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. Your email address will not be published. The Winston Air 2 is in a class by itself. Lines: SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Fly Line, RIO Technical Trout Elite Fly Line, RIO Creek Fly Line. It reminded me of the picture so many folks I know try to paint of a stonefly hatch. 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. Big mends and high sticking are cake. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals! Fish this rod with a single dry fly or light dry-dropper combo. Some might imagine casting yellow humpies, stimulators, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite freestones. ALPHA+ 9wt.330-380 grain lines. This rod is the perfect summer steelhead rod with dry lines, lighter tips, and poly leaders. 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. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. No double haul is required to cast 70 feet or more. Especially for the anglers with a slower casting stroke, this rod is one of the best in the series. Its impossible to say what the best rod is out there, but Winstons Air 2 series makes a persuasive argument for top billing. This article is designed to pass that info along to you. 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. There is no asterisk. I first cast it with an SA Infinity Taper, which is a half line weight heavy with a long head. The 5wt is probably our favorite rod in the series. JavaScript is disabled. 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. 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. ALPHA+7wt.240-280 grain lines: You might call them bucketmouths, keggers, and donkeys. Saltwater AIR 11wt:The new standard for an all-around Tarpon rod. 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. 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. Winston Air 2 Fly Rods | Model-by-Model Review. These rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and fish fighting strength. And, were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing. 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. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchases, so if this blog post helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, please support us by buying your gear from us. For floaters, Id match it with an SA Trout taper or Infinity taper all day long. (You can unsubscribe anytime), Like most web sites, we use cookies to allow you to browse and purchase our products. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain. 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. 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. Winston Tom Morgan Favorite Fly Rod 4WT 8' 2PC. The AIR 2 handles small flies with the delicacy youd expect from a Winston. The R.L. It's the new Winston. Winston Boron III Two-Hand Micro Spey, innovative Boron III TH Microspey rods, Winston added three light line (3, 4 and 5wt.) When you daydream of delicate presentation trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to? Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. Winston Bamboo Fly Rod 5wt - 8'6" - 3pc. Winston AIR 2. 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. The extra 6" of length means this rod mends line easier on the water and helps anglers who are fishing slightly larger streams. Also a great a choice for smaller Jungle species like piranha, payara, and others. The Rio Technical Trout strikes a reasonable compromise, but I like the rod best with long headed lines. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? Sure enough, he stood downstream about 100 yards, his fly rod bent in half. Every angler will be impressed with the Air 2 96 6-weight. The new Air 2 is perfectly designed to deliver both ends of the spectrum with the ability to do it all. That weekend, we did his first float and the rest is history. Other than its price tag, this rod should go down in fly fishing as one of the all-time greats. I would describe the action as medium fast, ideal in this length and line weight. This is perfect weather. With a strike indicator and nymphs, the rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast. A Winston rod series designed to up your game against the Alpha fish lurking in the shadows. 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. The rod is, though, a great piece of fly fishing gear. Its a great rod, and one I know Ill be adding to my own collection as soon as I can find one for sale near me. It ate the dry!, I glanced back at Ryan. Copyright 2023 Telluride Angler 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435 1 (970) 728-3895 All rights reserved.Privacy PolicyWebsite by WEBDOGS. This is one of those rods that feels faster the more line you aerialize. The hatch finally petered out around 4 p.m., almost five hours after it began. Having this kind of recovery rate while maintaining flexibility accommodates for different speeds of a casting stroke, which adds to the incredible versatility of the WinstonAir 2 series. Introducing the brand new R.L. by R.L. 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. 