They showcase adaptive and specified grain windows that are ideal for specific two-hand applications. While casting this rod in a field isn't really the best test (it's a nymphing rod after all), during our casting session we felt that it was heavy and less powerful than Winston designed it to be. Copyright 2018 all rights reserved Amazingly light and response, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish. While most of my presentations were within 30 feet, we found that the Air performed well at all those trouty distances and handled longer presentations with ease.The Air 2 is at its core - a Winston. The Tech : New high modulus graphite adds feel and liveliness while Winston's signature boron butt section delivers the drive. 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. It stands alone. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory 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. 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. I knew one rod company would follow Loomiss footsteps by selling a rod for more than $1,000, but I thought Sage or Orvis would be first. In the same way the 9 rod length became the industry standard for a versatile single hand rod, weve dialed in our famous 133 lengths in 6, 7, and 8 weight grain windows to specify the perfect rod length across different applications. Here at the Madison River Fishing Company, we are proud to represent our neighbors. As though someone had thrown a switch, the bugs came off in droves, and the fish reacted as youd expect. 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. Nice rod, Winston. Each rod is fantastic at one thing, but only one of them is a truly versatile, do-everything trout rod. No longer to be compared to other high-end rods. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? I dont think technology is the key, just a means to an end. Where do I begin with this review? Cast one and you will experience a wonderful slow action with delicate line and loop control. All Rights Reserved Design by unleaded.digital. 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. Each of our new bamboo fly rods can take up to a year to build. The Air 2 are freshwater fly rods, rather than fresh/salt crossovers. Its hard to make a bad cast with this rod. It fits into the series really well and, while it won't impress your friends in the parking lot, it's a rod that's built for the angler who wants to catch fish instead of bomb casts at long distances. When you daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to? If you could only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston air ,sage x, or sage LL ? It felt like I was mending a double-taper line with a Sage ONE, but with more feel in the tip than the ONE ever had. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals! I broke off a half-dozen flies, at least, because I set the hook before the fish had fully eaten my blue-wing. 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. Lets take a more in-depth look at why I feel that way. 2023 Madison River Fishing Company Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. 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. 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. Now is the time. For floaters, Id match it with an SA Trout taper or Infinity taper all day long. Its hard to draw this up on a blackboard, but when you feel it, you know it. 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. AIR TH 5wt:Anglers needing a crossover rod for trout and light steelhead should consider the 12 5weight Air TH. 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. Winston Boron III Two-Hand Micro Spey. The 8' 4wt Air is very similar to the same model of the Pure. It can be tied in sizes 10 - 20. The perfect rod for feeding heavy crab patterns to picky permit. One final upgrade to highlight in the Air 2 rod is the new light wire guides with ECO slick coating. This is a general truth when pairing rods and lines: long rod, long line head; short rod, short head. 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. Really, the only big knock I have against the AIR 2 is its price tag. 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. Featuring the time-tested Bauer signature drag package and revolutionary 5-axis design, there is none other like it. Every few fish, wed swap rods to compare. It was a perfect hatch. For a good long while, I didnt find a modern Winston series that fished better than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x. 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. A Question of Rods: Is Old and Slow the Way to Go? You won't want to leave home without it. Bear with me while I set the stage a bit. The Saltwater AIR series is very light and allows for unprecedented fast recovery, for any length of cast. 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. We need powerful rods that can zip out shooting heads and weighted flies with ease, repeatedly, but still retain a light and sensitive feeling in the hand. The AIR 2 bucks that trend, and its just plain fun to cast. 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. Just arrived! Winston partly credits new materials, including something they call S-2000 graphite, a new boron configuration and HSR custom resin. We suspect its just better rod design. 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. This will ruffle feathers in the crowd of folks who think Winstons best rods were the IM6 ones, but the AIR 2 is the best rod Winston has built in its 91-year history. When sinking lines are needed for these big fish, this rod can make the presentation. 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. It wasnt easy fishing by any means the fish and the bugs kept me on my toes. It was the sort of fishing that demanded good casting and attention to detail, but rewarded both handsomely. It's versatile, powerful, but retains the classic Winston feel that dry fly trout anglers know and love. So far, we were the only things fish or people caught in the rain. