Orvis Helios D 8’5″ 7-weight

Reviews

1. Rated 4 out of 5

   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.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   This is a very unique fly rod. As you might imagine, it is incredibly light in hand and is 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, the rod starts to perform 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.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Wow, this rod is a true casting machine that wants to send line with minimal effort. This is a big fresh water capable stick with a matching saltwater application. The rod speaks power with grace while still having a light feel in hand. I cast it with a Rio Bonefish line and the two were right at home with one another. If you’re looking for a rod that will fish saltwater flats and also perform well on big rivers and lakes, looking for bass or seeking out Redfish from a boat, then put this 7wt on the list of rods to consider.

   Wes Yarnell (Telluride Angler)

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   I get Outcast song “So Fresh, So Clean” in my head, but the lyrics are twisted around to “So Light, So Fast.” The Helios D 857 is a featherweight line speed driver. A bonefish taper really brings out the high octane off the tip lightness. I found the same thing as the 858 D with the streamer style lines, but a shade less pronounced in 857 D. I’d like to put a soggy deer hair Dungeon with the appropriate sink tip on the rod and get the exact sense of how it handles. I believe the weight of the fly will give the short heads a little more bite into the blank and load the 857 D’s quick load window just right and fish nicely back to the boat given the shorter length. My test casting appreciated the feeling of the bonefish taper on the rod, and it was just pure fun to zip around. It throws the pendulum cast marvelously, a necessary tool for fishing under docks and tree lines. It has similar applications to the 858, but I give the 857 an edge for a quiet, calf deep bonefish wade.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)

5. Rated 4 out of 5

   I found this rod to feel a little stubby and strange, however at the same time fun. It’s pretty quick and sends line at distance. To me this could be a super fun streamer rod from the boat and will definitely handle sinking lines and all different sizes of streamers.

   Curtis Nelson (Telluride Angler)