So Just How Good Are The Orvis Helios Rods?
This spring I spent the big bucks and bought an Orvis Helios tip flex 8 wt rod and very quickly fell in love with it. It was so much lighter than my other 8 wt I could hardly wait to get it strung up and head down to the local lake and fish stocked trout with it. From my first cast I've been very impressed with the rod. I've hand 8 wt floating, type III sinking line and sink tip, 9 wt floating and 7 wt clouser line on it and it hasn't disappointed me yet. The type III sinking and 7 wt clouser lines seem to work the best of the lot. The thing will cast anything from a small wooly bugger to a large bass bug or fly rod spinner bait without complaint.
Ok, enough of me singing the praises of this rod. What I really want is an objective opinion not necessarily of this rod but any of the other Helios line of rods from people who have had other premium quality rods. What, in your opinion, are your rods strengths and weaknesses? How would you judge it for accuarcy on both near and far targets? What do you think your rod is best suited for? Bonefish or carp on the flats? Bass bugging, pike, trout?
I'd like to end up with a more measured and considered opinion of this rod because right now I think I want another one!
I guess I'm the Only One With One of These Rods
Judging by the total lack of replies to this thread I guess I'm the only one with one of these rods. I KNOW some of you think as much of your favorite rod as I do mine and I also KNOW there are a lot of rods out there that are excellent. My problem is I have no idea how my rod or any other rod in the Helios lineup stacks up against any other rod. I've been searching the fly fishing magazines for a test report but nothing. Orvis has had a few of their Zero Gravity rods tested against other rods but for some reason none of the new Helios rods.
Be that as it is I love how effortlessly this rods casts due no doubt by better technique on my part but also the melding of all the various parts of this rod that make it what it is. It's so light it's like waving a feather and line just flies through the guides.
Just to see how much power this thing has I've got half a notion to put some 10 wt floating line on it and see if I can cast a rapala or some other light crank bait using a regular overhand cast with maybe a double haul thrown in to see how far I can get that thing out. If that works maybe keep on going up the weight and wind resistance scale till I can't get it out 30 ft. I've got time this weekend. It should make an interesting experiment.