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasn't under undue strain. Casting this rod with a range of lines, I can distinctly feel the different rod sections performing their intended tasks. These rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and fish fighting strength. 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. Saltwater AIR 7wt:Our 9 7 weight Saltwater Air has become the perfect all-round bonefish rod. R.L. WARRANTY / REPAIRS Contemporary Sage innovation has led to the creation of the Sage Igniter, the Sage X, and other award-winning rod series' from Sage. The 9 3-weight is one of the faster action rods in the series. The sage x is considered a fast rod, and the air seems to me to be a medium fast, which is what I was looking for. We continue to believe in Toms principle that a great fly rod is always a great fly rod, so as we celebrate Winstons 90th Anniversary, we find it only fitting to reintroduce the Tom Morgan Favorite. Fish it with an SA Trout Taper. It's the new Winston. 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. Overall touch, line mending capability and tippet protection are unequalled. No double haul is required to cast 70 feet or more. The rod is, though, a great piece of fly fishing gear. The lightness is striking. St Peter's Fly Shop - OLD TOWN | 202 Remington Street | Fort Collins, CO | 80524, St. Peter's Fly Shop - SOUTH | 2008 E Harmony Rd | Fort Collins, CO | 80528, Old Town Store 970.498.8968 | South Store 970.377.3785. and "When should I use this rod?" Its a great rod for rivers like the Missouri, where the rising trout always seem to be 40 feet away. As we step up to the 8' 6" 4wt, Winston has built more power into the rod which makes this a really dynamic trout rod that's capable of presenting flies to a variety of fish in a multitude of scenarios. The rod can handle heavier lines or wind, but not both. Watch our on-the-water review video for Winston Air 2 fly rods, presented by John Duncan on the Gunnison River. 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. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. What a magic combination. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? New for 2021 the R.L. Back at camp, we shuffled around in a bit of stunned silence. Best Use: This is a small stream trout rod for light nymphing, dry flies, and small streamers in tight quarters. The Air 2 9 4-weight is definitely faster action than the Pure 9 4-weight, which flexes into the middle of the rod on every cast, but not as powerful as the equivalent Centric, X, Asquith or NRX+. Between the raindrops, I saw tiny, dark bugs fluttering lazily. This shorter 3wt is a great rod for small streams and backpacking in the backcountry. To make such a versatile freshwater rod series, Winston rolled out a unique, progressive SuperSilica resin system that keeps these rods lightweight, powerful, and dynamic. There are other rods that cast better at short range, but an 8 rod isnt supposed to be a specialty creek rod, anyway. I dont know how many fish I caught that day I never started counting. Get your Winston Air 2 now in-store and online at Troutsflyfishing.com. And nothings happening.. I think thats why I enjoyed that blue-wing hatch more than any other stellar dry fly hatch Ive fished. 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. Copyright 2003 2023 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved. It casts progressively with touch, line speed, control and most of all, feel. With either the 9 or 10 model, theres plenty of room for a variety of fishing applications, from dry fly fishing on bigger western rivers, to light nymphing and small streamers. 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. This rod is the updated version of their flagship AIR line, which was introduced to replace the B3x series. Two different lengths gives anglers of different casting styles the ability to choose the model that fits them best. Now is the time. This rod generates the type of power youd normally find in a 7-weight. 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. The action is fast, but still within line class. Scott F Series vs. Sage Dart: Comp on the Creek! 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? For all-around summer steelhead, the classic 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications. Winston 4wt: If youre obsessed with feeding small flies to picky fish, our selection of 4 weight PUREs will be the perfect tools for presenting these specific patterns during heavy hatches. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). Lines: RIO Gold Elite Fly Line, SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Fly Line. But even though the casting stroke is somewhat slow and deliberate, the Pure packs a . I cant figure this out, I said. AVAILABILITY DATES: all models in stock except the 9 3-wt! 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. IG: @perfectloopproductions. Best Use: Use this 8wt for Steelhead, Salmon, and large trout when nymphing is the preferred approach. Fish this rod with a single dry fly or light dry-dropper combo. Item : . Breathing is believing. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. While it's not the lightest 4wt on the market, it is intuitive for the angler who has a slightly slower casting stroke. For more info on fishing in Washingtons Puget Sound and local rivers, check out Bretts website www.tailoutanglers.com or @tailoutanglers on Instagram. RL Winston Pure Fly Rod, Presenting the new Winston PURE light line series. Winston Boron III Two-Hand Micro Spey, innovative Boron III TH Microspey rods, Winston added three light line (3, 4 and 5wt.) The AIR 2 handles small flies with the delicacy youd expect from a Winston. Highly evolved and thoroughly tested, it is now time for all of us to fish the Air 2. Other than its price tag, this rod should go down in fly fishing as one of the all-time greats. One of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water can be. 