Reading a short article in Wire Magazine led me to look at Orvis Helios on the web.

For anyone who have actually tried and played with these rods, AND/OR know about the graphite and resin going into the Helios, is it indeed as light/tough as they claim so that it is significantly different from other companies' graphite?

Curious,
Mo

No.


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I recently held a helios. I didn;t cast it but just gave it the "tip shake". It was light and very impressive to feel but I can't say it was anymore advanced than some of the other top end rods/blanks I have had the luck to feel. Who ever Orvis pays to do they're marketing obviously deserves a bigger contract because they are doing a fantastic job, evident by the fact we are even discussing this issue.

matt

I wouldn't look to a company like Orvis (who doesn't even manufacture there own blanks) to be the "cutting edge" of blank technology. I read one post from a guy who had bought one and he did like it. But, he said one of the ways they reduced the weight is by using a cheaper reel seat as compared to the nice nickel silver seats found on higher end rods. Orvis sells a lifestyle (of which they are masters). But, not necessarily the best rods.

A neighbor tore a page from a magazine he was reading and gave it to me just the other day. The article was about the material Orvis is using to build the Helios fly rod blanks. The material is a unidirectional carbon fiber that the military is using to build the Predator Drones, Spy Satellites and Helicopter blades. Until recently it was a very well hidden military secret concoction. Traditional sheets of carbon fiber are woven to create a matrix that's strong in every direction. The advanced brew's tapered pieces of graphite employ a high temp epoxy and eliminate the need for a grid, decreasing the number of fibers and cutting weight by up to 25 percent.
The story goes, 3 men ( one had access to the material) hooked up with Orvis and rolled this unidirectional material into a tube, thus was born the Helios. A 9 ft fly rod weighs just 2.1 ounces and costs about $750.00.
These are quotes from the article in the magazine.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

I read that same article and thought what a great line of baloney we are expected to believe. The 'patent medicine' pitchmen are still at work.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

Nearly all the early graphite rods were made from unidirectional carbon fiber. The higher modulus fibers, however, cannot be utilized in that fashion because of their stiffness - they won't take the perpindicular and small diameter bend that is required in rolling a fishing rod shaft/blank. And, putting fibers anywhere other than linear, tip to butt, reduces efficiency because you don't make the most of the material's stiffness for the weight involved.

Yes, there's some marketing baloney involved, just as in most all fishing rod advertisements. But, Orvis is still a good solid company with excellent customer service. The Helio rods probably cast nicely and work just fine.


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According to the article, they would outcast the best Bamboo with small flies.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

It's funny how every new thing (technology) is a secret that has just now been released by the military or NASA. Probably a very nice rod. But, hype is hype.