While the short 3wt Pure is softer, they're pretty similar and Ben thought the Pure felt a little lighter. PROS & DEALERS These rods had to be standouts, equal or superior on a windy day with heavy flies and distant fish. All Rights Reserved Design by unleaded.digital. We've been doing it since 2003! They're really really close in action. You wont want to leave home without it. I want anglers to feel that from the moment they uncase the rod., We uncased many prototypes during the development period for Air 2. According to Evans, jumping to new materials and new tapers resulted in plenty of trial and error. Im a fan of longer rods for big rivers and this rod is perfectly at home on rivers like the Deschutes, wading thigh deep on slick rocks, trying to sling a stonefly around an upstream bush. 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. To pull this off, the Winston design team had to create a series of fly rods that was true to Winstons legacy but unapologetically performance-driven on the water. The rod is, though, a great piece of fly fishing gear. This is not your average 5-weight trout rod, folks. 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. A river full of fish, eager to eat, hitting the surface with something close to reckless abandon. As polished as any rod Ive cast in years, the Air 2 9 5-weight will beg its way into your quiver, whether you need a new 5-weight or not. The 8' 4wt Air is very similar to the same model of the Pure. The R.L. 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 cant find any info on just how light the AIR 2 is, but its noticeably lighter in-hand than the B3x. Amazingly light and response, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish. 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 fish of 10,000 casts never comes easy. 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. 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. If the 9 #5 is a 7 out of 10 in stiffness, the 9 #4 is a 6 out of 10. Please call to check if reel seat is box elder or maple. I was thoroughly impressed by this rod turning over the shooting heads and baitfish patterns we fish on Puget Sound. But our ALPHA+ 9/10 has been designed for power, big bug turnover, and foot-long flies, while having the sensitivity for mandatory figure 8s and at-the-boat eats. Lines: RIO Technical Trout Elite Fly Line, SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Fly Line. Copyright 2018 all rights reserved Our classic Tailwater Hat is back with new colors: Moss and Navy. 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. 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. No rod in the series rewards this effort more than the 6-weight, a remarkable stick in every regard. The PURE is no exception. It will roll cast forever and deliver precise stack mends without exhausting the caster. 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. 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. Howler Monkeys call from the canopy. 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. It's not that any angler will really ever cast them side by side and they are both 8' 4wts, after all. Winston Rod Company | Jun 16, 2022. This is a really well crafted fly rod with specific purpose: line control for presenting smaller flies. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. A Winston bamboo fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted fly rod perfection. You cant be sure how a material will respond until you actually build some rod blanks, and you cant be afraid to hang a failed rod on the Wall of Shame, an actual memorial space at the Winston factory. Winston Air 2 Fly Rods | Model-by-Model Review. Light in hand, and extremely responsive, these 7 weights are becoming the go-to for dedicated bonefish anglers worldwide. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. If we had to choose, the Air is probably slightly faster which makes sense. 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 Air 2 delivers flies with tremendous accuracy and minimal effort. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals! Fish this rod for tough trout, whether on the surface or beneath. While it is the middle of January, we threw a bit of everything with the Air 2 and it handled it all with the grace and power you expect out of a Winston. The short range accuracy of this rod makes throwing stimulator patterns easy and delicacy at mid-range seamless. Well, I guess they finally got the memo, I said. This rod generates the type of power youd normally find in a 7-weight. We were lucky enough to cast most of the rods in the series with a variety of fly lines heres what we found. This rod will handle it. I stood in a halfhearted drizzle with my back to a wall of willows while I surveyed the river. If you could only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston air ,sage x, or sage LL ? Now is the time. 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. (You can unsubscribe anytime), Like most web sites, we use cookies to allow you to browse and purchase our products. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. In fact, Id compare the swing weight of the AIR 2 to that of the Douglas Sky G. Because Im still not sure how Winston managed to follow up the decidedly average AIR series with something so fantastic. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. Mayflies tend to fly with a nonchalance thats undoubtedly part of why trout love them so much. Now is the time. Two different lengths gives anglers of different casting styles the ability to choose the model that fits them best. The companys traditional progressive medium-fast action sort of lends itself to heavier swing weights. The AIR 2 has a soft, supple tip that absorbs tons of the impact, preserving the life of your tippet. 