Orvis Helios F 8’6″ 5-weight

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   We all loved this rod, definitely one of my favorites in the series. Like the 8’6” 4-weight it is medium-fast in action, a model that seems to bridge the Helios F and Helios D fly rod families. Fish it with an SA Trout Taper or Trout Standard, the latter of which shoots better at short and mid distances. It’s a rod that almost anyone would love at first cast, super light and full of feel, playful and responsive while also a lethal tool. It has plenty of guts to fish dry-dropper rigs, but the dry fly angler will appreciate this rod most. Its range peters out around 45-50’, but that’s where we catch all of our fish, right? This rod strikes an ideal balance of power with lightness and feel without sacrificing stability, a highly polished fly rod with the material feel of being alive.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   This is one of my favorite rods in the Helios F series. It is stiffer relative to line weight than most rods in the family but still possesses the classic feel of the Helios F rods. The rod throws beautifully tight loops and can drive flies into the wind better than the longer 5wt rods in the series. This is a wonderfully well-rounded 5wt that can handle anything you throw at it. I was very impressed with the overall performance of this rod. Other rods in the Helios F series are feel-oriented but the 8’6” 5wt is the sports car of the family. It is designed to perform well regardless of conditions and is a very well-tuned rod. I experimented with the SA Amplitude Trout Standard line on this rod and it was a perfect match.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   This rod stood at the top of the box for me in the Helios F series line up. This is an easy caster out of the box & the blank is perfectly fast without losing touch or accuracy. Anglers will find that the tip settles quickly and connects you to your fly lightning fast. For a 5wt, this rod has great power and makes headwind casting manageable. I had the chance to cast the SA Amplitude Textured Trout Standard and felt the combo was complementary. Casting accuracy is top tier and line pick up comes with ease on this racehorse. This is a rod that will fish equally well walk wading or from a boat, and placing a fly on rising fish near the bank or in a pocket with delicate accuracy should be no problem. Single dry flies, dry dropper, nymphing or small streamers all speak to this rod’s capability. If you’re in the market for a new 5wt, put this rod in the running, I think you’ll find it an amazing addition to your lineup.

   Wes Yarnell (Telluride Angler)

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   Dreamy and trout perfect was the first thing that found the legal pad after handing this rod to the next lucky caster in line. The Helios F 865 is a wonderful trout rod and just what I seek in a 5-weight, possessing confident power with measured grace, ushering the angler toward that space where nuance leads, intuition prevails, and experience is allowed to blossom. It is stable and even at distance with a feeling of placement and the line leaving the tip with incremental control. Precise and understanding at ranges inside your shadow, it has a delightful crispness off the tip that leaves your hand happy.

   SA Trout and Trout Standard were the lines, same as the 864, but the Helios 865 had something extra. The 5-weight stayed with me a little longer than the 4. I am personally fishing more 8-foot 6-inch 5-weights, both walk wading and from the boat. Walk wading I find them to turn over bushy dry dropper rigs more readily than a 4-weight and with more control. Out of the boat, the lightness in hand and shorter length aids in accuracy with a hopper or caddis and helps people fish the flies tighter and closer. Anchored up, I like a 9-foot rod for head selection, but casting hoppers to the conveyor belt of cover coming at you as the current carries you downstream feels just right with an 8’ 6” 5 weight. The Helios F 865 is a very good one.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   We have spent quite a bit of time over the last year casting the majority of the Orvis fly rod lineup. While the majority of this was done in a park or the alley behind the shop, I have had the opportunity to test this model on the water. I have fished it with everything from a light and techy nymph rig to a a long leader dry fly setup. This rod is stable and smooth, light in hand, and delivers the fly (or flies) with wonderful accuracy. There is no shortage of great 5 weights out there but this model certainly holds it own against the competition.

   Troy Youngfleish (Telluride Angler)

6. Rated 5 out of 5

   Of all the Helios F rods I cast this was by far my favorite. I am a huge fan of 8 ½ foot rods and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. It felt more like a fast action rod and I initially thought that it was a Helios D, which is probably why I liked this rod so much as I almost always gravitate to stiffer rods. This rod was quick and springy while still feeling smooth, an excellent caster. It could be a very versatile rod, good for hopper droppers, single dry flies (small or big) smaller nymph rigs, or even small streamers. I would choose this rod for throwing hoppers at the bank from my boat any day of the week.

   Curtis Nelson (Telluride Angler)