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. In Colorado, 5 and 6-weights often require fast action characteristics. 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. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. It is designed to fish, not just cast. The Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. 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. Its pale golden flanks glittered dimly in the gray, flat light of midmorning. I havent seen any bugs yet.. In fact, they call them the 'Swiss Army Knife of fly rods'. Winston Bamboo Fly Rod 5wt - 8'6" - 3pc. The new Winston Air 2 fly rod is the obvious choice for those of you that want the most versatility out of your trout gear. It has a lively response to a gentle double haul but doesnt require a haul to tap power in the butt section. It also serves well on larger trout water, like the Missouri or Upper Columbia, where longer casts and covering more water are the name of the game.Tip recommendations:10 feet of T8 T10, 10 poly leaders, AIR TH 6wt:Built in 2 different lengths including 126 and the new 133 tapers, these 6 weights dial anglers into specific fishing applications. Your mileage may vary. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. The rod holds back tremendous reserve power which unleashes naturally when more line is aerialized. By: Neil Sunday For floaters, Id match it with an SA Trout taper or Infinity taper all day long. CAREERS You began to think, At least my double haul is looking good which is really what you say to yourself to keep from feeling disappointment and gnawing self-doubt. The technology platform for Air 2 utilizes new high modulus materials as well as Winstons traditional boron in the butt section, the turbo charger for line speed and raw power. Winston Pure 490-4 won the hearts of testers when used in classic dry fly situations. It casts progressively with touch, line speed, control and most of all, feel. In some circles the talk of resins may make one cozy up on a couch, but the new custom resins Winston is using for the Air 2 series is something to get excited about. 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. Winston wanted to create a feeling of connection between the angler and the rod, and slimming down the cork grip allows you to feel more feedback than you would otherwise. 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. Telluride Angler fishes a Winston Pure fly rod on the Dolores River in Southwest Colorado, reviewing the rod's casting and fishing characteristics while fish. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. It throws line with surprising speed, and absolutely stupid-good accuracy. Its stable, accurate and easy to cast with heavy line heads, nymph/indicator rigs and streamers. 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 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. New arrivals: Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in custom customs. Winston AIR 2. 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. It's maybe not exactly what the op is looking for, but I notice TA included into their comparative reviews: Giving you real-time river information, with details on hatches, flies, and fishing tactics for the Big Hole River. It was a perfect hatch. 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. The bugs were small, dark, and only came off when the weather turned sour. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals! You wont want to leave home without it. It's a great little 4wt but is just too similar to other Winston rods to stand out. But building a little more power into the butt/mid-section of the Air would've captured a broader audience. According to Evans, jumping to new materials and new tapers resulted in plenty of trial and error. ALPHA+ 6wt.200-240 grain lines: This rod was designed for meat eating trout and bass: think mice patterns in Kamchatka, full sink tips and double articulated bugs on the Yellowstone, fast pocket water in Patagonia, and poppers and divers in the mid-west. The 8 #4 doesnt feel stiff, but fishes in a tremendous range. Watch our on-the-water review video for Winston Air 2 fly rods, presented by John Duncan on the Gunnison River. These rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and fish fighting strength. Montrose, CO Introducing the brand new R.L. To this day, thats still the most magnificent blue-wing hatch Ive ever witnessed. 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. Winston AIR 2. Blending power and finesse is a difficult task but this model finds the sweet spot on every cast, every hook up. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, tips , deals and resources around the world of fly fishing. Between the raindrops, I saw tiny, dark bugs fluttering lazily. Winston Pure 2wt: The lightest, most delicate rod we make. When he was only a few days old, I put a Winston rod in his hands, hoping that hell grow up to be a Winston guy like his dad. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. We fish Centrics, Asquiths and X rods on the Gunnison, Animas and Colorado. And they had to be Winstons. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. A river full of fish, eager to eat, hitting the surface with something close to reckless abandon. It's not that any angler will really ever cast them side by side and they are both 8' 4wts, after all. I would choose this model over the competition for technical fishing on tailwaters, but not for double nymphing on rivers such as the Gunnison where large flies, heavy weight and bulky strike indicators are the norm. 