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Winston has long been known as a leader in the freshwater fly rod market, but has never released a saltwater-specific rod model - until now. Enter the Air 2 Max, a lineup of 11 distinct saltwater fly rods designed for power and big game performance; qualities not often associated with Winston rods. For this comparison review, we cast the lineup with a range of lines to determine each rod’s best use and ideal line pairing. If you’re curious about Winston’s first major foray into the saltwater world, keep reading as we compare every rod in the Air 2 Max lineup.

8'6” 6wt

Of the eleven rods in the Air 2 Max lineup, four of them are 8’6” in length. Generally speaking, shorter rods are nice for their lower swing weight and casting accuracy. While this stubby 6wt is certainly smooth and powerful, it really shines with a lighter line such as RIO Elite Bonefish or SA Amplitude Bonefish. Both lines are fun to cast, accurate, and perform well at key distances from 30’ to 60’. This isn’t to say the stubby six can’t handle more aggressive tapers like the SA Grand Slam or the Rio Elite Flats Pro - it can, but be prepared for it to lose its lightweight feel. Truthfully, the heavier feel with some lines is the only real drawback to this extremely versatile rod. This would make a great tool for technical Bonefish scenarios, smaller Redfish, schoolie Stripers, and even Smallmouth Bass from a drift boat.

Lines: Rio Elite Bonefish, SA Amplitude Bonefish

Best Uses: Technical Bonefish, Smaller Redfish, Schoolie Stripers

9' 6wt

The 906 Air 2 Max is very light in hand, probably one of the best feeling rods in the lineup when you first pick it up. With a Bonefish-specific line such as Rio Elite Bonefish or SA Amplitude Bonefish, this is a very fun rod to cast at medium distances of 30-45 feet. It is quite accurate and would make a fine go-to salty six for calm days on Caribbean wading flats for Bones and other smaller critters. Unfortunately, this 9-footer wasn’t quite as versatile as its stubby 6wt counterpart. With heavier lines like the SA Amplitude Grand Slam and the SA Amplitude Titan Long, it got the job done, although at the expense of accuracy and casting enjoyment. Overall, an excellent Bonefish six, but there are better rods on the market for throwing bigger flies and heavier lines.

Lines: Rio Elite Bonefish, SA Amplitude Bonefish

Best Uses: Bonefish, Smaller Redfish

8'6” 7wt

7-weight saltwater rods can sometimes be perplexing, stuck in between a finesse flats rod and a heftier 8 or 9 weight multispecies stick. This stubby 7wt Air 2 Max is a little different, in that it does both finesse work and big flies/lines decently well. We cast a handful of lines and found the SA Amplitude Bonefish and the SA Titan Long to cast the best, making this a great option for technical Bonefish scenarios, but also for launching bigger bugs for Redfish, Stripers, or freshwater Bass, and big Brown Trout. Ironically, lines like the Rio Elite Flats Pro and the SA Amplitude MPX were a little awkward with this rod. An expert caster can make them work, but beginners will likely find them tough to find the sweet spot. Although not the most versatile rod in the lineup, a solid option for the right angler.

Lines: SA Amplitude Bonefish, SA Titan Long

Best Uses: Technical Bonefish, Redfish, Striped Bass, Freshwater Bass, Brown Trout (streamers)

9' 7wt

Any new rod lineup is bound to have a dud or two, and the 907 Air 2 Max was one such rod for us. It feels tip-heavy, and didn’t blow us away with any particular line pairing. Starting with SA Amplitude Bonefish, it took quite an aggressive casting stroke to properly load the rod, which will be problematic for more relaxed casters and novices. Next we tried SA Amplitude Grand Slam, which loaded much nicer in close, but struggled with accuracy at distance. Lastly, we tried SA Titan Long, and although it loaded nicely in close again, it made things sloppier at distance and felt too heavy to be enjoyable. If you’re throwing heavier Bonefish flies or making short casts at Redfish or Baby Tarpon, this rod will play nicely. For lots of blind casting or distance casting, seek out something with a lighter swing weight. All that being said, we’re being ultra-picky and there are scenarios where this rod makes sense.

Lines: SA Amplitude Grand Slam

Best Uses: Redfish, Baby Tarpon

8'6” 8wt

In what might be perceived as a technical Bonefish rod by many, we found the 868 Air 2 Max to be an awesome Striper rod. Out of all the lines we tried, the best were SA Titan Long and Rio Striper. Both of these lines are perfect for unloading larger flies at a distance. And while throwing into a blitz usually doesn’t require pinpoint accuracy, this stubby 8wt was surprisingly precise. If you are considering this rod as a dedicated Bonefish tool, stick with lines like the Rio Elite Bonefish or the SA Amplitude Bonefish.

