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 firehole |
Orvis Opinions wanted? |
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Posts: 4068 11/18/2009 18:21 Local user |
What are your favorite Orvis lightline(5wt. or smaller) in 2pc. or 3pc. configurations in lengths of 7 1/2" and smaller?
My favorite was a Battenkill 7'6" 2/2 4 oz. marked for a 7wt. casted a superbly a 5wt.
Last Edited By: firehole 11/18/2009 20:39.
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Telecaster.jefffsbeardboard |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 39 11/18/2009 19:38 |
Not a 2/2 but I love my 2/1 7'6" 3 3/4 ounce "99". It was finished on May 12, 1960. It's marked for HDH but tosses a DT5 Sylk for me.
It has seen a ton of action on a certain spring creek here in VA in the summer throwing big foam terrestrials. It also does a decent job throwing big, ugly
streamers on the same creek when needed. I love that rod.
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Slate Drake 9 |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 139 11/18/2009 20:57 |
7' deluxe
Fishing with bait is like swearing in church.
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flyfishingpastor |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 301 11/18/2009 22:38 |
7'6", 3.7 oz. 2/2 Battenkill marked for a 6 wt. but prefers a DT 5 wt Cortland sylk or 444 Peach line. As far as all-purpose, take it out and fish
anything with it, well, it is as good as most. I really like this rod and use it quite a bit.
Pat "He told us about Christ's disciples being fisherman, and we were left to assume...that all great fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly
fisherman and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman."
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Buck Henry |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 245 11/18/2009 22:56 |
I am with Firehole on this one. I have the 7.5 foot, 4.0 ounce Battenkill and it is pretty much my go-to rod. But mine does best with a WF6 line. If I had a
second choice, it would be my 6.5 foot Superfine!
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Boo.fiberglassflyro... |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 235 11/19/2009 03:20 |
That's a tuff question. I think the best all around Orvis rod is the 7 1/2' 3 7/8oz Battenkill. But, after owning most every Orvis rod made when i
decided to sell them off the last one standing and one I still own is the
6 1/2' 5wt Battenkill. I fished it [along with my Brooks Payne 100] on the Lochsa, Selway and St.Joe this past fall. It easily handled fish in the 14-16 range and I'm sure it will handle larger trout. What I like about it is that it has a cigar grip and the walnut reel seat...whereas the other Orvis rods of it's configuration i.e. the Deluxe and Superfines have the tiny Superfine grips and cork real seat. I prefer the little Battenkill's components. The little 4wt Flea and 7/4 are also good rods. But, if picking just one I'd go with the 7 1/2' Battenkill. That's what I'd pick today, tomorrow I may change my mind. |
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Berry Point |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 506 11/19/2009 08:35 |
I have the 7 foot version of the Battenkill. 3 3/8 oz, marked for HDG (6) but it really likes a DT or TT 5.
This is a very nice all-round smaller rod. I actually bought it for my wife but since she hasn't actually taken up fly fishing yet, well..............you
know
Last Edited By: Berry Point 11/19/2009 08:40.
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Reeldane |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 237 11/19/2009 10:19 |
Orvis "Seven/Three" with a CFO-II or my 7' 6" "Wes Jordan" with either a small Robichaud with #4 line or a or a Mohlin "Baby
Trout" with a #5 line.
Reeldane 
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spruce grouse |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 1471 11/19/2009 10:24 |
Hey, Tele, I know that creek!
I've owned or handled a number of Orvis rods fitting the criteria. A couple I tried that were superb casters were a very early Rocky Mountain that didn't feel like later ones and a 7'6" 3/2 early Battenkill, both owned by a board member. Two that I still own and like are a 7'6" 3 7/8 oz. Wes Jordan and a 6'6" 2 7/8 oz. Madison. The Wes Jordan is the same taper as the similar Battenkill I'm told and is a very smooth 5 wt. The Madison, also a 5 wt., Greg Reynolds told me was great for brookie fishing. I thought a 5 wt. would be a bit too much, but it loads really well in close on small brushy streams and also has a long reach. In some ways it feels like a mini-Driggs. |
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 levertonhatches |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 611 11/19/2009 11:00 |
I have the Rocky Mountain and the 7/4 and love both. But my Desert Island rod would be my 1940s "Patent Pending" dark-flamed 3-7/8 oz 7-1/2
Battenkill that Marty Kean talked me into buying about 25 years ago. It was great advice.
Last Edited By: levertonhatches 11/20/2009 11:32.
