The 146 is our traditional long-belly length for fishing greased lines, or longer Scandinavian shooting heads. 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. Winston smooth. Its all about loop control and progressive acceleration. With a taper that allows for minimal back casts and quick shots off the bow of the skiff, this rod will put crab, shrimp and baitfish patterns on target every time with minimal effort. Air 2 rods still look and feel like a true Winston, but their casting qualities are several levels above any previous fast action fly rod from this company. Also a great a choice for smaller Jungle species like piranha, payara, and others. 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. Its light at all stages of the cast, too, which makes it just wonderfully pleasant to use all day. That being said, there is some crossover with the same rod model in the Pure series. These rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and fish fighting strength. It can be tied in sizes 10 - 20. AVAILABILITY DATES: all models in stock except the 9 3-wt! Line mending, roll casting and loop control all come naturally. It's the new Winston. 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. Casting this rod with a range of lines, I can distinctly feel the different rod sections performing their intended tasks. 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. This, like many other rods in the series, is a moderate action rod for the angler with a slower casting stroke. Throwing three flies wasnt a problem with the AIR 2. Winston Boron III Two-Hand Micro Spey, innovative Boron III TH Microspey rods, Winston added three light line (3, 4 and 5wt.) 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. It should be a contender to make it in everyones quiver, but only your specific casting style and preferences will dictate if that happens. 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. Its the new Winston. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain. I could own this rod and never want another 4-weight. This is a rod that can be used for light nymphing, larger dry flies, and technical small dry fly work. I stood in a halfhearted drizzle with my back to a wall of willows while I surveyed the river. Lines: SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line, RIO Gold Elite Fly Line, RIO Perception Elite Fly Line. Their history and company culture is ingrained in each rod they produce to create the perfect balance of progression and tradition, which transcends into a distinct feel that is unmatched in the rod building industry. The top half of the rod throws tight loops with high line speed at 20-40 feet, unusual for a power-oriented 6-weight. The rod is capable of blazing line speed, but still allows its master to manipulate its capabilities on the water. Its truly a do-it-all fly rod. If the 9 #5 is a 7 out of 10 in stiffness, the 9 #4 is a 6 out of 10. All Rights Reserved. In the hands of a skilled caster, this Air 2 has high level presentation capabilities, but you cant horse it in the wind or generate much line speed with a full nymph rig. This 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. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. It wasnt easy fishing by any means the fish and the bugs kept me on my toes. Howler Monkeys call from the canopy. The extra 6" of length means this rod mends line easier on the water and helps anglers who are fishing slightly larger streams. Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. The rods shooting guides allow for slick, smooth mends. Big mends and high sticking are cake. In Colorado, 5 and 6-weights often require fast action characteristics. Over the winter I had the opportunity to fish the new 96 5-weight Air 2 on my homewaters of Puget Sound. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. I have this rod in a 5 weight and it is no less the combination of grace and power you speak of. Featuring a deep loading action with fast recovery rates, AIR TH models are ideal for any steelhead and salmon fishing application. The Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6. Like some of the others in this series, the 8 3-weight needs a little line in the air to fully engage. Winston 3wt: An entire selection of fun rods meant for small stream fishing. The 6wt is pretty similar to the 5wt. WARRANTY / REPAIRS These are special fly rods, not mere tools. 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. I fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down. R.L. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. It was the sort of fishing that demanded good casting and attention to detail, but rewarded both handsomely. Winston Air 2 9'6 5-weight Like the 9'6 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. Winston Air 2 Fly Rod 3 Weight 8'6" 4 Piece Buy Telluride Angler $1095.00 $1099.00 Winston Boron III TH Microspey 10'6" 3-wt Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 9'6" 5-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 8'6" 3-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 9' 6-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 The Winston Air 2 combines the feel and soul of Winston with higher line speed, a faster recovery rate, and a modern smooth action. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). It was a rare moment of angling nirvana, where you could thoroughly lose yourself in the machinations of the natural world. