Orvis ZG Helios 865-4 and 904-4 Rod Reviews

The modern fly rod is truly a miracle of contemporary science and engineering. The Orvis Helios line of rods symbolizes the pinnacle of this truth – and at $750+ a pop, it better! But that’s the point of the Helios rods. Orvis didn’t conceive and produce them as the “every-man’s” rod. These rods provide a no-compromise experience that takes advantage of the most advanced materials and production methods possible. Put a Helios in your hand and you’ll be holding the lightest rod in the world for its class, with the power and strength to back it up.

I had the opportunity to put the ZG Helios 865-4 and 904-4 rods to the test. Orvis provides a flex rating between 2.5 and 9.5 (in .5 increments) that allows for more precise decision-making over traditional descriptors, “fast,” “medium-fast,” “medium,” etc. I had the mid-flex (6.5) version of the 8’6”, 5-weight, and the fastest action tip-flex (9.5) version of the 9’, 4-weight.

All the Helios freshwater rods come as 4-piece setups, which always sends up red flags about “seamlessness.” I hit the water and made my first piece of business to feel for any segmented sensation in the rod while casting. Thirty minutes and about 100 casts later, I realized I had completely forgotten about assessing this factor. No, it’s not ADHD…it’s Helios. The rods are so smooth that you don’t feel a hint of segmentation, resulting in smooth, fluid casting. The feel is distinctly Helios, and it originates in the proprietary thermoplastic resin (Zero Gravity) coupled with Orvis’s new graphite scrim technology. These technologies allow each rod to require much less material for the same strength. The result? Lighter weight, more power, and greater flexibility throughout the length of the blank, even on the extreme tip-flex models.

The 9.5 tip-flex of the 9’, 4-weight proved this point. The fast action tip-flex helped to easily accelerate and roll the line, which I welcomed when the wind kicked up or when chucking mid-sized streamers. But, what makes the uniquely Helios feel is the subtle flexibility along the full length of the rod, which added a level of control and load distribution (both when casting and when landing fish) that’s more reminiscent of a slower-action rod. The length and tip sensitivity make the 904-4 tip-flex an ideal nymphing rod for anything other than small, canopied streams, but the control offered by the ZG Helios technology makes it useable for casting small dries when the fish start sipping.

If you’re looking for the one Helios rod to do it all, the 865-4 (mid-flex, 6.5) steps forth as the most likely candidate. With

enough sensitivity and length to nymph, enough control to delicately present surface fare, enough line weight to throw cross-river, and with 4-piece convenience for backcountry packing, this rod can do it all well, making it a good solution for anyone wanting a Helios as their primary rod. If you happen to be the Warren Buffet type with enough bank roll to select niche rods, the Helios freshwater lineup includes 23 different models, ranging from a 6’ 2-weight to an 11’ 7-weight switch rod, with every length, weight, and flex in between.

The ZG Helios 904-4 weighed just 2 1/8 ounces – that’s a full 30% lighter than competing rods at the same price point. I enjoyed the rods’ cloudlike weight, but the airiness became a mixed blessing. The minimal mass above the grip made the rod feel out of balance when coupled with the heft of a large arbor reel. This mass/leverage disparity was most evident during extensive false casting to shoot line, when I found myself wanting to lose the reel entirely and just stick the fly line in my pocket. Both rods felt better balanced when I paired them with a lighter weight, traditional reel.

Orvis pulled out all the stops to create the lightest fly rods the world has ever known. Mission accomplished. But they didn’t build a wet noodle of a rod just to make the claim. They utilized space-age materials and technologies, and coupled them with uncompromised craftsmanship and design to create a truly remarkable fly fishing rod. If you can afford one, you’re in for a whole new experience. If you can’t, don’t turn green with envy just yet. Most likely, we’ll all benefit from the advancements realized in the Helios rods in coming years as those technologies and features set a new benchmark for the industry and trickle down into more mid-range rods.

Check them out at www.orvis.com.