We recently got our hands on the new G. Loomis Asquith II 4 and 5-weight fly rods, and rather than simply stringing them up behind the shop and offering a quick first impression, we wanted to put them through a more structured evaluation.
To do that, we compared the new Asquith II models against two of the top-performing rods from last year’s Yellow Dog 5-Weight Invitational: the Winston Air 2, which was the top-scoring overall 5-weight, and the Winston Pure 2, which was the top performer in the dry fly category.
The goal was simple: keep every variable the same except the rod itself. We used the same fly line, same leader, same fly, and the same distance-based course, with targets set at 20, 30, 40, and 50 feet. That allowed us to focus on how each rod actually performed across common trout fishing distances.
How We Tested the Rods
The Comparison Rods
For the 5-weight comparison, we tested the G. Loomis Asquith II against the Winston Air 2. The Air 2 was the top-scoring overall 5-weight in last year’s Yellow Dog 5-Weight Invitational.
For the 4-weight comparison, we tested the Asquith II against the Winston Pure 2. The Pure 2 was the top performer in the dry fly category and offered a helpful contrast against the faster, more powerful Asquith II.
The Testing Setup
To keep the evaluation as consistent as possible, we kept every variable the same except the rod itself.
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Same fly line
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Same leader
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Same fly
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Same caster
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Same casting course
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Same target distances
Targets were set at:
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20 feet
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30 feet
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40 feet
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50 feet
This gave us a controlled way to evaluate short-range feel, intermediate-distance performance, longer presentations, tracking, accuracy, line speed, and overall usability.
G. Loomis Asquith II 9-Foot 5-Weight
First Impressions
The Asquith II 5-weight is a beautiful rod. The blank has a subtle, refined finish, and the overall build quality is excellent.
The grip has a noticeable swell in the palm, which feels comfortable, although the profile is fairly slim. Anglers with larger hands may wish the grip had slightly more diameter.
The reel seat is also worth mentioning. Like several modern premium rods, the Asquith II has a longer reel seat with dual locking nuts. It is not a major issue, but a shorter, more compact reel seat would be a welcome refinement.
Short-Range Performance: 20 to 30 Feet
At 20 feet, the Asquith II immediately felt faster than the Winston Air 2. It was extremely accurate and light in hand, with excellent line speed. It put the fly where it needed to go, but there was not much feedback from the blank at that close range.
At 30 feet, the rod began to bend a little more into the middle, while still maintaining impressive line speed, turnover, and control.
Key takeaways at short range:
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Very accurate
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Light in hand
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Fast and crisp
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Limited feedback at 20 feet
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More feel begins to show around 30 feet
Mid-Range Performance: 40 Feet
At 40 feet, the Asquith II moved into its comfort zone. You could feel the power begin to engage deeper into the blank, and the rod delivered a fast, controlled loop with very little wasted energy.
This was the first distance where the rod really started to show what it was designed to do. The recovery was quick, the tracking was strong, and the power felt readily available.
Longer Casts: 50 Feet and Beyond
At 50 feet, the Asquith II had plenty of power. This is clearly a rod designed to perform well at 40, 50, and beyond.
It is accurate, powerful, and extremely light, but it is also more sensitive to casting input than the Winston Air 2. The Air 2 has a larger, smoother sweet spot. The Asquith II rewards a clean, tight casting stroke, but it will also let you know when your timing is off.
Best attributes at distance:
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Excellent line speed
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Strong tracking
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Plenty of reserve power
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Fast recovery
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Accurate loop control
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Performs best with a clean casting stroke
Best Uses for the 5-Weight Asquith II
The 5-weight Asquith II feels stout for its line class, especially in the tip. For anglers who like a fast-action trout rod that can generate line speed, punch into wind, and handle larger flies, this is a very impressive tool.
This rod makes sense for:
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Larger dry flies
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Foam patterns
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Light streamers
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Hopper-dropper rigs
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Windy conditions
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Longer trout presentations
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Anglers who prefer faster rods
With a true-to-weight line, it feels best once more line is outside the rod tip. A slightly heavier line, perhaps a half-size heavy line with a longer head, could help the rod come alive sooner at intermediate distances.
G. Loomis Asquith II 9-Foot 4-Weight
Why We Compared It to the Winston Pure 2
The 4-weight comparison was a little different because we put the Asquith II up against the Winston Pure 2.
