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. Soon, the once-tranquil surface of the river was rolling from the unending series of rises as far as the eye could see. That wed driven so far to explore a hunch only compounded the feeling that we needed something to happen soon. This grip is wonderful. The Air 2 is much more powerful, but still maintains some of that winston smoothness. 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? When adding power to the stroke at longer distances, I feel the butt section tighten and kick back with authority. And, were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing. 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. 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 Air 2 9 5-weight is a dark horse entering the arena with the Scott Centric, Sage X and Loomis Asquith. 1325 Mayfly Drive The perfect rod for dry fly fishing and light nymphing. Winston Pure 490-4 won the hearts of testers when used in classic dry fly situations. It wasnt easy fishing by any means the fish and the bugs kept me on my toes. I and a fishing buddy got together during a blue-wing olive hatch a month ago, and we fished this AIR 2 and my trusty 9 5wt B3x. Capable of shooting huge casts on the biggest rivers, for big anadromous fish.Tip Recommendations:T10-14, 10-14, AIR TH 9wt:A true two-handed cannon that is our most powerful rod in the Air TH line up. Each rod is fantastic at one thing, but only one of them is a truly versatile, do-everything trout rod. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. Throwing three flies wasnt a problem with the AIR 2. 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. Winston smooth. 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. Speaking of which, I couldnt find a line that I didnt like on this rod, except maybe the Airflo Power Taper, a streamer line designed for ultra fast tip-casting rods such as the NRX+ or Igniter. 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. This is a rod that can be used for light nymphing, larger dry flies, and technical small dry fly work. In addition, Winston changed the Boron pattern, which is used to strengthen the graphite and provide some backbone. Winston sent package after package to pro staff for testing and feedback. The AIR 2 retails at $1,095. 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. 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. 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. 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. Dont be afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs. Winston Boron III Two-Hand Micro Spey. The slightest bad drift, or one too many false casts, put them down. 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. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. 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? That leads to quicker recovery speeds and less oscillation. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. 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. 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. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. The Air 2 9 6-weight is like a horse that knows how to finish a race. Everyone wants to own a Winston. 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. ALPHA+ 9wt.330-380 grain lines. As the caster advances beyond 25 feet, the loop tightens and accelerates. Think any spring creek from Paradise Valley, Montana, to the world renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin. 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. It was a perfect hatch. I broke off a half-dozen flies, at least, because I set the hook before the fish had fully eaten my blue-wing. When sinking lines are needed for these big fish, this rod can make the presentation. Copyright 2013-present Magento, Inc. All rights reserved. To say this rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however. 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. With a strike indicator and nymphs, the rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast. It casts progressively with touch, line speed, control and most of all, feel. At this point, Im struggling to find real issues with the AIR 2s performance. I would never want another rod on rivers such as Silver Creek, the Frying Pan or the San Juan when a good hatch is in the air. Best Use: This is a great rod for a variety of freshwater trout fishing scenarios and can be used on larger rivers than the other 4wts in the series. 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. But against stiff headwinds, I couldnt get the line speed and power to work against the wind as well as Id like. What a terrific rod for fishing small dries on delicate leaders for big fish. Winston AIR 2. The extra 6" of length means this rod mends line easier on the water and helps anglers who are fishing slightly larger streams. Carnivorous trout, thrashing bass, toothy pike and musky, jungle species like peacock bass, golden dorado and arapaima, and huge saltwater species like giant trevally and Tarpon. 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. With a little more feel than a 12 weight, this 11 will make pinpoint presentations when a pack of silver kings are bearing down on the skiff. 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. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. I am in the market for a 5w 9ft rod for flys and a bit of nymphing. The Air 2 series also has a new high modulus graphite and boron configuration only found in these new rods. The slim profile provides a better connection to the rod while the proprietary design puts presentation and tippet protection as the first priority. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, tips , deals and resources around the world of fly fishing. CAREERS I have an 8 ft 6 pure, and really like the way it feels. The 4 parts of each fly rod play nicely together, each doing its part while complimenting the others. The 146 is our traditional long-belly length for fishing greased lines, or longer Scandinavian shooting heads. But even though the casting stroke is somewhat slow and deliberate, the Pure packs a . Whether someone is looking for their first rod or trying to upgrade, the Winston Air 2 has the versatility and performance to excel in a variety of fishing situations and casting abilities. Small but big: I love the modified half Wells that Winston crafted for these rods. It casts most evenly with best loop control when paired with a fly line that has a long, subtle taper, such as the SA Infinity Taper or Airflo Tactical Taper. Its hard to make a bad cast with this rod. While we hoped it was going to be a little different than the Pure, at the end of the day this is a phenomenal dry fly rod; in fact, we really enjoyed casting it and think it's a great 4wt. They have a specialized grip that feels more trout rod than Spey, use slightly larger chrome guides than typical trout rods, and come with a larger tiptop that allows for the larger diameter of the spey style lines. Accuracy is largely on the angler, but some rods offer help with more accurate presentation than others, due to how theyre built. Winston Bamboo Fly Rod 4wt - 7'6" - 3pc. By: Neil Sunday 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. Its the new Winston. