At Orvis, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence in fly fishing gear. Our Helios series has consistently set the standard for performance, and the new Helios D-series is no exception. We've meticulously crafted this rod to meet the highest expectations of anglers, combining cutting-edge technology with thoughtful design enhancements. Easily said. Here, we are excited to share an in-depth review from seasoned angler, Steve Richards, who put the Helios D to the test in various conditions.
Orvis very kindly lent me the new Helios D to try out recently. This got me thinking about my own personal requirements for a rod. I’ve never been someone who’s impressed with a brand name, preferring instead to have something that does exactly what I need. I once had a £60 fly rod rebuilt because I liked how it cast. The Helios is as far away from that cheap rod as you can get, but just how good is it...?
First impressions are important, and the new model comes in the customary solid rod tube, but it was the black rod bag that drew my attention first. Orvis have done away with the standard strings to securely close the bag; now in their place is a strap and buckle system which I quite like.
The rod is very similar in appearance to the previous model - the 3D – which comes with a matte black finish and a white label on the butt section. Each section has a white dot, a standard feature on most top end rods now, helping to align each part as you put the rod together. I’m not a big fan of the white section on the rod and I wish the new model had some distinguishing features on each section to make it different to its predecessor. This only became obvious to me when comparing the thickness of the new rod with the older model though, as I very nearly got sections mixed up.
I’ve tried to take the rod out in various winds to see how it performs, using two different weights of both floating lines and intermediate lines. The D handles being over lined with a 9 weight line no problem, but it was the standard 8 weight floater I enjoyed using the most. This is a rod that I felt could be used for long periods without any discomfort; it is very light in the hand and user friendly.
If you’re after an out and out canon of a rod, then this is not the rod for you. Sure, it’s got plenty of power and can put a decent line out but where it excels the most is in its ability to load the rod quickly. I found I could make casts to 30 and 40 feet with ease and good precision. When casts were made to 60 feet the rod still performed well with no loss of accuracy. Casts to 80 feet and beyond were still possible but I felt the rod performed much better at the shorter distances. For me this is a rod that would be right at home on the flats sight fishing, being able to quickly cast short to mid-range at fish with one false cast a helpful part of your armoury.
One of the things I did find is the rod seems to perform much better if you don’t try to force your casts. I’m used to casting quite stiff 9 weight rods and my technique is not the most graceful. Slow things down a touch and casting becomes a pleasure and the rod responds in kind by allowing the full use of its power.
Fishing wise, I did catch a bass with the rod. It performed exactly as I expected; not too dissimilar to the 3D in that sense. Taking the old rod to the States and catching large striped bass and blue fish gave me a lot of confidence that the new model would have no problems gaining control of that trophy fish.
Price wise, the new Helios is right up there with the very best your money can buy. Is it the best? I couldn’t say but the Orvis warranty is certainly one of the best, if not the best, and for me that’s something that I’d strongly take into consideration when spending money on a top end rod.
Overall, in my opinion Orvis have produced another very nice fishing rod and the only disappointing thing for me is having to give it back.