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 Boron III Two-Hand Micro Spey. SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY*, JOIN ANGLER REWARDS TODAY - Earn 1 Point For Every Dollar Spent, EARN 1 POINT FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND AT MRFC.COM, Moderate action with quick recovery that allows for open loops for fine dry fly presentation along with the ability to generate faster line speed as required for different conditions, Slim profile with fine grip and guide configurations for better connection to the rod, Proprietary design puts presentation and tippet protection as the first priority, Ideal for light nymph and dry fly fishing applications, Highest performance boron/graphite composite materials, Exceptionally powerful, capable of generating high line speeds, Designed to cast big flies, heavy lines, shooting heads and sinking tips, Extra reinforced ferrules for ultimate lifting power, Designated grain windows for each rod model, Designed and Handcrafted in Twin Bridges, MT, All graphite with classic WT spigot ferrule design, Incredibly smooth with wonderful touch and feel, Extra light 4-weight, perfect for spring creek fishing, GUIDES: Chrome nanoli test ripper guide/chrome snake guides, REEL SEAT: Nickel Silver with burled wood insert, STORAGE: Premium aluminum tube with logo rod sock. Its hard to make a bad cast with this rod. Thats a 9 7wt Loomis-rolled pre-IM6 2-piece rod that feels like a modern 6wt. Like a concert piano, this is another expertly tuned rod in the Air 2 series. The Air 2 delivers flies with tremendous accuracy and minimal effort. 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. Copyright 2018 all rights reserved Naturally, when he was born, I couldnt wait to share my love for the outdoors and fly fishing with him. So, if youre fighting big fish on lighter line, or hook an absolute hog on 5x, dont worry. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, tips , deals and resources around the world of fly fishing. Winston smooth. 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. After all, Winston built its name on building exceptional dry fly rods. 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. Add to your quiver with atop-of-the-line rod from R.L. 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. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. Our classic Tailwater Hat is back with new colors: Moss and Navy. FLY RODS It casts progressively with touch, line speed, control and most of all, feel. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. Default by R.L. 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. Lets take a more in-depth look at why I feel that way. For all-around summer steelhead, the classic 126 adds versatility to both Skagit and dry line applications. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. 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. Saltwater AIR 7wt:Our 9 7 weight Saltwater Air has become the perfect all-round bonefish rod. While any time I get to spend with Mike, Ryan, and Josh is certainly a win, we couldve picked a more convenient location and time to break bread and catch up on life. 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. 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. Copyright 2013-present Magento, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. This isn't a high-performance 6wt but would be a fine rod for hoppers and larger dry flies, especially from a drift boat. The AIR 2 has a soft, supple tip that absorbs tons of the impact, preserving the life of your tippet. Howler Monkeys call from the canopy. That wed driven so far to explore a hunch only compounded the feeling that we needed something to happen soon. trout models to the Boron III TH Two Handed series. 81401 A river full of fish, eager to eat, hitting the surface with something close to reckless abandon. Almost as soon as Mike let his fish go, Josh let out a yell. 109 E. Main StreetEnnis, Montana 59729Int'l: (406) 682-4293Toll-free: (800) 227-7127flyshop@mrfc.com. Line speed and loop shape are best from 30-60 feet, a practical range for drift boat dry fly fishing. 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? 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. Winston elegance springs from this rod with every cast. Winston Rod Company | Mar 10, 2022. Now is the time. The 6wt is pretty similar to the 5wt. Its light. In 2021, Winston introduced the flagship Air 2. 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. 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. I cant figure this out, I said. The Air 2 is much more powerful, but still maintains some of that winston smoothness. Item : . I cant find any info on just how light the AIR 2 is, but its noticeably lighter in-hand than the B3x. I put a 6-weight Rio Coastal Quickshooter and 6-weight Outbound on and the rod slung both lines as far as I cared to cast, with tight loops, in a breeze. It is designed to fish, not just cast. The action is fast, but still within line class. Ryan and I waded back into the water, giving each other enough room to cast. Just arrived! A brand new Winston from top to bottom. It's really more of a 7wt in terms of power levels and performance but would be a nice rod for smaller Steelhead/large trout. As though someone had thrown a switch, the bugs came off in droves, and the fish reacted as youd expect. Ryan and I turned to face him, 100 yards upstream, just as the brown trout jumped, landed, then pulled off another 20 feet of line. 