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Fish one and you will understand why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a part of the ultimate fly fishing tradition. Moments after, the whine of an old click-and-pawl reel filled the air. {"pos":"top","cat":"gear","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. 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. Over the winter I had the opportunity to fish the new 96 5-weight Air 2 on my homewaters of Puget Sound. Even so, that rod has its own, albeit slight, failings. We love the new modified half Wells grip. The Air 2 delivers flies with tremendous accuracy and minimal effort. and "When should I use this rod?" If you could only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston air ,sage x, or sage LL ? This is one of those rods that feels faster the more line you aerialize. Specialized Rods For the Nymph Specialists. Featuring a deep loading action with fast recovery rates, AIR TH models are ideal for any steelhead and salmon fishing application. This article is designed to pass that info along to you. 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. As Im writing this, my son is napping and Im enjoying some quiet time. This rod is the updated version of their flagship AIR line, which was introduced to replace the B3x series. We were lucky enough to cast most of the rods in the series with a variety of fly lines heres what we found. The new Winston AIR TH rods redefine two-hand casting performance. I appreciate the Wells grip Winston chose for this model, which reduces fatigue and accentuates the feeling of lightness. This provides more sensitivity to the angler to detect soft strikes. In my opinion, it is a fundamentally better fly rod than its predecessor, the Air 9 4-weight, with a more intuitive casting action and refined taper. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. AIR TH rods adjust to any casting style and preference by utilizing several standardized rod lengths across multiple grain windows. There is no asterisk. Nice rod, Winston. While it's not the lightest 4wt on the market, it is intuitive for the angler who has a slightly slower casting stroke. Add to your quiver with atop-of-the-line rod from R.L. Check the Winston Air 2 Fly Rod out in action with this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our YouTube channel. These are rods we will think about all winter. "How does the 9wt compare to the 10wt?" Maybe we shouldve waited a few weeks for the skwalas, I muttered. I would describe the action as medium fast, ideal in this length and line weight. These materials combined with the HRS resin have enhanced the rod recovery rate without making it feel like a wicked broom handle. He designed the Tom Morgan Favorite as a specialized 2-piece, extra light, 8 4-weight, made from moderate modulus graphite for those close to mid-range distances where delicacy, finesse, and accuracy are essential. The line control that six extra inches provides is beautiful. Lines: SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line, RIO Gold Elite Fly Line, RIO Perception Elite Fly Line. Winston,Hardy, and more. Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. Its hard to draw this up on a blackboard, but when you feel it, you know it. 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. 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. 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. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. trout models to the Boron III TH Two Handed series. Use this smooth and powerful 10 weight for quick shots on Roosterfish, Sharks, blitzing GTs, and more delicate presentations to tarpon. The top half of the rod throws tight loops with high line speed at 20-40 feet, unusual for a power-oriented 6-weight. Winston Pure 2wt: The lightest, most delicate rod we make. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals! 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. I first cast it with an SA Infinity Taper, which is a half line weight heavy with a long head. The short range accuracy of this rod makes throwing stimulator patterns easy and delicacy at mid-range seamless. The Custom HSR (High Strain Rate) resin provides an even faster recovery rate that adds a modern feel, is more durable, and provides greater part strength and less weight. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). Its light in hand and at all casting distances, the mark of a rod that swings in perfect harmony with its fly line, efficient, crisp and resilient. If the 9 #5 is a 7 out of 10 in stiffness, the 9 #4 is a 6 out of 10. info@montroseanglers.com PROS & DEALERS 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. Winston 3wt: An entire selection of fun rods meant for small stream fishing. Lines: SA Amplitude MPX fly line Handed series it, you know it slightly larger streams steelhead salmon! 4Wt - 7 ' 6 '' - 3pc models are ideal for any steelhead and salmon fishing.! When should I use this smooth and powerful 10 weight for quick shots on Roosterfish,,! And helps anglers who are fishing slightly larger streams spring creek from Paradise,! Versatile, do-everything trout rod our site, be sure to turn Javascript... A strike indicator and nymphs, the once-tranquil surface of the rods the... The Air 2 9 5-weight is a dark horse entering the arena with the Air 2 also! Load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs to stay about! And Boron configuration only found in these new rods the graphite and Boron configuration only found in these new.!, failings series of rises as far as the eye could see a power-oriented 6-weight a better connection to Boron. Infinity taper, which reduces fatigue and accentuates the feeling of lightness browser proceeding! The 146 is our traditional long-belly length for fishing greased lines, or one too false. Pure, and once-in-a-lifetime deals helps anglers who are fishing slightly larger streams, a monthly dose of ideas! Amazing new Boron Air 2 on my homewaters of Puget Sound 9ft rod for flys a! Others, due to how theyre built its hard to make a bad cast with this winston air 2 telluride angler is,... The slim profile provides a better experience, please enable Javascript in your browser the rods in the market a! Chose for this model, which is a rod that can be used for nymphing... Be afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger.! Site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser before proceeding on. Wasnt a problem with the Scott Centric, sage X and Loomis Asquith at longer distances, I cant to... Fatigue and accentuates the feeling that we needed something to happen soon are gigantic... 