I am looking at maybe adding a more “traditional” reel to the arsenal for my 4wt & 5wt. One of the reels under consideration is the Orvis CFO. They seem to be one of the iconic reels. I understand they are now made overseas and that seems to be the only major gripe I have read about them. They are on sale through the end of January and it seems to be a good deal.
I have heard a lot about the “sound” of the CFO when a fish goes on a run. That seems to be the biggest selling point for a lot of folks. Is this “sound” unique to the CFO or do you get the same “sound” on other Orvis reels like the BBS? With the sale, the CFO is pretty much in the same price range as the BBS and I am just wondering if the CFO is a better overall reel. Also, this reel does not have a sealed drag. Does that mean you can’t submerge it?
Just my opinion but I’ve never been a big fan of the CFO (I see them as being “iconic” like a lot of British sportscars - cool to look at but they spend more time on a mechanic’s lift than in your garage). Bought one back in 1983 for smallmouth fishing which required a lot of rock scrambling and that reel couldn’t take what I consider even a moderate amount of unintentional “abuse” - spool frames bent from making incidental contact with rocks. When I look at what I put my Lamson LPs through there is no comparison; the Lamson is a tank. If you’re not going to submit the CFO to any kind of abuse, it’s a nice enough reel; maybe the ones I had were just “soft” and they’ve improved their ways.
The new CFO’s are not really the same as the old British made CFOs. They may be fine but they are different. I have a couple of old ones that have been great, no problems. But I haven’t drug them around on rocks either.
The old click and pawl CFO’s were very smooth operating, very light, a purred quite nicely (not as loudly as their hardy cousins). They were cast and machined aluminum and were subject to very easy distortion, dings, cracks, and even cuts in the line gaurd from line stripping. I have had a few, and sold them not becuase they weren’t a joy to use, but because they were so delicate. The new ones seem beefier, but don’t spin as easily, and the sound, although similar (because of metal clicker on a metal gear) do not sound as sweet. The offset drag is pretty useless as well. Youd be better off with a C&P reel and palm that thing if a good fish runs. If you must have a disc drag reel, then i suggest going with a Galvan Standard or Ross Cimarron (old, non LA style).
I use the CFO disc. I have a bunch of the older ones. I have 3 of the CFO III Disc and 5 spools and another of the smaller CFO 123 disc and a few spools. They are all in the spruce green color, all made in England. I love them. The drag is great smooth & strong if needed, they purr like a kitten and I love the classic traditional look designed by Stan Bogdan. They even pair up nicely with bamboo.
Homer Henkin (was that his name?) who died young in the late 70s wrote a book on tackle and callled the CFO delicate. Well, I’ve still got my CFO III from '74 and it hasn’t ever been a problem and I’m not easy on gear. (It does have a smooth groove on the line guard where line has worn it down.) I also have a CFO IV which is my “go to” trout reel. I love 'em. I’m sure there are other good reals that are tougher…shoot, a Medalist can say that.
Very nice reels. Hard to find a flaw with them really. I agree with a previous post though…the best one made was the old click-pawl. Wish they would bring them back.
