Orvis Helios 3F

You’ve likely already seen Orvis’ heavily hyped Helios gracing the covers of magazines, in the hands of talented anglers at your local river, and popping up all over your social media feeds. After a few months of testing a 6-weight around Colorado, we can attest that Helios hype is absolutely warranted. Orvis paid careful attention to all of the details: we love the feel of the premium cork handle, the security of the anodized aluminum reel seat, and the thin yet sturdy snake and stripping guides. While some will be put off by the conspicuous white section at the handle, we were too smitten with the no-glare matte finish—which encourages stealthy fishing—to care. While the softer-feeling Helios 3F is certainly powerful and capable of long-distance casts, we were most impressed at the pinpoint accuracy delivered at close and mid-range. Indeed, when roll casting substantial nymph rigs or streamers, the 6-weight delivered quickly and accurately like an Amazon Prime drone. Hands down, we undeniably caught more fish and cast more accurately with the 3F in hand.