article by John Duncan
reviews by John Duncan, Richard Post and Parker Thompson
Jump to model reviews: Helios F | Helios D | Helios D Saltwater | Recon
On the whole, we buy the materials story. Helios cast with an efficiency that can be felt in the fingertips, an airy feel with easy line release and the impression that the rod knows what it is doing. High accuracy is undeniable and especially proven in the saltwater rods, but material efficiency also enables a less-is-more approach to trout rod engineering that appeals to anyone with an eye for cutting edge design.
In freshwater models, Helios F and Helios D are not widely differentiated. Both are designed as versatile fly rods that lie close to the center of the action spectrum. On a stiffness scale of 1-10, Helios F are a 5.5 and Helios D approximately a 7. Neither represents an extreme action, which is perhaps why these rods are so popular. They are broadly useable, doing a lot of things well in high percentage angling situations. There are cases in which we wish certain models were more specialized. For example, the Helios F 7’ 6” 3-wt could be tuned more specifically to creek fishing and neither Helios 9’ 6-weight is adept with streamers, but the rods are unilaterally castable and fishable at a wide range of distances with nymphs and dry flies.
The Saltwater models are sensational. They just knocked our socks off. We can say, without hesitation, that they challenge or surpass any on the market. It has been a long time since we cast a group of rods that were so spot-on for their line weights and purposes. We were even more impressed with their polished blank tapers. The most curmudgeonly tribal skeptic must admit that these rods are in the highest percentile of power, feel, lightness and castability in the full range of potential shot distances. They represent a stunning design achievement.
We also tip our cap to core Recon models. The 9’ 4, 5 and 6-weights are serious fishing tools, designed with ideal all-purpose action, impressive power and instant castability. The mid-priced rod shopper will be rewarded for choosing one of these fine fly rods.
As with any broad series of fly rods, there were models that impressed us and models that we would leave behind. Most of the Helios are terrific sticks, however, and we hope that these reviews help fine tune your rod selection and fly line pairing. If you fish a well-chosen Helios, you are likely to seek others for your quiver.
ORVIS Helios F Reviews
Helios F 7’6” 2-wt
John Duncan: Wonderful with a Scientific Anglers Trout Standard WF2, this model offers a true medium action and highlights Orvis’s ability to design a rod taper for the most specialized light rod in the series to cleverly match the best of the longer models with supple flex and an ideal loading point for a short graphite fly rod. In design, it has a slightly stiff tip section which forces flex into the middle of rod and brings out a delightful springy action, but the stiff tip integrates beautifully with the second section and feels neither heavy nor wobbly. Not only does this rod feel spectacular, it also casts and fishes in the ideal range for a graphite creek rod. Not limited to pocket water, the Helios F 7’6” 2-weight can fish up to about 35 feet and handle a leader up to 11’ in length, a versatile small water fly rod.
Parker Thompson: The 7’6” 2wt Helios F is a fantastic small water fishing tool. Just like all of the shorter Helios rods, it’s wonderfully light in hand and throws beautiful loops. The rod loads easily in close, forms a tight loop almost immediately, and still holds its form on longer casts. This is a very well-rounded little rod. Though it will be happiest throwing a single dry fly, it is also more than capable of handling a light dry dropper set-up as well. I paired this rod with the SA Amplitude Trout Standard WF2F line and was very pleased with the overall performance. This rod will handle any dry fly style taper but casts best with a shorter headed line like with the Trout Standard.
Helios F 7’6” 3-wt
John Duncan: The Helios 7’6” 3-wt loads and casts compactly with a Rio Gold in the 25’ range, but there is a disconnect between the tip and butt section that creates a distinct hinging feel, forcing the rod to flex the same amount regardless of how much line you’re trying to cast. A heavy-headed line (like the Rio Creek) might cut through all of that, bouncing off the stiff butt section, but the rod feels unrefined with a Rio Technical Trout or SA Trout Taper, great in that 25’ range but poorly loaded shorter or longer. The blank taper lacks sophistication as compared with the Winston Pure 2 3-weights or the Scott GS 773-4.
Richard Post: To be fair to this miniaturized Helios, I am traditionally skeptical of graphite 3 weights under 8’ in length. They need perfect tapers to achieve a smooth bend when they get this short. I don’t believe I had the right line either, a Rio Gold didn’t kick the rod into gear until about 20 feet and I like my little rods to get going at shorter distances. My line choice would be a Rio Creek or SA Creek Trout line. Both have specific short heads and a shorter overall length that puts the right bend in a short fly rod. Remarkably light in the hand, you get the sense that the cork is far and away the main contributor to weight. A very small and light reel along with one of those creek style lines will tune this rod up just right for the folks who like little versions of their favorite 5 weight to carry creekside.
Helios F 10’ 3-weight
John Duncan: I was impressed by how well this long 3-weight remains engaged with its fly line. It’s a smooth operator with an SA Trout Taper, which has a 67-foot head, fitting for extra-long rods. It loads intuitively and turns over the leader naturally up to about 40 feet, beyond which the purpose of this rod, technical nymphing, is irrelevant. While much heavier than a 3-weight dry fly rod, the stability and overall fishability of this model are elite.
Parker Thompson: I am, admittedly, not typically a 10’ fly rod lover but the 10’ 3wt Helios F from Orvis definitely caught my eye. As you might imagine, it is a very slow fly rod designed for European style nymphing, but with a weight forward fly line you can actually form a nice loop and cast the rod pretty well. With a traditional fly line, the rod loads very deep and can roll cast a lighter nymph rig adeptly. I cast the SA Amplitude Trout WF3F on this rod and was impressed by how the rod handled the line.
