Review retrieval timed out
I was given a Clearwater Classic outfit for Christmas last year after my older (and nicer) rod bounced out of the back of my truck. 8'6" 5wt 4pc. The rod did everything it was supposed to and the reel was OK. This outfit helped me land my biggest freshwater fish of my life (5lb 24" lake trout).
I used the Reel as a backup because I really like my BBS III much more. Unfortunately while traveling the real seat bracket broke off of the clearwater reel. the next week, I broke the tip off of the rod while fumbling around in the boat. Luckily the folks at Orvis said that if I bring them into the store, I can get it replaced! Now I just have to get back to a store!
All in all, it is a good product for the beginner. When a rookie mistake breaks something, you aren't out big $$$.,This is a continuation of the review I put on the 9' 5 wt. After just a short while of use, my reel seat came right off my rod while I was using it, sending my reel falling onto rocks one day (resulting in a dented spool) I quickly realized that the rod blank only extended about 1/4 of the way into the reel seat, and the rest was some sort of cheap cardboard-like composite material that they wrapped over the rod blank. It was crumbling and peeling apart like a banana. After finding out they won't cover return shipping charges, and warranty returns cost $30, I fixed it myself with epoxy. A week later as I'm routinely checking my rod for imperfections, I noticed one of the snake guides has a clean crack in it right before the thread wrap. Well, that was it for me.. I've fallen on my Hydros before and bent a snake guide and it held up, but to have these issues on the Clearwater rod without any actual physical damage done is unfortunate. I will be sending it back for in-store credit, and will pick up an Access when they go on sale. The reason for 3 stars is because the rod itself felt great aside from the issues I was plagued with. I'm also curious to see if the reel seat on the Access and my Hydros are cheaply made like that.,I purchased this rod after accidentally leaving my Orvis streamline rod at a casting lesson. The clearwater rod, a 5wt 8'6, is a nice rod. It cast streamers quite well. I am new to the sport but the rod feels like quality (but then again so did the streamline). I brought in a 3 pound bass with it.,I had a Clearwater II #4 8` 6" which was ideally suited to my type of river fishing (dry fly small to medium river). I was very happy with the rod until there was a mishap and the third section broke. I went along to my local Orvis shop at Bakewell and the rod was exchanged for the later Clearwater,the mkIII under the 25 year guarantee. What an improvement this is. Presenting a fly with this rod is a delight,no effort at all,and that comes from a trout fisherman who will not win any competitions for casting. Thanks Orvis. Thanks Bakewell.,This rod is excellent. The durability is superior, and here is why. i was fishing in Shenandoah national park, i was going up a steep bank, i tripped and fell down about 5 feet and landed right on my rod which was on two rocks and i landed on the part in the middle in the air. As i got up i braced myself for the worst, i was relieved even though i had taken a hard fall right on it, it didn't break. Not to mention it casts great. The line flies out. the 865-4 is a great all around trout model. You can't go wrong.
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