Winston Air Salt Fly Rod Review

Historically, Winston has not been well known for their saltwater specific rods like they are world famous for in their other line of rods.  They have completely hit a home run with their Air Salt rods.  Available in 7 through 12 weight options, they have you covered for most saltwater applications.  The Air Salt is an easy casting rod, with plenty of backbone that loads nicely and casts exceptionally well, with a quick recovery, increasing your line speed and distance.

I spent a fair amount of time casting these with our Winston rep, Eric Neufeld, and I was seriously impressed.  I will be honest with you.  I tried to push the rod (on purpose) a bit when casting for long distances and Eric said, John back off a bit and let the rod do the work.  As I backed off and the rod took over, Eric said to me…John, look down at the reel, and when I looked down at the reel, the entire fly line was out of the reel and near the tip of the rod.  I say this to reinforce that the rod is an easy casting rod, I cast nearly 100’ of line with very little effort.  I was impressed.

I told him at the time that if I were in the market for a new saltwater specific rod, this would be the rod I would purchase.  Cosmetically beautiful, with the Winston green blank and the attractive components they are famous for and  the stunningly beautiful handwritten information on the rods, which screams attention to detail at least in my eyes, these rods are worth a look.

Features

• Advanced carbon fiber combined with our SuperSilica lightweight resin system to improve toughness and durability

• A new light and fast big game rod series with extra power cast after cast, without fatigue

• Quick recovery with Winston Progressive Action

• New stealth matte Winston Green finish for flats stalking

• Smaller guides hold the line closer to the rod shaft to give better control through the cast and presentation.

• Boron III technology for increased fighting/lifting power and added energy

• Handcrafted in Twin Bridges, MT

• WEIGHTS: 7 thru 12wt.

• ACTION: Fast

• SECTIONS: 4

• GUIDES: Hard chrome titanium colored snake guides with nanolite stripping guides

• REEL SEAT: Charcoal Gray uplocking, anodized aluminum with double locking rings and 1.5" fighting butt.

• Engraved with the company signature logo.

• STORAGE: Premium graphite rod tube with embroidered logo rod sock

If you are in the market for a saltwater rod and you  like a rod with a bit more feel, but need it to perform like a saltwater specific rod should, take a look at the Winston Air Salt series of rods. 

GFS Team

JG 

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Winston Saltwater Air Video

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Winston Saltwater Air Fly Rods

Find Winston Saltwater Air Fly Rods at "The Gorge"

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

"Fly Fish the World with Us" 

Winston Fly Rod Special Buy

Immediate attention...

Hard to believe I'm making this announcement. R.L.Winston Fly Rod Company has decided to end production of the Boron IIIx and Boron III LS fly rod series. But the good news is I wouldn't be making this announcement if there wasn't already a successor in place. More on that below.

But first the Sale: 

Gorge Fly Shop has loaded up on the soon to be "legends of the past" fly rods for you to get one last chance to own one. The Boron III Fly Rods not only carried the tradition of Winston Feel but is also in fact responsible for the very definition of load, power and speed coming together to create one of the most graceful rods one could cast.

Boron IIIx rods had that great ability to take your casting skill to next level no matter what level you started from. Novice casters could feel the load, intermediate casters could excel quicker and professional casters could extract all the soul from tip to Boron butt section. In my opinion they really did define the Winston feel.

Boron III LS Fly Rods provided that same Winston Feel on a small stream, spring creek level. Designed for precise and delicate presentations and built with all the premium grade components and features as it's big bother.

While supplies last we have most sizes in stock of both models for deeply discounted prices. These are first quality rods exactly the way they've been built all along. Rods include logo rod sock and premium graphite tube as well as the Winston Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee.

Shop Winston Sale

So What's New:

Two all new rod series are in production over in Twin Bridges, Montana. The Winston Pure and the Winston Air Saltwater.

