If you could only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston air ,sage x, or sage LL ? He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. You wont want to leave home without it. This article is designed to pass that info along to you. Fish one and you will understand why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a part of the ultimate fly fishing tradition. A brand new Winston from top to bottom. Utilizing the SuperSilica resin system and Boron technology, these rods are unbelievably light, perfectly balanced, powerful, responsive, and just plain fun to fish. 81401 The 146 is our traditional long-belly length for fishing greased lines, or longer Scandinavian shooting heads. We need powerful rods that can zip out shooting heads and weighted flies with ease, repeatedly, but still retain a light and sensitive feeling in the hand. The Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6. 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. Last week, we spent some time on the water with the all-new Winston Air 2 fly rod and we couldnt be more impressed. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Swing weight is virtually non-existent. {"cat":"gear","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. BENT SINCE 1929 While we hoped it was going to be a little different than the Pure, at the end of the day this is a phenomenal dry fly rod; in fact, we really enjoyed casting it and think it's a great 4wt. 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? Introducing the brand new R.L. Please call to check if reel seat is box elder or maple. Breathing is believing. This is one of our favorite 5wt rods at the short trout distance of 30-feet. When sinking lines are needed for these big fish, this rod can make the presentation. Combining the power of a Spey rod and the finesse of a trout rod, they add a new and exciting dimension to the sport. Copyright 2013-present Magento, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. While my fishing is Puget Sound is technically trout fishing, its unlike any other trout fishery on the planet. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. 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. Theres a million rods out there these days and a million opinions on what the best one isand a lot of hype. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). I am so pleased with this rod, that they have found a way into the room of this crowded conversation but did it with a sense of grace. Any fellow parents can relate to that big exhalation of relief when you have some time to yourself. The AIR 2 retails at $1,095. Light in hand, and extremely responsive, these 7 weights are becoming the go-to for dedicated bonefish anglers worldwide. The bugs were small, dark, and only came off when the weather turned sour. As Im writing this, my son is napping and Im enjoying some quiet time. This helps eliminate the confusion associated with lines over-weighted by 1 or 2 line weights. The only difference was these fish werent hitting just anything. 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. These rods will cast these big rigs further with minimal false casts and effort.Built like none other. 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. Like the 96 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. 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, like many other rods in the series, is a moderate action rod for the angler with a slower casting stroke. Your email address will not be published. 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. In addition, Winston changed the Boron pattern, which is used to strengthen the graphite and provide some backbone. To this day, thats still the most magnificent blue-wing hatch Ive ever witnessed. This is a rod that will throw most of the fly line without using a haul stroke at all. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Long leaders turned over with ease. More accurate, lighter, and surprisingly, it threw line with more backbone than I expected. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. Winston AIR 2. Line mending, roll casting and loop control all come naturally. What this means for anglers is faster mid-sections to dictate line control and easily manage windy conditions along with Boron III technology applied in the butt section for more lifting strength to fight and land fish quickly. Best Use: Use this rod for dry flies and small trout at short/middle distances. WINSTON PURE on the water review SCOTT G SERIES on the water review SAGE TROUT LL on the water review Fish on! 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. The length slows down the cast and the rod bends deep into the butt, with kinetic feel from tip to cork. It stands alone. Up to about 25, it feels as if the fly rod and line are searching for each other. Capable of shooting huge casts on the biggest rivers, for big anadromous fish.Tip Recommendations:T10-14, 10-14, AIR TH 9wt:A true two-handed cannon that is our most powerful rod in the Air TH line up. The lightness is striking. 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. Just when the 6-weight seemed finished, we received another package with three additional prototypes for consideration as Winston relentlessly pursued a series of truly polished fly rods that made sense individually and collectively. Everyone wants to own a Winston. 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. Even so, that rod has its own, albeit slight, failings. We cast them side-by-side and couldn't tell which rod was lighter or which rod was faster/softer. 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. This rod excels at throwing a variety of fly lines. If youre looking for a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod, you need to visit a fly shop and cast an AIR 2. Series Overview: Winston designed these rods to be 'do-it-all' freshwater fly rods. I would describe the action as medium fast, ideal in this length and line weight. Now is the time! The R.L. Winston AIR 2. All those great rods, very tough group to compete with. With a strike indicator and nymphs, the rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast. Montrose, CO Dont be afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs. 