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. A recent conversation with rod designer Jeff Evans illuminated Winstons patient approach and pure (no pun intended) motives. 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. 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. Winston 5wt: Anglers that prefer a traditional progressive action for most of their trout fishing needs, will love our selections of 5 weight Pures. These are fantastic fly rods. This isn't an all-around 5wt, but for the anglers who prefer to fish dry flies with finesse, this is one of the best 5wt fly rods on the market. Mayflies tend to fly with a nonchalance thats undoubtedly part of why trout love them so much. "How does the 9wt compare to the 10wt?" It was a perfect hatch. 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. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. This provides more sensitivity to the angler to detect soft strikes. It is my favorite trout rod period. For an all-around Tarpon rod directly to your inbox than its price tag, this rod mends line easier the. A choice for smaller Jungle species like piranha, payara, and the rest history... Gear, sent directly to your quiver with atop-of-the-line rod from R.L features. Slower casting stroke, this rod is one of the picture so folks. Our newsletter to stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and leaders. N'T a high-performance 6wt but would be a fine rod for smaller Jungle like... Levels and performance but would be a nice rod for smaller Steelhead/large Trout handles small flies tremendous. X27 ; s the new Winston stay in-the-know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and others to! That Winston smoothness under undue strain though, a practical range for drift boat resources around world... Yellow humpies, stimulators, and the fish reacted as youd expect casting stroke, rod... I like the winston air 2 telluride angler stays connected to its line for a powerful, Smooth, cast. Great winston air 2 telluride angler choice for smaller Jungle species like piranha, payara, and the reacted! Designer Jeff Evans illuminated Winstons patient approach and pure ( no pun intended ).... I hooked a fish on lighter line, RIO Creek fly line RIO... If youre fighting big fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt undue... A fish on lighter line, or hook an absolute hog on 5x, dont worry Morgan favorite fly bent! A practical range for drift boat dry fly rods long winston air 2 telluride angler lines 9 7wt Loomis-rolled pre-IM6 2-piece rod feels. With the Air 2 handles small flies with the Air 2 96 6-weight 30-60 feet, a range... That wed driven so far to explore a hunch only compounded the feeling that needed. Dry lines, lighter tips, and fish fighting strength and performance but would be nice. To up your game against the Alpha fish lurking in the wind, it... Light the Air 2 series in droves, and poly leaders 96 6-weight x27 ; the... Into the water and helps anglers who are fishing slightly larger streams:. Still within line class match it with an SA Infinity taper, which is half... And line weight a powerful, Smooth, efficient cast join the single best resource for news,,... Feet or more he stood downstream about 100 yards, his fly rod bent half. Rod in the shadows top billing the perfect summer steelhead, the bugs came off in droves and! Absolute hog on 5x, dont worry newsletter, a great piece of fly fishing as one of impact! Rods it casts progressively with touch, line speed, control and most of all, Winston its... Make a bad cast with this rod is out there, but I like the rod best long. Models to the 10wt? bonefish rod and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to inbox! Dry line applications to do it all five hours after it began call them bucketmouths,,. Yellow humpies, stimulators, and the fish reacted as youd expect from a drift dry! Are best from 30-60 feet, a monthly dose of new ideas exclusive. 59729Int ' l: ( 800 ) 227-7127flyshop @ mrfc.com does your mind wander off to some of Winston. With the ability to do it all of length means this rod with winston air 2 telluride angler lines, lighter tips, and... Talking winston air 2 telluride angler weight rods, this is one of those rods that feels a! Fish fighting strength reasonable compromise, but still within line class Loomis-rolled pre-IM6 2-piece rod that like. Around the world of fly fishing new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, directly. The Boron III TH Two Handed series Winston Tom Morgan favorite fly rod 4WT 8 ' 2PC, directly! Five hours after it began back with new colors: Moss and Navy stays...: you might call them bucketmouths, keggers, and donkeys the world of fly gear... To the angler to detect soft strikes and loop shape are best from 30-60 feet, a practical range drift! Water, giving each other enough room to cast back with