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BlackHillsBill |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 3145 11/19/2009 11:30 |
Berry Point wrote:Like Paul I treasure the Midge. And like him I remember forum discussions (was in a few) that suggested it was almost uncastable. My midge was purchased in 1967 (got it because A.J. McClane gave it a fine notice). I fished it so long and so hard for 30 years that it became the only rod I wore out before wearing myself out. It wasn't the rod's fault. I fished it in places I shouldn't have. One rap on it by a few was difficulty finding a line it "liked," which might say more about the caster than the rod. Mine was a 2/2. It was very enjoyable with a WF5F. After arranging its obsequies, I "replaced" it with a Midge/Nymph--one tip making it 7-1/2', the other 7'9"--also for a WF5F. I like it too, as a small stream rod, but (old story) not as much as I liked the first one, which naturally I recall managing both midging and nymping every bit as well as the one which received a title for doing that.
Last Edited By: BlackHillsBill 11/19/2009 13:33.
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tedgolden |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 3080 11/19/2009 11:46 Moderator |
My preferences are the Flea and the 7/4.
I'm one of those that find the Midge uncastable. Lord knows I've tried. If it were one of those "you may only have one rod" things, it would probably be the 7 1/2' 3 pc. or the more common 7 1/2' 3 78 ounce rod both of which do just about everything well.
Last Edited By: tedgolden 11/19/2009 11:49.
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peacefisher |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 49 11/19/2009 13:25 |
5/9 Ultra Light , 5'-9" 2/2 #3/4 , a product of a 5' Mitey-Mite butt and 6 1/2' Flea tip.
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BlackHillsBill |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 3146 11/19/2009 14:02 |
Yeah, Drew, but did you try for thirty years? After all, it takes a little patience
Last Edited By: BlackHillsBill 11/19/2009 14:15.
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tedgolden |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 3083 11/19/2009 14:19 Moderator |
Mitey Flea?
Bill, all my rods cast far better than I do anyway so it's probably academic. |
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firehole |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 4073 11/19/2009 15:26 Local user |
To me the Midge was like watching grass grow. It was worthless in my hand.
Thanks to all for your replies. Dennis
Last Edited By: firehole 11/19/2009 16:23.
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Reeldane |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 238 11/19/2009 15:51 |
Dennis
By the end of the day - it's just like "some like them blonde - others want the brunette" ! (man, temper, experience, style, water, wind etc etc etc) 
Heinz |
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Flyman615 |
7'6" or less Orvis rods | #17 | ||
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Posts: 3485 11/19/2009 22:43 |
I've owned and fished Orvis bamboo for over 25 years. FWIW, here are my thoughts on my favorite (and least favorite) models:
* 6'6" Special with Super Z ferrules-A great 4 wt. that casts like a much longer rod. * 7'0" 7/3- My very least favorite Orvis rod...ever. Makes the Midge look "fast" by comparison. Time your cast with a sundial! * 7'0" 1947 Bakelite-era rod- A medium-fast pleasure to cast even though it's older than me...'er dirt! * 7'0" 3 3/8 oz. Battenkill- IMO, it casts just like the Midge with a 4 wt. * 7'6" 3 1/4 oz. Superfine. Perhaps my favorite Orvis rod...ever. 5 wt. * 7'6" 3 5/8 oz. Midge- Like BHB, I can cast and fish it without any problems. What gives? * 7'6" 3 7/8 oz.- The "ubiquitous" Orvis taper. I had a "99". Didn't like it at all. Go figure. * 7'6" 3 3/4 oz. "Far & Fine"- a "late model" Orvis from the 1990s. Casts GREAT with a WF-5-F. Ignore the glue lines. * 7'6" 4 1/4 oz. "Light Salmon". You read it right. It has a 4" detachable fighting butt (!) One-of-a-kind. A very versatile and unique rod.
Regards,
Flyman 
"There are three things in life that people like to stare at: a flowing stream, a crackling fire and a Zamboni clearing the ice."-Charlie Brown
Last Edited By: Flyman615 11/19/2009 22:55.
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nwdlj |
Flea for me | #18 | ||
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Posts: 128 11/19/2009 22:54 |
I'm with Ted Golden...my first boo and I still have it...dj
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MontyMontana |
Ah your broken rods...2 and 3 pieces | #19 | ||
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Posts: 542 11/20/2009 00:35 |
Flat out one of the finest...6'1 piece superfine loaded with a DT5....amazing casting machine...can and will do anything you ask of it.
Monty Montana
Your Signature ... I fish via our criminal justice system..."Catch and release"
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glassorcane |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 277 11/20/2009 07:28 |
All 7 1/2 foot, 4 oz, 2 pc Orvis rods not the same !
I had decided to re-acquire a 7 1/2 ft, 4 oz rod some years after I had sold all my Orvis rods. I found one and the one I have now is labeled 4oz & H.D.H. (6), and feels to me more medium like the 3 7/8 model, not the ripsnorter 4oz I had owned before. The one I have now is a "99" and has the Super Z ferrule, and am wondering if the Super Z ferrule weighs slightly more changing the weight of the 3 7/8 rod to 4 oz. However this current rod came to be and to me, it's kind of glued to me now, pretty dang versatile and love the dark cane with the red wraps. Rick |
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