The Pure 2 is designed more specifically as a dry fly rod, while the Asquith II is built as a faster, more versatile all-around trout rod. This made for an interesting comparison because the two rods have very different personalities.
First Impressions
The Asquith II 4-weight has an exceptionally slim blank profile and feels incredibly light in hand. Much of that likely comes from G. Loomis and Shimano’s Spiral X technology and the proprietary blank construction used in the Asquith series.
It immediately feels like a fast, technical 4-weight rather than a soft, traditional dry fly rod.
Short-Range Performance: 20 to 30 Feet
At 20 feet, the Asquith II 4-weight behaved much like the 5-weight. It was accurate, light, and smooth, but there was not much feedback from the blank. You could feel a slight load in the tip, but this is not a rod that deeply bends at short range.
At 30 feet, the rod started to show more life. It produced a lot of line speed and turned the fly over easily, though it would not be my first choice for presenting tiny dry flies to extremely wary spring creek fish at close range.
Short-range takeaways:
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Accurate and light
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Minimal feedback at 20 feet
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More responsive around 30 feet
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Generates a lot of line speed
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Not the most delicate close-range dry fly tool
Mid-Range and Longer Casts: 40 to 50 Feet
At 40 and 50 feet, the Asquith II 4-weight became much more impressive. The rod loaded more into the midsection, recovered quickly, tracked extremely well, and delivered strong, clean loops with excellent control.
For a 4-weight, it has a surprising amount of range and power.
At these distances, the rod stood out for:
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Fast recovery
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Strong tracking
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Clean loop formation
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Impressive power for a 4-weight
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Excellent performance at 40 and 50 feet
Best Uses for the 4-Weight Asquith II
The 4-weight Asquith II is not what I would describe as a delicate, close-range dry fly rod. For that kind of fishing, the Winston Pure 2 offers more feel and feedback.
But if you want a 4-weight with speed, recovery, reach, and surprising power at distance, the Asquith II is absolutely worth a look.
This rod makes sense for:
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Longer dry fly presentations
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Windier trout conditions
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Faster water
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Anglers who like high line speed
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Technical casters who prefer fast rods
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Situations where reach and recovery matter
Asquith II vs. Winston: Different Tools for Different Jobs
Winston Air 2 vs. G. Loomis Asquith II 5-Weight
The Winston Air 2 feels smoother and has a larger sweet spot. It is more forgiving and easier to feel through a wider range of distances.
The G. Loomis Asquith II is faster, lighter, and more powerful. It rewards a cleaner casting stroke and offers impressive accuracy and line speed, especially at 40 feet and beyond.
Winston Pure 2 vs. G. Loomis Asquith II 4-Weight
The Winston Pure 2 is softer, more delicate, and more feedback-oriented. It is a true dry fly tool with excellent feel at shorter and medium distances.
The G. Loomis Asquith II 4-weight is faster, lighter, and more powerful. It is better suited to anglers who want a 4-weight with more range, speed, and recovery.
Quick Comparison
The Winston rods stand out for:
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Smoothness
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Feel
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Feedback
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Forgiveness
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Delicate presentations
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Larger sweet spots
The G. Loomis Asquith II rods stand out for:
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Line speed
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Accuracy
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Fast recovery
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Power
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Lightweight feel
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Longer-range performance
Final Thoughts
The new G. Loomis Asquith II 4 and 5-weight rods are impressive casting tools. They are light in hand, fast, accurate, and capable of generating a tremendous amount of line speed. They are not soft, traditional trout rods, and they are not trying to be.
The 5-weight Asquith II is best suited for anglers who want a powerful, fast-action trout rod with the ability to handle longer casts, wind, larger flies, and more demanding fishing situations. It performs especially well once you get into the 40- and 50-foot range, and it likely has plenty left beyond that.
The 4-weight Asquith II is not what I would describe as a delicate, close-range dry fly rod. For that kind of fishing, the Winston Pure 2 offers more feel and feedback. But if you want a 4-weight with speed, recovery, reach, and surprising power at distance, the Asquith II is absolutely worth a look.
At the end of the day, these rods are different tools for different jobs. The Winston rods offer smoothness, feel, and a broad sweet spot. The new G. Loomis Asquith II rods offer speed, power, accuracy, and high-end performance for anglers who prefer a faster rod and a more precise casting stroke.
The right choice depends on how you fish, where you fish, and what you want the rod to do.
