23 comments / Posted on January 13, 2015 / by Louis Cahill. It is true $425 is a lot of money. Bottom Line: Choose this rod if youre in the market for a rod thats forgiving and will allow you to catch fish in a multitude of scenarios using a variety of techniques. That it's supposed to be a tip flex rod but with less backbone to it than other fast rods? P photoguy Action: 3/10 - This is a truly moderate/slow action rod that flexes deep into the mid-section for finesse and delicacy. For numerous reasonssome good and some badthe fly fishing industry isnt content to stand pat with what works. Spencer Durrant is a fly fishing writer, guide, and bamboo rod builder from Utah. The new Recon recovers quickly, dampens well, and really launches line when needed. Messages 1,469 Reaction score 428 Location Evergreen, CO. Aug 28 . This rod is great for wading the flats or targeting saltwater species from a boat. Not valid on fishing. Orvis is one of the original iconic brands in American fly fishing, and its undeniable that theyve created an empire in the industry. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a 5wt with boosted power levels and increased line speed capabilities, this rod is a great option. This buyer's guide is designed to help anglers of all skill levels with any price-constraint find, compare, analyze, and purchase the 5wt that best fits their needs. Now though I spend all summer fishing in Montana and I sported for a 6wt Recon thinking I wanted a streamer/foam gun for some of our waters like the Missouri. Agreed. Its tastefully and beautifully finished. It might just be about who you are more than anything. Power: 6.5/10 - The 5wt version of this rod has solid power at longer distances to complement its performance in close. Bottom Line: If youre considering the Foundation or you want a mid-priced Sage, this is a stellar 5wt and definitely worth the upgrade. Casting Notes: The Helios 3F is built for feel. Tom Rosenbauer explained to me a few years back that he wanted the hook keep removed so that it wasnt in the way of shooting line, and the fact that, according to Tom, most anglers tend to hook their flies onto the foot of the stripping guide anyways. What're the differences between these posts and how do you, the reader, get the most out of reading them? With every new Orvis rod since the H3, Orvis has omitted a hook keep. The Orvis 25-Year Guarantee - The Recon falls under the one-of-a-kind Orvis Guarantee. It has a down seating reel lock which is good for balancing the rod and reel for tight-line nymphing. The dark color aids to prevent spooking fish. This is a rod thats pure Sage at a price-point that is tough to beat. All of Orvis rods have had those updates, save for the Superfine Glass series. On the technical dry-fly waters of the upper Delaware, this 9'5", 5-weight Orvis Blackout makes accurate casts from a drift boat and allows you to make big reach casts and long-range mends for selective rising trout. I bought the 10' 3wt and Hydros SL. Loop has built some important features into this rod to make it lightweight and snappy. Action: 8.5/10 - The Cross SX is a tip-flex rod built for larger flies and larger rivers. Success For those interested, Orvis is coming out with a new Recon, that's why it's on closeout. If you arent happy with a product or service, we want to know about it. Dont forget the repair and replace part of geting a rod. And well make it right. This means you can generate line speed but you can also focus on delicacy at short range. Enable by setting seo.sdk.enabled to true. The rod is a more refined, caster-friendly version of its high-priced brother, the Radian. Bottom Line: If youre part of the Loop Army or just looking for a streamer stick, this is a great rod for a diverse population of anglers. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a high-performance rod in the sub-$700 range and youre an angler who appreciates power and efficiency, the Sky is a great rod series. