Orvis Helios F 11′ 3-weight

Reviews

1. Rated 3 out of 5

   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.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 4 out of 5

   This is a classic length and line weight for Euro style fishing. That is not traditionally my cup of tea, but this rod is very well suited for that application. The rod feels relatively light for the length and won’t fatigue the angler on longer days. With excellent sensitivity in the tip, you can feel the subtle strikes well, increasing your hook-ups. Pair this with your favorite Euro style line and have fun!

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 4 out of 5

   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.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)