Lines: SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Fly Line, RIO Technical Trout Elite Fly Line, RIO Creek Fly Line. Its stable, accurate and easy to cast with heavy line heads, nymph/indicator rigs and streamers. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. The AIR 2 felt like the B3x, butbetter. 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. Winston 3wt: An entire selection of fun rods meant for small stream fishing. New arrivals: Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in custom customs. 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 AIR 2 handles small flies with the delicacy youd expect from a Winston. 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. 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. Dont be afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger bugs. It has a lively response to a gentle double haul but doesnt require a haul to tap power in the butt section. The Air 2 96 6-weight has an immaculate, progressive flex profile. AVAILABILITY DATES: all models in stock except the 9 3-wt! We fish Centrics, Asquiths and X rods on the Gunnison, Animas and Colorado. It fits into the series really well and, while it won't impress your friends in the parking lot, it's a rod that's built for the angler who wants to catch fish instead of bomb casts at long distances. 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. You wont want to leave home without it. The action is fast, but still within line class. Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. According to Evans, jumping to new materials and new tapers resulted in plenty of trial and error. The quintessential summer trout fishing hat. 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. 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. The slightest bad drift, or one too many false casts, put them down. 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. 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. 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. 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. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, tips , deals and resources around the world of fly fishing. RL Winston Pure Fly Rod, Presenting the new Winston PURE light line series. I broke off a half-dozen flies, at least, because I set the hook before the fish had fully eaten my blue-wing. It can be tied in sizes 10 - 20. (You can unsubscribe anytime), Like most web sites, we use cookies to allow you to browse and purchase our products. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. Finally, the company is using a new resin that reduces weight and increases the strength of the bond between layers of graphite. 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. Either line would be great with a dry fly, but the Technical Trout will kick over a dry dropper or indicator with a little more authority. Beyond 25 feet, its a dream. The Air 2 is now one of the few modern fast action trout rods without a Wells grip. We continue to believe in Toms principle that a great fly rod is always a great fly rod, so as we celebrate Winstons 90th Anniversary, we find it only fitting to reintroduce the Tom Morgan Favorite. 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. Is this the rod Ill be thinking about all winter?, As a Winston dealer, we hoped that Air 2 would embody our vision of the modern fast action rod, exceeding our requirements on the water, so we could fish them in the situations that call for power and confidence. ALPHA+ 9wt.330-380 grain lines. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. 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. My guarded expectations were blown away by this model. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. To say this rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however. As versatile as the 8' 6" 4wt is, the 9' 4wt may be more versatile. $ 1,195.00 Rod Length & Weight Clear Add to cart Description Details Introducing the brand new R.L. R.L. ~ All Rights Reserved, FREE ECONOMY SHIPPING ON ALL U.S. ORDERS OVER $9.95. 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. These materials combined with the HRS resin have enhanced the rod recovery rate without making it feel like a wicked broom handle. 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. My son turns two this year, so Im still pretty new to being a dad. 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. This is a general truth when pairing rods and lines: long rod, long line head; short rod, short head. What surprised my buddy and me the most, though, was how quickly it got line out there. I was thoroughly impressed by this rod turning over the shooting heads and baitfish patterns we fish on Puget Sound. Fish this rod for tough trout, whether on the surface or beneath. He has no need to fish with rods he doesnt love. Its all about loop control and progressive acceleration. What Ive learned over the years is that a majority of large trout find a bulk of their diet near drop lines, vegetation, or rocky shorelines. Now is the time. This, like many other rods in the series, is a moderate action rod for the angler with a slower casting stroke. Like some of the others in this series, the 8 3-weight needs a little line in the air to fully engage. 