Wanna try a new Switch Rod?

I have three prototype Orvis Helios Switch rods in the store - the 116-4; 117-4; and 118-4. I'll check them out to any of you who want to be in on the cutting edge (the 6wt is suppossed to be two ounces lighter than the Sage Z-Axis.

I'll be on the beach tomorrow with the 6wt. Someone should take the 8wt to the Sauk or Skagit.

Leland.
(425) 452-9138

 

Hello Leland,
I'll be interested to hear your opinions on the 6wt. I'm in the market for a lighter switch for rezzies and SRC.

Thanks
Eric

 

I've loaded it with a 330 gr. Airflo Compact Scandi which is virtually effortless to speycast. You can put out a goodly amount of line with one-handed speycasts as well as two-hand overheads.

We have all the Airflo Compact Scandis and Skagits test lines.

Leland.

 

Leland may be guilty of underhyping these rods a bit. He kindly allowed me (and others) to cast the 6 and 8 wts at a couple of the Mike Kinney/AATF Sunday Clinics during the last month. I have the sense that they have seen more field testing than some other recent Orvis sticks. These are very smooth loading rods!

 

I never wished that my ZA switch was lighter.

 

Agreed! I wish they were if anything a little heavier,.....always feels like a little toy that I could break at will......and have. Oh well a fish feels better on a lighter rod i guess

 

How would they compare to something like a Beulah or Meiser?

 

I can't say as it would be inappropriate for me. But if you accept the proposition that switch rods, by definition, should be light and easy to use, the new Helios is the ticket.

That being said, I tried a new southsound beach for searun cutts this morning. The beach sucked but it had a high tide that backed me up against some trees and a stiff wind coming into my right earhole. I was casting an Airflo Compact Scandi that measures 28 feet long and was throwing over 60' with a switch cast, throw in a spiral roll and it went further, lay out a two-handed overhead cast (if you have backcast room) and you'll reach any coho you can see.

If you want to check out the rod and I'll leave the 10 foot polyleader and my popper on it for you.

Leland.

 

Hey Leland-What proto did you have at the Tye lake meeting-that thing could throw some bullet loops.

 

It was this very same Helios 6wt and line.

Leland.

 

Is the MSRP >$1,000 for a Helios yet?

 

Exactly, it is not about casting but about trying to fight and land a big fish. Twice last year a fish snapped my ZA switch in two. A lighter rod! Simply not on my wish list.

 

Fish don't break rods. Loose ferrules, "J" bends while playing fish, and micro nicks from weighted flies are the most common reasons for rod breakage. Having two fish break two of your Z Axis' could not be because the rods were too light.

Leland.

 

I also have the prototype 11' 5 and 11' 6 and they are outstanding. Light, crisp, and extremely powerful. They are truly in a class by themselves.

Hey Leland, dont forget trying to get flies out of the tree and ceiling fans

 

The 8 and 6 are checked out for a couple days.

Leland.