Sure enough, he stood downstream about 100 yards, his fly rod bent in half. Some of our staff feel that its best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. One of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water can be. That would be a good comparison though and throw in Scott Centric and Douglas SKY-G. 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. To say this rod blends power and finesse is unfair and simplistic, however. It's versatile, powerful, but retains the classic Winston feel that dry fly trout anglers know and love. Mayflies tend to fly with a nonchalance thats undoubtedly part of why trout love them so much. Its the new Winston. Almost as soon as Mike let his fish go, Josh let out a yell. {"pos":"top","cat":"gear","type":"article_children_page","format":"default"}. 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 Tom Morgan Favorite Fly Rod 4WT 8' 2PC. 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. 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. The Air 2 is much more powerful, but still maintains some of that winston smoothness. and "What line works best on this rod?". Remarkably, the new High Strain Rate resin is perfect for the all-purpose rod category by amplifying the energy transfer allowing an angler to make tight loops and punch through the wind with incredible velocity as well as present smaller dries to rising fish at close range in calm water. The only difference was these fish werent hitting just anything. 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. Personally, though, Id be surprised if the AIR 2 doesnt sell exceptionally well. From the Delaware and Silver Creek to the Frying Pan and Green, this Winston will rise. 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. Winston Rod Co. This shorter 3wt is a great rod for small streams and backpacking in the backcountry. It reminded me of the picture so many folks I know try to paint of a stonefly hatch. We fish Centrics, Asquiths and X rods on the Gunnison, Animas and Colorado. United States, 2023 Montrose Anglers. 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. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. 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. 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. Then, cutting through the pitter-patter silence of a rainy day on a small piece of water, we heard the unmistakable sound of fly line going tight. This provides more sensitivity to the angler to detect soft strikes. It is my favorite trout rod period. We cast them side-by-side and couldn't tell which rod was lighter or which rod was faster/softer. If these are your daydreams, we encourage you to explore our all-new PURE series of trout rods. The perfect rod for dry fly fishing and light nymphing. 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? Asked what fuels his perfectionism, Evans says, I want anglers to say, I plan my fishing days around this rod., He wants anglers to anticipate that first day of fishing in spring with their favorite Winston in hand. The mid and butt sections are super springy, making it a joy to cast and exceptional in all those on-the-water techniques that contribute to a prodigious day on the water. As your eyes dry out from searching the lake, a sharp sting sets in to the fingers from stripping the iced fly line across creased skin hundreds of times, and hope slowly fades. When you can only bring one rodthe amazing new Boron AIR 2. PROS & DEALERS All Rights Reserved Design by unleaded.digital. December 14, 2021 3:14pm. Back at camp, we shuffled around in a bit of stunned silence. Think any spring creek from Paradise Valley, Montana, to the world renowned Driftless area in Wisconsin. I stood in a halfhearted drizzle with my back to a wall of willows while I surveyed the river. 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. Winston Bamboo Fly Rod 4wt - 7'6" - 2pc. Default by R.L. 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 hatch finally petered out around 4 p.m., almost five hours after it began. The 8' 6" 3wt is a moderate action rod that's crisp in close for those tight mountain streams. 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. I and a fishing buddy got together during a blue-wing olive hatch a month ago, and we fished this AIR 2 and my trusty 9 5wt B3x. Maybe we shouldve waited a few weeks for the skwalas, I muttered. Best Use: Use this rod for dry flies and small trout at short/middle distances. Up to about 25, it feels as if the fly rod and line are searching for each other. Featuring a deep loading action with fast recovery rates, AIR TH models are ideal for any steelhead and salmon fishing application. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. These are rods we will think about all winter. Now is the time. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Tom grew up fishing the spring creeks of Montana for wary brown trout where the slightest mistake spooks the fish. Fast forward a month and we packed up the camper, hooked up the drift boat, and headed to the Henrys Fork. Its truly a do-it-all fly rod. Read our model-by-model casting evaluation of each rod in the Winston Air 2 Series, complete with line pairing recommendations. Now is the time! 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. Winston AIR 2. They showcase adaptive and specified grain windows that are ideal for specific two-hand applications. Just arrived! These are fantastic fly rods. by R.L. 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. What a treat it was. 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. Winston 5wt: Anglers that prefer a traditional progressive action for most of their trout fishing needs, will love our selections of 5 weight Pures. Winston Fly Rods. Winston Air 2 Fly Rod 3 Weight 8'6" 4 Piece Buy Telluride Angler $1095.00 $1099.00 Winston Boron III TH Microspey 10'6" 3-wt Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 9'6" 5-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 8'6" 3-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston Air 2 9' 6-weight Buy Telluride Angler $1195.00 Winston 3wt: An entire selection of fun rods meant for small stream fishing. But even though the casting stroke is somewhat slow and deliberate, the Pure packs a . "How does the 9wt compare to the 10wt?" The Air 2 96 6-weight has an immaculate, progressive flex profile. 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. 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. Fish one and you will understand why anglers become devotees of bamboo and a part of the ultimate fly fishing tradition. The rod holds back tremendous reserve power which unleashes naturally when more line is aerialized. If youre a streamer junkie and searching for you next big bug stick, look no further than the ALPHA+ 6/7. 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. Lets take a more in-depth look at why I feel that way. Boron Super 10 rods have been specifically designed for fishing applications that require more reach, perfect presentations and better long-rod balance. 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. Moments after, the whine of an old click-and-pawl reel filled the air. 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