Products coming soon to A&G
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New Orvis Clearwater Rods offer top notch performance to new recruits to fly fishing Starting at $198
In 2011 Orvis will hit its goal of introducing the sport of fly fishing to 10,000 new people, with its free Fly Fishing 101 classes, Fly Fishing 201 classes, regular two-day Fly-Fishing Schools, and its top-rated Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide podcast. “Most of the people signing up for these classes are new to the sport”, says Steve Hemkens, director of product development for Orvis Rod & Tackle, “and because we are bringing so many people into the sport over the next few years we want to make sure that we have the best fly rod we can offer at an entry-level price. We created the new Clearwater rods from scratch to ensure that new fly fishers get the best casting rod possible so that they don’t get discouraged as they’re learning.”
Of course hitting a lower price points means having the rods made overseas, which has become an accepted method in the fly-rod industry. But Orvis approaches imported rods from a different viewpoint. Where most manufacturers shop around and pick a rod action from a number of options sent to them by overseas factories, Orvis took the rod action technology they learned from their industry-leading Helios rods and had the new Clearwater rods made to their exacting specs. To put it more colorfully, Shawn Combs, Orvis rod developer, says “We measure our cookies to the millimeter. Our competitors are just eating them.” Close attention to exacting tapers means a high quality precision rod that casts exactly as the designers intended, and the new Orvis Clearwater rods are precise fishing tools with the smooth, straight-taper action that has garnered their cousins the Helios rods numerous awards
Clearwater rods are made in a wide variety of configurations to match every fishing situation, not just the few more popular lengths and line sizes offered in other budget-priced rods. 20 models are available, in everything from a 6-foot 2-weight to a 9-foot 12-weight, and prices range from $198 to $225.
Clearwater rods feature a beautifully finished emerald green blank, with gunsmoke-colored aluminum reel seat with an emerald green woven composite insert . Other models are slated for release in the future.
Note: Orvis bamboo rods, Helios rods, Superfine Rods, and Access rods are still made 100% in the US in Orvis’ own rod shop in Manchester, Vermont.
Currently In Stock!
Orvis adds major technology improvements to its entire fly line offering Starting at $75
Orvis fly line designers improved floating, shooting, and durability on every fly line they offer for 2012, and Orvis will also offer some new special purpose lines with their Hydros 3D Micro-Texturing process. Orvis is constantly testing new tapers and finishes for their fly lines (they test about 4 or 5 new coatings each year in the field) but this is the first time since 2006 that they have found new technology worthy of a new product launch.
Common to all of the new lines except the textured lines is a new coating named Wonderline Nexgen. This coating, a proprietary Orvis innovation, improves slickness by 20% over their previous Wonderlines, which were already known as the slickest in the industry. The slicker the fly line, the easier it is to pick up off the water, for more delicate deliveries, more pleasing casting, and better shooting ability. It was found that the coating detracts from the extreme shooting ability of the three new Micro-Textured lines, so these three lines do not have the new coating but a standard coating that interacts better with the textured surface.
Also common to every Orvis fly line is a new welded loop construction method that slices one side of the loop on a bias and adds a knurled surface to the other side, which greatly increases the surface area of the weld for better strength. It also makes a thinner, more streamlined loop for better energy transition to the leader and thus better presentation.
All Orvis Hydros floating lines have been improved for much greater tip flotation. New glass micro balloons added to the coating on the floating lines are filled with methane/butane, which lowers the specific gravity of the coating from .90 on previous Wonderlines (which used air-filled glass microballooons) to .82 in the new Hydros lines. Tip diameters have also been very slightly increased (from .001” to .005” larger in diameter depending on line size and type) to further increase their flotation. This means that less of the fly line is in contact with the water, which results in easier casting and pickup, easier line mending, and reduced drag when a drag-free drift is required.
Three new Orvis lines incorporate the Hydros 3D Micro-Texturing process, which traps air to provide superior shooting ability and floatation while eliminating line flash and vastly reducing friction. All of this comes with the added benefit of increased durability, and these lines last up to twice as long as a standard fly line. Because of the increased surface area, this line sits higher in the water offering less drag, easier mending and roll casting, better pick-ups, and less water spray. These lines are best for fishing conditions where long casts are the primary consideration, and are offered in a WF Trout version, a Bonefish version, and on the running line of the Orvis Depth Charge lines, Orvis’ amazing distance sinking lines which cast like shooting heads but have better line control and fewer tangles than shooting heads.
All of the new Orvis lines feature a permanent line marker on the line itself, which enable anglers to tell what type of line and what line size is on a reel. No more lost or damaged line stickers on your reels!
Plus, spools used to package all Orvis fly lines are now made of recycled paper and are not only recyclable, they can be composted.
Please see the associated document that details all of the new Orvis lines, item numbers, colors, core types, and line sizes available. Samples are available on request.
Currently in Stock!