1 1/8 oz. 7' 4-piece mid flex 7.0 fly fishing rod for 4 wt. line.We set out on an adventure to make the world's lightest fly fishing rod. Along the way, we also made the world's best. A few years ago we introduced the Superfine Trout Bum, a 7-foot 4-inch 4-piece that became one of the single best-selling models we ever introduced. Now comes its successor, the Helios Ion 704-4 Mid. This new version offers the same remarkable versatility as a small but powerful pack rod for backcountry fishing and small streams, but as a 4-weight, capable of handling surprisingly big fish. Whether in a western spring creek or a Pennsylvania trout stream, when the cover is thick and the fish are big, this is the rod you need. Built with Helios technology and weighing just 1 1/8 ounce, this rod feels like a feather, but has the backbone to handle 20-inch trout. Like its predecessor, it's destined to become a legendary Orvis rod.
Average Customer Rating:
5 out of 5
Rating Snapshot
(3 reviews)
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3 of 3 (100%) customers would recommend this product to a friend.
"Wow! Wow! Wow! This rod blew my expectations right out of the water. I've been working a run for almost a decade catching fish mostly in the 9-12" range on the top with dries and nymphs off indicators. The water in this tiny stream runs clear all throughout the season , so the fish get spooked easily.
I just had this feeling that right in where the water plunged were big fish. It was a prime lie that I could not get too. I've tried a myriad of makes and lengths of rods from 9' to 5'8", along with all sorts of fly fishing methods, and none got me to those trophies.
Having purchased a 9' 8wt Helios last fall for steelhead, I knew the lightness and power these rods had. I just needed to put things together and theorized that this 7'0" 4wt ION probably had that same reserve power. Too boot, it was short and that equaled stealth.
So yesterday, I walked in to the Royal Oak Orvis, casted the one 7' 4wt ION they had, the one I had been eyeing for the past 4 wks, and said to Rich, "I'll take it".
All night I thought about how I would approach this run, and today I sit in front of my laptop after having one of the best mornings of fishing this summer.
What I did was crouch down, and slowly made my way to the bank. Rod held low, a few inches above the grass and imbedded rocks. Slowly. Slowly. Breath in. Take a step. Slowly. Take a step. Repeat.
I made my way behind a wall of ornimental grass that hid me from the clear riffled water. With about a foot and a half of exposed rod over the water, with minimal motion rolled my size 20 tungsten PHT nymph a good 20 ft upstream along with a bb sized splitshot, and with a Leisering lift I hooked my first brown, released, and then again, and again, and again. Wow! I figured it out.
After clearing the dinks, I started hooking into "some" sizable trout. One even swam in circles till it shook the size 20 PHT. It was a BIG fish that never came to the surface. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My next puzzle to conquer is a bend that always holds fish. They feed under a small tree growing on the bank. Above the small tree are larger trees that form a canopy over the bend. 9'? 8'6"? Upstream cast with a dead drift to the fish. IMPOSSIBLE! I tried it for the past 15 yrs, and the only time I ever catch fish there is in the spring, when the dang trees are bare.
I'll be crawling on my stomach for this one from upstream, and I plan to cast downstream and dead drift to the fish. With this short rod I'll be able to keep my profile low, and with the power - stay far enough to keep from spooking the fish. Tonight I dream. Tomorrow I try!
Silverexpress"
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Review 2 for Helios™ Ion 704-4 Mid 7.0
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
learning the art, with a Helios!,
March 19, 2009
By:
girlpower
"My ever so busy life at this time seems to limit my time out on the river. I try as much as possible, but with a life that seems to to take off like the hardest running steel head I find myself running in every direction. Fishing is a big part of my life, and with my oldest daughter in her second season of fly fishing i am torn between the ever so exhausting schedule i have, and getting some quality fishing time with her. My daughter had started out last season with my absolute favorite rod, my Helios 4wt. The Helios truly is an amazing rod, this rod loads easily and is amazingly accurate. After learning the basics in casting, and fishing some small farm ponds for bluegills all last season my daughter and I both agreed it was time for the river, and with a new season and myself on break from school what better time to get out and spend a day fishing with my daughter. Well my daughter had fished that day like a true veteran, she caught 4 browns that day all in the 8-10 inch range and I can tell you that love was in the air. Now I just hope I can get my Helios back!"
Review 3 for Helios™ Ion 704-4 Mid 7.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
best rod i have ever used,
February 17, 2009
By:
flyhuntfrom retired police offficer ..nc
"i have been flyfishing for about 10 years now... being a retired police officer my funds have been somewhat limited... i do have orvis waders and other equipment from orvis but have never been able to afford a good rod... several days ago i was fishing a small stream here in north carolina with my cheap rod with little sucess... when i saw another fisherman catch fish out of the same places i had just fished i just had to ask him ... he showed me his new 7.ft. 6 inch 4 weight helios rod. and asked me if i wanted to try it.. he said it had made all the difference in how he had been fishing for the last30 years... i was nervous but i said yes... from the moment he handed me the rod i felt the most increitable rod i have ever touched it was so lite.. it was like i was holding nothing in my hand.. from that moment i really felt like a fly fisherman... i could not belive how great the the rod cast and how percise i was in my casting.. could a good rod make this much difference in fishing... i fished all the time he was eating his lunch and caught 7 fishs that i woulld never has caught if it had not been for this rod.. i thanked him for being so kind and allowing me to use it..but had to give it back... all the rest of the day i fished i could not get that rod out of my head.. how lite and easy it casted... it made my old rod feel like a bass rod instead of a flyrod...being a retired police officer and trying to support two elderly parents money has been tight.. but after using that rod.. i went home and got a old jar and started putting money in it ever week... all my change and any extra bills i have in the jar.. i wrote... helios rod for mike on the jar.. it might take some time but i will get one of these rod.. and when i do i am going to let someone else on the streams i fish try what a real flyrod is and how it can change not only the way you fish but also the way you feel and think about flyfishing...i know you know the old saying does size matter... well when it comes to rod size and quality... yes it does matter thank you orvis for all the quality products that you make and for trying to keep the prices down so an average flyfisherman like me can affor a good procuct.."
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