Photography by the author, Bob Myaing
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Few outdoor products are so special that our crew of expert editors gets a heads-up over six months prior to release. But any that are deserve a hands-on review, especially when testing amounts to hours spent hiking up trout streams in PA, mountains in the Sierra Nevada, and along windswept beaches in NJ. Such is part of the job when reviewing arguably the most highly anticipated fly rod release in recent years.
During a visit to the Orvis Rod Shop in Manchester, Vermont last summer, I was among a lucky group of gear and fly fishing-obsessed journalists taken behind the curtains to see how the new Orvis Helios rod was developed and crafted under the same roof through a seven-year-long process.
Today 7 February 2024, the hotly anticipated Orvis Helios fly rod hits shops all over the world, and I finally get to share the stoke built by fishing the rod from coast to coast on creeks, rivers, lakes, and oceans throughout the past two seasons.
For those familiar with the landscape of the fly rod market know that the previous generation Helios 3 rod was a pretty big deal when it came out in 2017. High-performance, costly, and painted with a decisive white label that created quite a stir among the opinionated guardians of the pastime. No doubt the new (un-numbered) Helios will bring folks out of the woodwork, too.
What's New and What It Means
Along with updated aesthetic touches, the new Helios comes with an impressive bevy of performance stats that were measured in front of my own eyes in Vermont (while sworn to secrecy). This is where the excitement comes in—four times more accurate, 25% more durable, and a 10% lighter swing weight than its predecessor.
The $1,098 starting price tag isn’t intended to grant its owner smug superiority, but it absolutely does comes with a no-questions-asked 25-year product warranty that will come in handy when your humility rears itself following the crack of a fly rod that just got crushed by an errant car door.
Due to the Helios’ tight manufacturing process at the Manchester rod shop, replacement rod sections will arrive by mail and have you back on the water in five days or less–far quicker than other rods in this category that require the entire thing to be mailed back to the manufacturer for repair over several weeks or months.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re either an angler yourself or at least very interested in going down the wormhole of this gear-rich hobby that diehards might even consider some kind of divine calling.
For the latter crowd, know that the contender for the best fly rod ever made won’t guarantee any more fish than the $100 beginner outfit from a big box retailer. But, if you take your casting as seriously as your catching, then you’ll be in for a real treat every time you shoot line towards a likely lie with any one of the 29 models of the Helios’ fresh and saltwater variants.
One Fly Rod, 29 Versions Available
Now, for the uninitiated, it might not be so obvious why one fly rod needs to come in 29 different versions of itself. Two key variables throughout the range are weight and length; the weight supporting lighter or heavier line to cast different size flies for different size fish and its length providing variable mechanical advantage throughout different casting scenarios. At opposite ends of the spectrum, you’ll find the 7’6” 2-weight with models filling in the range up to a 8’5” 14-weight.
Further segmentation comes by way of Helios D and Helios F models, one providing Distance and power on heavier/longer configurations useful for heftier species and the other Finesse for lighter/longer rods with increased sensitivity and precision on smaller waters.
Hands-on With the Orvis Helios aka My Review
I’ve had the opportunity to fish an assortment of D and F models, but to date have spent a majority of my time within the Helios F family of rods. On small mountain creeks holding bright wild trout, the robust 7’6” 3-weight Helios F was the perfect specialty tool that allowed me to throw tiny bug-imitation flies with laser precision between branches and boulders. Not only did the accuracy of the rod’s tip deliver flies into runs and pools, but it also helped keep (most of) them out of the trees too.
On rivers and alpine lakes, the utility of the 9’ 5-weight Helios F opened up possibilities to cast small streamers, nymphs under indicators, and dry flies at greater distances with exactness that inspired light praise from my guide behind the oars. If there’s one rod to pick out to do most of everything, this is the one to pick.
Moving towards the heavier end of the lineup, the 9’ 8-weight Helios D hauled a heavier line and longer baitfish imitations over crashing surf down at the Jersey Shore for striped bass. Admittedly, I’m quite green to fishing in the salt, but I’m equally excited to hook up with some Pennsylvania smallmouth bass closer to home.
As the old dad joke adage outlines, most fishing casts do not result in a catch. Part of the joy of fly fishing for many is the very act of perfecting these casts, So when you land a 12mm imitation of an emerging mayfly precisely upstream from the fish of a lifetime, it’ll eat without hesitation when it drifts down over its head. If these are the kind of daydreams you find yourself drifting into, there’s no doubt you’ll enjoy any one of the new Helios rods.
Published 02-07-2024
