Here at Anglers All, we’ve been fishing Winston fly rods for decades. In fact, Anglers All is Winston’s longest standing dealer. As one of the industry's oldest and most trusted brands, Winston knows what it means to walk the line between art and science in fly rod design.
Their latest innovations are the Air 2 Max and Pure 2 series. The Air 2 Max is pushing technological boundaries and redefining what it means to fish with a Winston, in a saltwater-specific application. Meanwhile, the Pure 2 carries those new technologies into a rod that perfectly captures the Winston roots in a dry fly fishing specialist.
To dig deeper into the inspiration and process behind these exciting new fly rods, we caught up with Winston fly rod designer Hank Haen, who gave us an inside look at how these rods came to life.
The Air 2 Max: Breaking New Ground
When asked about the Air 2 Max, Hank described it as a groundbreaking project, not just for Winston, but for himself as a designer. The Air 2 Max was built as a replacement for the Air Salt and Alpha Plus rods, both of which had a passionate following but were somewhat polarizing in their design.
“The goal with the Air 2 Max was to create a rod that could truly excel in the most challenging saltwater conditions,” Hank said. "We wanted to break out of that Winston mold of being known for moderate-fast, deeper-loading rods. With the Air 2 Max, we went for a true fast-action, if not ultra-fast-action rod."
For Hank, this meant a lot of complex material science and innovation. "The tapers, the materials—of course that was critical,” he told us. “Right out of the gate, we had the capability and all the tapers in the house to make that rod happen. It just took a whole lot of science and a whole lot of grinding to bring it to life.”
But the lab is one thing. Real world conditions are another.
“In developing these rods, we leaned heavily on our guides and pro staff in the southeast, to test and refine these rods in real saltwater conditions," Hank explained. “The result is a rod that has been embraced by hardcore saltwater anglers who hadn’t previously considered Winston.”
Another innovative result of the Air 2 Max project for Winston, was the 8’ 6” models, which are not very common in saltwater-specific rods. According to Hank, it became clear throughout the design process that they shouldn’t shy away from making a shorter, fast rod.
“It has certainly raised some eyebrows in the saltwater game, just because it’s rarely been done,” he said. “Just because a 9-foot nine weight is the norm, why not explore the possibilities of a 8’ 6” eight weight or nine weight? And those shorter rods are by far, some of my favorite fly rods. And that’s been one of the most fun surprises out of this series.
“In this Air 2 Max series, I would say the really salty rods start at the seven weight,” Hank continued. “The six weights, I'll be honest, I kind of designed those for myself. It’s everything I wanted out of a streamer trout rod. But we’ve had a lot of great feedback from anglers who have fished that 8’ 6” seven weight for redfish and the 8’ 6” six weight for bonefish with excellent results.”
The Pure 2: A Return to Classic Winston
While the Air 2 Max broke new ground, the Pure 2 series is a love letter to Winston’s traditional roots, applying innovative technology to your new favorite dry fly rod.
"The Pure 2 is 100% Winston," Hank said with clear pride. "After the aggressive, fast-action design of the Air 2 Max, we flipped the switch and went back to classic dry fly rods."
The Pure 2 rods are defined by their moderate-fast action, which provides a perfect balance between backbone and feel. "The front half is soft enough to load a 15-foot leader but loads deep enough in the back half to throw a wide-open loop, so you’re not slamming that size 20 dry fly down onto the water,” Hank explained. “And there’s enough backbone to pull a big brown trout out of the willows or throw a hopper on a dinner plate at 50 feet.”
One of the standout features of the Pure 2 fly rods is the use of NanoParticle technology, an advancement that makes the rods 24% stronger and 25-30% lighter.
"It’s a game-changer in terms of performance," said Hank. "The new technology allows us to use less material, so the rods are not only lighter and have more feel, but also more durable. It has incredible compressive strength. And we saw that play out in our initial testing. It's incredible how much tension you can apply before it wants to break. These behaviors are phenomenal for fly rod innovation, as it delivers a huge increase in strength while providing a decrease in weight over previous technologies.”
And just like the Air 2 Max series, the design team at Winston wasn’t afraid to break from the usual 8’ 6” and 9-foot standard lengths for a trout rod. The Pure 2 series includes 6’ 9”, 7’ 3”, 7’ 9” and 8’ 3” rods.
“Why not offer something different?" Hank asked. "Taking three inches off a blank can make a rod more stable and accurate. There’s science behind it."
Choosing Favorites: Hank’s Picks in the Air 2 Max and Pure 2 Series
“Picking a favorite, it's like asking to pick your favorite kids,” Hank laughed. “It's particularly hard for me to pick a favorite when we're right on the coattails of a project.
"If I had to pick one in the Air 2 Max lineup right now, I love the 8’ 6” eight weight. It's excessively fast and great for throwing big streamers,” he said. For the Pure 2, Hank said he leans toward the 8’ 3” five weight, a rod that brings him “boyish joy” when he casts it. "It’s one of those rods that makes you feel like a kid again—like you’re holding something truly special."
The Future of Winston Fly Rods
Hank believes that the innovations in the Air 2 Max and Pure 2 are just the beginning. “The NanoParticle and new resin technologies we’re using have opened up new possibilities for future designs," he said. "We’ve pushed the limits of what these materials can do, and we’re excited to see where we can go from here."
Through all the technical details and design challenges, one thing remains clear: Hank and the team at Winston are committed to delivering rods that make fly fishing not just a sport, but an experience. Whether you’re battling a tarpon in the Florida Keys with an Air 2 Max or gently casting a dry fly to a rising trout with a Pure 2, Winston’s latest fly rods are designed to elevate every moment on the water.
Cast A New Winston at Anglers All
Want to try one for yourself? Stop by one of our fly shop locations in Littleton or Denver to cast the Air 2 Max and the Pure 2 fly rods. We’ll be curious to know what you think of these new rods, and our team is happy to answer any questions along the way. Thanks to Hank Haen for taking the time to speak with us and give us some insight on the design behind these new fly rods!