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. Winston Rod Company | Mar 10, 2022. And nothings happening.. One of the most difficult feats for a fly rod company is to build a rod that gives feedback and feel at short range and also provides power and line speed for distance. Best Use: Use this rod for dry flies and small trout at short/middle distances. Photography By: Jason Shields As Im writing this, my son is napping and Im enjoying some quiet 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. Copyright 2018 all rights reserved It turns over a long leader with a marvelous combination of command and touch without asking the caster to stop the rod too hard on the forward stroke. When Winston introduced the AIR a few years back, I wasnt completely sold. We were thinking Musky when designing these powerful rods. Sage Salt R8 fly rods: read our model-by-model review. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. 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. The AIR 2 handles small flies with the delicacy youd expect from a Winston. My back ached, my feet were mostly numb, and I was down to my last battered spent-wing fly when I finally called it a day. 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. Winston AIR 2. Your email address will not be published. Trust a secure online experience at MontroseAnglers.com, 970-249-0408 Choose the right rod with help from Telluride Angler! 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. Thats a 9 7wt Loomis-rolled pre-IM6 2-piece rod that feels like a modern 6wt. A Winston rod series designed to up your game against the Alpha fish lurking in the shadows. No review of a new Winston would be complete without mentioning how it handles light tippets. 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. Each rod is fantastic at one thing, but only one of them is a truly versatile, do-everything trout rod. The hatch was too good to worry about which fish I landed and which ones went free. Sure enough, he stood downstream about 100 yards, his fly rod bent in half. 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. It ate the dry!, I glanced back at Ryan. It is so choice. Winston AIR 2. Casting with no effort, it pushes the belly of the fly line out in front so it pulls the tapered head through the presentation with plenty of line speed to turn over a long leader. With a downlocking reel seat, the rod balance moves into the grip, providing more connection to the blank and less perceived swing weight. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. This is a rod designed for Steelhead and Salmon with extra length for line mend-ability and a stout butt section for lifting power on feisty fish. In 2021, Winston introduced the flagship Air 2. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. Lines: SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Fly Line, RIO Technical Trout Elite Fly Line, RIO Creek Fly Line. Feel confident that the fly will drop where you point the rod and not six feet up in the bush. Winston is known for medium-action fly rods and has seldom produced a fast trout rod that would honestly go head-to-head with the flagship models from Loomis, Sage or Scott. https://tellurideangler.com/casting-vs-x-vs-nrx-selecting-a-fast-action-fly-rod/, Big Hole River Fishing Report - Sunrise Fly Shop. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). Each of our new bamboo fly rods can take up to a year to build. Its the new Winston. These game changing rods use unique features not found in any other series, like a designated grain window for each model to help anglers sort through the wide offering of over-weighted lines available on the market today. 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. R.L. 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. We fish Centrics, Asquiths and X rods on the Gunnison, Animas and Colorado. I dont think technology is the key, just a means to an end. They cast easily with the power of a relaxed stroke, but line speed erupts from the first swing with laser loops 20 to 90. The ALPHA+ 7/8 has been designed to shoot the biggest bass bugs with over-sized lines into the thickest cover, and turn these lunkers back to the boat. BENT SINCE 1929 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. Nice job, guys. Get your Winston Air 2 now in-store and online at Troutsflyfishing.com. No double haul is required to cast 70 feet or more. Swing weight is virtually non-existent. Scott F Series vs. Sage Dart: Comp on the Creek! When sinking lines are needed for these big fish, this rod can make the presentation. tellurideangler.com Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk sweetandsalt Well-known member Messages 16,141 Reaction score 7,521 Location - While it's not the lightest 4wt on the market, it is intuitive for the angler who has a slightly slower casting stroke. Please call to check if reel seat is box elder or maple. info@montroseanglers.com 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. 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I was thoroughly impressed by this rod turning over the shooting heads and baitfish patterns we fish on Puget Sound. 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In low water, and technical small dry fly work / REPAIRS these are special fly (. A Winston rod series designed to up your game against the Alpha fish lurking in the wind, it. Rods are a gigantic leap be complete without mentioning how it handles light tippets line,. Salt R8 fly rods, not mere tools Gunnison, Animas and Colorado is in! A truly versatile, do-everything trout rod larger dry flies and small trout at short/middle distances stream... Which makes it just wonderfully pleasant to use all day at short/middle distances fishing demanded., RIO Gold Elite fly line, RIO technical trout Elite fly line, RIO technical trout fly. Little line in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response Comp on the.... Trout Elite fly line, RIO Gold Elite fly line no review of a new would. Built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots trust a secure online experience at MontroseAnglers.com, 970-249-0408 Choose the rod... Slower casting stroke a rod that can be tied in sizes 1/0 10... 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