2 3/8 oz. 9', 4-piece, Tip-Flex 9.5 fly rod for 5-wt. line.We set out on an adventure to make the world's lightest graphite fly rod. Along the way, we also made the world's best. Helios technology--with its incredible power-to-weight ratio--offers a new version of the 9-foot-5-weight fly rod with performance characteristics that are astounding. It feels like a 3-weight and yet has the ability to throw long casts in the wind across big water and fight big fish like no other 5-weight on the market. With its modern Tip Flex action, this rod is the gold standard by which all other trout rods will be measured. If you haven't cast this rod yet, make sure you do, as its performance can only be appreciated in use.The fast-action Tip-Flex is the go-to rod for big water and big trout.
Average Customer Rating:
5 out of 5
Rating Snapshot
(20 reviews)
5 stars
20
4 stars
0
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0
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20 of 20 (100%) customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 1000 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
The Helios 5wt 9ft. rod is a great rod,
November 14, 2009
By:
DaveyJfrom Adirondack Mountains, New York
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Landed on Helios 5wt
"I have used hundreds of flyrods over the years. Very few really achieve the qualities of a great fly rod, capable of casting far and fine and standing up to the elements. The Helios 9 ft 5wt. tip flex rod is the best rod I have used for overall fly fishing. It looks great with a Battenkilll Large Arbor gold (which holds 300 yds of gel spun backing with your 5wt wt forward line) and even lodge owners in Alaska rate this as a spectacular rod! Great credit for Orvis making this rod in Vermont!"
Review 2 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
AMAZING ROD!,
August 22, 2009
By:
Anonymousfrom Rio de Janeiro
"I'm a Brazilian flyfisherman and besides snooks in my backyard or peacock basses in the backcountry, it's quite easy travel to Patagonia looking for trout and salmon fishing, where I go twice a year.
In Chilean Patagonia (Coyhaique area) the wind blows hard all the time and fishing its bigs trouts in the lakes is always a challenge, because most of the times you have to cast your fly (#4 or #6 bugs or bulky EVA spiders) more than 70 feet - usually 90 feet - as the waters are incredible cristal clear. For this same reason, the leaders and tippets must be thin in order not to scare the trouts...
Well, when ORVIS released its Zero Gravity, I bought one #5, tip 9,5 just for fishing those lakes...And I was very happy...
But with my new Helios ZG #5 the world changed to better! Even in a strong wind conditions I can cast my fly where the trouts ares feeding, without scare them and, whem the batlle starts I have the needed backbonne and the sweet to protect my tippets...Moreover, the rod seems to be a number #3 in hands.
Simply the best! And for this reason I'm buying another number #8 for the big brazilian Dourados and Tucunarés (peacock basses)."
Review 3 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 100 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Legendary Rod,
August 12, 2009
By:
zerog
"This rod will exceed your expectations. When you pick it up, you will notice the cork is the best you will ever feel. The rod has a clasic color scheme and is as light as the folks at Orvis claim. The feel is delicate yet powerful. The responsiveness and action of this rod will help you to improve your line control and power management. In summary WOW, casting this rod is as fun as catching fish. It is a rod of a lifetime and worth the money."
Review 4 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 1000 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Exceeded Expectations!,
August 2, 2009
By:
ancib
"Took out my new Helios 905-4 tip flex this evening for the first time. Wow! I was skeptical about purchasing, but now that I have fished it, it is worth every cent. It casts effortlessly, throwing #20 dries, weighted nymphs and cone head buggers like a dream. Great touch and feel, the light weight makes it feel like I was fishing a 3 weight. I'm totally hooked, going to look into an 8 weight for steelhead. Would recommend to anyone."
Review 5 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
My new favorite rod - Helios,
March 27, 2009
By:
Qmanfrom Prescott Valley, AZ
"My love for fly fishing crossed over to my business by naming it Caddis Advertising, LLC. I spent the last 30 years fly fishing and hiking throughout the Yosemite Valley and surrounding areas. I have always carried an Orvis rod(s). As recent as last summer, I packed my T3 2wt and a 5wt Zero Gravity, and they were awesome with the smaller streams in Yosemite. I think my backpack is quite a bit lighter these days with a single ZG Helios 905-4. This rod is phenomenal!!! It is light, gives me the distance I need and most importantly, the accuracy. The Helios gives me the flexibility of big casts against the wind as well as the little flick on those tight spots.
