And we'll make it right. While both sport the more modern (some would say aggressive) white rod branding above the cork, the 3D has a Matte Midnight (read: Black) finish. Making an 80-foot cast in saltwater is prospecting. That being said, don’t underestimate the 3F. You’d be doing yourself a disservice.Over the past two months, I’ve had the opportunity to extensively fish the The 8 weight Helios 3D took on gar and bass in Florida, while the 3D and 3F fished big and small rivers for trout around Colorado and Wyoming. From sight nymphing, throwing streamers, dry flies and big foam flies, the Helios 3D and the Helios 3F have been challenged every way I could possibly contrive during my time with the rods.The 5wt in the 3D is deadly accurate out to 60 feet. There is a famous quote by Wyatt Earp, "Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything." The rod tracked extremely straight and that resulted in some impressively accurate casts at distance. At the end of the day, my shoulder wasn’t sore. Sure, not everyone will love the branding, but don’t write this rod off before you cast it. I loved fishing the H2 over the last several years, but it has been out-classed, by the lighter, more accurate, H3.Accuracy catches fish. In fly fishing, accuracy is everything. All Rights Reserved. They’ve done so in a big way with the new Orvis Helios 3 fly rod. Can the new H3 throw an entire fly line? How many fish have you caught on an 80 foot cast? Personally, I love the look of Helios 3s. Helios 3F and 3D were designed to significantly reduce the variables at the point of release focusing the energy of the cast to the intended target. What anglers discover with experience is just that. Orvis Commits 5% of pre-tax profits to protecting nature.“If we are to benefit from the use of our natural resources, we must be willing to act to preserve them.”Live Chat available every day, 6 AM - 12 AM (midnight) ETPersonalized Dog Collar or Leash - Buy 2 for $30! 3F is accuracy with finesse, a dry fly angler's dream. It's who we are. That accuracy translates directly to more fish.How did Orvis design to increase the Helios 3’s accuracy? If you aren't happy with a product or service, we want to know about it. Our Helios 3 outfits include a Helios 3 rod, Mirage reel, PRO line, backing, and rod tube.
Not surprising, I know. How many fish would you catch if you could deliver a 10 to 60 foot cast on a dime on a very consistent basis? Doing away with more traditional descriptors like tip-flex and mid-flex, Orvis opted for the following monikers: Beyond action, the two flex families can be distinguished by their finish. I am super impressed with the new Helios 3 rods out of Manchester, Vermont. Where a little more attention to presentation was required with the 3D, the 3F gives you no choice but to land that size 16 PMD dry soft on the water.
The 3D handled everything from Peanut Envy streamers to size 18 Blue Wing Olives nymphs and really excelled on the larger water that I fished in Wyoming.The 3F excelled out to 40 feet and was well suited for fishing dry flies and light nymphing rigs.
There has been plenty of talk about the rods appearance since it’s debut at IFTD this summer. They do so Fishing the H2 (which has been my workhorse for the last four years) and H3 side-by-side, there is a noticeable difference in the amount of “tip shake” when the rod unloads to deliver the fly. While it loads a little deeper, it doesn’t lack the backbone to deliver casts at distance. To play the game at its highest level there can be no compromise and for every angler the H3 is the pinnacle of purpose, designed to master the moment and meet the demands of accuracy on a spring creek with a 3F or a tarpon flat with a 3D. Dampening the vibration when the rod transfers power on the forward and back casts. More fish should be the answer for almost everyone. It’s a fast-action fly rod that still has quite a bit of feel. Browse Helios 3 fly-fishing rods at Orvis; built for power and accuracy, our H3 offers the most cutting-edge engineering and performance in a fly-fishing rod. Helios 3F and 3D each offer uncompromising purpose. Accuracy breeds success.The H3 brings us a fundamental shift from flex profiles to a new frontier in accuracy and purpose-driven design. Available in two different tapers and flexes, the Helios 3 comes in either a 3D or 3F version.
The 3D generated noticeably more line speed than the 3F. I wasn’t worn down from casting the big rig.To Orvis’ point, many fly anglers (myself included), have a tendency to throw as much line as possible when testing out a new rod. A fervent supporter of the H2, I was a little apprehensive about a new rod release. The 3D doesn’t lack power, has a light swing weight and launches line. Sure, not everyone will love the branding, but don’t write this rod off before you cast it. I can probably count my number on one hand. A relatively progressive taper for a fast action rod, the rod loaded well and the loading cues were easy to pick up while casting. 3D is accuracy with power at distance for pinpoint delivery of larger flies. Making a forty-foot cast on the nose of a laid-up tarpon is fishing. No matter what happens behind you the energy of the forward cast is crisply released through a tight window created by the most significant reduction in horizontal and vertical tip frequency ever conceived. Not only was it more accurate, but the H3 felt lighter in the hand and was more responsive.