Orvis Recon Gen 3 Fly Rod
The new Recon® rods deliver everything a serious fly fisher needs in a mid-priced rod, with no compromises on durability. All made in Orvis' Vermont rod shop, they incorporate elements of the taper design philosophy found in Helios™ for exceptional performance, while using a different carbon fiber and resin package to keep them accessible in price.
Performance
Recon rods set a new standard for durability in their class, redesigned to be over 20% stronger. Drawing on some of the taper philosophy developed for Helios, Recon rods use a different material package to boost durability, specifically in the tip sections, making them an ideal choice for the versatile angler who needs one rod to cover a wide range of fishing scenarios. These exceptionally durable rods are a reliable choice for backcountry use or extensive travel.
Why We Use It
The Feather-Craft team tested these rods on the Madison River in Montana in the Fall of 2025. Read Son Tao's review here.
- We love these Recon rods because they’re redesigned to be over 20% stronger and set a new standard for durability in their class.
- We use them because they deliver truly high performance at a remarkable value.
- We love their versatility - they're an ideal choice for the angler who needs one rod to cover a wide range of fishing scenarios, including backcountry use or extensive travel
Materials
- Helios™-inspired tapers with a mix of standard, intermediate & high-modulus graphite, tailored to each rod’s purpose
- Different carbon fiber and resin package to keep them accessible in price
Specifications
- Taper profiles: faster in big-game & saltwater models; slower in 3- to 6-weight freshwater rods (saltwater 6-weight has a faster taper for wind & large flies)
- Purpose-built tapers - from the versatile 10' 3-weight for Euro rigs & dry flies to the powerful 8'9" 11-weight for big fish in tight cover
- Guides - standard snake & stripping guides (vs. REC RECOIL® guides on Helios)
- No F/D designations - each taper falls between the Helios F & D actions
- Reel seats: all-black anodized aluminum on saltwater/big-game; anodized aluminum with burled wood insert on freshwater
- Freshwater rods are matte olive with honey accents. Black anodized aluminum reel seat with wood insert. Silver snake and stripping guides. Nylon rod tube with cloth sack. Backed by Orvis' 25-Year Guarantee.
- Saltwater models are matte blue with light blue accents. Black anodized aluminum reel seat. Nylon rod tube with cloth sack. Backed by Orvis' 25-Year Guarantee.
- Launched January 21, 2026.
Recon® Freshwater Rods
Freshwater rods are matte olive with honey accents. Black anodized aluminum reel seat with wood insert. Silver snake and stripping guides. Nylon rod tube with cloth sack. Backed by Orvis' 25-Year Guarantee.
| Length | Line | Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| 9' | 3-Weight | 4 |
| 10' | 3-Weight | 4 |
| 8'6" | 4-Weight | 4 |
| 9' | 4-Weight | 4 |
| 10' | 4-Weight | 4 |
| 8'6" | 5-Weight | 4 |
| 9' | 5-Weight | 4 |
| 10' | 5-Weight | 4 |
| 9' | 6-Weight | 4 |
| 10' | 6-Weight | 4 |
| 10' | 7-Weight | 4 |
| 8'9" | 8-Weight | 4 |
| 8'9" | 11-Weight | 4 |
Recon® Saltwater Rods
Saltwater models are matte blue with light blue accents. Black anodized aluminum reel seat. Nylon rod tube with cloth sack. Backed by Orvis' 25-Year Guarantee.
| Length | Line | Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| 9' | 6-Weight | 4 |
| 9' | 7-Weight | 4 |
| 9' | 8-Weight | 4 |
| 9' | 9-Weight | 4 |
| 9' | 10-Weight | 4 |
| 9' | 11-Weight | 4 |