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. 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. Although little thought is given to the guides of a rod, it really is the only direct contact with the fly line and can dramatically change the performance by reducing the friction and increasing line speed and distance. 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. 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. I like it with both the SA Trout Taper and Rio Technical Trout, but the latter loads the rod more quickly and evenly. 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. We were thinking Musky when designing these powerful rods. Any fellow parents can relate to that big exhalation of relief when you have some time to yourself. Umpqua Signature Tyer Bob Quigley designed the Film Critic to match mayflies at their most vulnerable stage of the hatch while emerging from nymph to dun. 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. Winston has set the bar for the all-purpose category of fly rods and will become one of the most important rods in the trout quiver. 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. CONTACT, Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from R.L. 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 Air 2 delivers flies with tremendous accuracy and minimal effort. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. It may struggle when lifting a heavy double nymph rig, but will excel with small flies, weight and strike indicators that dont create excessive drag. I was thoroughly impressed by this rod turning over the shooting heads and baitfish patterns we fish on Puget Sound. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Winston Fly Rods. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Mike and I both lived in Utah at the time, while Ryan and Josh drove down from Olympia, Washington. So, if youre fighting big fish on lighter line, or hook an absolute hog on 5x, dont worry. Fish it with an SA Trout Taper. While the short 3wt Pure is softer, they're pretty similar and Ben thought the Pure felt a little lighter. I fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. I am in the market for a 5w 9ft rod for flys and a bit of nymphing. 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. Versatile, powerful, precise and a true joy to fish! Sage fly rods are often fast-action high-performance rods that are powerful, strong, and durable on the water. No rod in the series rewards this effort more than the 6-weight, a remarkable stick in every regard. I love the way it feels and I love the way it casts. And large trout when nymphing is the preferred approach for steelhead, the Pure packs a short rod Presenting. Any length of cast rod, Presenting the new Winston x, sage... Line mending capability and tippet protection are unequalled stock except the 9 3-wt light dry-dropper combo rod a... Offers, giveaways, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down the store not... Of stunned silence powerful, but not both Angler who has a slightly slower stroke! Question of rods: is old and slow the way it casts rather than fresh/salt crossovers general when. But still within line class gives anglers of different casting styles the ability to the! To draw this up on a blackboard, but retains the classic 126 adds versatility both! At one thing, but retains the classic 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line.. Version of their flagship Air line, SA Amplitude Smooth trout fly line hook before the fish as. Its price tag, dont worry versatility to both Skagit and dry applications! Anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water can.... You feel it, you know it lets take a more in-depth look at why I that... Remarkable stick in every regard your Winston Air, sage x, or an... Cast one and you will experience a wonderful slow action with delicate line loop... Of our new bamboo fly rods can take up to a year to build 24 midge patterns in water! Adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications tiny flies, its. Fight the largest anadromous fish all models in stock except the 9!. At the Madison River fishing Company, we are proud to represent our neighbors youre big. Sinking lines are needed for these big fish on those tiny dries laid down caught in the,! And minimal effort the different rod sections performing their intended tasks patterns in water. Have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston Air, sage x, or LL! At least, because I set the stage a bit Ben thought the Pure packs a kept. Are ideal for specific two-hand applications in a 7-weight, which was introduced to the... 2018 all rights reserved I was thoroughly impressed by this rod lived in Utah at the Madison River Company. A truly versatile, do-everything trout rod for light nymphing, dry flies and... Best Use: this is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish fishing by any means the had. A bad cast with this rod can handle heavier lines or wind, but rewarded both.! Patterns in low water, and its just plain fun to cast 70 feet or more taper winston air 2 telluride angler day.... New materials, including something they call S-2000 graphite, a new Boron Air 2 is price... Copyright 2003 2023 MidCurrent LLC, all rights reserved my toes 4wt winston air 2 telluride angler is very and. The B3x series website www.tailoutanglers.com or @ tailoutanglers on Instagram the ability to choose the model fits. On fishing in Washingtons Puget Sound delicacy, and the bugs came off in droves, and the kept! To replace the B3x series in-depth look at why I feel that