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Top Rated Product
Helios™ Switch 6-weight 11' Fly Rod—Tip Flex
4 3/4 oz. 11', 4-piece, Tip-Flex fly rod for 6-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. Helios Switch 11-foot, 6-weight - Great for swinging and stripping streamers in bigger rivers, as well as light duty steelhead in the Midwest, and half-pounders in the Pacific Northwest. The line-mending ability is this rod is spectacular and is also a good beach rod for beach casting for sea run cutts as it keeps your backcast off the sand. A superb float tube rod as the extra length keeps the back cast off the water from the low sitting position. Helios technology is so light, that even at 11-feet, this rod is light enough to cast one-handed all day, but has the ability to reach out further with two-handed technique. Made in USA.
Average Customer Rating:
Rating Snapshot (6 reviews)
5 stars
4
4 stars
0
3 stars
2
2 stars
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1 star
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4 of 6(67%)reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Helios™ Switch 6-weight 11' Fly Rod—Tip Flex
Review 1 for Helios™ Switch 6-weight 11' Fly Rod—Tip Flex
Overall Rating:
Great switch,
September 12, 2012
By: jnh85
"I've been using the 6-weight switch for a couple years now, mostly fishing for stripers in rivers and occasionally heading to the Great Lakes for steelhead. I throw a 475-grain skagit short on it, which I understand is heavy for this rod but suits my casting well. With this setup, I've been able to throw just about any fly I wanted with ease, from size 6 hairwings to 10-inch flatwings. A 3 or 4 pound fish feels great on this rod, but it can still put the wood to a 20+ pound fish when needed.
Although I've never had a reason to use it for overhead casting, it is absolutely wonderful for 2-handed casting in medium-sized rivers where the length of a full spey rod isn't warranted.
Before this, I had tried the 5-weight switch, but was never able to find a niche in my fishing where it really fit. Keep in mind that a 5-weight 2-hander doesn't equate to a 5-weight single-hander. It seemed too heavy for a lot of the smallmouth fishing I was doing, and too light for steelhead and stripers. Of course, your mileage may vary."
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Review 2 for Helios™ Switch 6-weight 11' Fly Rod—Tip Flex
Overall Rating:
Great rod let down by build quality,
April 13, 2011
By: halldorg
from Reykjavik, Iceland
Good Value:
2
/
5
Meets Expectations:
4
/
5
Features:
4
/
5
Appearance:
4
/
5
"I purchased this rod with the intention of using it for big brownies in the Icelandic highlands. I mainly use my 5 and 6wt rods there but felt I needed something that would give me more range in windy conditions.
In that regard the rod excelled and is by far the best casting rod I have ever used. A pleasant surprise was how enjoyable it is when fighting fish.
I found myself using the rod a lot more than I had planned and it became my main rod for the two trips I went there last summer. That was in part because of how easy it is to cast and work with the rod. The strain on shoulders, back and arms is far less than with the single handed rods.
What was very disappointing was the build of the handle, a very poor design and/or craftsmanship. The upper part of the handle is in 2 parts and during my 4-5 days of fishing it started to move ever so slightly and at the end of the trip the lower part was completely loose. It now hangs loose on the rod and dangles around it making the rod pretty much unusable.
Very, very disappointing for a rod in this price class."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for Helios™ Switch 6-weight 11' Fly Rod—Tip Flex
Overall Rating:
Leary,
October 31, 2010
By: Deepsea
from Modesto, Ca
Good Value:
3
/
5
Meets Expectations:
4
/
5
Features:
3
/
5
Appearance:
3
/
5
"Two of us purchased the rods and a quided trip. Fished the rods and both landed ~10 rainbows ~ 3-5 lbs. Second day fishing them my friends rod snapped 1'6" from the tip.
Was some what disappointed but was not concerned because of Orvis's warranty. We both brought extra rods or the trip would have been a bust.
When my friend returned his rod and asked the status of repair and possible issues this was the response
"There is a ... fee for the repair of the rod because we were able to tell that the rod was not broken due to the rod being defective. Most of the times, breaks at the tip of the rod are due to the rod being strung up incorrectly; flies with dumbbell eyes, bead heads, cone heads, or other sort of hard material hitting the tip; and allowing too much bend in the tip of the rod when fighting fish. All of these could weaken the rod so that it would break during mid cast."
As I am planning on using some of the flies listed I am concerned about the customer service I may receive if I have an issue."
Was some what disappointed but was not concerned because of Orvis's warranty. We both brought extra rods or the trip would have been a bust.
When my friend returned his rod and asked the status of repair and possible issues this was the response
"There is a ... fee for the repair of the rod because we were able to tell that the rod was not broken due to the rod being defective. Most of the times, breaks at the tip of the rod are due to the rod being strung up incorrectly; flies with dumbbell eyes, bead heads, cone heads, or other sort of hard material hitting the tip; and allowing too much bend in the tip of the rod when fighting fish. All of these could weaken the rod so that it would break during mid cast."
As I am planning on using some of the flies listed I am concerned about the customer service I may receive if I have an issue."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Helios™ Switch 6-weight 11' Fly Rod—Tip Flex
Overall Rating:
Helios Rods The Best!,
September 23, 2010
By: Hornberg
Good Value:
4
/
5
Meets Expectations:
5
/
5
Features:
5
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"Terrific rods... I own a heavy rod for salt water and a lighter version for fresh water.
Best casting rod ever, good feel ...I am now totally spoiled for other rods.
Orvis... you may want to make longer fly lines!"
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Review 5 for Helios™ Switch 6-weight 11' Fly Rod—Tip Flex
Overall Rating:
Strength of rod exceptional,
July 22, 2010
By: JulieT
Good Value:
5
/
5
Meets Expectations:
5
/
5
Features:
5
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"When in Alaska last week fishing for grayling up north, I took this rod out for a trial run on northern pike. Thinking the 6 wt might be too light because 8 wts were recommended, I wondered. But after hooking and watching a 39" pike weighing 20+lbs do aerials and thrashings and finally coming to hand, I am convinced this is one amazing rod. It is so light and versatile, I love it. P.S. it handled the lighter but feisty grayling just fine with plenty of active feeling through the rod. It also handled fighting chum salmon of 25+ inches well, too. I am so pleased."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for Helios™ Switch 6-weight 11' Fly Rod—Tip Flex
Overall Rating:
What a Rod!,
March 26, 2010
By: SteelheadKirk
from Portland, Or
Good Value:
4
/
5
Meets Expectations:
5
/
5
Features:
5
/
5
Appearance:
4
/
5
"This rod truly is exceptional!
I was initially sold with its ability to improve my casting distance and accuracy; and it’s capability to make spey casts.
However, it wasn’t until I was on the Deschutes River that I really appreciated what it offers:
> The 11 foot length keeps more line off the water, allowing for longer, drag free drifts.
> The spey casts allowed me to confidently fish with bank and brush close behind.
> The longer casts allowed me to reach locations that I normally couldn’t hit.
> The 11 foot length keeps more line off the water, allowing for longer, drag free drifts.
> The spey casts allowed me to confidently fish with bank and brush close behind.
> The longer casts allowed me to reach locations that I normally couldn’t hit.
But what really impressed me, is that all of this allows me to stay closer to shore, in shallower water; minimizing fish disturbances and keeping me out of riskier wading.
I would certainly buy this rod again."
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