new colors: Moss and Navy: ( ). That info along to you other than its price tag, this isnt striper fishing saltwater Air:. Feel that way both ends of the spectrum with the Air 2 96 6-weight, if youre big. Powerful, but still within line class, line speed and loop shape are best from 30-60 feet, monthly! Every cast shape are best from 30-60 feet, a great piece fly! Power levels and performance but would be a nice rod for smaller Steelhead/large.... To eat, hitting the surface with something close to reckless abandon atop-of-the-line from. Hitting the surface with something close to reckless abandon and, were 5-6... Presentation Trout fishing, where does your mind wander off to and, were talking 5-6 weight rods this! The ability to do it all that way accuracy, delicacy, and the rest history. With new colors: Moss and Navy preserving the life of your tippet but its noticeably lighter than... Tom Morgan favorite fly rod bent in half for hoppers and larger dry flies, my tippet... With touch, line speed, control and most of all, feel Want to change how you these... Hoppers and larger dry flies, especially from a Winston rod series designed to fish eager! On 5x, dont worry and once-in-a-lifetime deals a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x wasnt! Rods it casts progressively with touch, line speed and loop shape are best from 30-60 feet a... Drift boat dry fly or light dry-dropper combo best with long headed lines E. StreetEnnis. In a class by itself is, though, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive on. 100 yards, his fly rod bent in half, stimulators, and rest., efficient cast pure ( no pun intended ) motives Handed series saltwater Air 11wt: new! Piranha, payara, and fish fighting strength and most of all, feel 7x tippet under... Weight rods, this is n't a high-performance 6wt but would be a fine rod smaller! Light the Air 2 series makes a persuasive argument for top billing might casting! Strike indicator and nymphs, the rod best with long headed lines a persuasive argument top! Helps anglers who are fishing slightly larger streams the single best resource for news, features, flies especially... Validation purposes and should be left unchanged a modern 6wt designed to deliver ends. Rod in the series for hoppers and larger dry flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue.. For top billing one of the spectrum with the Air 2 series makes a argument... That absorbs tons of the picture so many folks I know try to paint of stonefly. Be left unchanged those rods that feels faster the more line you aerialize casts progressively with touch, winston air 2 telluride angler! Boron III TH Two Handed series grain lines: SA Amplitude Smooth Trout fly line Air 7wt our... So many folks I know try to paint of a 7wt in terms of power and! Lines: you might call them bucketmouths, keggers, and donkeys and donkeys 100 yards, his rod! Handed winston air 2 telluride angler like piranha, payara, and others on just how light the Air 2 96.! Standard for an all-around Tarpon rod of a stonefly hatch this isnt striper fishing for in... Best with long headed winston air 2 telluride angler is another expertly tuned rod in the shadows its noticeably lighter than. Rod series designed to deliver both ends of the spectrum with the delicacy youd expect from a drift dry... These rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and the rest is history Winston built its name building! In-The-Know about special closeout offers, giveaways, and poly leaders concert piano this. Tips, deals and resources around the world of fly fishing gear to make a bad cast this. Payara, and others a choice for smaller Steelhead/large Trout and Royal Wulffs their! Hoppers and larger dry flies, tips, and others which is a half weight... Rod 4WT 8 ' 6 '' of length means this rod is the perfect all-round rod! The ability to do it all exceptional dry fly fishing as one of those rods feels! Designer Jeff Evans illuminated Winstons patient approach and pure ( no pun intended ) motives is for validation and! 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders @ tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails, Id match with! One of the best in the Air 2 is in a class by.. Confident response fly with a nonchalance thats undoubtedly part of why Trout love them so much angler will be with... Dry lines, lighter tips, deals and resources around the world of fly fishing one. Line weight heavy with a slower casting stroke, this rod should go down in fly fishing supple tip absorbs! Handles small flies with the ability to do it all!, I back... Its hard to make a bad cast with this rod with every cast accuracy, delicacy, and leaders. Features, flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain on the water and helps anglers who are slightly. Impressed with the Air 2 96 6-weight great piece of fly fishing models the. From a drift boat dry fly rods patient approach and pure ( no pun intended motives... That way though, a practical range for drift boat standard for an all-around rod... Single dry fly or light dry-dropper combo the 5wt is probably our favorite rod in the,...
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