Helios F 11’ 3-weight
John Duncan: I found little that I liked in the 10’ 3-weight in this 11’ model. It flops rather than casts, disengaging from its fly line. The dedicated Euro nympher doesn’t value overhead casting qualities in an 11’ 3-weight. It’s all about line control and strike detection. This 11’ model will offer superb line control for mending, steering and lifting on the strike, but less sensitivity than its 10’ 3-weight cousin, which is simply a lighter and tighter fly rod.
Richard Post: The euro rod of the Helios lineup. The Helios 10-footers all feel Euro-capable, but not Euro-specific. European nymphing rods identity on their own terms and this becomes evident when you line one up with a traditional WF fly line. They feel awkward and require some combative casting corrections to achieve a preferable loop. Fish the Euro line as intended and the whole thing makes sense, feels appropriate with plenty of length and a pleasant lightness, with a blank that holds its 11’ length in repose. You don’t get the sense the tip is sagging down under the weight of its own length. A small fighting butt is a nice touch.
Side note: Most true Euro rods are 10’6” to 11’ and surpass 10’ rods in Euro style nymphing thanks to their length and specific taper that tends to be steep and fast but limber—optimized for contact feeling and lightness with length.
Helios F 7’6” 4-wt
John Duncan: I cast this rod with an SA Amplitude Trout taper and was surprised at how well it handled the long line head, feeling like a double taper at most distances. Smooth, controlled and with sensational feel, I liked this rod just as much as the 2-weight and would say it has a similar “medium action” with stiffness deliberately toned down to accommodate it’s sub 8-foot length. Many short graphite rods have a single sweet spot, casting with a hinge, because it’s hard to design a rod that tapers finely from tip to butt with just 7’6” to work with. Nice job, Orvis. The Helios 7’6” 4-weight throws effortless tight loops from 10’ to about 35-40’, at which point it reaches the end of its range.
Parker Thompson: This is a very fun shorter 4wt rod. Unlike other short graphite rods that can feel overly stiff and soulless, the 7’6” 4wt Helios F is an incredible caster, has superior feel, and is perfectly tuned for small water dry fly fishing. This rod creates a seamless connection between the caster and the fly line giving you the ability to manipulate loop shape, adjust casts with line in the air, and put the fly exactly where you want it. I cast this rod with the SA Amplitude Trout WF4F line and was very pleased with how the rod and line paired with each other.
Helios F 8’4” 3-wt
John Duncan: This is a useful dry fly rod that turns over long leaders with touch and sensitivity but doesn’t play well with light-headed lines such as the SA Trout Taper, which don’t load the rod sufficiently and cast as if the line has lots of memory, even when completely stretched and smooth. The Rio Technical Trout casts more smoothly for small dry flies, but still reveals imperfections in the rod taper, while the Rio Gold XP WF3 casts best of all, a line that lends to fishing modest sized terrestrials (size #12-16) and light dry-dropper rigs rather than the smallest technical dry flies. I’m still searching for the ideal line on this rod, one that I can cast 25-45 feet with excellent loop control and the feeling of connectedness I crave in a long, fine, lightline fly rod.
Parker Thompson: This is a great rod for fishing small dries, long leaders, and technical water. It doesn’t quite have the feel of a rod like the Scott G Series, but it has a little more backbone and will handle the wind better. It feels lighter than most other mid-length 3wt dry fly rods and has very low swing weight. This rod is very smooth and an easy caster. I played around with the SA Amplitude Trout WF3F and the Rio Elite Technical Trout WF3F and both of them feel good.
Helios F 8’6” 4-wt
John Duncan: This model is undeniably light in hand and springy in character but feels a bit bouncy with a Rio Technical Trout. I vastly preferred it with an SA Trout Taper, which seems like a good choice for the intended fishing applications for this rod: dry flies and light dry-dropper rigs. It casts with great line speed from 20-40 feet, a useful distance for fishing dry flies on a freestone or spring creek. With the SA Trout line, it loads evenly and casts gorgeous loops. Casting tempo is “medium-fast” rather than “medium,” one of the quicker sticks in the Helios F Series and clearly the little brother of the F 8’6” 5-weight.
Richard Post: This rod is a study in line pairing. Our first impressions of the rod were of a very one note, but purposeful, automatic casting rod that delivered the cast without much feedback or nuance, just good visual feedback, but not a lot in the hand. We cast a couple lines our first go around and the Rio Gold and Rio Technical Trout both lines left us with the same impression. The second time, we cast the SA Trout taper and SA Trout Standard taper and found ourselves holding a completely different fly rod. Both SA Trout tapers gave the rod a supple and springy character, loading the blank progressively in a manner resembling the best Helios models we’ve cast. A soft and stable tip that loads into a butt section that remains stalwart with that pleasant “rock back” and rebound. Line speed is generated expectantly but tuned and matched to the line and application. Even casting and delightful and a reminder to everyone out there, Y’all tune your fly rods! A great fly rod might be a fly line change away.
Helios F 9’ 4-wt
John Duncan: One of my favorites in either the Helios F or D series, the F 9’ 4-weight casts dry flies effortlessly to about 55’, a rangy light rod for fishing small and medium sized flies on long leaders for spooky trout. The rod has a sophisticated taper with the perfect relationship between the 4 parts to allow mid-rod flex without a heavy tip. This is high level rod design. The tip flexes elegantly, creating gorgeous dry fly loops with no effort from the caster and imparting the sense of touch and feel associated with “medium action” fly rods, but subtly stiffens toward the mid-section so you can still hold the line up high on the back cast. Awesome. Lightness and feel radiate from this beautiful rod. I would describe the action as medium or medium-fast, certainly not a slow action graphite rod that flexes into the cork. My favorite line for the Helios F 9’ 4-wt is definitely the Rio Technical Trout which brings out all of the rod’s best qualities and seems ideal for the widest range of leader lengths and dry fly sizes.
