The Orvis Recon underwent its last major redesign in 2020. I recently had the opportunity to test the newest Recon. Like its predecessors, the Recons are made in Manchester, Vermont.
Out of the tube, the first thing I noticed was the updated look of the Orvis Recon. The rod features a matte olive blank with honey accents, a black anodized aluminum reel seat with a beautiful burled wood insert, and silver snake and stripping guides. The Recon name pops in yellow, while a white section near the cork, reminiscent of the Helios series, houses the Orvis logo and quick rod identifier. Overall, the new Recon is visually striking and represents a significant upgrade in appearance over the Recon II.
The saltwater version of the new Recon has a different look. It sports a white and blue appearance. While I did not have the opportunity to fish the saltwater recon, I did get a sneak peek. See the photo below. It's available in 9' 6-10 weights. All are 4-piece rods.
The new freshwater Recons are available in the following sizes:
|
9 foot 3-wt |
10 foot 5-wt 9 foot 6-wt 10 foot 6-wt 10 foot 7-wt 8 foot 9 inch 8-wt 8 foot 9 inch 11-wt |
I tested the 9-foot 5-weight model. A 9-foot 5-weight is considered by many to be the best all around trout rod, and this new Recon is no exception. It has a medium fast action that is well-suited for nymphing, dry flies, and light streamers.
I own a Helios IV 9-foot 5-weight and noticed that the new Recon is slightly heavier, yet still very enjoyable to cast. I spoke with Orvis, and they confirmed that the new Recon is 20% stronger. While it carries a slightly heavier swing weight, the payoff is a rod built to manage the chaos of exploring farther, fishing longer, and pushing boundaries in both freshwater and saltwater. This added strength and performance come from construction techniques developed during the creation of the fourth-generation Helios.
It loads nicely, and making 40-foot casts was very easy. I paired the rod with Scientific Anglers Amplitude line, and it shot line effortlessly. The new Recon really excelled in the 20 to 50 foot range.
Roll casting was extremely easy. The blank loaded deeply and formed a beautiful D loop, allowing me to place my fly just about anywhere I wanted.
I tested the new Recon at the historic Yellow Breeches Creek in South Central Pennsylvania. This classic limestone creek in the Cumberland Valley is home to a mix of stocked and wild trout. On this particular day, the trout weren’t very active, but the ones that were caught were a joy to bring in with the new Recon. As with most trout fishing, the drag system wasn’t truly tested, but you could feel the resistance and turns flowing smoothly through the blank. Fishing with this rod was a lot of fun.
Final Notes
What I love about Orvis rods is that they simply perform. Casting them is a joy, and the new Recon delivers a confidence-inspiring feel, with smooth loading, excellent line control, and a forgiving action that makes it easy to fish well in a variety of situations. It’s the kind of rod you can pick up and immediately feel comfortable with, whether you’re making short, technical casts or throwing it 40+ feet.
Orvis spent seven years redesigning the latest Helios series, and it’s been six years since the release of the Recon II. There’s a reassuring feeling in knowing that the rod I purchased today won’t feel obsolete the moment the next “latest and greatest” model arrives.
The Recon delivers high-end performance in a rod built to be tossed in the back of a truck, strapped to a pack, or stowed in a floatplane pontoon, ready to fish wherever the adventure leads. Plus, it's a rod that is backed by one of the strongest warranties in the business. The Orvis 25 year warranty is designed to get you back on the water quicker.
Grab yours here: https://feather-craft.com/products/orvis-recon-series-fly-rods
By Son Tao - son@feather-craft.com