Starting with Winston Pure

It's so hard to put words into describing this new rod. I think the best definition of the Pure is a rod with True Winston Progressive Action that just feels magical in hand.

I could go on and on with words to describe but it just won't become reality until you witness Pure in hand for yourself.
Small stream, dry fly with moderate action for open loop presentations without ever feeling under powered is what this rod is about. Take your passion of delicate fishing to a new level with Pure.

Winston Saltwater Air

Starting with a little history, the Winston Freshwater Air came into play a couple years with the use of SuperSilica Nano Resin Technology. Lighter and faster while yet still progressive and smooth, the Freshwater Air is a lively and responsive fly rod series.

Building on the SuperSilica Technology Winston introduces Saltwater Air. Just like the Winston Pure, it's practically impossible to put into words to describe this new rods series. I can tell you that when I stepped to the pond to test these rods I could not have imagined how light and lively could translate into such smooth power. The New Saltwater Air is unlike any Saltwater rod you know of and certainly unlike any Winston saltwater rod from the past. Saltwater Air is a clear leap forward for both the Winston brand as well as the fishing industry.

Within inner circles much concern was discussed about the exit of the Boron IIIx series and what would replace this smooth power rod. The new Pure and Freshwater air really ride on the delicate trout side of fishing and with the next category of rod to be a Saltwater Air series, what would play that middle ground of streamer, indicator, light saltwater or all around fast action fly rods series.

That question was put to rest after experiencing the smaller models of Saltwater Air. The streamer Junkies, myself included, have already set our sights on the 6 and 7 weight models as our next love affair rod series. These lightweight power rods have all the horsepower while the key attraction being so incredibly light feeling. A very important feature when an angler is looking at hundreds or possible thousand casts per day.

The future of Winston can be described much the same as their new rods series; Powerful, Smooth and loaded with Winston Feel.

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop
Read more Greg's Post...

"My Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"

Winston Saltwater Air - New - Coming in September

Just announcing and this New Rod Series Saltwater Air is already winning awards across the pond at the European EFTTEX Show for Best New Product. We'll get our hands on it next week at I-CAST.

Following is the info we have for now. The news is they will be available in September. We have them listed for sale now on our website for you to pre-order yours today. Pre-orders get filled the same day rods arrive to us. Same day turn around.

For Our New Saltwater AIR Series - Fast Is Smooth And Smooth Is Easy.

The new Saltwater AIR series allows for unprecedented fast recovery, for any length of cast. Combining our proprietary SuperSilica lightweight resin system and Boron III material with modern progressive tapers, Winston 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 saltwater rods. 

HIGHLIGHTS 

• Advanced carbon fiber combined with our SuperSilica lightweight resin system to improve toughness and durability
• A new light and fast big game rod series with extra power cast after cast, without fatigue
• Quick recovery with Winston Progressive Action
• New stealth matte Winston Green finish for flats stalking
• Smaller guides hold the line closer to the rod shaft to give better control through the cast and presentation.
• Boron III technology for increased fighting/lifting power and added energy
• Handcrafted in Twin Bridges, MT
• WEIGHTS: 6 thru 12wt.
• ACTION: Fast
• SECTIONS: 4
• GUIDES: Hard chrome titanium colored snake guides with nanolite stripping guides
• REEL SEAT: Charcoal Gray uplocking, anodized aluminum with double locking rings and 1 ½” fighting butt.
• Engraved with company signature logo.
• STORAGE: Premium graphite rod tube with embroidered logo rod sock

Specs -

MODEL	LENGTH	LINE WT.	PIECES	HANDLE	ACTION
690-4	9'	6	4		Fast
790-4	9'	7	4		Fast
890-4	9'	8	4		Fast
990-4	9'	9	4		Fast
1090-4	9'	10	4		Fast
1190-4	9'	11	4		Fast
1290-4	9'	12	4		Fast

Find the New R.L. Winston Saltwater Air at "The Gorge"

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

"Fly Fish the World with Us"