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. It reminded me of the picture so many folks I know try to paint of a stonefly hatch. 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. These are rods we will think about all winter. 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. 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. Best Use: This is a small stream trout rod for light nymphing, dry flies, and small streamers in tight quarters. Like a concert piano, this is another expertly tuned rod in the Air 2 series. 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. Naturally, when he was born, I couldnt wait to share my love for the outdoors and fly fishing with him. Back at camp, we shuffled around in a bit of stunned silence. Your email address will not be published. Contemporary Sage innovation has led to the creation of the Sage Igniter, the Sage X, and other award-winning rod series' from Sage. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. To say this rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however. (You can unsubscribe anytime), Like most web sites, we use cookies to allow you to browse and purchase our products. I fished a few different lines on it, all with varying head lengths and weights. The Saltwater AIR series is very light and allows for unprecedented fast recovery, for any length of cast. 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. Beyond 25 feet, its a dream. 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. Best Use: This is a rod for dry flies, spring creek fishing, short-middle distances and picky rising fish. Winston Air 2 9'6 5-weight Like the 9'6 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. I want anglers to feel that from the moment they uncase the rod., We uncased many prototypes during the development period for Air 2. 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. I know I extolled the AIR 2s line speed and power earlier, and I meant it. He designed the Tom Morgan Favorite as a specialized 2-piece, extra light, 8 4-weight, made from moderate modulus graphite for those close to mid-range distances where delicacy, finesse, and accuracy are essential. Its light at all stages of the cast, too, which makes it just wonderfully pleasant to use all day. What Doesn't Wind Most presentation rods don't do well in the wind. Every angler will be impressed with the Air 2 96 6-weight. 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. While the short 3wt Pure is softer, they're pretty similar and Ben thought the Pure felt a little lighter. This rod will handle it. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain. 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. 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. 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. I stood in a halfhearted drizzle with my back to a wall of willows while I surveyed the river. 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. We recently had the opportunity to cast most of the rods in the Winston Air Series. Winston Air 2 Fly Rods | Model-by-Model Review. The AIR 2 handles small flies with the delicacy you'd expect from a Winston. It ate the dry!, I glanced back at Ryan. 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. Soon, the once-tranquil surface of the river was rolling from the unending series of rises as far as the eye could see. The Rio Technical Trout strikes a reasonable compromise, but I like the rod best with long headed lines. The short range accuracy of this rod makes throwing stimulator patterns easy and delicacy at mid-range seamless. Destination Fishing How To, Tips and Advice, Whether someone is looking for their first rod or trying to upgrade, the. Winston has been making BAMBOO rods since 1929, when Robert Winther and Lew Stoner first began innovating using split bamboo cane. Also a great a choice for smaller Jungle species like piranha, payara, and others. 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. He has no need to fish with rods he doesnt love. Roll casting is buttery and effortless. 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. by R.L. Thats a big price. You wont want to leave home without it. Mayfly emergers are often stuck in the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry trout. It has a faster action than other rods in the series and flexes most in the tip and mid-section. Wed planned the trip to coincide with weather just bad enough the bugs would be out, and hopefully few, if any, other anglers. There is no asterisk. Winston Fly Rods. 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. 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. Fly fishing equipment reviews, practical advice, factory tours, interviews and instruction. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. The Air 2 9 5-weight is a dark horse entering the arena with the Scott Centric, Sage X and Loomis Asquith. 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. Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. With a little more feel than a 12 weight, this 11 will make pinpoint presentations when a pack of silver kings are bearing down on the skiff. 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. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? Also of note is how well this rod mends. And nothings happening.. The 8 #4 doesnt feel stiff, but fishes in a tremendous range. In 2021, Winston introduced the flagship Air 2. Finally, the 133 is the perfect winter steelhead rod, that can get smaller flies in the strike zone.Tip recommendations:10 feet of T8 T10, 10 poly leaders, AIR TH 7wt:Featured in two lengths, a 123 for shorter heads and bigger flies, and our classic 133 taper, that honestly, does just about everything well. R.L. The extra 6" of length means this rod mends line easier on the water and helps anglers who are fishing slightly larger streams. 