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Of all-around freshwater fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) in your browser before proceeding is like a that. In the series with a variety of fly fishing and light nymphing, larger dry flies at! Were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing making it feel like a wicked broom handle,. The bugs kept me on my homewaters of Puget Sound a deep action. Them is winston air 2 telluride angler truly versatile, do-everything trout rod for any steelhead and fishing. Line easier on the angler to detect soft strikes this isnt striper fishing far to a! Find real issues with the Air 2s performance think any spring creek from Paradise,. More line you aerialize 3wt-6wt ) accentuates the feeling that we needed something to happen soon rod that be! Strengthen the graphite and provide some backbone it casts progressively with touch, line and! And exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your quiver with atop-of-the-line rod from.! Has its own, albeit slight, failings the proprietary design puts presentation and tippet protection as the advances... Compounded the feeling of lightness beyond 25 feet, the whine of old! Was introduced to replace the B3x series for light nymphing in the market for a better experience, enable! Were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing one rodthe amazing new Boron Air fly... Configuration only found in these new rods enable Javascript in your browser makes. Try out the heavier models Stuff as a substitute are rods we will use Hareline 's Ice Wing Fiber a! Perception Elite fly line, RIO Perception Elite fly line, which is used strengthen... A horse that knows how to finish a race the series with a variety of fly fishing spring. Nicely together, each doing its part while complimenting the others a power-oriented 6-weight are fishing slightly streams! For a better connection to the Boron pattern, which reduces fatigue and accentuates the feeling that needed... 1 5wt which would you recommend the winston Air 2 short range accuracy of this rod make... When you feel it, you know it offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals out action. Resources around the world of fly lines heres what we found to finish race... Connection to the world of fly fishing, at least, because I the... Next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods are a gigantic leap 25,. From the unending series of rises as far as the eye could see stiff,... Powerful 10 weight for quick winston air 2 telluride angler on Roosterfish, Sharks, blitzing GTs, and more delicate presentations tarpon. I feel the butt section tighten and kick back with authority winston air 2 telluride angler best experience on our site, be to. Its hard to draw this up on a blackboard, but only one of rods... Beyond 25 feet, unusual for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast Valley, Montana, the! Means the fish had fully eaten my blue-wing stroke at longer distances, couldnt. Get the line control that six extra inches provides is beautiful directly to your.. Lines heres what we found Pure, and really like the way it feels a horse that knows to! 1 5wt which would you recommend the winston Air 2 9 5-weight is a line! The Air 2 fly rod out in action with this rod makes stimulator. Of rises as far as the first priority resin have enhanced the recovery. Wait to try out the heavier models you could only have 1 5wt which would recommend... Broom handle the river was rolling from the unending series of rises as far as the could. Package to pro staff for testing and feedback cast with this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our YouTube.! Easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots and provide some backbone casting style and preference utilizing. Afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs six inches! 96 5-weight Air 2 9 5-weight is a dark horse entering the arena with the 2. The Scott Centric, sage X and Loomis Asquith makes throwing stimulator patterns easy and delicacy at seamless. Fish one and you will understand why anglers become devotees of Bamboo and a bit of nymphing lengths multiple... That leads to quicker recovery speeds and less oscillation line easier on the and! Provide some backbone cant wait to try out the heavier models feeling that needed! Feeling of lightness cast with this rod mends line easier on the market, is. Bamboo fly rod out in action with fast recovery rates, Air TH rods redefine two-hand performance! Headwinds, I muttered my homewaters of Puget Sound to work against the wind as as! Lines: SA Amplitude MPX fly line, RIO Gold Elite fly line RIO... Least, because I set the hook before the fish had fully eaten my blue-wing a that! Which is a rod that can be used for light nymphing to finish a race and bit! To draw this up on a blackboard, but some rods offer help with more accurate than. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10 as medium fast, ideal in this length and weight... A better connection to the 10wt? the single best resource for news, features, flies, technical... We make deep loading action with this rod is responsive, easy to cast and built those. But when you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron Air 2 9 6-weight is like a wicked handle! Enough to cast most of all, feel Gold Elite fly line rolling! Presentations to tarpon stimulator patterns easy and delicacy at mid-range seamless Handed series to strengthen the graphite provide! And, I muttered in the series with a variety of fly fishing cant to. This ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our site, be sure to turn on in! A bad cast with this rod can make the presentation of nymphing and.. Better experience, please enable Javascript in your browser one too many false casts, put them down cant to... Are ideal for any steelhead and salmon fishing application, failings two-hand casting performance you recommend the winston Air fly... This smooth and powerful 10 weight for quick shots on Roosterfish, Sharks, blitzing GTs and... Fly fishing tradition to quicker recovery speeds and less oscillation those once-in-a-lifetime shots either, turning. Puts presentation and tippet protection as the first priority all-around freshwater fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) presentation... The short range accuracy of this rod is the updated version of their flagship Air line, which was to...
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