Orvis Helios F 10′ 3-weight

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   I’m no Euro nympher, but 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.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 4 out of 5

   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.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Pay attention to this rod. The Helios F 10’ 3 weight is a unique tool with broad appeal to trout anglers. This rod checks all the boxes for a technical nymphing rod. I did not say, specifically, a Euro nymphing rod, although the rod certainly performs this work with aplomb, rather technical nymphing. I would go farther and call this a technical trout fishing rod. At 10 feet, the angler is afforded the reach for tight line/contact techniques, and given this rod’s affinity for the fly cast, the angler can reach out across the river with a single Spey cast. That is hard to do with a Euro rod, but easy with this one.

   This rod really does cast lovely loops, light off the tip, progressive into the blank with a taper that is a hair more even than the other 10 foot Helios rods. I liked a true to line weight WF3F line, and the loops, line speed and touch all line up to make the Helios F 103 a viable and eager dry fly rod. Testy trout in tricky lies that tempt the angler are where this rod will shine. The fly angler that has everything, does not have anything like this rod I guarantee. There is a sweet little fighting butt on this model, a touch that I appreciate in a rod over 9 feet in length. If you know me personally, or have fished with me as a guest of the guide service, you are aware that I am not a nymph fisherman at heart. I don’t own a single 10-foot fly rod and usually cast through them in an occupational sense and try to appreciate the rods for what they are to the greater fly fishing community, but not so with this rod. It gave me pause and I think it will do the same for you if you get it in your hands.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)