Parker Thompson: The Helios F 9’ 4wt is a lovely casting rod. Just like all of the Helios rods, it’s incredibly light in hand and very responsive. This is a rod that will be happiest throwing a single dry fly but it has enough power to make for a great dry-dropper rod as well. It’s a remarkably smooth caster with great feel. This is one of those rods that is very intuitive and extremely easy to cast and maneuver. I played around with a couple different lines on this rod and like the Rio Elite Technical Trout WF4F best. The SA Amplitude Trout WF4F is good at distance but isn’t quite heavy enough to load in close.
Helios F 8’6” 5-weight
John Duncan: 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.
Richard Post: 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.
Helios F 9’ 5-wt
John Duncan: I love this rod with either an SA Amplitude Trout or Rio Technical Trout. The former offers the highest line speed for small flies and tight loop. The latter loads the rod more deeply and would be the best choice for a range of fly sizes, including hoppers and other terrestrials up to a size #10. Like the Helios F 9’ 4-wt, the 9’ #5 flexes with natural sweetness through the top half of the rod but stiffens pleasantly toward the middle, giving the caster a platform for adding power to the cast, whether quickening one’s stroke or adding a modest double haul. This is a fisherman’s rod, although even a complete neophyte would recognize its lightness and impression of design efficacy.
Richard Post: Most anglers are going to assume that the Helios F 9’ 5 weight is a moderate action rod that is best served in a lighter touch dry fly scenario. Yes and no. The 5 weight Helios F is a wonderful technical dry fly tool, but this rod has so much more range and character. This is Orvis’s most versatile 5 weight. I found this rod to be line tolerant and morphed with the taper of the various lines nicely. An SA Trout needed a little bit of line to get going but cast with the expected grace and nuance of a technical dry fly weapon. The Rio Elite Trout put a little more load recognition and feedback into my hand and engaged the rod more quickly than the SA Trout. This rod is a fun driver, it gives you just a hair more than you put into it. I would use the Rio Tech Trout as my daily driver on this rod and I would put a Rio Gold on there for more dedicated dry dropper work.
Helios F 9’ 6-wt
John Duncan: This would be a wonderful rod for fishing dry flies in New Zealand, Patagonia or other places that call for a 6-weight with tippet protection capability. It is also excellent for nymphing with light tippet for heavy trout (like on the Taylor or Frying Pan). Not much softer than the Helios D 9’ 6-weight, the rod has a stiff enough butt section to double haul with confidence and fish terrestrials up to a size #8. It will handle a variety of popular 6-weight lines, but my favorite is the Rio Technical Trout, a line that once again lends to dry fly fishing rather than streamers or heavy nymph rigs. Avoid specialty streamer lines, such as the Rio Outbound or SA Titan taper, which will overload the rod and cause wobbly instability.
Parker Thompson: The Helios F 9’ 6wt is admittedly pretty similar to the Helios D 9’ 6wt in overall action and taper design. It is definitely not as fast as the D version, but they have a lot of cross-over. The blank is incredibly light, just like the other Helios rods and the rod is a very smooth caster. If you’re looking for a dry fly specific 6wt this is a great option. The rod starts off a little slow but as you give it more line it really starts to shine. This is a great rod for longer dry fly shots. I threw this rod with the Rio Elite Technical Trout WF6F and was very pleased with how the rod and line played together.
Helios F 9’ 8-wt
John Duncan: More anglers will choose the Helios D 9’ 8-weight for saltwater because the Helios F is characterized as slower action, or even as a “freshwater 8-weight,” but this stunning fly rod will impress even the most experienced flats angler. I cast it with an Infinity WF8 and was blown away. It is a superb caster with elite feel, slightly slower than the Helios D 9’ 8-weight but perfectly tuned to a long headed fly line, flexing just a little deeper, engaging a few more inches of graphite, supporting and shooting the line with such natural ease it seems they were made for each other. Although the casting cadence is slightly slower than the Helios D, line speed is equal and loop shape extraordinary. I even noticed that the trajectory of the loop/leader/fly was exceptional. The leader unfurls above the water, extending and settling like a perfect dry fly cast for trout, a bonefish rod with unusual presentation capabilities.
On the freshwater side, I would recommend this rod over the Helios D (or just about any other 8-weight) for bass, pike and salmon. It will cast a wind-resistant fly better than it’s faster action cousin, naturally forming those long, semi-open, all day casting loops without taxing the caster with frantic, ineffective strokes while trying to shake the first 30 feet of line out of the tip.
This is a lovely and lethal fly rod.
Parker Thompson: This is a very fun 8wt rod. It isn’t quite as stiff as the Helios D 9’ 8wt, but you could argue for having it in any saltwater quiver. This would make for an incredibly fun bonefish rod; it has the sensitivity and feel of a 7wt but still has the power to toss flies into the wind on the flats. From a casting standpoint this is a rockstar. It throws wonderfully tight loops and is very easy to manipulate. This is an incredibly intuitive fly rod that virtually everyone will cast well. It takes a little bit of line to really get the rod going, but it comes to life with 30’ or so of fly line out. I cast the rod with the SA Amplitude Infinity WF8F and thought it performed very well. If you plan on fishing this rod in the saltwater consider a traditional Bonefish taper like the SA Amplitude Bonefish WF8F or Rio Elite Bonefish WF8F.
