

I’m also the millionth person on the planet to mention that the Helios 3F ugly. However, as soon as I re-tied a smoother knot, the problem with the double-foot guides went away. On my rods with single-foot guides, the connection always feeds well regardless of how clean I tie the knot. I’ve found that this junction doesn’t go through the double-foot guides as well as it does on the single-footers unless the connection is perfectly smooth. When euro-nymphing, the line/leader connection is feeding through the guides often. The other thing I don’t enjoy is the use of double-foot snake guides rather than single-foot guides. That omission needs to stop now: I don’t like reaching up to place my hooks on a stripping guide or stabbing holes in cork. The rod doesn’t have a hook keeper, a feature that’s becoming standard in the industry. So, is the rod all sunshine and rainbows? Nope. Either way, I can consistently put the fly exactly where I want. Of course, maybe I suck at casting and can’t tell the difference. The Orvis is just as accurate as the Sage, but not more so. It makes sense, then, to compare the Orvis Helios 3F to my Sage ESN. Of course, Sage has been making this claim for years with its Konnetic HD technology. Now, is it “accurate from anywhere” as the brand claims? It’s supposedly the most accurate fly rod out there due to the lack of side-to-side rod movement in the cast. I believe this makes it the most versatile euro rod out there. With the Helios, virtually all the bend is in the tip. My ESN, Recon, and Hydrogen all bend lower in the rod blank when casting. It’s common for euro rods to have that type of action, but the Helios has the stiffest butt and midsection out of all the euro rods I own. These sections are stiff and quite sturdy. While the Helios has a soft tip, the butt and midsection are anything but. But setting up your rod to nymph takes a little practice and a little help at first. Nymphing gives you an option to fish both on the water and below it. This rod is so sensitive that I can honestly feel the difference between my flies ticking a rock on the bottom and a trout eating my flies. The soft tip leads to a more sensitive rod, which allows an angler to maintain better contact with their rig.
#Orvis helios rod review full
This is vital when casting a monofilament leader and lightly weighted nymphs instead of a full fly line. It allowed me to reach over currents that I couldn’t with my shorter rods and helped eliminate sag - which causes drag on euro systems - at farther distances. I fished the 10’6″ Helios next to other euro rods that were only 10 feet in length, and I appreciated the extra distance the Helios gave me. Ultimately, the Helios 3F fits this description. Rods for European style nymphing are generally longer, lighter, and a have a softer tip than your regular 9-foot 5-weight.

Standard Euro Actions & How the Rod Compares Yes, it’s ugly, but at least everyone on the trout stream will know you’re accurate from anywhere, bro. However, in a euro-nymphing situation where an angler is often close to fish, any degree of stealth is helpful.įor the long moments when you’re off the water, the Helios comes in a black rod sock and a white aluminum tube with a logo similar to the one above the cork handle. There’s no way to tell for sure if it makes a difference. The blank is matte-gray, which I like because it may help avoid spooking fish. We tested Epic's 8-weight 888 FastGlass fly fishing rod in Montana waters to find out how it stacked up. Graphite has largely unseated fiberglass from its throne, but the classic material has had a resurgence lately. Correct balance pays dividends over an entire day of high-sticking in regards to shoulder fatigue.Ī Heavier Rod That Handles Light: Epic 8-Weight 888 FastGlass Rod Review The additional mass of the fighting butt and pushing the reel further down the reel seat help the rod balance at the cork handle. This rod sports these features due to the longer length of the rod. The rod features high-quality cork and a down-locking reel seat with a fighting butt. Helios 3F Review: Appearance & Components Then, when the sighter straightens or pauses, the fisherman sets the hook, as this indicates that a fish has intercepted the heavy flies mid-drift. The angler holds the bright sighter off the water in a high-stick fashion to maintain contact with the flies. The technique utilizes weighted flies to achieve depth (as opposed to split shot) and a bright monofilament section of line, called a sighter, in place of a traditional strike indicator. Read more… What the Heck Is ‘Euro Nymphing’?Įuropean nymphing is a modern nymph fishing method born from competition fly angling. When you traverse the globe in search of exotic fish species - and burn up all your PTO days to get there - gear should be the last worry on your mind. Top Travel Gear for Fly Fishing Destinations