My 14 year old son is now fishing with my ZG and loving it.
All I can say is buy one, own one, get it as a gift or whatever, but get one.
Qman"
Video Review:
The Orvis Poster Boy
Review 6 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Why I Love My Orvis Helios,
March 26, 2009
By:
Anonymousfrom Hawthorne, NY
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"I heard the rumors and then read the reviews of the new Orvis Helios rod. Could this be the upgrade I’m looking for?
When Orvis offered a number matching set of Helios Rod, Battenkill Mid Arbor III Reel, Line and Carrying Case in 5 wt; I was hooked. My fly casting was decent with my TLS but the Helios proved to be better than expected in my hands.
While fishing off some boat docks on Canandaigua Lake in New York a carp found my fly irresistible and a battle ensued. This submarine wasn’t about to be landed quickly and was giving me quite a bit of trouble. The initial fight was out and away from the docks but neither of us would give in. The carp then turned and headed towards the dock I was standing on. I knew I was in trouble.
My son who was plugging for bass came over when he saw the excitement on my face and bend in my rod. As the carp headed under the dock and was about to wrap my leader around the piling; I told my son to reach under the dock and grab the tip as I passed it to him. My immediate concern was the carp breaking off and swimming away in victory. This passing of the rod back and forth occurred a few times which seemed to last an eternity.
Finally, the submarine surfaced in defeat, a photo was taken, and he was released unharmed. Looking back this was no way to treat my fly rod; but in the heat of battle common sense is no where to be found. Helios # 46 is ready for the next battle."
Review 7 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
ZG Helios Performs like a Fighter,
March 14, 2009
By:
OlyFlyFisherfrom Olympia, WA
"Recently, I had the opportunity to cast a ZG Helios 905-4 tip-flex fly rod; in a word the whole experience was - phenomenal! I’m a former Air Force pilot. I’ve had the privilege of flying in some of the finest fighters in the world including the F-15, F-16 and F-18. These jets all share a few things in common; they’re beautiful, powerful, require only a light touch to unlock extraordinary performance and they’re all deadly accurate. It occurred to me the ZG Helios possesses the same enviable qualities as those remarkable fighters. The rod is surprisingly powerful. It weighs less than my current Brand S 3 wt and yet I was able to repeatedly cast over 75 feet with minimal effort and with remarkable accuracy! You might think, “big deal, I can cast farther than 75 feet” - well I can’t; at least not with a 5 wt and certainly not with any accuracy; that is, I couldn’t until I cast the ZG Helios. Great jets “communicate” how they’re responding to your inputs. Likewise, the Helios really allowed me to feel what was happening with my cast. During 60 minutes of casting in variable wind conditions the Helios seemed to compensate for my casting shortfalls. Simply put, the Helios made me a better and more confident caster. I felt like I could make any cast I wanted with the Helios in my hand. Later this year, I turn 50 years old. I’ll give you one guess what’s at the top of my birthday wish list, that’s right, the ZG Helios 905-4 Tip Flex. Powerful, responsive, maximum performance with a light touch and beautiful, the Orvis ZG Helios 905-4 is at the absolute pinnacle of current fly rod technology."
Review 8 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 25 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Finally 2 Helios RODS!!!!!!,
March 9, 2009
By:
SWANKfrom Hammond, LA
"In September I went to a 2 day Orvis casting school in Florida with a couple of buddies. I highly recommend the schools also, however, BEWARE! If you go, be prepared to put your hands on a Helios to cast against the rest of the line. I am convinced this is how they are selling them. WE ALL bought and 8 wt after the class. This was a saltwater class. Ever since then, I have not had much interest in the rest of my rods. I now have replaced my old 5wt with a new Helios 5wt! Could not be happier! These rods, this technology, simply amazing!!"
Review 9 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
A Dream Maker,
March 8, 2009
By:
Troutbum1from Northridge, CA
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Helios Delivers!
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Jaws!
"Dreams do come true. In September 2008, I had the opportunity to fish my new dream rod, a Helios 905-4 Tip Flex, on a dream trip – a week of guided fishing on the legendary waters of the majestic Beaverhead Valley in southwest Montana; Lewis and Clark country.