ORVIS Helios D Reviews
Helios D 10’ 4-weight
John Duncan: Possibly my favorite 10’ 4-weight, this rod makes light of an incredibly difficult design proposition: to build an extra-long, light line fly rod that flexes evenly and possesses enough stiffness in the butt section to support its plus length while still offering the temporal rewards of choosing a 4-weight over a #5 or #6. Several of my least favorite fly rods are 10’ 4-weights, but this rod is wonderful. Medium fast action with a progressive character, the Helios D 10’ 4-weight feels miraculously balanced at every casting distance. The secret is that the rod blank does all the work. There is just enough weight in the tip and tip mid to naturally load the rod by simply rocking it back and forth. Crisp but never stiff, lively but never loose, this polished fly rod offers power for casting all distances with elegant touch for detecting the most subtle strikes, whether on a long subsurface stillwater chironomid presentation or the most gentle pluck of a swung soft hackle.
It was spectacular with an SA Trout Taper WF4 and I’m sure it will cast and fish any long-bellied line that is approximately true to line weight, including the full host of sinking lake lines.
Richard Post: The Helios D 104 is a step up in power and substance from the Helios F 103 and the more appropriate rod for fishing larger nymph rigs and big water. In my mind, the Helios F 311 is the Euro nymph rod of the lot, although all the light line Helios 10-footers are capable of Euro-style techniques. The Helios D 104 is powerful and exact in the hand. The same long stable butt section sensation I get in the Helios D 9-foot rods is exaggerated in the 10-footers, which hold the line up in the air with a commanding feeling. That same long and strong but easily accessible bottom end makes this rod a powerfully performing water-based caster. Single Spey and long roll casts are built into the DNA of the Helios D 104. Control over the loop shape is something to note as well. Wide level power wedges and V Loop lasers were cast down range readily and interchangeably. 10-foot rod aficionados will appreciate this rod for its control and matter of fact purposeful performance. I miss a small fighting butt on this model, but that is merely personal preference.
Helios D 9’ 5-wt
John Duncan: The flagship model of the Helios D trout lineup represents the object of this series in a medium-fast action fly rod that is exceptionally light in hand, transmits outstanding feedback to the caster and performs a wide range of techniques with high capability. In character, I would describe the rod as airy and nimble. It releases fly line with minimum resistance and tracks very efficiently unless overloaded. Like the rest of the freshwater models, the 9’ #5 is true-to-line-weight, refreshing in today’s genre of fast action rods categorically designed to fish specialized, heavy-headed lines.
My favorite lines on this rod are the Rio Elite Technical Trout or Rio Gold for dry flies and the SA MPX for larger terrestrials and dry-dropper rigs. Nymphers, take note: I particularly recommend this rod as a nymphing stick, paired with a Rio Elite Gold XP line which extrudes a confident, deep load from the rod and delivers a strike indicator and weighted flies with a perfect semi-open loop. Stack mending and roll casting come naturally with a long-headed line like the Gold XP, too, because the rod responds energetically to subtle techniques.
Parker Thompson: This is your classic “do it all” 5wt rod. It isn’t quite geared for heavy nymphing or streamer fishing but will work great for fishing dry flies, dry-droppers, or lighter technical nymph set-ups. It’s feather light in hand and throws beautiful loops. Similar to some of the other Helios rods, the 9’ 5wt requires a bit of line to get it going in close, but once you can get your loop formed the rod behaves very well. The mid to long distance is where this rod feels the most at home. I played around with several different fly lines on this rod and felt that the Rio Elite Gold WF5F was my favorite from an all-around casting and fishing standpoint.
Helios D 9’ 5” 5-wt
John Duncan: Another excellent long rod in the series, this model fishes beautifully with an SA Infinity Taper which loads it naturally for short casts and offers outstanding loop control with above average line speed at distance. It’s a rod that exemplifies the Helios D series: fast and powerful but not “stiff,” light and easy-loading but impressively stable. It has a progressive character, fishing from short to long, flexing incrementally with each additional length of line. It is a rod that demonstrates “balance,” both in terms of lightness and also, most importantly, in the amount of work it does for the angler. The Helios D 9’5” 5-weight is best tuned for dry flies, dry-dropper and nymph indicator rigs. It will handle size #10-#12 streamers but lacks the extra-stiff butt section of a heavy streamer specialty rod.
Parker Thompson: The 9’5” 5wt Helios D is a great western big water nymphing rod. It doesn’t possess the raw power of a rod like the 9’6” 5wt Centric from Scott, but it is more sensitive in the tip and will perform better in technical nymphing situations. With a lighter nymph set-up this rod roll casts and mends exceptionally well. If the heads come up and fish are rising it will also throw dry flies with the best of them. It is a wonderfully smooth casting rod that fishes well in close and has excellent touch and feel for its length. I cast it with the SA Amplitude Infinity WF5F and thought the rod handled the line pretty well. If you’re fishing really light flies consider something with a less aggressive taper like the Rio Elite Technical Trout.
Helios D 10’ 5-weight
John Duncan: This is one of the slower action rods in the series, but quite pleasant to cast and easy to use for all-water techniques, including overhead casting, single hand Spey, roll casting and line mending, a terrific fishing tool in a surprisingly attractive package. There is nothing loose or sloppy about the action of this fly rod, but a moderately stiff tip and forgiving mid-section engages the middle of the rod on all but the shortest casts, so more patience is required on the backcast than with the Helios D 9’ 5” 5-weight. I recommend the SA Infinity WF5 for nymphs or the Rio Elite Gold XP for dry flies or swinging soft hackles. Optimal fishing range is 30-50 feet, or shorter when high sticking.