Lines: SA Titan Long, Rio Striper

Best Uses: Striped Bass, False Albacore, Bluefish, Jacks

9' 8wt

The 908 Air 2 Max is rather representative of the entire lineup; a beautifully-crafted rod that favors slightly heavier lines and/or a more aggressive casting stroke. This particular model also has quite a bit of swing weight, which was surprising for their showcase 8wt. We found the Rio Elite Bonefish fly line to be a nice pairing for type-A casters. For those of us with a slower stroke, or for lots of close-range fishing, consider the SA Amplitude Bonefish Plus. Overall, it’s certainly a quality 8 weight, but not our favorite 8 weight on the market, and also not our favorite rod in the lineup by any means.

Lines: Rio Elite Bonefish, SA Amplitude Bonefish Plus

Best Uses: All-around Bonefish, Redfish

8'6” 9wt

Most hardcore Permit anglers I know swear by a 9-foot 9wt, but this stubby niner might just change their mind. When paired with an SA Amplitude Grand Slam, it is an absolute cannon that can send a heavy lead-eye crab into a stiff wind with authority. It would also make a great rod for blitzing Stripers in New England, or bull Reds in Louisiana. If it lacks anything, it’s the delicate finesse game, but that’s not what we expected with a stubby 9-weight. If you are addicted to chasing Permit or the other aforementioned species, you owe it to yourself to cast this rod.

Lines: SA Amplitude Grand Slam, Rio Premier Redfish

Best Uses: Permit, Redfish, Striped Bass, Triggerfish

9’ 9wt

By this point in our casting tests we were starting to notice a trend; the 8’6” versions in each line weight were a little better than their 9’ counterparts. The same was true of the 9 weight, where the stubby version was really dialed for specific lines like the Grand Slam, but the 9-footer didn’t seem to love any one line. The best pairing we found was with an SA Titan Long, which loaded the rod with a relaxed casting stroke and featured plenty of oomph to pound big flies into the surf. This would still be a great Striper rod, but its decreased accuracy versus the shorter version makes it less appealing for Permit and big Bonefish. This would also make a nice Pike or freshwater Bass rod where extreme precision isn't as important as throwing big bugs with minimal effort.

Lines: SA Titan Long

Best Uses: Striped Bass, Pike, Jacks, Snook, Juvenile Tarpon, Barracuda

9’ 10wt

Just wow. It would be fair to guess that a lot of R&D time and expert feedback went into this 10wt. This is a fantastic Tarpon rod, but also just a great all-around saltwater weapon. It casts an SA Amplitude Tarpon like a rocket launcher, feeling incredibly smooth and easy at all distances and casting strokes. Aside from the price tag, this would be a great rod for novice Permit and Tarpon anglers, as it makes casting 30’ and 60’ equally as fun and easy. For conditions that require more punch, it also handles an SA Titan pretty well, making this a versatile tool for everything from adult Tarpon to big Jacks, Barracuda, Roosters, Mahi, and Stripers. 

Lines: SA Amplitude Tarpon, Rio Elite Tarpon, SA Titan Long

Best Uses: Tarpon, Permit, Barracuda, Roosterfish, Mahi, Striped Bass, False Albacore

9’ 11wt

The first thing we noticed about the 11-weight was the larger cork grip and the huge fighting butt. There’s also some unique reinforcement wraps on the first ferrule. Once again, there was clearly specific design input from serious Tarpon anglers and guides on this one. Casting-wise, it performed nearly as well as the 10wt, though its added swing weight made casting the SA Titan less enjoyable. It throws SA Amplitude Tarpon and Rio Elite Tarpon extremely well, and you can sense the powerful butt section designed for fighting big migratory poons.

Lines: SA Amplitude Tarpon, Rio Elite Tarpon

Best Uses: Tarpon, Barracuda, Giant Trevally, Roosterfish

9’ 12wt

When I pick up a 12wt, I’m always halfway expecting to feel a broomstick in my hand, both in physical weight and rod action. The Air 2 Max, however, is surprisingly light - maybe one of the lightest feeling rods of the bunch. It’s also not as stiff as I was expecting either, feeling OK with SA Amplitude Tarpon as long as you don’t overpower it. Underlining this rod might actually be the play, especially with any more mass than a Tarpon line. All in all, it feels more like an 11wt but that may not necessarily be a compliment, since the 11wt Air 2 Max is a great rod in its own right. 

Lines: SA Amplitude Tarpon

Best Uses: Tarpon, GT

Favorite Rod:

The 9’ 10wt was, hands down, the best rod in the lineup. Whether you’re a seasoned caster or a novice, this rod will make casting easier and (most importantly) more fun. Not only is this a great choice for Tarpon fanatics, but its extremely versatile action makes it a solid companion in virtually any saltwater flats situation. From Tarpon, Permit, and Cudas to Stripers, Albies, and Bluefish this rod is up to the task.

Least Favorite Rod:

The 9’ 7wt just didn’t wow us. It was quite line-sensitive and it didn’t seem to have a “sweet spot” that we could detect. Although 7wt rods have their place in certain situations, like Redfish, Bass, and Salmon, we think you could do all that and more with, say, the 8’6” 8wt Air 2 Max. 

Questions?

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