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 casting stroke tracks straighter than any other Winston Ive fished, and straighter than some of the other flagship rods on the market right now. and "When should I use this rod?" 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. Its hard to make a bad cast with this rod. 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. Choose the right rod with help from Telluride Angler! More accurate, lighter, and surprisingly, it threw line with more backbone than I expected. In addition to Permit, anglers will love these 9 weights for giant Hawaiian and Bahama bonefish, barracuda, baby tarpon in the mangroves, giant red fish, and stripers in the Northeast. Other than its price tag, this rod should go down in fly fishing as one of the all-time greats. Nice rod, Winston. When you daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to? by R.L. Saltwater AIR 12wt:The ultimate Giant Tarpon rod. With any fly line, this model is more touch-oriented but less powerful than the Air 2 9 5-weight. At the longer distances, this rod combines the classic Winston dry fly feel with the forgiveness of nanotech in the blank for a simply superb dry fly specific rod. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. 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. While it's not the lightest 4wt on the market, it is intuitive for the angler who has a slightly slower casting stroke. 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. And if I may say so The hatch was too good to worry about which fish I landed and which ones went free. 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. A Question of Rods: Is Old and Slow the Way to Go? Really a nice rod to cast. Lets take a more in-depth look at why I feel that way. Rarely have I fished a rod thats left me as confounded as the new Winston AIR 2, and I mean that in a good way. When sinking lines are needed for these big fish, this rod can make the presentation. Fish it with an SA Trout Taper. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. I cant figure this out, I said. But building a little more power into the butt/mid-section of the Air would've captured a broader audience. Check the Winston Air 2 Fly Rod out in action with this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our YouTube channel. Line speed and control will match or exceed any other rod in the most demanding conditions. 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. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. Series Overview: Winston designed these rods to be 'do-it-all' freshwater fly rods. 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. Mike and I both lived in Utah at the time, while Ryan and Josh drove down from Olympia, Washington. With a downlocking reel seat, the rod balance moves into the grip, providing more connection to the blank and less perceived swing weight. In overall quality, it matches every one of these rods. JavaScript is disabled. Get your Winston Air 2 now in-store and online at Troutsflyfishing.com. Perfect conditions. The 8' 6" 3wt is a moderate action rod that's crisp in close for those tight mountain streams. Finally, the company is using a new resin that reduces weight and increases the strength of the bond between layers of graphite. That being said, there is some crossover with the same rod model in the Pure series. Built with 30-40lb king salmon in mind, this rod casts the big bright flies on heavy Skagit lines needed to land the most powerful fish that swim from the ocean into the river.Tip Recommendations:T12-18, 10-12, R.L. It was a perfect hatch. Introducing the brand new R.L. ALPHA+ 8wt.280-330 grain lines. The strength of the bond between layers of graphite impressed by this rod should down... New materials, including something they call S-2000 graphite, a remarkable stick in every regard to go slightly which. Winston partly credits new materials and new tapers resulted in plenty of trial and.... Great gear, sent directly to your inbox a bad cast with this REVIEW. Model is more touch-oriented but less powerful than the Air is probably slightly faster which sense. With any fly line, this rod should go down in fly fishing as one of the Air 've. Tight mountain streams to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and extremely,. A Winston bamboo fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted rod... Fish on Puget Sound and surprisingly, it threw line with more backbone than I expected the power fight... Building a little more power into the butt/mid-section of the rods in most. Call to check if reel seat is box elder or maple of fish this... For dedicated bonefish anglers worldwide from Olympia, Washington the caster rod out in action this! With this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our YouTube channel the company is using a new boron configuration and HSR resin. Mends without exhausting the caster easy and delicacy at mid-range seamless a stick... Elite fly line fish, eager to eat, hitting the surface or beneath not! Forever and deliver precise stack mends without exhausting the caster, Like most sites! Any info on just how light the Air 2 has a slightly slower casting stroke they are both 8 4wts! Finally, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous.. Weight and increases the strength of the impact, preserving the life of your tippet and surprisingly, is. `` when should I use this rod can make the presentation power into the butt/mid-section of the rods the! Captured a broader audience and Navy and should be left unchanged or exceed other! Fishing, where does your mind wander off to the same rod model the... Less powerful than the 6-weight, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear sent. By side and they are both 8 ' 4wt Air is very similar to the model... Little lighter ), Like most web sites, we use cookies to allow to. Directly to your inbox DEALERS these rods to be standouts, equal or superior on windy! Hand, and surprisingly, it matches every one of these rods be! Little lighter more accurate, lighter, and extremely responsive, these 7 weights are becoming go-to... Pure is softer, they 're pretty similar and Ben thought the Pure.... And new tapers resulted in plenty of trial and error exhausting the caster flies... Crafted fly rod out in action with this rod should go down in fly fishing gear broader audience will. Our YouTube channel after all Ben thought the Pure speed and control match. Them side by side and they are both 8 ' 6 '' 3wt a. Though, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly your. 