Richard Post: This is a fine long 5-weight, but I preferred the 4-weight and felt that rod had less limiting character. The Helios D 105 is a very specific rod in the way it casts and fishes at varying distances. That long stable butt section is a little tighter on this model and this does a couple things in my hands. In close, the rod casts off the tip nice and easy, very automatically and assuredly. The tip is light and easy to place line with, accordingly. The rod feels stalwart and exact, with just the slightest little rock into the upper portion of the lower end of the rod. That butt section starts to drive when you get some line out and the stored power is noticeable.
The rod preferred a tighter loop and then sizzled, but if you don’t meter the power a little bit with your haul hand you can get more line speed running out of the rod than the blank prefers. Sitting back on the rod a little gave me a bit more overall performance, though the blank likes to be pushed. I would place this rod as best suited to exacting the utmost control over an unruly long indicator rig. It has a small-ish modified wells that I prefer for a rod of this length and like the 104, lacks a fighting butt.
Helios D 9’ 6-wt
John Duncan: This is a tight-loop 6-weight that uses the whole rod to generate line speed, rather than merely casting off the tip, excelling in dry fly fishing with small and medium-sized flies. I would specifically recommend the Helios D 9’ 6-weight for fishing match-the-hatch dries in the Northern Rockies, Northern Patagonia and other places that have too much wind for a 4-weight. This rod is tuned for high performance under the right conditions, but with a tight window for fly line tolerance and with limited applications. Some 6-weights are like offroad pickup trucks. This one is a race car. It casts dry flies magnificently and will handle light nymphs and dry droppers comfortably, but heavy lifting is out of its zone.
Lines with extra heavy heads throw the rod off axis. For example, it can’t handle a Rio Outbound or SA Titan Taper. Streamers larger than size #10, including all articulate and conehead streamers, will overwhelm the stability of the butt section, resulting in challenging, cumbersome casting. The hardcore streamer rod in the lineup is the 9’ 7-weight saltwater model, but this 6-weight is light and responsive enough to fish with pleasure in situations normally approached with a 4 or 5-weight. My favorite lines are the SA Amplitude Trout Taper, with which it throws immaculate, tight loops at distance, and the Rio Elite Technical Trout, which loads the rod more deeply for fishing a wider range of flies, including hoppers. This rod underlines the reputation of the Helios series as light and sweet.
Richard Post: A great all-around 6-weight for the western trout angler, the Helios D 9’ 6 weight is easy and approachable to anglers of any skill level. The Helios 9’ 6 weight never struck me with a feeling of wonder in my palm, but the visual results out of the rod tip were wonderful: perfectly smooth parallel loop lengths laying out in front and flying back in repose. I just couldn’t get the feedback into my casting hand to match what I was seeing. A good caster can adjust the applied pressure in accordance with their vision and make music; put a blindfold on that caster and they can still play the symphony but not without exceptional feedback to the casting hand. I believe this rod performs in a manner that puts the rod in the driver’s seat rather than the caster, and that can be a great thing for the right angler. I found the 9’ 6 weight to be a little line sensitive with the Rio Gold being my top choice. In my mind this is a great western trout rod with a focus more on dry dropper and indicator techniques over dedicated streamer fishing.
Helios D 10’ 6-weight
John Duncan: Much heavier and stiffer than other Helios models, the 10’ 6-weight is workmanlike with an SA Infinity Taper, a popular line choice for single hand steelheading and big river nymphing. It possesses plenty of spine for lifting sink tips or full sink lake lines, but I found this model out of character with the rest of the series in that it lacks feel and lightness. I didn’t really like it with the Infinity Taper, but perhaps it would cast a streamer line or full sink lake line with greater engagement. Overall, it casts more like a 7-weight.
Richard Post: The Helios D 106 has a big rod feel and in my hands seems like something more than a trout rod, at least trout in the Lower 48. I got a strong sense of intentional taper design from this rod. In close the loops are open and almost stubbornly so. You have a hard time tightening them up at close ranges, but the more open loop has a hard-driving and purposeful sense. The loops tighten up quickly as you lengthen the line out of the tip and it is pretty darn easy to dump out the whole line from that initial proper load. The Helios D 106 can absolutely drop bombs with an Infinity WF6F. The visual feedback is very good and you can see the loops leaving hot and level, but the feedback along the blank is best described as muddled. No matter what length of line I had out, the rod had a flat sensation of rod loading. You can really hammer it and watch it launch line, however. My sense is that this an Alaska-built 10-foot 6-weight, with open loops at closer distances for indicator bead rigs and an easy automatic ability to reach out across the river with plenty of bottom end pulling power. The Wells grip is of the same design as the saltwater Helios models with a smaller fighting butt.
Helios D 10’ 7-wt
John Duncan: I love this action for a single-handed steelhead rod, whether swinging or nymphing. The rod is “medium fast” with a lovely progressive flex, a limber, sensitive tip and plenty of power in the stern for playing heavy fish. It feels light for its length and possesses a magic wand wand err when reaching, mending and steering the fly, as well as ideal sensitivity for maximum successful hookups when the line comes tight on the swing. I loved it with the SA Infinity WF7 and could tell that it possessed plenty of power for working with heavier nymph lines, such as the SA Anadro Indicator/Nymph or Rio Gold Max. This is an outstanding angling tool, elegant in long casts but unafraid of doing the dirty work.
Richard Post: A great 10’ rod for the 10’ rod angler, the Helios D 107 is light for its length, easy and intuitive with instant engagement from the tip. I found the Helios D 10’ 7-weight to have a pleasantly noticeable load point with a perfectly matched turnover, automatic enough to be predictable but not so automatic that you feel like you’re in a casting simulator. It casts nicely off the upper third and has a statuesque lower that proudly keeps the tip up and backcasts high. This is a smartly built, efficient and purposefully built long 7-weight to handle long distance and big water conditions with aplomb.