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, bvseo_sdk, dw_cartridge, 21.1.0, p_sdk_3.2.0. A buyer's guide is a little different, however. Casting Notes: The Shadow is one of the quieter rods in the mid-priced category with low power levels and a subdued rod action. Built for versatility, this is a stand-out rod in this price range. Power: 8.5/10 - Higher power levels make this rod a great choice in wind or large water. Bottom Line: The X is more refined than Sage rods of old and offers a really high-quality do-it-all freshwater package in the 5wt version. Anyway, I tried it out in a local store and I have to say it did not feel like a fast action rod, or even a medium-fast action rod. So far, the only real gripe Ive had with the Recon in terms of how it actually fishes (the hook keep doesnt effect on-the-water performance) is the swing weight. Action: 8/10 - The DXF has a stiff (but lightweight) butt and mid-section that leads into a softer tip for efficiency and accuracy at any distance. I realized last week just how spoiled I am to have the South Fork of the Snake River in my backyard. While the AETOS is built on a fast action blank, its more forgiving than other rods in its price range and is designed to provide the novice angler with versatility and fast-action performance. Power: 8.5/10 - The BVK received the highest power score in the low-priced category. The Orvis 25-Year Guarantee - As of 5/8/2019, Orvis rods fall under the one-of-a-kind Orvis Guarantee. FREE Returns . It's a very light rod by market standards. Visit any of our retail locations for outdoor apparel and gear, dog beds and accessories, and to test out a new fly rod at our in-store, full-service fly shops. Blanks are matte olive with charcoal and spring green accent, Pewter type III anodized aluminum reel seat. There are great rods out there that are really good quality and at a bargan price. I build bamboo rods and still cant find cork thats as good as what Orvis has on the Recon and H3. I very surprising have found to do all of the duty of my 4wt, 5wt and old 6wt. A fast powerful action, light weight, beautiful finish and sweet hardware. Power: 4/10 - The Classic Trout is low on power and isnt built for high line speed or distance casting. Super light swing weight. Seems to be kicking Sages Accel release and that rod is $595!! You can find a video of it on youtube. Power: 8.5/10 - The lightweight, quick-recovering blank of the Sky encourages excellent power and accuracy at long range. Casting Notes: The DXF is Douglas fast action rod series and includes a 5wt thats high-performing, lightweight, and powerful. The fact that Orvis was able to keep the Recon under $500 is impressive, especially considering that it places ahead of flagship rods from other manufacturers in some fly rod shootouts. Recon offers the mid-price buyer access to the best technology Orvis fly rods have to offer. Words: Todd Tanner. If broken within a quarter-century of purchase, Orvis vows to fix your Recon. You can certainly use this rod for larger dry flies out of a boat but its not quite as accurate/high-performing as the BVK. Casting Notes: The Epic Graphite 5wt is one of our favorites. Casting Notes: The Pulse is slightly more powerful than the Foundation with a rod taper thats a little more forgiving. But you dont have to be a redfish or bonefish angler to reap the benefits. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a lightweight 5wt with contemporary fly rod technology thats tough to beat, some say this is the best 5wt on the market (Yellowstone Angler 5wt Shootout). It might, in fact. Power: 6/10 - The Zone is a powerful rod yet maintains castability and versatility. Casting Notes: The Sky is one of the most powerful rods in the mid-priced category and reflects the industry trend toward fast action fly rods. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Its the perfect rod for a day when fishing dry flies turns to hucking streamers. Bottom Line: If youre looking for one of the most versatile 5wts in this price range, the Zone is a great option made by a well-known manufacturer. Anglers that are getting into fly fishing may not recognize the names of many of the popular rod brands, but most are familiar with the name Orvis. Power: 5.5/10 - This rod recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power. Skip to main content If a technique works consistently, we continue to employ it. Honestly, up until a couple of years ago I didnt think much about Orvis fly rods. In terms of performance, the Recon was actually better at mid to long range. Orvis Fly Fishing Rods. Visit any of our retail locations for outdoor apparel and gear, dog beds and accessories, and to test out a new fly rod at our in-store, full-service fly shops. Pike rod > Scott Tidal vs Orvis Recon. bvseo-msg: SEO SDK is disabled. After checking out this video, I picked up the last 10' 3 weight Recon in stock at my local Orvis store for Euro nymphing. Step on it, close the door on it, run over it with the carit doesnt matter, well fix it. Action: 5/10 - The Epic Graphite features a mid-flex design and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance. The SF Carbon line was pared down about a year to year and a half ago. 8 WT. Bottom Line: If you want a high-end rod with a beautiful fit and finish that performs well in