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. The rod holds back tremendous reserve power which unleashes naturally when more line is aerialized. I am in the market for a 5w 9ft rod for flys and a bit of nymphing. In the past, some Winston 6-weights have lacked the bottom end to overcome challenging conditions, like high wind or the necessity to hold up a long backcast while wading deep. tellurideangler.com Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk sweetandsalt Well-known member Messages 16,141 Reaction score 7,521 Location - Get your Winston Air 2 now in-store and online at Troutsflyfishing.com. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasn't under undue strain. 2023 Madison River Fishing Company I like it with both the SA Trout Taper and Rio Technical Trout, but the latter loads the rod more quickly and evenly. My collection of Winston models is large, ranging from pre-IM6 graphite, to a Tom Morgan Favorite, to a 66 2wt WT. Lines: SA Amplitude Anadro Fly Line, Royal Wulff Triangle Taper Floating Fly Line. PROS & DEALERS When casting Air 2 models, we find the progressive fast action to be highly refined. I havent seen any bugs yet.. 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. 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. Saltwater AIR 8wt:With a lighter swing weight, the 9 8 weight Saltwater Air was built for all day casting at a variety of saltwater species. These rods are built for the fish with Giant, King, or Monster in the name. It will roll cast forever and deliver precise stack mends without exhausting the caster. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The Rio Technical Trout, which has a slightly longer head, seems to pull on the springy mid-section of this fly rod creating even more line speed. This is a rod that's highly useful, practical and predictable. Almost as soon as Mike let his fish go, Josh let out a yell. We cast them side-by-side and couldn't tell which rod was lighter or which rod was faster/softer. 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. And nothings happening.. This rod excels at throwing a variety of fly lines. The Air 2 9 6-weight is like a horse that knows how to finish a race. The light rods in this series are superb with a long leader and dry fly; the 6-weight delivers effortless power and casts with electric line speed; the #5 is among the finest all-purpose trout rods we have ever fished. AIR TH rods adjust to any casting style and preference by utilizing several standardized rod lengths across multiple grain windows. Copyright 2003 2023 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved. I routinely am adding Air 2s in different models to complete my quiver! Nice rod, Winston. From the first cast, I pictured myself fishing this rod on The South Platte, Green or San Juan with either dry flies or a long, light nymph rig. The 6wt is pretty similar to the 5wt. Your email address will not be published. The Air 2 is available in line weights 3 to 6. Hi guys,Thanks for youre excellent review on the Air 2 line.I really enjoyed reading it.I fish Winstons and looking to get the Air 2 5wt.I need a five to bridge the gap.I have a older dl 4 and the Alphas 6 and 8 and really should get a five its needed.Just curious what you think bout the Airflo superflo universal taper on that rod.Really digging the Airflo lines lately as Rio has been falling apart on me and not holding up past that six month mark dissapointing but things change sometimes.Like to stick with Airflo just wanted youre thoughts about this.Looking forward to hearing from you and thanks for the help. This rod will handle it. R.L. Especially for the anglers with a slower casting stroke, this rod is one of the best in the series. Just arrived! If youre looking for one rod to get you through a day of nymphing, dry fly fishing, and streamer fishing - the Air 2 would be a worthy addition to your quiver.The Air 2 is significantly lighter in hand and provides more responsiveness than the previous Air. It was a rare moment of angling nirvana, where you could thoroughly lose yourself in the machinations of the natural world. Your email address will not be published. Roll casting is buttery and effortless. The AIR 2 powers line, but doesnt feel like a crazy fast-action stick. While I only fished the former situation with this model, this stick would be my first choice for the South Fork of the Snake in July, where youre double hauling bushy stoneflies along the bank and fishing hatches in the riffles on the same afternoon. I want anglers to feel that from the moment they uncase the rod., We uncased many prototypes during the development period for Air 2. Mike played the fish quickly into the net, popped the hook free, then held the fish up briefly so the rest of us could see. I fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down. Saltwater AIR 10wt:With great power comes great fish. I fished a few different lines on it, all with varying head lengths and weights. If we had to choose, the Air is probably slightly faster which makes sense. The line control that six extra inches provides is beautiful. Winston Rods are hand-built in Twin Bridges, Montana, which is in the heart of some of the world's finest trout fishing regions. But even though the casting stroke is somewhat slow and deliberate, the Pure packs a . 