The Air 2 Max is the fastest, most powerful rod Winston has ever built — their words: our fastest and most powerful tapers to date, with the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any rod we've ever made. Same Air 2 material platform as the trout rods, dressed entirely for salt, warmwater, and big freshwater.
Where the Air 2 has burled Box Elder and nickel silver, the Max has anodized aluminum, a fighting butt, and titanium guides. It is a different animal built on the same graphite.
Full lineup — eleven models, all 4-piece, all full wells
| Line | Lengths | Grip | Fighting butt | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 wt | 8' 6" and 9' 0" | 7" full wells | 1½" | Bass, big trout streamers |
| 7 wt | 8' 6" and 9' 0" | 7" full wells | 1½" | Bonefish, redfish, pike |
| 8 wt | 8' 6" and 9' 0" | 7" full wells | 1½" | The classic flats rod |
| 9 wt | 8' 6" and 9' 0" | 7" full wells | 1½" | Permit, salmon, big reds |
| 10 wt | 9' 0" | 7" full wells | 1½" | Tarpon, stripers |
| 11 wt | 9' 0" | 8" full wells | 2½" | Migratory tarpon |
| 12 wt | 9' 0" | 8" full wells | 2½" | Blue water, GT |
Check the selector for available models — anything not showing we can order. Current pricing is on the selector above.
Why the 8'6" models exist. Short rods load faster and lever big fish harder, and on a skiff most shots are close and quick. If you fish from a boat and want the rod loaded on the first haul, take the 8'6". The 9-footers buy line control and distance from the beach or the bank.
Components — fully salt-proofed
- Very fast action on Winston's proprietary Air 2 material
- Silver anodized aluminum reel seat, barrel engraved with the R.L. Winston script, double uplocking rings
- Cerecoil hard titanium stripping guides with ceramic inserts; Recoil saltwater snake guides in hard titanium
- Premium Flor-grade cork full wells grip
- Premium graphite tube and logo rod sock included
- Handcrafted in Twin Bridges, Montana
Max or standard Air 2? If your fishing is trout, the Air 2 is the rod — the Max is faster and stiffer than a trout river asks for. The Max is the pick when you are throwing big flies into wind at fish that pull hard. We stock both.
Warranty: Winston's Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee — original owner only, non-transferable, and the rod must be registered within 30 days of purchase. Do it the week you buy it. Repairs run about six weeks out of Twin Bridges and carry a handling fee.
Rinse it. Fresh water after every salt day, every time — that habit decides whether the hardware lasts.
Ed's Fly Shop, 432 E Main St, downtown Montrose, Colorado.