ORVIS Helios D Saltwater Reviews
Helios D 8’5” 7-wt
John Duncan: This rod casts a Rio Elite Bonefish WF7 with a nice, tight loop and cuts the wind cleverly. It is super light on the swing and offers excellent natural accuracy as a benefit of its length. The butt section is very stiff and the tip super light. In my hands, it lacks the balance of a more progressive action rod, a pea shooter rather than a paint brush. While it doesn’t fit my personal preference for rod feel, any angler would appreciate its deftness on the flat. This would also make an excellent streamer rod, especially from the driftboat or John Boat, and I expect the stiff butt section will excel with short-headed specialty lines such as the SA Titan Taper.
Parker Thompson: This is a very unique fly rod. As you might imagine, it is incredibly light in hand and super easy to throw all day. It gives you great loop control and can drive nice, tight loops into the wind without much trouble. The rod feels a little sluggish in close, but once you get more of the fly line head out, it performs very well. On longer shots this rod is killer! You can hold up a tight loop all the way into the backing which is something that can be tough with shorter rods. I played around with the Rio Elite Bonefish WF7F on this rod and couldn’t have been happier with the pairing. If you make a lot of close shots, consider a line with a slightly heavier head like the SA Amplitude Bonefish Plus WF7F.
Helios D 9’ 7-wt
John Duncan: Modern, light, responsive and commanding, I cast this rod with an SA Amplitude Bonefish Plus WF7 and a Rio Elite Redfish WF7 and was equally impressed with the line speed, accuracy and casting efficiency demonstrated with both lines. While not quite as light relative to its line weight as the 9’ 8-weight, I’ll say that I would reach for this rod with a big old smile on my face regardless of wind conditions, anticipated casting distance or fly size. It would make an electric light bonefish rod, throwing the tightest possible loops with an SA Bonefish Taper WF7 (my favorite bonefish line), but also possesses maximum power and stability in the lower rod for the heavier Bonefish Plus, Redfish and Flats Pro lines, as well as heavy trout streamer lines including the Rio Outbound, SA Titan and Rio Predator. In addition to being a world class saltwater 7-weight, this is the best heavy trout streamer rod in the Helios series.
Richard Post: A high line speed machine, the Helios D 9’ 7 weight absolutely rips loops with lightning speed. Similar to the 9 foot 8 weight, the 9’ 7 weight feels like its superpower is the control and implementation of high line speed. A slightly quicker tempo was best with the 7 weight. I cast it with the SA Bonefish Plus and the Rio Redfish WF7F. The Bonefish Plus felt like a proper match. The Redfish was a little light and airy until you had the full head out. A line that puts a little more weight towards the front taper is a better fit on the Helios D 9’ 7 weight. This is the Helios rod I would choose for larger streamer trout work in a 9-foot length. It has the right amount of stability in the lower to lift and return the meaty stuff. I would identify this rod as a flats stick, foremost. The preference for line speed presentations and a strong butt section gives you the sense that you aren’t fishing down with a lighter rod. More bonefish than redfish in my hands, it doesn’t quite load up as miraculously as the 9’ 8 weight, but with a little line tuning this 7 weight would make for a great redfish rod as well.
Helios D 8’5” 8-wt
John Duncan: I like the balance of this rod a little better than the 8’5” 7-wt because there is less of a difference in stiffness between the tip and butt. It swings a little more naturally and with more polished use of the whole rod. All of these 8’5” saltwater rods are best paired with short-headed fly lines a little on the heavy side, such as the SA Grand Slam taper or Rio Bonefish Plus. Once again, the design of this rod features a light tip and very stiff butt, so it would support a heavy streamer line, if called upon. If you like the SA Grand Slam line, this rod casts it very well, with better presentation than longer rods. This pairing would make a stealthy light permit rig for Mexico or Belize.
Parker Thompson: The 8’5” 8wt Helios D from Orvis is a rocket ship! Just like the other shorter saltwater rods in the series, the 8wt is insanely light in hand and feels like a 6wt. This is a rod that will be happiest on a boat but if you’re not wading super deep you can also use it on foot. It throws extremely tight loops and will cut through the wind better than most 8wt rods out there. I was very impressed with the accuracy and control you have with this rod. I cast it with the SA Amplitude Grand Slam WF8F. This is not a line that I traditionally like but this rod handles it better than almost any other rod I’ve thrown it with. If you want something a little lighter give the SA Amplitude Bonefish Plus WF8F a go.
Helios D 9’ 8-weight
John Duncan: Among the finest 8-weights I have ever cast, I put this rod on a pedestal for its optimum combination of lightness, power, control, feel and overall fly rod appeal. It blows my mind. It makes heavy lines feel light. I first cast it with an SA Amplitude Bonefish Plus WF8 and was shocked by the line speed and precision it delivered. On the backcast, I could feel the rod load with my eyes closed but never felt the heavy line head pulling the rod off axis. Stability throughout the rod is uncanny, but it’s also one of the lightest, most sensitive 8-weights I’ve ever swung. The flex profile of this rod is immaculate from the standpoint of fishability, but also through the lens of nit picking rod design critique, a lifetime accomplishment for the rod designer and model icon for the whole series.
Fish this rod for bonefish, redfish, permit, schoolie stripers, pike, salmon, golden dorado or peacock bass. It will handle any 8-weight saltwater line, but for the flats, I would start with the SA Bonefish Plus WF8, a match made in heaven.
