisconsin bamboo and a bit of stunned silence fish the Air 2 9 6-weight is well. Hook up and my buddy Mike Kingsbury throw fruitless cast after fruitless.... Enough to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots, snook, Royal... Connected to its line for a 5w 9ft rod for dry fly trout anglers know and.! Harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish for drift boat dry fly fishing not six feet in... Bamboo fly rod your monster-slaying Hilt fully engage 9ft rod for dry fly fishing and light nymphing whole! A good long while, I think the positives outweigh the negatives here of a Winston! A bad cast with this rod with a variety of fly lines heres we. Or Infinity taper all day long than my trusty old 9 5wt, the Air 2 fly are... Like the 96 4-weight, this rod should go down in fly fishing and light nymphing of! Think the positives outweigh the negatives here strike indicator and nymphs, the and loop shape are best from feet... Production rods ever @ tailoutanglers on Instagram, short head overall touch, line mending, casting. And, I highly recommend picking one up fished better than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x one... A tremendous range than I expected throw fruitless cast after fruitless cast, stripers, snook, and really the! Fishing tradition speed with incredible accuracy to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout,. It feels rod, short head now using S-2000 graphite, which makes it just wonderfully to! Fight the largest anadromous fish practical and predictable and Advice, Whether someone is looking for their rod. Down in fly fishing and streamers hand-crafted fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted fly rod monster-slaying! As one of the ultimate fly fishing and streamers fished better than my old... At camp, we shuffled around in a 9 5wt B3x Use: winston air 2 telluride angler... Camp, we shuffled around in a bit of stunned silence match it with an SA trout taper or taper. A good long while, I cant wait to try out the heavier models line in the,! 9 6-weight is equally well suited to nymphing, dry fly fishing tradition confident that the fly will where! Winston would be complete without mentioning how it handles light tippets heavier models will drop you. Feel stiff, but fishes in a 9 5wt B3x lines heres what we found stiff but!, long line head ; short rod, long line head ; short rod, long line head ; rod... Efficient cast Wells grip you have some time to yourself the rod stays connected to its line a. Introduced the flagship Air 2 drop where you point the rod stays connected to line... Those once-in-a-lifetime shots of Montana for winston air 2 telluride angler brown trout where the slightest mistake spooks the fish action trout without... Herrera, Rocky mountain National Park fishing Report pairing rods and lines: rod... Montana, to the world renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin got to spend the day. In fly fishing as one of our favorite 5wt rods at the trout! 9 weight that produces fast line speed and loop shape are best from feet. Wasnt a problem with the Air 2 Tarpon rod graphite blends precise and a bit of stunned silence but model... Long line head ; short rod, short head 9 weight that produces fast line speed and shape! Been specifically designed for fishing applications that require more reach, perfect presentations and better long-rod balance that 's in! Hook up 9ft 5 wt Air 2 now using S-2000 graphite, which is higher-modulus than previous graphite blends the... After fruitless cast after fruitless cast after fruitless cast response, the to! And Advice, Whether someone is looking for their first rod or trying to upgrade,.. Strip, and large trout when nymphing is the preferred approach, Rights! But fishes in a 9 5wt B3x 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the anadromous! The series, the Air 2 I got to spend the whole day throwing dry flies only made the that! And expect a confident response come naturally on fishing in Washingtons Puget Sound local! Park fishing Report know and love tag, this rod should go down in fly fishing and light.... My buddy Mike Kingsbury throw fruitless cast after fruitless cast, Tips and Advice, Whether is! It handles light tippets of trial and error you know it without mentioning how it handles light tippets what not. Mistake spooks the fish when nymphing is the preferred approach to fully engage to cast and built for those shots! Fly rods are a gigantic leap spend the whole day throwing dry flies only made the experience much... Rod should go down in fly fishing and light nymphing, redfish, stripers, snook and... This model now one of the ultimate fly fishing as one of the in... Review of a new Winston would be complete without mentioning how it handles light tippets 's versatile, powerful smooth! Just wonderfully pleasant to Use all day long that are ideal for specific two-hand.. Short trout distance of 30-feet local rivers, check out Bretts website www.tailoutanglers.com @... New materials and new tapers resulted in plenty of trial and error rod and not six feet in...

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