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? Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. Winston,Hardy, and more. As though someone had thrown a switch, the bugs came off in droves, and the fish reacted as youd expect. R.L. The Air 2 is much more powerful, but still maintains some of that winston smoothness. A recent conversation with rod designer Jeff Evans illuminated Winstons patient approach and pure (no pun intended) motives. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. This is a wonderful fishing tool. These moderate action rods feature a quick recovery that allows for open loops for fine dry fly presentation along with the ability to generate faster line speed for different conditions. Winston Rod Company | Jun 16, 2022. This rod will handle it. Winston Air 2 Fly Rods | Model-by-Model Review. If you really want to feel connected to fly fishing, connected to the experience, the cast, the fish itself and all the subtle feelings in between, no rod does that like a Winston. 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. 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? I first cast it with an SA Infinity Taper, which is a half line weight heavy with a long head. As Im writing this, my son is napping and Im enjoying some quiet time. My guarded expectations were blown away by this model. 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. Lines: RIO Gold Elite Fly Line, SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Fly Line. 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. But even though the casting stroke is somewhat slow and deliberate, the Pure packs a . And, were talking 5-6 weight rods, this isnt striper fishing. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Long leaders turned over with ease. They showcase adaptive and specified grain windows that are ideal for specific two-hand applications. It is my favorite trout rod period. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I would describe the action as medium fast, ideal in this length and line weight. The next generation of all-around freshwater fly rods (3wt-6wt). I love the way it feels and I love the way it casts. Winston smooth. 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. Wed planned the trip to coincide with weather just bad enough the bugs would be out, and hopefully few, if any, other anglers. What Im not new to is spending most of my time in the outdoors. These rods will cast these big rigs further with minimal false casts and effort.Built like none other. Lines: SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line, RIO Gold Elite Fly Line, RIO Perception Elite Fly Line. It feels touchy but fits the hand in a way that offers plenty of support from the fingertips through the palm. There are other rods that cast better at short range, but an 8 rod isnt supposed to be a specialty creek rod, anyway. We have patented the hollow-fluting bamboo rod building process, set numerous bamboo world distance fly casting records, and maintained an uninterrupted 92-year commitment to building the most beautiful, highest performing bamboo fly rods available anywhere. Shorter headed lines tend to bounce or disengage. 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. Here at the Madison River Fishing Company, we are proud to represent our neighbors. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. Winston 5wt: Anglers that prefer a traditional progressive action for most of their trout fishing needs, will love our selections of 5 weight Pures. It's versatile, powerful, but retains the classic Winston feel that dry fly trout anglers know and love. The gang at Telluride Angler 800-831-6230 www.tellurideangler.com orders@tellurideangler.com Want to change how you receive these emails? It felt like I was mending a double-taper line with a Sage ONE, but with more feel in the tip than the ONE ever had. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. JavaScript is disabled. 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. We get questions about specific rod models all the time. Rarely have I fished a rod thats left me as confounded as the new Winston AIR 2, and I mean that in a good way. It obviously replaces the Air Series, but with all the new components and performance the Air 2 is truly more than the usual rod series update. 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. It's not that any angler will really ever cast them side by side and they are both 8' 4wts, after all. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. When Winston introduced the AIR a few years back, I wasnt completely sold. Really a nice rod to cast. It casts most general-purpose trout lines with confidence, but I dont recommend streamer-style lines or overlining, which cause the rod to bog down and lose torsional stability. We love the new modified half Wells grip. Casting and presentation capabilities are truly extraordinary. This rod is responsive, easy to cast and built for those once-in-a-lifetime shots. The 9 4wt Air 2 features a fast action with a light tip capable of presenting delicate dries with long, light leaders. Join the single best resource for news, features, flies, tips , deals and resources around the world of fly fishing. When I hooked a fish on those tiny flies, my 7x tippet wasnt under undue strain. RL Winston Pure Fly Rod, Presenting the new Winston PURE light line series. 1325 Mayfly Drive 2023 Madison River Fishing Company If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up. 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. Fish this rod with a single dry fly or light dry-dropper combo. 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. 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. They have a specialized grip that feels more trout rod than Spey, use slightly larger chrome guides than typical trout rods, and come with a larger tiptop that allows for the larger diameter of the spey style lines. The Air 2 are freshwater fly rods, rather than fresh/salt crossovers. 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. To say this rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however. The moderate action is perfect for anglers who don't need a highly powerful rod but want a rod that loads quickly at short distances for those trout in brushy environments. Think Giant Trevally, Monster Arapaima, and Silver Kings. To this day, thats still the most magnificent blue-wing hatch Ive ever witnessed. The Winston Air 2 is in a class by itself. R.L. {"pos":"top","cat":"gear","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. Breathing is believing. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. 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. 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. On the water, the Air 2 9 6-weight is equally well suited to nymphing, dry fly fishing and streamers. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. by R.L. I never felt like my tippet was close to breaking, which I cant say for line that light on some other 5wt rods. Fast forward a month and we packed up the camper, hooked up the drift boat, and headed to the Henrys Fork. Best Use: This 6wt likes a true to size line and is best used as a hopper-dropper rod or a rod for larger dry flies. This grip is wonderful. The rods shooting guides allow for slick, smooth mends. What a terrific rod for fishing small dries on delicate leaders for big fish. 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. Spencer Durrant is a fly fishing writer, guide, and bamboo rod builder from Wyoming. 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. 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. The PURE is no exception. The B3x rods are what I consider to be Winstons best production rods ever. I havent seen any bugs yet.. Please call, write or stop by one of the shops if you have any questions or if you would like to cast one for yourself. A Winston bamboo fly rod continues to set the standard for hand-crafted fly rod perfection. With any fly line, this model is more touch-oriented but less powerful than the Air 2 9 5-weight. It was a rare moment of angling nirvana, where you could thoroughly lose yourself in the machinations of the natural world. Scott F Series vs. Sage Dart: Comp on the Creek! Saltwater AIR 9wt:An unbelievably light 9 weight that produces fast line speed with incredible accuracy. That leads to quicker recovery speeds and less oscillation. Lines: RIO Technical Trout Elite Fly Line, SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Fly Line. The Air 2 is now one of the few modern fast action trout rods without a Wells grip. Here at the Madison River Fishing Company, we are proud to represent our neighbors. This is not your average 5-weight trout rod, folks. ALPHA+10wt.380-430 grain lines. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Air 2 9 4-weight wont drive nails into the wind like other rods in its class, but it has the characteristic feel and presentation qualities that make anglers love Winston rods. By continuing to browse, you agree to the terms of our, A Fools Errand By Ambassadors Lee and Michaela Molvie, Extra Reach To Get The Job Done 96 5-weight Air 2 Review, Early Season Dries 9 3-weight Air 2 Review, Bay Flats Lodge Selected as Newest Winston Preferred Lodge. The rod rolls gorgeous loops off the light and sweet tip as if dry flies were the only way to fish. Winston Bamboo Fly Rod 4wt - 7'6" - 2pc. This, like many other rods in the series, is a moderate action rod for the angler with a slower casting stroke. I fished size 24 midge patterns in low water, and was impressed with how softly those tiny dries laid down. 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