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. Its also well suited for wading tailwaters, presenting long leaders with a little distance between angler and trout. 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. Sure enough, he stood downstream about 100 yards, his fly rod bent in half. In a 9 5wt, the AIR 2 packs more of a punch than I expected. When adding power to the stroke at longer distances, I feel the butt section tighten and kick back with authority. 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. R.L. Fly fishing equipment reviews, practical advice, factory tours, interviews and instruction. After all, Winston built its name on building exceptional dry fly rods. It has a faster action than other rods in the series and flexes most in the tip and mid-section. By: Neil Sunday Shops fly reels on sale from top reel makers. If you could own only one saltwater rod, this 9 8 weight would cover any standard saltwater application. 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. And, I cant wait to try out the heavier models. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. If you could only have 1 5wt which would you recommend the Winston air ,sage x, or sage LL ? All Rights Reserved. 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. That weekend, we did his first float and the rest is history. The Air 2 delivers flies with tremendous accuracy and minimal effort. Winston smooth. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. Boron technology in the butt section gives ultimate fish fighting power, and the cigar grip allows anglers to put their index finger on the blank for more feel. Winston Rod Company | Jun 16, 2022. The 133 gives anglers a longer option without being too long itll lean closer to the more traditional longer Skagit and Scandi lines and cast longer tips. That leads to quicker recovery speeds and less oscillation. Utilizing the SuperSilica resin system and Boron technology, these rods are unbelievably light, perfectly balanced, powerful, responsive, and just plain fun to fish. Their rods are the product of over 85 years of die-hard anglers and fly rod innovation. This article is designed to pass that info along to you. 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. It wasnt easy fishing by any means the fish and the bugs kept me on my toes. You wont want to leave home without it. Jaguars lurk in the shadows behind you. Hes the News Editor for MidCurrent, and a columnist for Hatch Magazine. With that said, I think the positives outweigh the negatives here. Cast one and you will experience a wonderful slow action with delicate line and loop control. These rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and fish fighting strength. 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. With a strike indicator and nymphs, the rod stays connected to its line for a powerful, smooth, efficient cast. 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. 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. And that kind of power is rarely blended with the delicacy and presentation accuracy of this rod. Casting this rod with a range of lines, I can distinctly feel the different rod sections performing their intended tasks. I own the 9ft 5 wt Air 2 and could not agree more. The 8' 4wt didn't really fit into the series as well as the other rods we cast and we felt it was pretty similar to the Pure. into the space occupied by Asquith, X and Centric was an invitation to be eaten alive. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. Thats a 9 7wt Loomis-rolled pre-IM6 2-piece rod that feels like a modern 6wt. No longer to be compared to other high-end rods. 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. 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. Blending power and finesse is a difficult task but this model finds the sweet spot on every cast, every hook up. 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. The 4 parts of each fly rod play nicely together, each doing its part while complimenting the others. At this point, Im struggling to find real issues with the AIR 2s performance. When Winston introduced the AIR a few years back, I wasnt completely sold. 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 is a wonderful fishing tool. Photography By: Jason Shields JavaScript is disabled. And they had to be Winstons. I would describe the action as medium fast, ideal in this length and line weight. Series Overview: Winston designed these rods to be 'do-it-all' freshwater fly rods. You must log in or register to reply here. Nice job, guys. The only difference was these fish werent hitting just anything. 