Orvis Access rods

[LyNcH]

As most of you have figured out, I am a Sage guy. 90% of my rods are such, but I have had a few Orvis rods and liked them all & still have 2 which I use.

After Christmas, between my Orvis reward dollars and anticipated gift cards I will be receiving, I will have almost enough cash to pick up an Orvis Access rod for peanuts. Do I need another rod? Surprisingly, the answer is "yes". After going to Cancun in October (I posted up some pictures of my fishing outing in my Cancun post), we will definitely be going back October 2013. I borrowed an 8wt Sage Xi2 rod from a friend and really did not like it that much, that is why I sold the blank and decided not to build it. I have read a ton of great reviews about the Access rod, including the 8wt for salt and am thinking of purchasing that rod for next years trip. Rugby10 and I will be heading to the flagship store sometime in January to take a tour of the rod factory and cast a few of their newer rods, including the Helios 2, and I will be trying out the Access.

Does anyone have an Access rod or have you cast one? What are your thoughts?

Yes, I know, there are other great rod companies out there: Loomis, Scott, Winston, Sage etc. and I build all my rods (except Orvis), but I can get this rod for almost nothing, so this 8wt rod will be an Orvis.

 

[Joe D]

I have a couple of them. They cast & perform like many rods that cost a hundred or two more. They aren't my go to rods, but they are very worth the money. If I have any complaint it's the hardware on the rods, but that's a complaint I have on all the rods in the same price category. The customer service that you'll get with the rod is worth a lot too.

 

[flyI4]

joe D is spot on with the hardware.... I have the 10ft 4 wt and love the rod in terms of performance. Its become my main rod and its great for dries and has touch but also is a nice nymph rod with the length. HOWEVER, I have had the reel seat come unglued like 3 times now in 3 years, the last time being on my trip to montana which really pissed me off being down a rod out there.I wasn't abusing the rod either, just tried to get the reel off with normal pressure and it came off. SOmething to think about, but if u can get it cheap its not a big deal you can always send it back and get it back in a couple weeks. I never pay the $30 for those repairs and write a letter saying this one's on you, which has been ok up to this point

 

[sneelhead]

orvis access 9' 5wt MIDflex here. be sure to go midflex. i absolutely love mine. it is much ligther than my friends' 4wts and outperforms them completely. these rods are light light light and feel great in the hand. not to mention they are very pretty. there is no reason to drop $500+. simply go to a fly shop and feel one and u will be sold. not to mention, 25 year warranty..

 

[Joe D]

The mid flex is sweet, but before you make a selection cast each one , a tip & mid flex. Choose the one that feels best to you.

 

[Rugby10]

Knowing the LyNcH, he'all have the mid-flex packed in his bag when he flies south

Sent from my AT100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[LyNcH]

Knowing the LyNcH, he'all have the mid-flex packed in his bag when he flies south

I will cast both mid and tip. For trout fishing, I like the mid-flex or medium fast rod. This rod will be for saltwater and the need to punch out quick, far casts with weighted flies with no time to do more than a backcast or 2. I am leaning more towards the tip-flex, but I'll have a better idea when I cast the 2 rods. While I will be casting the rods in January, I'll probably wait until mid-winter when they usually throw in a free reel or line with purchase.