I’ve lengthy been a fan of Winston rods. My first top-of-the-line rod was a 9′ 5-weight BIIIx, and I’ve since grown my assortment to over a dozen inexperienced sticks, each classic and fashionable.
The Air 2 collection is, objectively, the corporate’s most versatile. An previous 8’6″ 6-weight pre-IM6 Fisher-rolled Winston could be a bit sweeter to forged, however it doesn’t stand as much as the flexibility a contemporary rod presents.
I’ve fished a variety of the Air 2 lineup, however my favourite is their new-ish 8’6″ 5-weight. This rod didn’t come launch with the Air 2 lineup, however was added later, and I’m past stoked that Winston made this little addition.
The 8’6″ 5-weight is the best for for any trout angler who’s prepared to commerce throwing bigger flies for laser accuracy. A hopper-dropper rig with a giant nymph is clunkier to forged on this rod than the 9′ 5-weight, and positively the 9′ 6-weight, however that’s not likely what of us purchase an 8’6″ 5-weight for. You purchase that smaller, shorter rod for smaller, extra private rivers, and that’s precisely the place it excels.
The rod is horrifying correct out to 60 toes (and doubtless additional, however I haven’t pushed it that far but), in a position to throw a tighter, sooner loop than the 9′ 5-weight. I can tuck casts underneath branches, or into tight pockets, with no second thought. In reality, the 8’6″ 5-weight Air 2 has confirmed more proficient at choosing aside my native spring creek than a trusty 9′ 4-weight. The shorter 5 is simply that rather more correct and exact in its fly placement.
And whereas it is probably not as efficient at throwing a big dry-dropper rig throughout a large tailwater, the 8’6″ 5-weight nonetheless has the spine to deal with the wind and bigger fish.
Picture: Spencer Durrant
I wouldn’t hesitate to fish this rod most wherever that I take a 9′ 5-weight, with the exception most likely being fishing an even bigger river from a drift boat (the Inexperienced beneath Flaming Gorge could be a bit overmatched for this shorter rod). I additionally wouldn’t throw streamers with this 8’6″ rod, however it might most likely deal with some smaller measurement 10 leeches, or related patterns.
I discovered the rod fished finest with a half-weight heavy line. Surprisingly, regardless that it’s not a quick rod, this Air 2 didn’t love a double-taper. A real-to-weight casts properly on it, however a half-weight heavy taper (just like the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity) masses the rod a bit deeper and generates sooner line speeds, creating even tighter loops and growing accuracy.
Should you’re on the lookout for an incredible new 5-weight that does nearly all the pieces, I extremely advocate you contemplate the 8’6″ 5-weight Air 2.