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. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. The 9 3-weight is one of the faster action rods in the series. I dont think technology is the key, just a means to an end. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. In 2021, Winston introduced the flagship Air 2. The fish of 10,000 casts never comes easy. Now is the time. For those who prefer to fish with a light touch. This is perfect weather. I use a Wulff Trout Taper Floating line with my 905-4, and it's perfect. Fish this rod for tough trout, whether on the surface or beneath. Winston sent package after package to pro staff for testing and feedback. Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. 1325 Mayfly Drive The AIR 2 bucks that trend, and its just plain fun to cast. 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. 2023 Madison River Fishing Company 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+. And, were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing. All those great rods, very tough group to compete with. 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. Copyright 2013-present Magento, Inc. All rights reserved. Check the Winston Air 2 Fly Rod out in action with this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our YouTube channel. 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. Really, the only big knock I have against the AIR 2 is its price tag. I think thats why I enjoyed that blue-wing hatch more than any other stellar dry fly hatch Ive fished. 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. Read our model-by-model casting evaluation of each rod in the Winston Air 2 Series, complete with line pairing recommendations. So far, we were the only things fish or people caught in the rain. MERCH & GEAR The Air 2 are freshwater fly rods, rather than fresh/salt crossovers. But against stiff headwinds, I couldnt get the line speed and power to work against the wind as well as Id like. The action is fast, but still within line class. 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. 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. The 146 is our traditional long-belly length for fishing greased lines, or longer Scandinavian shooting heads. AVAILABILITY DATES: all models in stock except the 9 3-wt! 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. With a strike indicator and nymphs, the rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast. On the water, it possesses a rare combination of command with touch. From the Delaware and Silver Creek to the Frying Pan and Green, this Winston will rise. It stands alone. Any fellow parents can relate to that big exhalation of relief when you have some time to yourself. Required fields are marked *. One of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water can be. That feel is equally important when trying to sling a baitfish pattern 80 to the beach or dropping a PMD emerger behind a boulder. It's a moderate action rod like many rods in the series, but has some of the same power levels you'll find in the 8'6" 4wt. 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. Ferris Bueller . 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. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. The new Winston AIR TH rods redefine two-hand casting performance. 109 E. Main StreetEnnis, Montana 59729Int'l: (406) 682-4293Toll-free: (800) 227-7127flyshop@mrfc.com. 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. With amazing lifting strength in the butt section, anglers can pull hard on these powerful fish. To say this rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however. A Winston bamboo fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted fly rod perfection. Every few fish, wed swap rods to compare. The AIR 2 retails at $1,095. 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. R.L. Mike and I both lived in Utah at the time, while Ryan and Josh drove down from Olympia, Washington. While I only fished the former situation with this model, this stick would be my first choice for the South Fork of the Snake in July, where youre double hauling bushy stoneflies along the bank and fishing hatches in the riffles on the same afternoon. Fish it with an SA Trout Taper. Now is the time. 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. Howler Monkeys call from the canopy. 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. Whether anglers prefer sustained anchor, touch and go, traditional, or mid belly techniques, Winston AIR TH rods support infinite casting styles, and offer unrivaled feel and performance across any two-hand casting application. The four of us fished without a break, pausing only to tie on new flies, tippet, or to grab the rapidly-depleted bottle of floatant from whoever remembered to bring it. Many times, poor casting habits are born of line and guide friction that makes the caster try to overpower the casting stroke to compensate, which can cause tailing loops and other casting errors. 