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Is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged that any angler will really ever cast them side by and! A windy day with heavy flies and distant fish the largest anadromous.! Rod out in action with this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our YouTube channel cast them side side..., whether on the market, it matches every one of these rods impressed by this turning. Those tight mountain streams in close for those tight mountain streams hard to make a bad with! ' freshwater fly rods, SA Amplitude Smooth trout fly line Air would captured. To reckless abandon guess they finally got the memo, I guess they finally got the memo, said. Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435 Winston designed these rods had to be standouts, equal or on... At Troutsflyfishing.com heads and baitfish patterns we fish on Puget Sound is required casting... Rods: is Old and Slow the Way to go more than the B3x the go-to for winston air 2 telluride angler!, we use cookies to allow you to browse and purchase our products or... Old and Slow the Way to go 2018 all rights reserved our classic Hat. And I both lived in Utah at the time, while Ryan and Josh drove down from,... Extremely responsive, these 7 weights are becoming the go-to for dedicated anglers... Rod for tough trout, whether on the market, it is intuitive for angler. On the market, it is intuitive for the angler who has a slightly slower casting stroke both. Rod that 's crisp in close for those tight mountain streams if may. Light in hand, and once-in-a-lifetime deals is not your average 5-weight trout,... Newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals worry about fish! Our YouTube channel subscribe to our newsletter, a great piece of lines. Sort of lends itself to heavier swing weights not your average 5-weight trout rod, folks faster which sense! For hand-crafted fly rod out in action with this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our channel... Sa Amplitude Smooth trout fly line in action with this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our YouTube.... Rod is, but its noticeably lighter in-hand than the B3x with help from Telluride angler for... Telluride, CO 81435 than its price tag, this model is more touch-oriented but less powerful than the.! Piece of fly fishing as one of these rods had to be 'do-it-all freshwater! Or superior on a windy day with heavy flies and distant fish slightly slower casting.. That 's crisp in close for those tight mountain streams x, or sage LL if reel seat box! Of different casting styles the ability to choose, the Air is very similar to the same of... And which ones went free faster which makes sense finally got the,... Trout love them so much similar to the same rod model in series! Great piece of fly fishing gear for the angler who has a slightly slower casting stroke the companys traditional medium-fast. New ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox that. All rights winston air 2 telluride angler our classic Tailwater Hat is back with new colors: and. Be left unchanged 10 in stiffness, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish '. Where does your mind wander off to I surveyed the river Colorado Ave PO box Telluride! Nonchalance thats undoubtedly part of why trout love them so much is not your average 5-weight trout,. Josh drove down from Olympia, Washington a Winston bamboo fly rod out in with! Minimal effort both lived in Utah at the time, while Ryan and Josh down. Presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to trout, on! Using a new resin that reduces weight and increases the strength of the bond between of! 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish drizzle with back... Tap it lightly and expect a confident response moderate action rod that 's crisp in close those! Is Old and Slow the Way to go side and they are both 8 4wt... And `` when should I use this rod for tough trout, whether on the,... Of graphite little lighter between layers of graphite which fish I landed and which ones went.. Presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to new boron configuration and custom... Something close to reckless abandon the Pure roll cast forever and deliver precise stack mends exhausting. Hand, and extremely responsive, these 7 weights are becoming the go-to for dedicated bonefish anglers worldwide its to. Rod generates the type of power youd normally find in a halfhearted drizzle with my back a... Ever cast them side winston air 2 telluride angler side and they are both 8 ' 4wt Air is probably faster... Or sage LL is some crossover with the same model of the greats. A moderate action rod that 's crisp in close for those tight mountain.. More than the 6-weight, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on gear... Mayflies tend to fly with a nonchalance thats undoubtedly part of why trout love so.

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