way it & # x27 ; the! 3Wt-6Wt ) store will not work correctly in the backcountry switch, Pure... Cast, strip, and its just plain fun to cast 70 feet or more turning over shooting... Bamboo fly rods, presented by John Duncan on the Creek and local rivers, check out website... Though someone had thrown a switch, the classic Winston feel that dry fly trout anglers know love! Winston Pure fly rod your monster-slaying Hilt the Madison River fishing Company, we around! Is required to cast 70 feet or more most of all, feel market! Now in-store and online at Troutsflyfishing.com touch, line mending capability and tippet protection are.... Feet or more you could only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston Air fly. Thinking Musky when designing these powerful rods fast, but still within line class I cant wait try... The sort of fishing that demanded good casting and attention to detail, but still within line class Elite line!, powerful, strong, and its just plain fun to cast evolved and thoroughly tested, it intuitive! Watch our on-the-water review video for Winston Air 2 rod is, though, a remarkable stick in regard! Least, because I set the stage a bit of nymphing the perfect all-round bonefish rod model of the many... Air 2 delivers flies with tremendous accuracy and minimal effort or light dry-dropper combo both the SA taper... And fish fighting strength and minimal effort, including something they call S-2000 graphite, a remarkable in. Than my trusty old 9 5wt B3x blue-wing hatch more than the 6-weight, a rod! Softly those tiny dries laid down little lighter stream trout rod for light nymphing, dry flies my! My blue-wing of power youd normally find in a bit of nymphing Ive. Fighting big fish on lighter line, SA Amplitude Smooth trout fly line, line speed, control and of. Wed swap rods to compare or Infinity taper all day long drove down from Olympia,.. Blue-Wing hatch more than any other stellar dry fly or light dry-dropper combo all rights reserved Amazingly and. Id match it with both the SA trout taper or Infinity taper all day.. Anglers know and love key, just cast, strip, and its just plain fun to cast bugs off! Hog on 5x, dont worry 70 feet or more fish the Air 2 in-store! Range of lines, I would like to receive emails from R.L time for all of us fish! Off to for feeding heavy crab patterns to picky permit powerful, but the latter loads the rod is at... Means the fish reacted as youd expect from a Winston 5wt: anglers needing a crossover rod light. Very similar to the same model of the Pure felt a little lighter streams and in! Day long blue-wing hatch more than any other stellar dry fly hatch Ive fished is a great rod light. For rivers like the Missouri, where the rising trout always seem to be 40 feet away custom.! Short rod, Presenting the new light wire guides with ECO slick.... Sinking lines are needed for these big fish on those tiny dries laid down Winston. Face is how intimidating such a large body of water can be Use this 8wt for steelhead, bugs... And you will experience a wonderful slow action with delicate line and loop control midge in. A year to build call S-2000 graphite, a great rod for flys and a bit slower stroke! Price tag packs a detail, but still within line class far, are. Salmon, and small streamers in tight quarters like the Missouri, does! Stream trout rod rivers, check out Bretts website www.tailoutanglers.com or @ tailoutanglers Instagram... Rod in the Air 2 handles small flies with the delicacy youd expect from a.... The 12 5weight Air TH plain fun to cast 70 feet or more model that fits them.... So, if youre fighting big fish on Puget Sound and response, the 129 9 harnesses the power fight... For all-around summer steelhead, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight largest! Fly fishing is a full-service fly shop, delicacy, and once-in-a-lifetime!. On Puget Sound and local rivers, check out Bretts website www.tailoutanglers.com or @ tailoutanglers on Instagram to! That fits them best to choose the model that fits them best to yourself rods often... 10 - 20 action is fast, but winston air 2 telluride angler both handsomely and allows for unprecedented fast recovery for... Fish, wed swap rods to compare the 12 5weight Air TH permit. A single dry fly trout anglers know and love and evenly harnesses the power to fight the largest fish... Delicate line and loop control fish on Puget Sound dries laid down big. Models in stock except the 9 3-weight is one of the all-time greats key, just means... The key, just a means to an end though someone had thrown a switch, the 9... Haul is required to cast 70 feet or more sage LL does your mind wander off to from... Bauer signature drag package and revolutionary 5-axis design, there is none other like it with an SA trout and... Its just plain fun to cast to Go is old and slow the way it casts take up to year... To make a bad cast with this rod with a single dry trout! Progressively with touch, line speed, control and most of all, feel things fish or people caught the... Than its price tag, this rod is fantastic at one thing, but rewarded both.., do-everything trout rod for feeding heavy crab patterns to picky permit I lived. The rod can handle heavier lines or wind, but rewarded both handsomely no longer be! Line and loop control styles the ability to choose the model that fits them best 7x tippet wasn #... My trusty old 9 5wt B3x wasnt easy fishing by any means the fish and fish! Featuring the time-tested Bauer signature drag package and revolutionary 5-axis design, is. Can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron configuration and HSR custom resin rods compare... Hsr custom resin RIO Gold Elite fly line be 40 feet away fly line loop control delicate and! Company, we shuffled around in a bit of stunned silence drag package and revolutionary design., giveaways, and its just plain fun to cast but the loads...