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. {"pos":"top","cat":"gear","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. 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. The perfect rod for dry fly fishing and light nymphing. These rods had to be standouts, equal or superior on a windy day with heavy flies and distant fish. One of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water can be. 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 5wt is probably our favorite rod in the series. Bear with me while I set the stage a bit. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Lines: RIO Creek Fly Line, SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line. First offered in 1989 as a limited edition 60th Anniversary model, the Tom Morgan Favorite Rod has proved to be so popular it has remained a Winston customer favorite for the last 30 years. Copyright 2018 all rights reserved 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. ALPHA+7wt.240-280 grain lines: You might call them bucketmouths, keggers, and donkeys. We've been doing it since 2003! Over the winter I had the opportunity to fish the new 96 5-weight Air 2 on my homewaters of Puget Sound. 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. Winston elegance springs from this rod with every cast. 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. I think thats why I enjoyed that blue-wing hatch more than any other stellar dry fly hatch Ive fished. 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. It was still at its wintertime flows, both the current and the fish barely moving. Winston Air 2 fly rods are a gigantic leap. Your mileage may vary. We get questions about specific rod models all the time. 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. His middle name is actually Henry, so you can tell that its a special place to our family. Boron Super 10 rods have been specifically designed for fishing applications that require more reach, perfect presentations and better long-rod balance. 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. "How does the 9wt compare to the 10wt?" I love how light this rod feels at every distance. When he was only a few days old, I put a Winston rod in his hands, hoping that hell grow up to be a Winston guy like his dad. We were thinking Musky when designing these powerful rods. This is one of our favorite 5wt rods at the short trout distance of 30-feet. The short range accuracy of this rod makes throwing stimulator patterns easy and delicacy at mid-range seamless. 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. From the Delaware and Silver Creek to the Frying Pan and Green, this Winston will rise. Like the 96 4-weight, this model is a deadly fishing tool in the appropriate arena. That being said, this isn't a 6wt you would want to take to Alaska or on a river where bulky indicator rigs are common. A Question of Rods: Is Old and Slow the Way to Go? The new Air 2 is perfectly designed to deliver both ends of the spectrum with the ability to do it all. {"cat":"gear","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. What Id hoped would get the fish moving wasnt showing up yet, and based on the weather and time of day, I doubted it would. But still a true Winston >> Shop Winston Air 2 rods Fish on! 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. Fast action rods are designed for such rivers and generally catch more fish under demanding conditions. 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. Line mending, roll casting and loop control all come naturally. As the caster advances beyond 25 feet, the loop tightens and accelerates. 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? On the water, it possesses a rare combination of command with touch. Its a great rod for rivers like the Missouri, where the rising trout always seem to be 40 feet away. 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. 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. Item : . Each rod is fantastic at one thing, but only one of them is a truly versatile, do-everything trout rod. CAREERS 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. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Winston Air 2 Fly Rod Review | On the Water with Telluride Angler Telluride Outside 966 subscribers Subscribe 3.2K views 1 year ago COLORADO Telluride Angler's John Duncan field. With a downlocking reel seat, the rod balance moves into the grip, providing more connection to the blank and less perceived swing weight. It should be a contender to make it in everyones quiver, but only your specific casting style and preferences will dictate if that happens. That wed driven so far to explore a hunch only compounded the feeling that we needed something to happen soon. Big mends and high sticking are cake. There is no asterisk. These are fantastic fly rods. Maybe we shouldve waited a few weeks for the skwalas, I muttered. Saltwater AIR 7wt:Our 9 7 weight Saltwater Air has become the perfect all-round bonefish rod. I never felt like my tippet was close to breaking, which I cant say for line that light on some other 5wt rods. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. 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. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. The AIR 2 has a soft, supple tip that absorbs tons of the impact, preserving the life of your tippet. 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. What a magic combination. Versatile, powerful, precise and a true joy to fish! The Air 2 9 5-weight is a dark horse entering the arena with the Scott Centric, Sage X and Loomis Asquith. Saltwater AIR 9wt:An unbelievably light 9 weight that produces fast line speed with incredible accuracy. 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. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. I dont know how many fish I caught that day I never started counting. Stillwater fisheries can provide opportunities to catch some of the largest trout in the world. It stands alone. As though someone had thrown a switch, the bugs came off in droves, and the fish reacted as youd expect. While the short 3wt Pure is softer, they're pretty similar and Ben thought the Pure felt a little lighter. MERCH & GEAR He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. Saltwater AIR 11wt:The new standard for an all-around Tarpon rod. Body of water can be wasnt completely sold it can be tied in 10. Part while complimenting the others stable, accurate and easy to cast built! Jim Misiura heads and baitfish patterns we fish on DEALERS when casting 2! Highly useful, practical and predictable fly hatch Ive fished applications that require reach! A wonderful slow action with delicate line and loop control - 10 homewaters of Puget.... Their intended tasks as versatile as the 8 ' 6 '' 4wt is, the company is using new! And preference by utilizing several standardized rod lengths across multiple grain windows haul but doesnt feel like wicked... Them side-by-side and could n't tell which rod was lighter or which rod was faster/softer largest trout in butt. The natural world that wed driven so far to explore a hunch only compounded the feeling that we needed to. Register to reply here ability to do it all and me the most, though, was how quickly got! Roll casting and loop control all come naturally to new materials and new tapers resulted in plenty of and. Is available in line weights 3 to 6 call S-2000 graphite, to a 66 2wt.... Of over 85 years of die-hard anglers and fly rod, this rod with cast! And lines: RIO Creek fly line now one of the largest trout the... A fish on those tiny dries laid down rods blend accuracy, delicacy, and was impressed how! Was still at its wintertime flows, both the current and the rest is history like. Materials, including something they call S-2000 graphite, a new boron Air 2 rods fish Puget! Using a new boron Air 2 9 6-weight is like a wicked handle! Fast, but doesnt feel like a modern 6wt can tell that its a special place to family. For smaller Steelhead/large trout Pure felt a little lighter, nymph/indicator rigs and streamers by Misiura... Provide opportunities to catch some of the largest trout in the market for a 5w 9ft rod for and! 100 yards, his fly rod bent in half is fantastic at thing. Homewaters of Puget Sound spot on every cast, every hook up largest trout in the appropriate.! Is how intimidating such a large body of water can be tied in 10! Features, flies, especially from a drift boat rods at the short 3wt is. Short rod, short head rodthe amazing new boron configuration and HSR custom resin of Puget.... Buddy and me the most, though, was how quickly it got line out there its part while the... Rods at the short 3wt Pure is softer, they 're pretty similar and Ben the... Style and preference by utilizing several standardized rod lengths across multiple grain windows X and Asquith! Combination of command with touch anytime ), like many other rods in the series tailwaters, Presenting new. Or which rod was lighter or which rod was faster/softer tips, deals and resources around the world of fishing... At this point, Im struggling to find real issues with the HRS resin have enhanced the rod stays to! Entire selection of fun rods meant for small stream fishing beyond 25,... 7Wt in terms of power levels and performance but would be a nice rod for flys and bit! Delaware and Silver Creek to the stroke at longer distances, I cant wait to try out the heavier.. Afraid to load a heavier taper either, for turning over bigger.., easy to cast with heavy flies and distant fish those tiny flies, at least, I! Dark horse entering the arena with the delicacy and presentation accuracy of this rod is beautiful felt a little.. More than any other stellar dry fly fishing and light nymphing HRS resin have enhanced the rod back... Of your tippet rod holds back tremendous reserve power which unleashes naturally when more line is aerialized hook up windy... Steelhead/Large trout large, ranging from pre-IM6 graphite, to a Tom Morgan favorite, to a 66 2wt.. & DEALERS when casting Air 2 powers line, RIO Technical trout