Any experience with Orvis Clearwater Rods

[hpskiff]

Given the free reel deal at Orvis and the low price of a Clearwater rod I am considering getting one as a present for a friend who is just getting into fly fishing. It is about $200 but comes with a BBS reel, so depending on how you do the math it comes out to $80 or less if you were paying full price for the reel. It is made in Korea but does have the 25 year, no questions asked warranty. I have cast it and it doesn't feel as nice as the Access, but is it still worth owning? Any thoughts??? Any one own one?

[fshflys]

Haven't tossed a clearwater but have owned a few Orvis rods. Owned a couple Silver Label rods, broke one & they sent me a newer model comparably priced (mid-priced) wasn't happy with the feel, a bit bulky compared to my silver label, so I traded up for a Helios which I really like. My son has a Superfine which is really nice, had to use the warranty a couple times & that makes it worth it. Good luck

[fishhunterphil]

my first decent rod, and the one I still use most often, is an orvis clearwater 5wt 9fter with fast action. It is not silky smooth but it casts well enough. I went from a walmart rod to a cabelas rod to this, so I am not a good judge of the clearwater compared to other rods, I just haven't casted that many. That being said, it casts well, distance wise and I like it. I have owned it just over 2 years now, no mishaps but a strip of the cork did start to come loose and I just super glued it back on. given that your friend is just gettin into flyfishing, like I was when I got it, I would say it is not a bad choice.

cheers,
Phil

[Bernard]

For an eternity I scoffed at the Orvis brand purely because I associated it with the elitist side of fly fishing. Well, the gear nor the brand should be judged so harshly and here and there I admittedly own some hoity-toity stuff. Just because the series you mention is not in the through-the-roof price range or top-shelf doesn't mean that it isn't good. In the last few years I have used a lot of Orvis gear while working with Jimmie Morales including the Clearwater series and I'll say that I now am a fan. There are certainly a good number of quality setups from other brands in the same price range but in my humble opinion you should be fine with the Clearwater. Please tell us what you settle on.
B

[Sasha]

Haven't fished the ClearwaterII in a 5wt; however I own the Henry's fork model of the old Clearwater series. I do own a ClearwaterII in 9wt though.

Now for my thoughts. I like the older unsanded blank one quite a bit now (I didn't like it at first). Granted I like my 5wt ZG better. Personally the ClearwaterII 9wt isn't my favorite rod in the world. It does get the job done though.

The bottom line is that they are good rods. If you haven't done so yet go cast some and see what you think. Don't know if you have seen them but you may also want to look at the new Orvis Access.

[beachbum]

My g/f gave me a 5 wt years ago, and it's been pretty good rod. One of my friends absolutely loves it, and seeing this thread reminds me I should get it back from him one of these days.

[slice!]

for the price, a decent rod. i have the 8 wt that i use for surf and bass. it's adequate. not the best rod but it not like some low end redington that i once cast... it has some flex, and it isn't like casting a steel rod.

[unskunkable]

hpskiff

My best advice to you is to come over to the Pasadena store and cast it and the Access, personally I think you'll find the Access to be the better rod. I know that this is a gift for a beginner but if you cast them both you WILL see the value in the Access vs the Clearwater. They are both good inexpensive rods though. The reel deal is over on the 15th of this month so I'd get over there quickly. While you're in sign your buddy up for the FF101 and 201 classes.

[hpskiff]

Thank you all for all the advice. I cast them both a week ago and have no doubt the Access is a better rod. My concern was value for the dollar and if the Clearwater is really worth owning - no matter how cheap - It sounds like it is!

Now I have another friend interested in the Orvis rods, but with a twist. He wants to fish both the local mountains and the surf. Again he is brand new and on a budget. I have advised him to get either the Access in a 8.5' 5wt. mid-flex or 2 Clearwaters in 7'6" 3 wt. mid-flex and 9' 6wt tipflex. I realize 2 access rods would be better(or a whole host of other options, but you have to narrow it down at some point, so we are focusing on Orvis), but again it is a value for the dollar issue.

So my question is...Which is the better choice? A good 5 wt. that is stretching to fish tiny streams and light surf, or a pair of cheaper rods, one perfect for small streams and one better suited for surf?

P.S. Yes these are real friends. In fact I have a third also looking. If they all buy, I think Orvis owes me a commission, but I will settle for the occasional coupon.

Wildfly - The in-store deal is different than online. It is an Access reel with any Access rod or higher and a BBS reel with a Clearwater. Did you try to use the 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on the boots?

[briansII]

So my question is...Which is the better choice? A good 5 wt. that is stretching to fish tiny streams and light surf, or a pair of cheaper rods, one perfect for small streams and one better suited for surf?

Personally, I'd rather have two, cheaper, species/situation specific rods, than to compromise with one, more expensive rod. After all, isn't he who dies with the MOST toys wins. Not with the most expensive.

briansII

[highflyer]

Hey Bernard: I've never casted a Hoity-toity but I hear if you hold out your pinky finger they are dead on...

Alan

[unskunkable]

Wildfly - The in-store deal is different than online. It is an Access reel with any Access rod or higher and a BBS reel with a Clearwater. Did you try to use the 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on the boots?

Nope, they ended up in a trash can in downtown Bishop. I live in Bakersfield, it costs me a good amount on gas to get to Pasadena. Plus, I ended up being given a pair of Simms Rivershed boots when they just came out, and those boots have held up fine, though I think it's finally time for a new pair with the rubber (only felt was available on Riversheds when I first got them). 95% of the water I fish would be better with the rubber. I don't get up to the lower Kings much or any other rivers with snot covered bowling balls.

You could have sent them back to Vermont and they would have covered postage ( I Believe) as long as it was a manufacturing defect.

[hpskiff]

Thanks for all the advise!

I wound up purchasing the 3 and 6wt for my buddy. I will be hanging on to the 3 wt. until his son's first birthday next year - the next generation has to learn to fly fish eventually!

One friend made it into the store to order a 3wt. and was a bit displeased with the service. I guess the store was a little understaffed, but they would not let him test cast it and sold him a line type and reel size he really did not want, since it was out of stock at the store he had to call customer service to change his order to the reel he wanted, then they screwed up the discount so he has to call again this week. (He may be a Marriott's shopper from here on.) Orvis has always been good to me and I have found the staff in Pasadena and online to be helpful, so hopefully this was a one time thing. Still it is a good thing they have that 30 test drive, I would hate to feel responsible for him spending a chunk of money on a rod he is unhappy with for any reason. We will be fishing together next weekend, so if the rod arrives in time I will let you know how it went.

My third friend is just not ready for the investment and is still borrowing my old Basspro 4wt.

Update: My friend and I finally got together at the park today with both Clearwater 3 wt's and my 4 reels spooled with an Orvis Silverlabel 2wt, Orvis Superfine 3 wt, an older Cortland 3wt., and a Basspro 4 wt. All weight forwards, but some with unknown tapers. The rods cast all four OK, and they would all have their place in certain situations. The Cortland 3 wt. felt best overall, with the Superfine 3wt. a much lighter and more delicate second. The 4 wt. was over loading the rod at any significant distance (over 20 feet or so) and the 2 wt. was extremely delicate but required a double haul to load the rod. Orvis sold him a standard Wonderline 3 wt, which is probably the most similar to the Cortland, and tried to sell him a size 1 BBS reel, which balances nicely with the rod, but he insisted on a size 2 BBS(thinking he would want a 4wt. line) and may be exchanging it. In all, Orvis sold him the equipment that best suited the rod, and he is happy with it so far, though he has yet to fish it.