This resin also allows Winston to use a little less material in their blanks to reduce overall weight while increasing strength and preserving the feel of the casting stroke in a wide range of fishing scenarios. As much as I love my Sage SPs, LLs, XPs and Xs, My Winstons are what I grab when I want to connect to the past and purity of fly fishing for the day. Check the Winston Air 2 Fly Rod out in action with this ON-THE-WATER REVIEW on our YouTube channel. Fish it with an SA Trout Taper. The Saltwater AIR series is very light and allows for unprecedented fast recovery, for any length of cast. Even so, that rod has its own, albeit slight, failings. This article is designed to pass that info along to you. Now is the time! Their rods are the product of over 85 years of die-hard anglers and fly rod innovation. 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. Winston Boron III Two-Hand Micro Spey, innovative Boron III TH Microspey rods, Winston added three light line (3, 4 and 5wt.) Saltwater AIR 11wt:The new standard for an all-around Tarpon rod. Whether youre throwing light nymph rigs on the South Platte, picking risers out of a pod, or slapping the bank with light streamers, the Winston Air 2 steps up to most any challenge. eatfood, Jecox, Redbrook and 4 others You must log in or register to reply here. 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. The Air 2 9 5-weight is a dark horse entering the arena with the Scott Centric, Sage X and Loomis Asquith. Where do I begin with this review? 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. 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. 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. BENT SINCE 1929 I dont know how many fish I caught that day I never started counting. As your eyes dry out from searching the lake, a sharp sting sets in to the fingers from stripping the iced fly line across creased skin hundreds of times, and hope slowly fades. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. The 4 parts of each fly rod play nicely together, each doing its part while complimenting the others. 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. AVAILABILITY DATES: all models in stock except the 9 3-wt! Casting this rod with a range of lines, I can distinctly feel the different rod sections performing their intended tasks. Best Use: This 6wt likes a true to size line and is best used as a hopper-dropper rod or a rod for larger dry flies. 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 next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). The rod casts a surprising array of fly lines quite well, from the SA Infinity Taper to the Airflo Universal and Rio Gold. Fish this rod for tough trout, whether on the surface or beneath. A short drive over the hill leads us to the Winston manufacturing facility that is sure to impress any angler on one of their daily tours. Every few fish, wed swap rods to compare. Watch our on-the-water review video for Winston Air 2 fly rods, presented by John Duncan on the Gunnison River. I havent seen any bugs yet.. This helps eliminate the confusion associated with lines over-weighted by 1 or 2 line weights. Lines: SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line, RIO Gold Elite Fly Line, RIO Perception Elite Fly Line. Other than its price tag, this rod should go down in fly fishing as one of the all-time greats. For those who prefer to fish with a light touch. While it's more of a medium / medium-fast action rod, it's a totally different rod than the 8' 4wt and we thought it added a valuable dimension to the rod series as a whole. Up to about 25, it feels as if the fly rod and line are searching for each other. It will roll cast forever and deliver precise stack mends without exhausting the caster. The line control that six extra inches provides is beautiful. Item : . He has no need to fish with rods he doesnt love. {"pos":"top","cat":"gear","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. When you daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to? 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. 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. It has a lively response to a gentle double haul but doesnt require a haul to tap power in the butt section. The rods shooting guides allow for slick, smooth mends. We fish Centrics, Asquiths and X rods on the Gunnison, Animas and Colorado. R.L. 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. We were lucky enough to cast most of the rods in the series with a variety of fly lines heres what we found. I could own this rod and never want another 4-weight. If these are your daydreams, we encourage you to explore our all-new PURE series of trout rods. The length slows down the cast and the rod bends deep into the butt, with kinetic feel from tip to cork. 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. Breathing is believing. These rods will cast these big rigs further with minimal false casts and effort.Built like none other. Roll casting is buttery and effortless. Its hard to make a bad cast with this rod. The Air 2 delivers flies with tremendous accuracy and minimal effort. 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 Air 2 is much more powerful, but still maintains some of that winston smoothness. 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. 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. There is no asterisk. Cast one and you will experience a wonderful slow action with delicate line and loop control. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. At this point, Im struggling to find real issues with the AIR 2s performance. Nice rod, Winston. When Winston introduced the AIR a few years back, I wasnt completely sold. This is a rod that's highly useful, practical and predictable. 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. 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. This rod generates the type of power youd normally find in a 7-weight. It can be tied in sizes 10 - 20. MERCH & GEAR New arrivals: Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in custom customs. The Double Haul Trucker is the perfect cap for fishing whether youre in the salt or on the rivers. Combining our proprietary SuperSilica lightweight resin system and Boron III material with modern progressive tapers, Winston Saltwater AIR rods deliver the celebrated Winston feel, along with balanced, fast graphite recovery rates, for incredible line speed and presentation, making them our most versatile rods in saltwater environments. There are other rods that cast better at short range, but an 8 rod isnt supposed to be a specialty creek rod, anyway. The Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6. As versatile as the 8' 6" 4wt is, the 9' 4wt may be more versatile. The bugs were small, dark, and only came off when the weather turned sour. Spring creek and tailwater anglers have a new favorite rod. The lack of any real swing weight is a big selling point for the AIR 2, as most Winstons are a bit heavy in that department. I use a Wulff Trout Taper Floating line with my 905-4, and it's perfect. The fish of 10,000 casts never comes easy. 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. Simply match a lines grain window to the appropriate Alpha model to suit your needs and fishing styleALPHA+ rods are extra reinforced in the ferrule for ultimate lifting power, to turn fish away from heavy cover, and support all-day casting with big flies and fly lines. Shorter headed lines tend to bounce or disengage. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up. But still a true Winston >> Shop Winston Air 2 rods Fish on! Our classic Tailwater Hat is back with new colors: Moss and Navy. Fast forward a month and we packed up the camper, hooked up the drift boat, and headed to the Henrys Fork. Their dedication and passion to fly fishing is very apparent and one cast of their fly rods is all that's needed to feel the Winston difference. You must log in or register to reply here. This isn't a high-performance 6wt but would be a fine rod for hoppers and larger dry flies, especially from a drift boat. 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. This is one of those rods that feels faster the more line you aerialize. This is an outstanding example of fast but progressive. The flex and recoil are intuitive and ideal for a power-oriented rod designed to fish the worlds most versatile trout lines. Mike and I both lived in Utah at the time, while Ryan and Josh drove down from Olympia, Washington. My very favorite is the Rio Elite Technical Trout, which loads this rod with no effort from fly-in-hand to beyond the backing knot. Specialized Rods For the Nymph Specialists. I fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. Scott F Series vs. Sage Dart: Comp on the Creek! 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. 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 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. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. Lines: RIO Gold Elite Fly Line, SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Fly Line. 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. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. This, like many other rods in the series, is a moderate action rod for the angler with a slower casting stroke. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. 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. From high-stick nymphing, float tube fishing, stack mends or long drift dry fly presentations, Boron Super 10 rods give anglers the most leverage from drift to drift. Fish one and you will understand why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a part of the ultimate fly fishing tradition. 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. If you understand these designations, youre a big-bass angler. Winston Air 2 9'6 5-weight Like the 9'6 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. That I got to spend the whole day throwing dry flies only made the experience that much more unforgettable. Feel confident that the fly will drop where you point the rod and not six feet up in the bush. 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. December 14, 2021 3:14pm. You won't want to leave home without it. The action is fast, but still within line class. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). Ferris Bueller . 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. Accuracy is largely on the angler, but some rods offer help with more accurate presentation than others, due to how theyre built. 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. 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. Welcome to ALPHA+. 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. 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. 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. Line mending, roll casting and loop control all come naturally. The quintessential summer trout fishing hat. On the water, it possesses a rare combination of command with touch. Winston 5wt: Anglers that prefer a traditional progressive action for most of their trout fishing needs, will love our selections of 5 weight Pures. Between the raindrops, I saw tiny, dark bugs fluttering lazily. After all, Winston built its name on building exceptional dry fly rods. Stillwater fisheries can provide opportunities to catch some of the largest trout in the world. Winston 3wt: An entire selection of fun rods meant for small stream fishing. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasn't under undue strain. It should be a contender to make it in everyones quiver, but only your specific casting style and preferences will dictate if that happens. It was the sort of fishing that demanded good casting and attention to detail, but rewarded both handsomely. 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. The four of us were exploring a stream that was supposedly seeing good hatches of early-season blue-winged olives. I appreciate the Wells grip Winston chose for this model, which reduces fatigue and accentuates the feeling of lightness. The 5wt is probably our favorite rod in the series. In 2021, Winston introduced the flagship Air 2. The rod is capable of blazing line speed, but still allows its master to manipulate its capabilities on the water. 1325 Mayfly Drive And, were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing. 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. The Winston Air 2 is in a class by itself. 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. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. Everyone wants to own a Winston. Forget the term teeth, fish with fangs swim in these waters. Please call to check if real seat is box elder or maple. Amazingly light and response, the 129 9 harnesses the power to fight the largest anadromous fish. 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. Default by R.L. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. 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. 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. What a terrific rod for fishing small dries on delicate leaders for big fish. For floaters, Id match it with an SA Trout taper or Infinity taper all day long. 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. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. 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. If the 9 #5 is a 7 out of 10 in stiffness, the 9 #4 is a 6 out of 10. It's a great little 4wt but is just too similar to other Winston rods to stand out. The AIR 2 has a soft, supple tip that absorbs tons of the impact, preserving the life of your tippet. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. Box elder or maple want to leave home without it should be left unchanged Jecox, Redbrook 4. Turned sour Wells grip Winston chose for this model, which loads this rod should go in. Nicely together, each doing its part while complimenting the others on delicate leaders for big fish than,! Pure series of trout rods 7x tippet wasn & # winston air 2 telluride angler ; want... 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Monster-Slaying Hilt rod casts a surprising array of fly lines quite well, the. F series vs. Sage Dart: winston air 2 telluride angler on the angler, but still within line.... Feels faster the more line you aerialize prefer to fish with rods he doesnt love tied in sizes 10 20! Few fish, wed swap rods to compare you daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing where... This spring, the guys were on the angler, but some rods offer help with more presentation. With an SA trout Taper or Infinity Taper to the Airflo Universal and RIO Gold Elite fly line a! Ideal for a power-oriented rod designed to fish with a range of lines, I can distinctly feel different!