Winston Air 2 9′ 3-weight

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   My guarded expectations were blown away by this model. The rod rolls gorgeous loops off the light and sweet tip as if dry flies were the only way to fish. 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. Fish it with an SA Trout Expert. 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? The 9′ 3-weight is one of the faster action rods in the series. 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. Some of our staff feel that it’s best beyond 30 feet, but I found that it loads naturally from very short to very long. If a double haul is required for casting in the wind, tap it lightly and expect a confident response. It’s hard to make a bad cast with this rod. 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. Spring creek and tailwater anglers have a new favorite rod. From the Delaware and Silver Creek to the Frying Pan and Green, this Winston will rise.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   This has become one of my go-to trout rods for fishing in Southwest Colorado. I always take it with me on our medium sized freestone rivers and it is an excellent dry fly tool on a technical tailwater. I’ve also done plenty of high alpine dry fly fishing (where a longer rod is key) with it and it exceeds my expectations each and every time. The rod has incredible touch and feel making it a lethal addition to anyones technical dry fly quiver. Mending and roll casting capabilities are second to none in the 3wt category. The overall flex profile lends itself very well to big mends on larger rivers and roll casting is effortless. With a traditional overhead cast this rod is as smooth as any 3wt on the market. It leaves a smile on my face every time I put it in my hand. I’ve been fishing several different lines on this rod and have found that the Rio Elite Technical Trout WF3F fits my needs best. I could go on about this rod forever, but the point is that it is a rod that deserves an endless supply of recognition.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)