Last Flagship 7'6" 3wt?

I was driving home after a few days of fishing up in northern New Mexico, when I stopped in my favorite town of Taos...to visit the Taos Fly Shop, take break, and just do a look see around the fly shop. This happened a few years ago, around 2018, when the Air fly rods were Winston's current flagship rods. As I worked my way down the rod rack giving a few select rods the waggle, I came to a Winston Air 7'6" 3wt rod model. As soon as I picked it up, the light feel, the waggle, all told me this is a rod I should own. No, I didn't buy it as I thought there would be plenty of time to acquire one. And then, time slipped away.

Yeah, it seemed a short life span for a rod series, when suddenly Winston was announcing their new series, the Air2. And, guess what? The new series didn't include a 7'6" 3wt rod model. Dang it! I missed acquiring the Air 7'6" 3wt rod I knew would be fabulous for my northern New Mexico streams...and, even worse, the Air2 doesn't offer one!

I wasn't taking a chance of losing an opportunity twice after one came up for sale last year. A minty, used rod looking as if new. And, I'm kind of thinking, this may be Winston's last 376 rod model from any flagship rod series we'll ever see again. So, I wanted to be sure to acquire it while I could. Especially since learning the new Pure2 series doesn't include a 376 model either. The last two new series of trout rods, that have been launched from Winston have not included a 376 model...I don't understand? For serious small stream anglers, the 7'6" 3wt fly rod is the most versatile 3wt rod to roam blue lines in search of wild trout. And yeah, a few inches either way makes a difference!!!

There are streams north of my home waters where a bit stronger 376 rod, with that Winston feel, is a sweet fit. I'll pair the Air 7'6" 3wt with a Winston 4wt to use on those adventures to the high country streams and alpine lakes in New Mexico and Colorado.

Winston Air 7'6" 3wt fly rod; Ross Colorado 2/3 fly reel: Winston Energy WF3F fly line. Just tie a dry fly on the tippet...and go fishing.