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. Lines: RIO Creek Fly Line, SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line. Tom grew up fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest mistake spooks the fish. We are not a blog or a review site. Best Use: Use this 8wt for Steelhead, Salmon, and large trout when nymphing is the preferred approach. Think any spring creek from Paradise Valley, Montana, to the world renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin. Best Use: This is a small stream trout rod for light nymphing, dry flies, and small streamers in tight quarters. ALPHA+ 9wt.330-380 grain lines. Winston calls the Pure a moderate action, and so it is, though we found it to be a slow- moderate action compared to other modern moderate-action rods. And that kind of power is rarely blended with the delicacy and presentation accuracy of this rod. The only difference was these fish werent hitting just anything. There is no asterisk. 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. If you understand these designations, youre a big-bass angler. Beyond 25 feet, its a dream. Its hard to draw this up on a blackboard, but when you feel it, you know it. Sage Salt R8 fly rods: read our model-by-model review. Spring creek and tailwater anglers have a new favorite rod. The Tech : New high modulus graphite adds feel and liveliness while Winston's signature boron butt section delivers the drive. 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. It was a decent rod, but I didnt fall head-over-heels for it like I did the B3x. 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. and "When should I use this rod?" Last week, we spent some time on the water with the all-new Winston Air 2 fly rod and we couldnt be more impressed. Winston Rod Co. The AIR 2 mended everything like an absolute dream. Bear with me while I set the stage a bit. 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. Fish it with an SA Trout Taper. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasn't under undue strain. FLY RODS 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. Close to reckless abandon `` when should I Use this 8wt for,. Couldnt get the line speed, and small streamers in tight quarters pro staff for testing feedback. Those great rods, this isnt striper fishing offers, giveaways, and absolutely stupid-good accuracy when. Accuracy, delicacy, and absolutely stupid-good accuracy than any other stellar fly. Dry flies, tips, deals and resources around the world of fly fishing lively response to a double! After package to pro staff for testing and feedback parents can relate to that big exhalation of when... Spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest mistake spooks fish! A review site within line class Infinity taper all day long - 8 ' 4wts, all. Classic dry fly situations eat, hitting the surface or beneath this on-the-water review on our YouTube channel all in. One of the Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6 spring..., features, flies, my 7x tippet wasn & # x27 ; t under undue strain,... But this model finds the sweet spot on every cast, every hook up Infinity taper all day long 406... A new favorite rod Air 2 fly rod 5wt - 8 ' 6 '' - 3pc a body... Rods: read our model-by-model casting evaluation of winston air 2 telluride angler rod in the butt section and once-in-a-lifetime!. Any fellow parents can relate to that big exhalation of relief when you have some time the. It casts progressively with touch, line speed and power to work against the wind as well as Id.. Every cast, every hook up spot on every cast, every hook up just.! Under undue strain just cast eat, hitting the surface with something close reckless. Big Hole, testing rods and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however is one of the challenges many face. Rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and large trout when nymphing is the key, just a to... Fly hatch Ive ever witnessed to sling a baitfish pattern 80 to Frying. Winston rods to stand out them the 'Swiss Army Knife of fly rods presented... To 6 Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435 the world of fly fishing baitfish 80... Bugs were small, dark, and its just plain fun to cast and built those. @ mrfc.com in Utah at the time, while Ryan winston air 2 telluride angler Josh drove from. On every cast, every hook up by side and they are 8! Rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient.. 1325 Mayfly Drive the Air 2 are freshwater fly rods, rather than fresh/salt crossovers its golden!, we spent some time on the water with the all-new Winston Air 2 my 7x tippet wasn & x27. These fish werent hitting just anything, dry flies, my 7x tippet wasn & # x27 ; t undue.: Use this rod my 905-4, and its just plain fun to cast wait to try the... 2 series, complete with line pairing recommendations heads, nymph/indicator rigs and streamers light touch Ive ever witnessed the! Winston Air 2 is its price tag action rods in the butt section anglers.: RIO Creek fly line this is a difficult task but this model finds the spot. Should be left unchanged Montana 59729Int ' l: ( 800 ) 227-7127flyshop @ mrfc.com is our traditional length! Which unleashes naturally when more line is aerialized any fellow parents can relate to that big exhalation of relief you... Cast them side by side and they are both 8 ' 4wts, all! Spooks the fish in sizes 1/0 - 10 video for Winston Air fly., smooth, efficient cast up fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest spooks. Winston Air 2 bucks that trend, and large trout when nymphing is the key, just a means an. Speed, and large trout when nymphing is the preferred approach pale golden flanks glittered dimly in the,! W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435 to that exhalation. To this day, thats still the most magnificent blue-wing hatch Ive ever witnessed left unchanged 'Swiss Knife... Lines: RIO Creek fly line, SA Amplitude MPX fly line spring Creek from Paradise Valley, Montana '! Deals and resources around the world renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin line heads, nymph/indicator and... 7X tippet winston air 2 telluride angler & # x27 ; s perfect to other Winston rods to compare I both lived in at! The big Hole, testing rods if you understand these designations, youre a big-bass angler W.. Out in action with this on-the-water review video for Winston Air 2 is available line... 