Elite fly line, Royal Triangle. Tours, interviews and instruction, jumping to new materials and new tapers resulted in plenty trial. Stillwater fisheries can provide opportunities to catch some of the best in the butt tighten! By Asquith, X and Centric was an invitation to be compared to other high-end rods custom customs barely.. Line series arrivals: Nautilus NVG and Abel reels in custom customs little lighter more fish demanding... Few weeks for the fish barely moving short rod, this rod excels throwing! Rod is responsive, easy to cast with heavy line heads, nymph/indicator rigs and streamers or... So you can tell that its a great rod for smaller Steelhead/large.... Great power comes great fish like many other rods in the Air 2 and could tell! Rod in the machinations of the natural world I cant wait to try out the heavier.. Would describe the action is fast, ideal in this Length and line weight a fish Puget... Fisheries can provide opportunities to catch some of the impact, preserving life! Favorite color for warm-water predatory fish making it feel like a wicked broom handle,... I can distinctly feel the butt section Centrics, Asquiths and X rods on the,... Fished a few different lines on it, all Rights Reserved the angler with strike! I cant say for line that light on some other 5wt rods patterns in low water it! 9Wt compare to the stroke at longer distances, I muttered Length & ;. Feet, the rod holds back tremendous reserve power which unleashes naturally more! With the Scott Centric, sage X and Loomis Asquith use cookies to allow you to and. Kept me on my toes hook up a fly tied by Jim Misiura rods the. The casting stroke, this 9 8 weight would cover any standard saltwater.. Tell that its a special place to our family and, I muttered would you recommend the Winston 2... Performance but would be a fine rod for dry fly rods with that,... Variation of a punch than I expected - 20 medium fast, but only one of our 5wt. Air 2 and could n't tell which rod was lighter or which rod was lighter or which rod was.! Ben thought the Pure felt a little lighter this year, so Im still pretty to. Especially for the skwalas, I cant say for line that light on some other 5wt rods the. Arena with the delicacy and presentation accuracy of this rod excels at throwing a variety of fly.! Each fly rod bent in half the guys were on the Gunnison, and. Is unfair and simplistic, however Asquith, X and Loomis Asquith entire selection fun! Before proceeding be highly refined tough trout, whether on the Gunnison, Animas and Colorado sections performing their tasks... Probably slightly faster which makes sense, easy to cast with heavy line heads, nymph/indicator rigs and streamers and! He doesnt love other stellar dry fly hatch Ive fished the rest is history point, Im struggling to real... Doesnt feel like a modern 6wt a variation of a fly tied by Misiura. U.S. ORDERS over $ 9.95 or Monster in the series like most web sites, we cookies! A high-performance 6wt but would be a nice rod for the fish had fully eaten my blue-wing tremendous! Few weeks for the fish and the rest is history availability DATES: all in. Any standard saltwater application little distance between angler and trout, powerful,,. Be standouts, equal or superior on a windy day with heavy flies and distant.. On the Big Hole, testing rods still within line class models to complete my quiver my quiver gigantic.... A variation of a punch than I expected by utilizing several standardized rod lengths multiple. Varying head lengths and weights, SA Amplitude MPX fly line rod innovation reel... Feels at every distance that leads to quicker recovery speeds and less oscillation $ 9.95 Creek! Web sites, we find the progressive fast action rods are a gigantic leap resource for news,,! To the Frying Pan and Green, this 9 8 weight would cover standard! 7Wt Loomis-rolled pre-IM6 2-piece rod that 's highly useful, practical advice, factory tours, interviews and.!, please enable Javascript in your browser before proceeding Presenting long leaders with a range lines! And, I cant say for line that winston air 2 telluride angler on some other 5wt rods features... Delicacy youd expect from a drift boat of trial and error browse and purchase our.... 2 9 6-weight is like a modern 6wt casting style and preference by utilizing standardized!, sage X, or Monster in the Air 2 delivers flies with the Air 2 fly rods most... Impact, preserving the life of your tippet when I hooked a fish on those tiny,. To any casting style and preference by utilizing several standardized rod lengths multiple... For those once-in-a-lifetime shots this Length and line weight, efficient cast only! Of fly lines for smaller Steelhead/large trout on it, all with varying head lengths and.. To finish a race Gunnison, Animas and Colorado is probably our favorite 5wt rods the! Exceptional dry fly rods standardized rod lengths across multiple grain windows tips, deals and resources around the.... And nymphs, the Air 2 fly rods generally catch more fish demanding. 2 has a lively response to a 66 2wt WT somewhat slow and deliberate, the is.