We’ve recently discovered a defective shipment of our 7, 8, and 9-weight Helios 2 switch rods (items #7A9A, 7A9C, and 7A9E.) We test the load profile of every Orvis rod that leaves our shop, and unfortunately found a few instances where we had operator error and the fixture used to test the rods was making tiny fractures in the butt section. This caused a few of the rods to break at the handle.

The 5 and 6-weight models of the Helios 2 switch rod are not affected.

If you purchased a 7, 8, or 9-weight Helios 2 switch rod, please return it to the following address:

The Orvis Company
Customer Service: Clearwater House
Unit 28 North Way
Andover, Hampshire SP10 5RW

Replacement stock is now available. Customers are welcome to request a refund in lieu of a replacement.

Please feel free to contact our Customer Service team at 0800 298 4003 with any questions.

We’ve recently discovered a defective shipment of our Posi-grip Screw-In Studs (item #9T1G.) The studs were not brazed properly into the screw and have the potential to come out once placed. Boots that are pre-studded are not affected, nor are studs included with wading boots, as they come from a different vendor. This recall is solely for studs sold as a separate pack.

If you purchased your studs after 1 January 2014, please return them to the following address:

The Orvis Company
Customer Service: Clearwater House
Unit 28 North Way
Andover, Hampshire SP10 5RW

Replacement stock is now available. Customers are welcome to request a refund in lieu of a replacement.

Please feel free to contact our Customer Service team at 0800 298 4003 with any questions.

We’ve recently discovered the turquoise and silver beads on the Women’s Mountain River Lanyard (item #7G0K) were strung on a different material than the standard cord due to a difference in bead hole diameter. The material, a monofilament, has proven to not resist the chafing that takes place from the larger holes in the two bead types.

If you feel your lanyard is not performing, please return it to the following address:

The Orvis Company
Customer Service: Clearwater House
Unit 28 North Way
Andover, Hampshire SP10 5RW

We are in the midst of replacing all our existing stock with new seven-strand nylon-coated stainless steel cable for added durability. We will have reworked lanyards back in stock by 1 May, 2014.

Please feel free to contact our Customer Services team at 0800 298 4003 with any questions.

We screwed up. Our 9-foot, 8-weight Encounter reels and lines came in with improper line-to-leader connectors, and in some cases not the leader we specified. The 4-inch permanent loop attached to the end of your fly line was 0.016” instead of the 0.025” diameter that we specified. We should have caught it in our inspection process, but we didn’t. We’re sorry for letting you down.

We’ve enclosed the proper leader for bass, steelhead, or bonefish (a 9-foot 2X Super Strong leader), so that we’re sure you have the proper leader. However, you most likely received a permanent monofilament loop that was much too thin, and thus will not cast as well as it should.

There are three options to get this fixed:

• Take it to your local Orvis store or dealer. Ask them to put a 0.025” permanent butt section on your line. They will happily do this at no charge.
• Take it to any fly shop that’s convenient. We can’t guarantee they won’t charge you for it, but they probably won’t.
• Return your reel and line to us and we’ll put a proper loop on the line. They should be returned to The Orvis Company, Customer Services: Clearwater House, Unit 28 North Way, Andover, Hampshire SP10 5RW. We’ll get your reel back to you just as quickly as we can

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team on 0800 298 4003.

In the summer of 2013, Orvis received a shipment of black nickel Mirage reels in size III and V that were found to be missing a thin washer in the assembly. The issue was corrected before the next series of reels were assembled, however some reels were shipped before we had the opportunity to inspect them.

The symptom does not impact the performance of the reel, yet it causes a hard “crunching” noise while winding the spool under load. You can check for this by adjusting the drag to the minimum setting and applying pressure to the frame and spool while reeling it in. If you feel and hear a noise then it is defective and should be returned to Orvis for repair. Please return the reel to the following address:

The Orvis Company
Customer Service: Clearwater House
Unit 28 North Way
Andover, Hampshire SP10 5RW

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team on 0800 298 4003.

In designing the Battenkill Reel (7H9P, 7H9R, 7H9T), we originally we thought that a pawl on one side only could be used in this reel, and that for right-hand wind the pawl could be flipped over. However, after getting more reels in the field we found that we needed to add mounts for a pawl and spring on the opposite side for optimum right-hand-wind drag. We’ve made this modification and will have reels with pawl and spring mounts on both sides available after 15 June, 2013.

If you have purchased a Battenkill Reel and you wind with your right hand, we recommend that you return your reel to us after 15 June, 2013 and we’ll replace it with an updated model of the Battenkill Reel. This exchange offer is good for the next 12 months. Please contact Orvis Customer Service on 0800 298 4003 for instructions on how to return your Battenkill Reel for an exchange.

The following image shows the difference between the original model of the Battenkill Reel, and the updated model available after 15 June, 2013.

Note: This is not a total recall. Those anglers who wind with their left hand should have no issues using the original model of this reel. There may also be some anglers who wind with their right hand who are satisfied with the action of the original model.