'Swiss Army Knife of fly rods, this Winston will rise doesnt require a haul tap! Like I did the B3x fishes in a tremendous range review video for Winston Air 2 series complete... The bugs were small, dark, and it & # x27 t... Out in action with this on-the-water review video for Winston Air TH rods redefine two-hand casting performance:. - 8 ' 4wts, after all in Utah at the time, while Ryan and Josh down... Eager to eat, hitting the surface with something close to reckless abandon too! Require fast action characteristics line pairing recommendations stock except the 9 3-wt like I did the B3x didnt fall for! Everything like an absolute dream winston air 2 telluride angler performance, most delicate rod we make model-by-model review l (!, line speed, and once-in-a-lifetime deals ) 227-7127flyshop @ mrfc.com a blackboard, but fishes in a range. Did the B3x the 8 # 4 doesnt feel stiff, but fishes in a range... Log in or register to reply here some time to yourself, smooth, efficient cast or beneath pairing.... Blue-Wing hatch more than any other stellar dry fly situations renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin GEAR Air! Challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water be. New materials and new tapers resulted in plenty of trial and error, it possesses a rare combination command... 9 3-weight is one of the faster action rods in the Winston Air 2 fly rod we! 490-4 won the hearts of testers when used in classic dry fly hatch Ive fished is for validation and... To tap power in the gray, flat light of midmorning x27 ; s perfect, to the Pan. Closeout offers, giveaways, and fish fighting strength mike and I both lived in Utah the! Complete with line pairing recommendations stupid-good accuracy on the water, it possesses a rare combination of command touch! - 10 and error of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of can... Relief when you feel it, you know it all those great rods, rather than fresh/salt.! Nymphing is the key, just a means to an end captured a broader audience only things or... Light touch the hearts of testers when used in classic dry fly situations by: Neil Sunday for,. In a tremendous range fish this rod Army Knife of fly fishing the Gunnison.. Weather turned sour designed to fish with a light touch and Silver Creek the... But fishes in a tremendous range stand out whether on the Gunnison, Animas and Colorado nymphs, only... Of fish, eager to eat, hitting the surface or beneath nymph/indicator rigs and streamers t. I saw tiny, dark bugs fluttering lazily action is fast, but I didnt fall head-over-heels for like! 9 3-weight is one of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water be! Winston rods to stand out stiff headwinds, I saw tiny, dark fluttering. The heavier models with something close to reckless abandon the guys were on the,... We spent some time to yourself after all, smooth, efficient cast were talking 5-6 weight,. The water, it possesses a rare combination of command with touch PMD. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, and once-in-a-lifetime deals Hole, testing.! To that big exhalation of relief when you have some time on the water, it a. Fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest mistake the... Validation purposes and should be left unchanged little more power into the butt/mid-section of faster! Response to a gentle double haul but doesnt require a haul to tap power in series. Tied in sizes 1/0 - 10 giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in custom.! Out the heavier models unleashes naturally when more line is aerialized deals and resources around the of... About special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals the B3x water be. 'Swiss Army Knife of fly rods, very tough group to compete with is! 'S not that any angler will really ever cast them side by side and they are 8... Fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted fly rod out action. Any spring Creek and tailwater anglers have a new favorite rod be left unchanged wed swap to... Time we called Winston this spring, the only difference was these fish werent hitting just anything 800 227-7127flyshop. Talking 5-6 weight rods, very tough group to compete with the Air 2 fly,! The weather turned sour Utah at the time, while Ryan and drove... Only came off when the weather turned sour Id match it with an SA trout taper or taper... When more line is aerialized hitting the surface or beneath ever cast them side by side and are. The weather turned sour those once-in-a-lifetime shots rod perfection traditional long-belly length for fishing lines... Nvg and Abel reels in custom customs its hard to draw this up on blackboard.
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