Richard Post: The Helios D 9’ 8 weight is an exceptional 8 weight. We cast the rod with an SA Amplitude Textured Bonefish Plus WF8F and had to pick our jaws up off the floor because the running line kept getting hung up on them. This is a rod and line combination to pay attention to for the flats angler. The Bonefish Plus taper is highly versatile and I like the line with fly sizes from a #1 Deceiver down to a #8 Charlie. You have a rod and line that are capable of handling the breadth of bonefishing, all the redfishing save for the biggest bulls and flies, most of your modern day permit fishing, and general purpose saltwater inshore.
The 8 weight is perfectly balanced, powerful, playful, precise and lovely. You feel instantly connected to the rod and your intuition is allowed to drive. It was easy to daydream away the gymnasium and imagine myself placing casts to scissory bonefish tails. The tip of the rod is tremendously sweet. I have a soft spot for a fast action rod with a just-right tip that lets me finesse the last little bit of the cast. This is a rod that returns two fold what you put into it, the level of response and control is at the pinnacle of fly rod performance. You can speed up and really dig into the blank, and the next cast you can back it right off and lay down a soft and sweet little teardrop cast. It’s akin to all the best 9 foot 8 weights out there, but with a feel and sensation that is completely unique and about as perfect as perfect is.
Helios D 9’ 9-wt
John Duncan: While neither as light in hand nor sweet in the tip as the 9’ 8-wt, the 9’ 9-wt is primed for power and distance like few other saltwater fly rods. It casts with laser accuracy and shocking line speed in the hands of a strong angler. Using a heavy-ish line, like the SA Bonefish Plus or Rio Outbound, will load it for shorter shots and make it more user-friendly for a caster who is accustomed to the flex and feel of trout rods.
Saltwater critics will absolutely love this thing. The command at distance is unsurpassed, a rod that asks for power and delivers power. On the water, the angler will have no problem picking up a long line for a second or third shot, which really counts when you’re working a permit or big bonefish at 50 or 60 feet. Some rods just can’t pick up and go with that much line on the water, but this one sure can. It’s suitable for juvenile tarpon up to 40 lbs and plays well into 10-weight fishing purposes for roosterfish, heavy striped bass, large barracuda and even king salmon. Also an ideal “9 ½-weight” for heavy permit, it will fish great with the SA Saltwater Infinity Plus, which is a full line weight heavy in grains but offers extra casting control and final fly placement thanks to its trout-like taper.
Parker Thompson: This is right in the middle of the 9wt pack in terms of overall action and physical weight. It doesn’t cast as sweet as a rod like the 909/4 Scott Sector but is very easy casting. It is a nice and smooth rod that is fairly intuitive. Just like many other Helios D saltwater rods, the 9’ 9wt is a little dull in close but excels on longer shots. The overall action and sensitivity in the tip make this an excellent permit rod. I cast the SA Amplitude Bonefish Plus WF9F on this rod and was very happy with how the rod and line worked together. If you wanted to stiffen the rod up a bit consider either the Rio Elite Bonefish or SA Amplitude Bonefish lines.
Helios D 8’5” 10-wt
John Duncan: While this rod would unquestionably fish best with a short-headed line, I threw it with an SA Infinity Salt WF10 and was impressed by how smoothly it cast and the rod’s ability to hold up a long backcast in spite of its 8’5” length. Like the 7 & 8-weight, this #10 has a light tip and really stiff butt section, so it casts with a well-defined flex point in the middle of the rod. It is quick, stable, accurate, light and highly effective in the wind, a legitimate tarpon 10-weight and go-to stick for heavy permit and striped bass from the boat.
Richard Post: The Helios D 8510 is a cool rod, short and powerful without being clubby, providing the caster control off the tip with a WF10F line. Surprisingly smooth for a short 10 weight, the 8510 D gives you the sense of strength and empowerment through placement. It is not simply a load it and let it rip rod. It casts with control and incremental power as well as it shoots. I could tune it up easily, but I never felt like I had to tune the rod down. It was easy to stay in control. The 8510 pendulum casts like a champ and the short, stout lever gives the angler a lot of quick control to turn a fish. Big snook around structure and close quarters tarpon fishing come to mind. I bet this rod would find a welcome home as a boat rod for pulling on some mid-sized bluewater quarry also.
Helios D 9’ 10-wt
John Duncan: I cast this rod with a Rio Elite Tarpon WF10, which has a heavier head with more abrupt taper changes than many other tarpon lines. The rod casts it beautifully, loading and generating line speed even before the whole head is aerialized. It is great on the short shot, turning over the leader and fly effortlessly yet deliberately even when casting just off the tip. We expect this from 4-weight trout rods, but it’s a major benefit for high line class saltwater rods, too, because so many shots come at short range, especially in windy conditions or when visibility is impaired by dark bottoms, cloud cover or chop. The rod flexes progressively, engaging the line effectively at every casting distance and shooting over the horizon with tremendous power. Accuracy, efficiency and feedback to the caster are superb. Without feeling heavy or clubby, this rod fishes high in its line class, an excellent choice for striped bass, tarpon, large permit, roosterfish and king salmon.
Richard Post: This is a 10 weight that you ought to consider. First impressions of the Helios D 9’ 10 weight were lightness in the hand and ease of casting. Right away the 10 weight formed loops and did not have that inherent hollow lag most big rods have until you get enough line out of the tip. I formed loops with the leader, and you could feel the rod increase its level of engagement with the line as you gave it more. Once that easy energy is achieved, the 10 weight has true rocket launcher line speed with a penchant for laser loops. There is a tremendous amount of easily accessible power in this blank. A Rio Elite Tarpon WF10F was just right on there and is tailor made for its namesake quarry, but I would reach for this line as a big permit option as well. This is a 10 weight with a lot of touch and finesse that also has bottom end strength and high, high line speed capabilities. A 10 weight that can rip out blind casts to the horizon in search mode and place it in a teacup when you’re playing the spot and stalk game, this is one heck of a fly rod.