the trout game, this is a solid option, a great choice for a variety of freshwater species. Frankly I dont see how Orvis is making a dime on the Recon. With a blazing light swing weight and a forgiving action, this 5wt is one of the best all-around rods on the market. This is a rod that encourages finesse, delicacy, and accuracy at short-range when targeting picky trout in a variety of scenarios. This rod encourages high line speed and wind-cutting power in technical situations. This rod has been previously owned but never fished. T&T designed this rod to cater to the widest range of anglers and its versatility shows through in its power and action levels. Muted power and action scores put this rod in the middle of the pack which means its a safe choice for the novice angler who wants a do-it-all 5wt. Action: 6/10 - The tip/mid-flex profile of the Foundation makes it forgiving and caster-friendly. If you arent happy with a product or service, we want to know about it. If broken within a quarter-century of purchase, Orvis vows to fix your rod. Action: 6/10 - A medium-fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt. July 2, 2019 Orvis RECON 8'6" #4 $429.00 George's Comments: The Recon has been one of our favorite rods, and this 4-weight version is terrific. What that means is, well fix your broken fly rod, and if we cant fix it, well replace it, no questions asked. I agree 100% with the reviewer that I miss the hook keeper -- I ended up getting one of those Fuji devices from Amazon to act as hook keeper which works but isn't very elegant. Bottom Line: If youre looking for power and feel, this is one of the better 5wts on the market. About the rod I own. So, there is no need to concern yourself with durability issues, and this rod will last you for years if you cast it correctly. I have the 9 5 weight. $598.00. Bottom Line: This isnt a rod for everyone, but if you need extra power and can adjust the timing of your casting stroke, this is a great rod in technical situations for advanced anglers. Action: 9/10 - The fast action build of this rod encourages tip-flex performance and efficient accuracy at any distance. Fly rod action, on the other hand, is how a fly rod flexes when cast. Whether you toss poppers to largemouth bass, Clousers to nasty pike, or indicator nymph for steelhead in Pulaski, you can count on the 8wt. Recon offers the mid-price buyer access to the best technology Orvis fly rods have to offer. Casting Notes: Handcrafted in the USA, the St. Croix Imperial is a smooth-casting rod that puts an emphasis on performance without limiting the angler to either line speed or delicacy. Fly anglers are overloaded with gear choicesrods, reels, boots, waders, lines, packs, bags, boxes, vests, apparel and more. There are great rods out there that are really good quality and at a bargain price. I now own 4 H2s and fish them all the time. The Orvis Recon has been discontinued and is no longer in production. Turns such rigs over like a dream out to 70'really! And well make it right. Super light swing weight. Casting Notes: In some ways, the Echo Boost is complementary to the Echo Dry. Thats the Orvis Way. Orvis has remade their popular Recon fly rod series and this time its better than ever. Power: 5/10 - The Shadow has some reserve power that can be taken advantage of by anglers who are in tune with their timing and casting stroke. Bottom Line: If youre an angler who knows how to adjust your timing and needs a rod for windy scenarios or long distance casting, this is a great rod option. 10 watching. This is a double post given the Recon & Pizza thread below. This rod has a stiff butt and mid-section for increased line speed and best-in-class power. The 7X is a real pleasure to cast and is expertly designed with the best of contemporary fly rod technology. It may, in fact, be too good for the money. Its full of brown and cutthroat trout, and the water is crystal-clear. Ive yet to find a 3wt that does like throwing three flies. Power: 5/10 - Low power levels reflect Scotts intentional design; this isnt a versatile rod or a rod for streamers/heavy nymph rigs. Low end rods sell for around $200. I just recently picked up the 86 5wt and I must say it is near perfect. Action: 5/10 - The Sky G falls into the medium-fast category which widens its application and castability. If so, how does this rod perform? What reel (Orvis or otherwise) would balance best with the Recon 5 wt 9 in terms of weight and cost? Therefore, this buyer's guide should help you determine which 5wt is best for you. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands . 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