Some years ago I had the chance at the IFTD show to cast one of the first Orvis Helios 2 fly-rods at the time, a 9′ #5 which immediately became a favourite for me at the show. This year I have the chance to “test drive” the 10 foot salt-water version for the line class #7 when flyfishing for seatrout along the coast of Denmark and for rainbow and brown trout at reservoirs in the Netherlands.
The four piece 10′ #7 comes with a nice rod case with some special graphics on it.
The “Made in America” Orvis Helios 2 fly-rods have for sure received more awards than any other flyrod. The thin diameter of the blanks and the very low weight of the rods make them stand out from the other rods, add to that the fast but sensitive action and it is clear why these rods are so popular.
The Helios 2 is apparently some twenty percent lighter than its predecessor but still also something like twenty percent stronger. Especially the tip section has been made much stronger, while the tapers have been improved upon to give the maximum performance.
The grip is made of excellent quality cork, the fillings are small and hardly noticeable.
The salt-water versions all have this type of reel holder. The salt-water versions are all four piece, in lengths from 2,60 up to 3,05 meters, for line classes #6 through 14.
There are five one piece (!) rods in the range as well, all 2,69 meters long for line classes #8 through 12. Except for one model (which is Mid Flex), all models have a Tip Flex type of action, which means a fast action for long casts with great precision.
The stripping guide stands high off the dark blue blank of the Orvis Helios 2.
A good layer of lacquer protects the windings with which the snake guides are secured to the blank against the influences of salt-water.
The tip ring from which long casts can be fired. Next to the salt-water versions, there are also a large number of freshwater rods in the Helios 2 range. Starting with a three piece 1,83 meter long model for the line class #2 (all other freshwater rods are four piece) and extending to two 2,75 meter rods for a line class #6 (one a Tip Flex, the other a Mid Flex). For those who like to cast switch rods, there are five models in the range as well, all 3,35 meter long, for line classes #5 through 9.
As I wanted to present some small dry flies at distance, I first put a WF6F flyline on the rod and as expected this gave me a very fast action and I could keep a long length of line in the air. With a decent double haul I could present the dry fly on a long leader a good distance away. The first trout I hooked on the rod was a powerful 55 cm rainbow trout, but the flex in the rod gave me enough reserve to land the fish on a light 6X tippet.
With a WF7F the rod loads much faster and with this the Helios 2 becomes a comfortable casting tool with which good distances are within reach, even when there are more flies and a strike indicator connected to the leader. I look forward to cast and fish with the rod on different waters this year, I am sure a great many adventures are just waiting to happen.
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