The "long rod" trend in fly fishing is now being over-shadowed, somewhat, by the "1 piece rod" trend. Well not really, but in big game situations 1 piece fly rods are highly sought after. Fly Rod manufacturers are concentrating some of their efforts on building tapers for one piece fly rods. Why are the major players in fly rod design tackling this task? Because they can and, believe it or not, there is actually a call for such designs. Musky, Tarpon and Permit beware. There's a new boss in town.
The Helios 2 is a featherlight battle axe that defies the laws of physics and has the backbone of an I-beam. Lighter in hand and 20% stronger than any rod Orvis has ever developed, it transitions energy directly from your brain to the fly and casts with the precision of a laser pointer. These rods and designed and manufactured by hand in the Orvis Rod Shop in Manchester, Vermont.
- 20% stronger than the original Helios
- 20% lighter in hand
- 100% increase in tip-impact strength
- Fine-tuned tapers for unrivaled tracking, accuracy, and lifting power
How can you make the coveted Helios 2 fly rod perform any better?
Make it a one piece. No more hinging, less in hand weight and stronger and more responsive. Why not? The only issue I see is travel. For those that walk to their boat or have a Titan rod vault, you're all set.
Orvis designed these rods primarily because they wanted to. They wanted to explore the different tapers and construction techniques for making a one-piece graphite fly rod, knowing that they would also learn some good practices for improving future generations of four-piece rods as well. Overall, they feel the value of having them in the hands of many guides will also help promote the popularity and sales of other four-piece rods. One-piece fly rods have become very popular amongst saltwater guides, particularly in Florida.
For someone who does not travel and uses a boat every day, they offer a number of advantages:
• Because of the lack of ferrules they are lighter
• Although modern ferrules are extremely strong, they are still typically the weak point in a fly rod and if it breaks under stress it is usually at a ferrule. One-piece rods are inherently stronger when extreme pressure is applied.
• Ferrules can loosen over a day of fishing, especially if using large flies in a wind. They can also loosen during bumpy boat rides. Eliminating ferrules from the equation ensures that a rod won’t break because of an improperly engaged ferrule, and a tip won’t fly off during a cast or when fighting a fish.
However, one-piece rods also have disadvantages:
• The longest they can be made is about 8 feet 10 inches because 9 feet is the maximum length for shipping by standard carriers, and you need some leeway for protection inside the shipping box.
• They are at a greater risk for damage from doors and ceiling fans when moved indoors
• You can’t fly with them without incurring expensive excess baggage fees. Many flights may not allow them at all. They must be shipped to a fishing destination.
• They won’t fit in many vehicles without an external rod carrier.
Orvis made these rods primarily for guides, who take a rod directly from a truck to a boat and put them in their rod racks. However, many non-guides who own vacation homes near the water or drive to most of their fishing destinations may also appreciate the advantages of a one-piece rod, particularly if all the guides are using them.
I have a Titan Rod Vault on my rig so Im going to get one.
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