Following recommendations, I took 3 rods: a 4 wt, my 5 wt Helios, and a fast action 6 wt, all 9 footers. You know the drill: The 4 wt was to deliver the smaller flies and more technical presentations; the 5 wt was to, hopefully, take care of the multi-fly/indicator rigs and the in-between stuff; and the 6 wt was to handle big streamers, windy days, and “big fish”. In reality, once I experienced the versatility and comfort of my Helios, I fished it exclusively. The Helios did it all with finesse, control, and power. I’m a believer!
I coupled the Helios rod with a Battenkill LA reel wound with a Wonderline Gen 3 Trout WF fly line on one spool, and WF Power Taper Wonderline Gen 3 on a second spool – a versatile, well-balanced outfit that provided all the power and flexibility I needed.
While site-casting heavy streamers to some cruising monsters, I managed to catch and release a beautiful 24”+ Brown. I’m sworn to secrecy regarding the exact location, but a stillwater near the Beaverhead will suffice.
When my guide, a one-time Winston factory employee and die-hard Winston user, cast my Helios, he chortled – “Whoa! I've never cast a 5 wt with such a backbone. I've got to get one of these".
God willing, I hope to fish my dream maker Helios in New Zealand next year. Might the addition of a 6 wt Helios double my dreams?"
Review 10 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
The Most Incredible Fly Fishing Trip Ever With My,
February 22, 2009
By:
ColoradoRookiefrom Deerfield Beach, FL
"I remeber my first ZG Helios rod, it was the experience of a life time. It was my first trip in mountians of Colorado, and I had just bought the perfect rod for the perfect experience. The rod stood at an amazing 9 ft, light at weight, and the perfect fit for a 5 wt line. I remeber my first cast with that rod like it was just yesterday. The rod felt great in my hand, not to heavy not too light just perfect. When I whipped that line out, it was amazing, the range of the line, it must have been a good twenty to thirty feet out, you gotta figure I was a rookie so that was far for me. The flex tip was perfect, it gave the perfect whip action and allowed me to get to the spots I need to get to. One thing about the length I loved was that it gave me control of the rod, the length and the weight made a perfect combo for my liking's. It let me control the distance of the line at all times. The one thing that I loved most about this rod was the action that it gave me when I cought them mighty trouts, it handles very well and it gave me the power to net them mighty trouts of Colorado. I could have not have a better fishing trip without my new Helios Rod. I have recomended this rod to may of my good fishing friends, and I would reconmend to anyone who wants the best fishing ever to buy this rod."
Review 11 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Absolutely the best rod you can buy...,
February 19, 2009
By:
KeithCfrom Central Massachusetts
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Tiger Trout 9 lbs 4 oz
"I have experimented with many different rod brands to include making my own. Quite some time ago I bought a new 5 weight Orvis Trident, and thus began my loyalty to Orvis products. I have been buying only Orvis rods, reels, lines, and waders ever since. This is not to say I have not used other brands. I have friends that prefer the some of the other top brands. Through them I have had the great pleasure of comparing Orvis equipment against many other top brands. I have owned and heavily used every rod that Orvis has released since the Trident. I have been holding off on writing a review on the Helios since I wanted to put it through the paces and see how it held up. I am very glad to say that it has surpassed my expectations. This is with out a doubt the best rod you can buy regardless of the size of your wallet. This is why I exclusively use Orvis products, when compared to other top brands you get the most for your money… It’s easy to see Orvis has really put a lot of though into this rod. If you fish in the cold weather like I do in New England you will love the recoil guides, they make is simple to break off the ice. You will also notice some gains in casting distance no matter what your skill level is. This rod can handle the big fish too. I caught the fish in the picture on a recent fishing trip with my 9’ 5 weight Helios. It was just under the state record here in Massachusetts at 9 lbs 4 oz., the current Tiger Trout record is 9 lbs. 7oz. I have also caught many large Steelhead on my 7 weight Helios. Orvis has made the lightest, most accurate, longest casting, rod and offered it at a quite reasonable price. I know you might be thinking my opinion of reasonable is well, unreasonable but think about this. If you compare it to other high end rods and account for Orvis’s award winning customer service and support, and don’t forget their 25 year warranty you will quickly realize how reasonable the price truly is."
Review 12 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 250 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
February 6, 2009
By:
browntrout22
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Wind River golden trout
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Does it get any better?
This customer did not provide a text review.
