The Rundown: Everything You Need to Know About the Airlite Versa Trout Fly Rod

Welcome back to “The Rundown,” an editorial series where we provide an all-encompassing look at the latest and greatest products from your favorite brands in the fly fishing and outdoor space. Here, we’ll run over high-level info, tech specs, and our opinions—all paired with a behind-the-scenes interview with product designers who have poured their hearts into bringing these creations from blueprints to the showroom floor.

In this installment of The Rundown, we take a look at Airlite Rods, a new rod company from the minds of Jeff Wagner, President and CEO of Mayfly, and Gareth Jones, General Manager of Airflo. Airlite sits under the Mayfly Outdoors suite of brands, which includes Abel, Ross, Airflo, and more. The goal with Airlite is to bring affordable, performance-driven fly rods to the market. So join us as we dive into the Airlite Versa Trout, a versatile medium-fast action trout rod.

Background:

Airlite launched in the US in early 2025, with a goal of building performance-driven fly rods and reels at an affordable price. These days, premium fly rods retail north of $1000, and even “budget” fly rods start around the $500 point. There is not much out there for anglers looking for an affordable fly rod worthy of their fishing. 

Jeff Wagner and Gareth Jones recognized this gap in the market and set out to develop a solution. Airlite, prior to its US launch, had been quietly building a following and developing rods in the United Kingdom for two decades. With a passion for designing rods, Wagner and Jones went to work refreshing the Airlite lineup and bringing modern aesthetics, prior to the US launch. Come launch day, Airlite had crafted a complete line of rods and reels tailored to practically every fishing scenario anglers may come across, from trout to bonefish.

What’s New:

Fly anglers have unique fisheries and demanding needs. Airlite set out to deliver a product for everyone at an affordable price. Their lineup consists of six rod models, the Vitesse, the Cargo, the Salty, the Glide, the Adventure, and the Versa Trout, ranging from 8’6″ 3-wts to 9′ 10-wts, along with two different reels. For the purpose of this piece, we’ll be focusing on the Airlite Versa Trout, an all-around performance trout rod offered in two lengths and four rod weights. 

The Airlite Versa Trout is built around a medium-fast action to maximize the balance between finesse and power. This is ideal in trout fishing scenarios, where accuracy and distance are key. The Versa Trout comes in five configurations, the smallest being an 8’6″ 3-wt and the largest being a 9′ 6-wt. In addition, an 8’6″ 4-wt, a 9′ 4-wt, and a 9′ 5-wt are available. The combined range of rod offerings is designed to cover any type of trout fishing, from small blue line streams to large tailwaters. 

The rod itself features a slick matte olive color that cuts glare when casting to spooky fish. In addition, a half wells cork and unlocking real seat adorn the butt section. It is worth mentioning that Airlite went as far as adding a burl wood reel seat, something often only found on rods three times the price. It also comes with a single lower stripping guide followed by single foot guides, aiding in this rod’s ability to shoot line. 

All the features and aesthetics of this rod come at a price of just $349, which is no doubt affordable. Airlite certainly packed it all into the Versa Trout. For the price, Airlite also offers a surprisingly good warranty program. Each rod has an original owner warranty, which is fairly commonplace among premium rod manufacturers. But what sets this warranty apart is the section replacement program. Customers can request new sections through their section replacement program for a nominal fee. It’s just $25 for a tip section and $50 for other sections, keeping the cost to the owner down and ensuring you get back on the water sooner. 

Tech Specs:

Our Experience:

With tech specs in hand and Airlite’s claims, what Rundown would be complete without some in-the-field testing? At Flylords, we are fortunate enough to be positioned in the Roaring Fork Valley, a short drive from multiple world-class trout streams. So, we did what we do best and lined up the Airlite Trout Versa to see how it lives up to its claims as an all-around trout rod. Since we were testing its versatility, we opted for a 9-foot 5-weight, the gold standard in terms of an all-around rod. 

First off, this rod is a looker. For the $349 price tag, you get a trout stick that definitely resembles its premium counterparts. The flat olive coloring and burl wood reel seat are touches you almost never find on budget-friendly offerings.

On the water, we threw dries, double-nymph rigs, and small streamers. Early spring in Colorado can be tricky, so being able to change between tactics is a must. The medium-fast action of the rod lends itself to this task well. This rod gets most of its power from its but section while paired with a softer tip section. The soft tip aids in tippet protection when fishing light tippets. It also aids in this rod’s ability to roll cast heavy nymph rigs. 

