new rod

[jarrod white]

I was wondering if anybody here has cast the new Orvis Helios in a 10 ft. 4 wt.

[Neal Osborn]

Wow, a Helios 10′ 4wt.  That one came in under the radar.  I have been on the watch for a 10′ 4wt rod for the past 2 years since that is considered the ideal soft hackle wet fly stick.  When I learned the wf swing it was on a 10′ 5wt TFO and although the length was perfect the weight was a bit heavy.  So I’ve had my eye on the Scott 10′ 4wt but it was about $550 and that was a bit high for a niche rod.  Thomas and Thomas also makes (made) a 10′ 4wt gem but it was about $650. I’m sure the Helios 10′ 4wt will be an amazing rod and probably the best wet fly setup available.  However, the price of $755 is certainly a punch.  

I usually avoid discussing equipment prices, but for this particular rod in a 10′ 4wt it is an important consideration.  It is also interesting to see Orvis coming out with this setup because earlier this year I had a lengthy discussion with them online about my desire for “any” 10′ 4wt for fishing soft hackles.  I honestly thought they might consider it but imagined it would be in the T3 or even Zero G category and likely comparable in price to the Scott.  This is certainly interesting and I will no doubt try it out soon.  

The 10′ length in general is also a blast to fish from a float tube on still water.  The 4wt would be a good bluegill stick.

[lee church]

Dr. O you are seriously out of control. lol

[regan c. kenyon jr.]

Neal I have the now discontinued 10′ 4 wt. Scott E2.

[Neal Osborn]

Regan – that is the rod I have been watching.

[Mike L.]

I fish a 10′ 4wt Hardy Marksman.

[jarrod white]

I am going to cast this beauty this morning. I really wish they would have made this combo in the T3, for 2 reasons. #1 I think the T3 is the best rod Orvis ever made.

[Juan Ramirez]

I guide some for an Orvis shop (which has a demo of this rod) and I am on the Orvis Proguide program , and I still would choke at the price of two of these rods.
  JW

Then there shouln’t be too much complaining about the price, being on the Pro guide program!!!!  I know what the price is for these rods and it really isn’t that bad.  Just be happy that you don’t have to pay retail.
Just save some money from some guide trips and re-invest it with the rods.

I think you will really like this Helios rod, as it is way lighter than the T3, espically when yoiu get into the longer lengths.    

Juan  🙂

[jarrod white]

I cast the rod today , and I was impressed. I am not a big fan of the Helios , but the 10 ft. rod I like pretty well.

[h hoskins]

Neal

The Helios 10wt I own is far and away my favorite casting rod.

[Neal Osborn]

H –

You are wiser than your years. Dad has taught you well. I would love to see pictures of you landing a big ol snook on a ten weight rod.

Brett –

Aim in. The helios 10wt is a perfect casting machine. BTW I fished today and a guy let me cast his 4wt Helios – Wow that was fun. It was the 9 ft.

[Roy Conley]

I cast the rod today , and I was impressed. I am not a big fan of the Helios , but the 10 ft. rod I like pretty well.  I think its definitely a rod I would like to own. Very smooth and powerful, and its light.

[jarrod white]

I had a chance to fish the Helios 10 ft. 4 wt. today, and it is a very sweet rod. I have a hard time defining the best rod on the market today. :-/ I feel like with the advances that have been made in the entire industry, its hard to say. If you fish the top end rods from each company, they are all amazing. I guess one just chooses which company he will support. I guess that is why I never try to push a particular rod on anybody. I do love to discuss them all, thanks for the responses.

BTW, I am also a gear junkie. I love nice equipment.

[Neal Osborn]

Jarrod, as I stated above, I got to fish the 9′ 4wt Helios the other day.  The clear advantage of the rod was the weight, or lack thereof.  I think the clear advantage of the 10′ 4wt would be a practically weightless rod for day-long high-sticking or wet fly fishing with soft hackles.  I mentioned that I had previously used a 10′ 5wt TFO but after 2-to-3 hours of mending the rod felt like a heavy broom stick.  For the technical aspects of soft hackles or czech-nymphing, constant mending is required and that is where light-weight 10 footers come in handy.  Great rod, tough price.

BTW, has everyone spotted the trend of 10′ rods lately?  After waiting 2 years for a decent 10′ stick it seems like all the rod manufacturers are suddenly going European.  

[jarrod white]

Neal , I have a 10 ft. 5 wt. TFO Jim Teeny rod, and it is heavy.

[Neal Osborn]

I had the opportunity to fish the 10′ 4wt Helios today.

ZG Helios 104-4 Tip 9.5 Fly Rod

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Wow, this is an amazing rod – seriously.  

The stick weighs only 2.5 oz!  The 10′ length is as expected a mending machine.  Very easy to mend over two separate currents simultaneously to keep a drag-free-drift.  For the wet fly swing it is simply perfect since the near weightless mass allows you to lift, kick, and swing for long periods of time without your shoulder getting tired.  Catching and landing fish was no different than a 9′ rod and the tip protects tippets well.  Compared to the 10′ 5wt Helios this is a dream rod whereas the 5wt feels much too stiff to me.  The 4wt is considered a tip flex but it feels much (much) more like a mid flex when fishing.  

IMHO this is the perfect fly rod for wet fly and Czech nymph techniques on big rivers.  

Any chance Orvis will announce an amazing New Year’s sale on Helios rods, LOL, yah right.

[Mike McKeown]

I had the opportunity to fish the 10′ 4wt Helios today.

ZG Helios 104-4 Tip 9.5 Fly Rod

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Wow, this is an amazing rod – seriously.

[Daryl Human]

Your comments are very interesting as many of the guys are always looking for a better stick for the application and as you said, weight is one of the issues that are raised. The other one is the responsiveness of the blank, as it is all about feel. Daryl will no doubt be able to add to this…

Well…….
Although the CZ nymphing technique is very popular amongst fisherman in SA, most of them are not truely CZ nymphing. The altered technique works well in the conditions, but there are many streams and rivers that require different approaches, like the stream “X” for example. I dont think that CZ nymphing works too well there. Incidently, I reckon that a rod such as the 10′ 4wt Helios which Neal has described would be ideal, especially the added ability for reach and mending, but then, in which fly fishing situation would that not be perfect?

I have a 9’0 2wt Dorber, that is fantastic on the smaller streams, as is the 2wt Scott 8’8 that Mike has (is it the G2 or F?). The developement of longer rods has been a welcome improvemet to the already huge selection of rods.

But I have to say that I am constantly impressed by tackle manufacturers! They have made it almost too easy to be able to fish successfully nowdays! 🙂

[jarrod white]

I picked up a new Helios this week, however, I did not get the 10 ft. 4 wt yet. I got the 9 ft. 10 wt. , It’s pretty sweet.

[tradd d]

I’m not an Orvis fan but everyone I have talked with said it’s incredible so though I could use another 8wt…I’m afraid my credit card will get a workout if I try casting one~

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