Review 13 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 250 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Great Rod!,
December 29, 2008
By:
WYOJOE
"I love this rod!!! It has a great feel and casts fantastic. It is also a beautiful rod! But to me, it really comes alive while fighting a trout. It is so sensitive yet strong. Without a doubt, this is the best 5 wt. I have ever fished."
Review 14 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 500 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
The ultimate fly rod has been born…,
November 5, 2008
By:
FlyFishAhloicfrom Northampton, PA
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"9’ 5wt. Tip flex…this rod is absolutely amazing, this rod outright performs. Casting is effortless, punch wind resistant hopper-dropper rigs into the wind, or shoot a lead head, no problem. The power of this rod is unmatched. This rod also weighs close to nothing; it’s like a 2wt…
The pictures say it all. I took this rod to fish the Great Lakes tributaries, and just in case I brought my ZG 8wt…needless to say; the 8wt never came out of the truck…The 5wt. Helios tames Steel…"
Review 15 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
My New Favorite Rod,
October 13, 2008
By:
Troutbum3
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What a rod - what a fish!
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Jaws!
"On a recent trip to the Dillon, MT area, I had the opportunity to fish my new Orvis ZG Helios 905-4, Tip Flex rod bought with this trip in mind. The rod performed far beyond my high expectations. It handled everything from the delicate presentation of #20 drys and nymphs, to multi-fly rigs with an indicator, up to heavy streamers in the wind - each with control, power and finesse. After casting those big streamers for the better part of a day, my shoulder and arm appreciated the lightness of my Helios coupled with my new Orvis Battenkill LA reel. It was a fitting outfit for a fitting 24" plus Brown Trout. My guide's comment - "I've never cast a 5 wt with such a backbone. I've got to get one of these"."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Review 16 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 25 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
A 5 wt that Cast Like a 6 wt.,
August 12, 2008
By:
odoylerulez2from Northville Mi
"I bought this rod recently and used it on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan. This rod Throws weighted streamers without a problem. Same with Hopper Dropper combo's into the wind. This is a very stiff rod that will handle heavy fly's like a 6 wt. would without having a sore arm at the end of the day. I was originally thinking of buying the 6 wt. version but now I don't know if it would be worth it."
Review 17 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Like nothing else!,
May 31, 2008
By:
Kurtfrom Denver, CO
"When you first test it out in the store, you think to yourself "This is a really nice rod!" When you first test it out on the South Platte (Colorado) you think to yourself, "This is amazing!" When you catch your first fish, it's like nothing else. It was the most rewarding experience landing the fly right where I want, and netting my first, and definitely not my last rainbow with the Helios."
Review 18 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Incredible Rod,
May 30, 2008
By:
BREVOIRfrom Princeton NJ originally Adirondacks NY
"My brother got me this rod as a gift and paired it with a CFOIII reel. I'm so impressed. This rod is great. Made delicate casting when I needed as easy as my SF Trout Bum and man can it load and fire the line for long casts when you need it. The rod is just a pleasure."
Review 19 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 1000 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Best Rod Made...,
May 24, 2008
By:
grayfoxfrom Massachusetts
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grayfox
"I bought this rod about 6 months ago because of its low weight. I am as young as I used to be and have noticed some fatigue during extended fishing. This rod has allowed me to fish longer and catch more fish. I liked the rod so much I went back and bought 2 more another 9’ 5 weight and a 10’ 7 weight. The rods have and extremely light in hand feel and have also added some distance to my cast. I like the tip flex since I have a shorter casting stroke and it helps me develop more line speed. Even though the rods are the lightest in the world…. they are still very capable of landing big fish I have caught several trout over 10 lbs on my 5 weight Helios. These are undoubtedly the best rods at any price."
Review 20 for ZG Helios™ 905-4 Fly Rod
Top 500 Contributor
Overall Rating:
5
/ 5
Best 5 weight Rod,
February 19, 2008
By:
Mossycreekfrom Harrisonburg, VA
"My brother and I got our hands on this rod back in November of 2007. We have fished it throughout the winter on our local rivers. It casts better than any fly rod we have tested. It is not only incredibly light, but it is incredibly responsive and forgiving as well. We have put it in the hands of beginners and experts alike and everyone has added significant distance to their casts with ease. We can't say enough about it. World's best....you've done it."
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