Overall, the Airlite Trout Versa holds up to its name as a versatile trout stick. It’s not ultra-fast, and it’s not technique-specific. It’s a true all-around stick. If you’re a beginner looking for a new rod, the action and price point make this a great option. As for advanced anglers and guides, it’s also worth adding a Versa Trout, or two, to your quiver. If you find yourself fishing premium sticks, the versatility of this rod makes it a great backup if you break a rod on the water. And for guides, the affordability and overall solid performance make them excellent guide rods (you can buy four for the price of some premium trout rods). 

For guides, it is also worth noting that the section replacement program will keep your rods in working order throughout the season. Rather than having to send the entire rod back for warranty, a new tip section costs just $25 and will get you back on the water in no time. 

While the rod certainly exceeded expectations, there are a few downsides worth noting. During testing, we did experience a break in the tip section. While rare, these things can happen, and when they do, Airlite’s warranty program makes the process quick and hassle-free so you can get back on the water fast. The 9-foot 5-weight we tested was also up to the task of throwing small streamers like wooly buggers and muddle minnows, however, it feels undergunned for larger streamers. For that, we’d recommend you look at the Airlite Cargo series.

A Short Interview with Airlite:

After fishing the Versa Trout around the Roaring Fork Valley and putting it through its paces, we were eager to learn more about Airlite. We sat down with Andy Dunn, brand manager of Airlite, to learn more about the company, its rods, and what’s next for the emerging brand.

Flylords: Who are you, and what is your position with Airlite?

Andy Dunn: My name is Andy Dunn, and I’m the Brand Manager at Airlite. I oversee product development, brand storytelling, and work closely with our team to bring innovative, performance-driven fly rods to market. Our goal at Airlite is to build rods and reels that reflect the best of modern materials at a reasonable price—rods and reels that anglers can trust and enjoy from fishing their backyard ponds with kids to chasing bonefish on the flats.

Flylords: When coming up with what would be ‘Airlite’s signature trout rod,’ what are some design elements you/ your team felt to be essential? 

Andy Dunn: We knew our signature trout rod had to be versatile, intuitive, and responsive. From the start, we focused on a medium-fast action that could handle technical dry fly presentations while still having enough backbone to toss streamers or control fish in heavier water. Weight and swing feel were huge considerations—we wanted a rod that feels alive in hand, balanced, and efficient over a full day of fishing. Our team has a combined 50 years of experience designing and building fly rods, and we feel confident the Versa Trout checks all the boxes for the essential trout rod in your quiver. 

Flylords: With a market so filled with rods already, what purpose does the Versa Trout aim to serve? (Who is it built for, and why is it the way it is? Why does it matter that this rod exists?)

Andy Dunn: The Versa Trout was designed for anglers seeking a dependable workhorse trout rod, something that adapts to a wide range of conditions without sacrificing feel or breaking the bank. Whether you’re fishing western freestones, tight mountain creeks, or technical tailwaters, this rod delivers. In a market filled with ultra-specialized rods, we felt there was a need for one that simply excels in all aspects. The Versa Trout matters because it offers anglers—especially those newer to the sport or aiming to expand their quiver—confidence that they’re holding something trustworthy, complemented by a solid warranty program to replace tips and sections, allowing you to get back on the water within a week, and an enjoyable experience while fishing.

Flylords: With Airlite being a new name in American fly rods, why was the Versa Trout a necessary part of the first iteration of rods to come out?

Andy Dunn: Versatility is the foundation of a good rod lineup, and we wanted our first offering to reflect that. Launching with the Versa Trout (and our other complimentary made sense because it embodies our design philosophy: smart, intuitive rods that meet anglers where they are. As a new brand, we didn’t want to lead with something overly niche or flashy. We wanted to prove that we can build a best-in-class trout rod that holds its own on day one—and invites anglers to grow with us as we expand our lineup.

Flylords: What does the future for the Versa Trout fly rod line look like? Any future advancements/ concepts to look forward to?

Andy Dunn: Absolutely. We’re already exploring new lengths and weights to broaden the range of trout rod models. While the current Versa Trout is our foundation, we see this as a platform that will continue to evolve with angler needs.

Final Thoughts:

With Airlite Rods entering the US market this year, their goal was to bring budget-friendly, performance-driven rods to their customers. The current lineup of rods features six models with offerings ranging from trout to bonefish. We got our hands on several of these rods, and all of them lived up to their claims. For trout fishing scenarios, none was better than the Versa Trout. It’s medium-fast action, impressive build quality, and killer price take the cake. This rod is truly an all-around trout stick and one we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend for beginners and guides alike looking for a new rod.