Review: My Spey experiences have been influenced more from the European Atlantic Salmon fishing style where rods tend to have rigid tip section and the tapers are slower than those of American Skagit centric rods. I know American rods makers are working very hard adopting the most recent blank technologies. Should I choose my best rods based on my preferred rod taper, or, based on the advanced blank materials, sophisticated components, and the elegant appearance? So, to be fair to decide my direction I bought 5 American brand Spey rods, which are 3 G.Loomis Asquith Spey rods and 2 Winston Air TH Spey rods all from my favorite store "Gorge Fly Shop”! My conclusion is both are really great rods but I found the characteristics are different in those 2 brands. In my opinion Asquith Rods are leaned more to the Skagit style casting, on the other hand Winston Air TH series I bought (14.6’ #8, 13.3 #7) are amazingly smooth and slower taper that allow me to cast longer length lines, such as Scandi+extended tip (this my standard set-up for Taimen), and could do long distance casting so effortlessly. This can particularly be said with the Air TH 14.6’ #8. Just amazing to see that the entire 110’ Rio Mid-head floating fly line flies out so effortlessly! Air TH 13.3’ #7 Air TH is faster action than 14.6’. Both are powerful yet supple enough to fight with big fish and tapers are so forgiving to accept my occasional poor casts! So, now I know my primary Spey rods will be Winston Air TH series. Tokyo, Japan