Helios D 9’ 11-wt
John Duncan: A ripping tarpon rod built to shine on the A List flats of the Caribbean including Florida, Mexico and Belize, the Helios D 11-weight fishes high in its line class and offers all you will need in a rod for adult tarpon. There are lighter 11-weights on the market, but few that can match the Helios D for power and control. I threw it with an SA Amplitude Tarpon WF11. While it loads and presents the fly alright on short shots, the most impressive casting power comes from the middle of the fly rod once most of the line head is in the air. From 40-80 feet, it casts with unsurpassed power, tightest loops and supreme accuracy. The Scott Sector may feel lighter and slightly more progressive, but the Helios D 9 11-wt generates the highest line speed without any special requests from the caster. We’re splitting hairs, but this rod simply must be considered in any discussion of the world’s best unlimited 11-weight. It wants to cast long, strong and very fast.
Helios D 9’ 12-wt
John Duncan: With an SA Tarpon Taper, this rod loads easily and casts from the center of the rod. It wobbles a little with the whole line head in the air and lacks confidence for an aggressive shot in the wind, but I noticed that it tightens up and regains stability when I apply a double haul for the final presentation. So, it casts pretty well but feels a little weird. Overall, I would qualify this model as “easy casting,” but probably not elite in lifting power or line speed, especially in the hands of an advanced caster who fishes a 12-weight when conditions are slipping away from feasibility for the fly angler.
Parker Thompson: This is an incredibly easy casting rod. It’s maybe not the rod I would reach for if I was chasing big GT in the Seychelles (where you want the absolute stiffest and most durable rod), but it is a great tarpon 12 for the guy that prefers a 12 over a 10 or 11. 12wt rods are traditionally kind of a pain to throw and can get heavy on longer days but the Helios D 12wt is an exception. It is a rod that most people will cast well and won’t tire you our like some others will. I threw this rod with the SA Amplitude Tarpon WF12F and it was a great pairing.
ORVIS Recon Reviews
Recon 9’ 4-wt
John Duncan: The fundamental action of the Recon series shines in core models, including the 9’ 4, 5 and 6-weight. This rod is heavier than the Helios F 9’ 4-weight, but casts with a medium-fast action that is super versatile on the water and with greater ability to cast large flies in the wind. My favorite line pairing is the Rio Elite Technical Trout, with which this rod casts naturally both short and long with excellent accuracy and convincing line speed.
Richard Post: The Recon 9 foot 4 weight is a good looking and smooth casting moderate-fast rod. You get some of that same tall butt section feeling and off-the-tip sweetness found in the Helios but not quite as light or lightning-feeling springiness as the best Helios rods. The Recon rods load more incrementally and prescribed. You feel the load building and you get a wonderful sense of crispness along the back of the rod at turnover. It feels solid and exact with an appropriate lightness in hand for this build. The tip is a little stiffer and you’ll be better served with a higher, more abrupt stop. The line lays out nicely. You get a pretty piece of wood for a spacer and aside from a slight deadening in the butt section, you sacrifice very little with this competitively priced 9 foot 4 weight.
Recon 9’ 5-wt
John Duncan: This is an excellent fishing tool, especially with nymphs, small streamers, dry-droppers and larger single dry flies. After casting both Recons and Helios, I noted that the Recon 9’ #5 and 9’ #6 may be Orvis’s best streamer rods. This model offers the angler confidence for making long casts in the wind and using awkward fly rigs, including weighted flies and strike indicators. It casts a Rio Gold, SA MPX and Rio Technical Trout with equal capability, truly a versatile 9’ 5-weight!
Richard Post: All the Recon rods I cast were very good, the 5 weight being no exception. You get a well made and attractive rod in the Recon series with on-the-water performance that leaves little to be desired. They are good rods that will serve any angler well. The 9 foot 5 weight Recon is idealized for trout fishing with an action that you expect and appreciate in an all-around 9 foot 5 weight: moderate fast, encouraging and with enough substance behind the blank to make you feel confident getting the fly where you want it.
Recon 9’ 6-wt
John Duncan: I was very impressed with this powerful, easy casting fly rod, Orvis’s best 6-weight for streamer fishing. It’s not as light as the Helios F or D but possesses greater butt section power for muscling heavy streamer lines and double hauling your nymph rigs. Excellent with a Rio Gold, it casts for distance with great accuracy and line speed, a surprisingly well-tuned and refined fly rod for this price. Fish it with a Rio Gold, SA MPX, Rio Gold XP, Rio Gold Max, SA Infinity taper or any popular streamer line, such as the Rio Predator.
Parker Thompson: This is a rod that casts and fishes above its price tag. It’s got plenty of backbone to fish streamers but also has good feel for more technical techniques. I was very impressed with the loop shape. It throws beautiful loops at all distances and is very easy to maneuver. I wouldn’t be afraid to fish dry flies, heavy nymphs, or articulated streamers with this 6wt. For an all-around floating line, the Rio Elite Gold WF6F or SA Amplitude Infinity WF6F are both great options. If you want to use this as a dedicated streamer rod, I would recommend the Rio Elite Predator family of fly lines.
I bought two Orvis Recon rods last year: an 8’6″ 4 wt that I lined with a Rio DT Trout and a 9′ 6″ wt with an Orvis labeled SA line. Both rods perform well above their price point. I would say they are the best bang for the dollar in freshwater trout fishing these days. I am going to add a 10′ 7 wt for the Great Lakes Steelhead, And since I live about 20 min from the salt here in CT- a 9 wt for the Stripers and blue fish might be in order too.