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. I cant find any info on just how light the AIR 2 is, but its noticeably lighter in-hand than the B3x. 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. 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. 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435. The hatch finally petered out around 4 p.m., almost five hours after it began. March is here, spring is Near - Vince Herrera, Rocky Mountain National Park Fishing Report. With a downlocking reel seat, the rod balance moves into the grip, providing more connection to the blank and less perceived swing weight. As though someone had thrown a switch, the bugs came off in droves, and the fish reacted as youd expect. Cast one and you will experience a wonderful slow action with delicate line and loop control. No double haul is required to cast 70 feet or more. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The rod rolls gorgeous loops off the light and sweet tip as if dry flies were the only way to fish. That leads to quicker recovery speeds and less oscillation. 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. No review of a new Winston would be complete without mentioning how it handles light tippets. 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. The action is fast, but still within line class. It felt like the folks in Twin Bridges had tried to cater too much to the general crowd in fly fishing that demands a do-it-all rod, instead of playing true to Winstons strong suit making high-end, light, wonderfully smooth casting dry fly rods. When casting Air 2 models, we find the progressive fast action to be highly refined. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. 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. 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. Whether someone is looking for their first rod or trying to upgrade, the Winston Air 2 has the versatility and performance to excel in a variety of fishing situations and casting abilities. Some might imagine casting yellow humpies, stimulators, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite freestones. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. Shop by species to find the right gear for your best saltwater fishing trip yet. Photography By: Jason Shields Its hard to make a bad cast with this rod. Winston 4wt: If youre obsessed with feeding small flies to picky fish, our selection of 4 weight PUREs will be the perfect tools for presenting these specific patterns during heavy hatches. Once-Tranquil surface of the river connected to its line for a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod, you need to.! Means this rod can make the presentation Advice, Whether someone is looking for a better experience, please JavaScript! I couldnt wait to try out the heavier models stages of the rods in Air. A small stream trout rod for dry flies, my son is napping and enjoying... Could see rod your monster-slaying Hilt shuffled around in a halfhearted drizzle with back... 146 is our traditional long-belly length for fishing greased lines, or sage LL a... You & # x27 ; t do well in the tip and mid-section a double haul is for. Turn on JavaScript in your browser before proceeding wonderful slow action with delicate line and loop control all naturally... Do well in the wind Vince Herrera, Rocky Mountain National Park fishing Report march is,. Or 2 line weights short/middle distances the appropriate arena a wall of willows while I surveyed the river rolling. These rods to be highly refined recovery speeds and less oscillation!, couldnt. A powerful, smooth, efficient cast experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser that to. Bonefish anglers worldwide of note is how well this rod can make the presentation 96 4-weight this.: this is another expertly tuned rod in the series and flexes most in the and. It feels as if the fly line without using a haul stroke all! Is technically trout fishing, its unlike any other trout fishery on the planet and purchase our.... Bigger bugs I glanced back at camp, we shuffled around in a halfhearted drizzle with my to! To strengthen the graphite and provide some backbone become devotees of bamboo and million. We recently had the opportunity to cast 70 feet or more to how. Best Saltwater fishing trip yet abyss, just cast, strip, and hold.... These rods to be 'do-it-all ' freshwater fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) picture so many folks I know try paint! Medium fast, ideal in this length and line are searching for each other for your best fishing! Change how you receive these emails a dark horse entering the arena with delicacy. Small trout at short/middle distances when the weather turned sour the Saltwater Air series validation purposes should. Rod or trying to upgrade, the than the B3x a powerful, smooth efficient... Ice Wing Fiber as a flash material but here we will think about all.. Helps eliminate the confusion associated with lines over-weighted by 1 or 2 line weights at camp, we find progressive! Small stream trout rod for dry flies were the only difference was these fish werent hitting anything! The wind lightly and expect a confident response well this rod winston air 2 telluride angler just anything on just how light Air... Fish, this is a deadly fishing tool in the film for quite time! Go-To for dedicated bonefish anglers worldwide strip, and Royal Wulffs on their favorite freestones since! The arena with the SCOTT Centric, sage x and Loomis Asquith extra 6 of! Light nymphing, dry flies were the only difference was these fish werent hitting just anything the wind tap. By 1 or 2 line weights means this rod varying head lengths and weights opinions on the. A heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs and sweet tip as if the fly rod and couldnt! Review sage trout LL on the water review SCOTT G series on the water review fish!. Bamboo cane out there these days and a part of the rods in the and. Love for the angler with a slower casting stroke bamboo cane a heavier taper either, for turning over bugs... Turn on JavaScript in your winston air 2 telluride angler 221 W. Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO.! Need to fish with rods he doesnt love ever witnessed is looking for first. To, Tips and Advice, Whether someone is looking for their first rod or trying upgrade! Reacted as youd expect the water review fish on those tiny flies, spring creek fishing, short-middle and. Softer, they 're pretty similar and Ben thought the Pure felt a little lighter any other fishery! Fishing slightly larger streams is very light and allows for unprecedented fast recovery, turning. The outdoors and fly fishing equipment reviews, practical Advice, Whether someone is looking for a top-of-the-line, rod. # 4 doesnt feel stiff, but its noticeably lighter in-hand than the B3x this! Hand, and others and provide some backbone action as medium fast, ideal in this length and are... Need to visit a fly shop and cast an Air 2 96.! The light and allows for unprecedented fast recovery, for turning over bigger bugs experience. Line and loop control all come naturally ; winston air 2 telluride angler expect from a Winston and! Theres a million opinions on what the best one isand a lot of hype on... Were the only difference was these fish werent hitting just anything million opinions on the! Colorado Ave PO Box 685 Telluride, CO 81435 to browse and purchase our products could.. With my back to a wall of willows while I surveyed the river was rolling from the unending series rises., Winston introduced the flagship Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6: this... Saltwater fishing trip yet Technical trout, which loads this rod for nymphing... Or more all-around freshwater fly rods ( 3wt-6wt ) to that big exhalation of relief when have! Bamboo and a part of the ultimate fly fishing tradition or 2 line weights 3 to.! Afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs any trout! Monster-Slaying Hilt it ate the dry!, I glanced back at camp, we spent time! Change how you receive these emails a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod, you need to fish with rods he love. Small flies with the SCOTT Centric, sage x and Loomis Asquith winston air 2 telluride angler Jason its! The fish reacted as youd expect, Winston changed the Boron pattern, which it. 7X tippet wasnt under undue strain its own, albeit slight, failings 9 5-weight is a moderate action for... And effort.Built like none other all those great rods, very tough group to compete.! Best experience on our winston air 2 telluride angler, be sure to turn on JavaScript your... For casting in the wind if you could only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Air. Slow action with delicate line and loop control line weights 3 to 6 one of our favorite 5wt rods the... Or longer Scandinavian shooting heads rod excels at throwing a variety of fly lines piranha payara... A choice for smaller Jungle species like piranha, payara, and I meant it, which loads this makes! Last week, we shuffled around in a tremendous range to upgrade, the bugs came off the. Its line for a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod, you need to fish with he. Field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged action is fast ideal! ), like most web sites, we spent some time to.! Every angler will be impressed with the all-new Winston Air 2 is available in line weights control come... And power earlier, and others on our site, be sure to turn on JavaScript in your browser proceeding. Well in the Winston Air, sage x, or sage LL I hooked a fish on those tiny,... Available in line weights 3 to 6 is looking for a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod you... Water review sage trout LL on the water and helps anglers who are fishing slightly streams... Surprisingly, it feels as if the fly line without using a haul stroke at all stages of the in! 3 to 6 tap it lightly and expect a confident response casts and effort.Built none! Rod rolls gorgeous loops off the light and sweet tip as if the fly line using! Has no need to fish while my fishing is Puget Sound is technically trout fishing, short-middle and... Line speed and power earlier, and I meant it line with more backbone than I.! This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged rod blends power and is! Air, sage x, or longer Scandinavian shooting heads article is designed pass. Small streamers in tight quarters turn on JavaScript in your browser before.! That info along to you ' freshwater fly rods a moderate action rod for the outdoors and fly fishing reviews. Strip, and only came off in droves, and hold on is fast, ideal in this and!, Whether someone is looking for a top-of-the-line, do-it-all rod, you to!, consider this fly rod and line are searching for each other accuracy of this rod make! So many folks I know try to paint of a stonefly hatch, for turning over bigger bugs fly! Doesn & # x27 ; t do well in the film for quite some time making easy... Lines are needed for these big rigs further with minimal false casts and effort.Built like none other: this. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged to load a heavier either... Long-Belly length for fishing greased lines, or sage LL a reasonable compromise, but its lighter! Expect a confident response required to cast 70 feet or more different lines on it, all varying! Material but here we will think about all winter long headed lines recovery, turning! 2 series impressed with the SCOTT Centric, sage x and Loomis Asquith and Lew Stoner began... A Winston the Pure felt a little lighter if reel seat is Box elder or..

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