The 11' 5-weight Helios Switch fly rod brings a new dynamic to the sport. Made in USA.

Features of the Freshwater Helios Fly Rod

• greatest feel of action for more accurate and longer casts
• superior sensitivity and responsiveness
• the strongest fly rod on the market
• loads quickly, crisply, but nimbly
• supremely-balanced feel
• unmatched fish-fighting power
• better tracking for dry flies and nymphing
• smoother transition of power
• reduced casting fatigue
  
• exclusive first-ever thermoplastic, thermoset resins from tip to butt
• Precision Power Taper™
• woven graphite & gold-anodized aluminum reel seat
• recoil guides
• titanium frame stripping guide with NanoLite® ceramic insert
• translucent-olive finish
• highest grade cork handle
• woven-graphite rod tube
• made in Manchester, Vermont

The advantages of switch rods

Helios Switch Fly Rods: Available in 5, 6, 7 and 8 weights.

Switch rods are a new type of fly rod that are lighter and shorter than traditional two-handed rods, and thus can be used in places where delicacy and accuracy are paramount, while still employing the advantages of two-handed rods. They can be used with a traditional overhead casting style with one hand, where their length allows longer casts and much greater line control on the water, yet can also be used with Spey casting styles where lack of back cast room, wind, or just a tired angler makes two-handed casting more desirable.

Switch rods are excellent for nymph fishing with or without an indicator, long-line dry-fly fishing, stillwater fishing, and salmon and steelhead fishing during low water conditions. Some fly fishers even use them in the surf to get long casts over the last wave without false casts.

How Helios technology has improved switch rods

The main drawback to conventional switch rods are that they are heavy, and when constantly mending line or high-stick nymphing the caster’s arm can get very tired holding a rod that weighs almost 6 ounces high above the water all day long. With Helios technology, our exclusive aerospace-derived graphite resin systems allow us to build switch rods lighter than any other.

Here is a comparison of 11-foot, 7-weight switch rods:

Here is the current lineup of Orvis Switch rods. You can be assured that you’ll be using the lightest switch rod in the world and will have more fun fishing with Helios rods than any other. And for those of you who are technically inclined, here are the grain weights for each of the new models:

Guides and testers comment on the new Helios Switch Rods

I think anyone will be a better caster with this rod and a little time on the water.
–Mike Schultz, Michigan steelhead guide and tester

In all my 27 years of fly fishing, no other fly rod has offered the versatility and performance of the Orvis Helios Switch Rods. In a league of their own, the Helios Switch Rods emerge as a true one or two handed fly rod. Its superior lightweight design allows me to cast single handed to rising rainbows during a stonefly hatch. After the hatch is over and the fish go back down, I use Spey casting to launch streamers to the other side of the river. When I use them to teach casting lessons, my students prove...not all rods are created equal. They learn faster and perform better. Thanks Orvis for making my job easier.
–Jeff Putnam, one of the finest Spey casting teachers in North America

This rod is going to be incredible for those who want to use switch rods for trout. They can have the best of both worlds and have an awesome high stick or indicator rod or swing flies with two hands.
–Doug Duncan, tournament Spey caster (in 2007 and 2008 he placed second at the International Spey Competition in San Francisco) and manager of the Orvis Retail Store in Rosedale (Sacramento) California

I think it is exceptional, my clients are going to love the rod because it won't intimidate them. When I put a longer and heavier rod in their hands many clients don't like the idea of learning to Spey cast. This Helios can be fished one handed and still provide the advantages of an 11 foot length.
–Chuck Hawkins, Hawkins Outfitters, Michigan

The rod just loves to mend line, never have I mended with such a sweet stick.
–Tommy Lynch, steelhead and trout guide, Michigan

WOW! Those rods are unbelievable.
–Dave Hise, Caster’s Fly Shop, North Carolina

What a great Nymphing rod! And the really good thing was, at the end of the day, my tendonitis in my right arm was not flaring up...
–Steve Gossage, Angler’s Covey, Colorado

By Tom Rosenbauer

Two years ago, we set out to make the lightest fly rod in the industry. Part of the problem was that graphite fiber technology, at least the fiber that can be used in a premium fly rod, just has not changed much in the past few years.

But we have a number of new rod designers in our rod shop, young guys who look at things differently than older, more traditional designers. They knew that all the action in composite design is not in fiber technology but in the prepreg and scrim technology—in other words, the stuff that holds the graphite fibers together and the material that gives a finished rod hoop strength, or resistance to crushing. If you can lessen the amount of graphite fiber you need by using improved resin systems, and if you can use a lighter scrim and less of it, you can design a fly rod with less weight.

And this is exactly what they did. Now scrim is pretty un-sexy stuff. All it does is to keep the hollow graphite tube used to construct a rod from collapsing under the pressure of a long cast or a big fish. Unidirectional graphite fiber can’t do that by itself. In ordinary graphite fly rods the scrim is made from fiberglass, which is heavier, less expensive, and not as stiff as graphite. In Zero Gravity fly rods, the fiberglass scrim was replaced by graphite scrim with an epoxy binder, which allowed us to use less material and thus make a much lighter rod.

New Technology from the Space Satellite Industry

Building upon our Zero Gravity’s exclusive thermoplastic resin technology, which is stronger and lighter than the epoxy resins used to make traditional fly rods, the designers found an exciting new scrim in the space satellite industry. This unidirectional graphite scrim with a thermoplastic binder gives us the same strength in our rods, but uses much less material. We reduced the weight on our new Heliosblanks by 25% less than our already lightweight Zero Gravity blanks. Then the rod team designed, from scratch, new reel seats that would keep the 25% weight reduction throughout the entire rod.

So, they came up with the lightest rod we’ve ever designed. I was pretty excited. Lighter rods are more fun and less tiring, but could this really make someone cast better or put a fly someplace they never could before?

New Design Coupled with New Technology

Then I got a chance to cast one of these rods. “Whoa,” I thought. “This is an amazingly light rod and it wiggles nice, but this thing feels really different.” And it wasn’t just the weight. When I asked Andy Stone and Frank Hoard, the new designers, and Jim Logan, VP and head engineer in our rod shop, I found out why. The new material had given them the opportunity to take advantage of a new taper, a steeper and faster taper that was not stiffer, just more responsive and powerful.

Accuracy and Control for Freshwater Casting

So these Helios rods were fun on the casting pond. What would they feel like in real fishing conditions? I took a 4-weight to the Delaware River for trout fishing and tried it over some of the snottiest brown trout I’ve ever tangled with. That rod would put the fly just where I wanted it to go, almost like ESP. I took a 9-foot, 5-weight to Idaho’s South Fork, and the most amazing aspect of the rod’s performance was that I could switch from pounding the banks with size 8 Chernobyl Ants and then switch to tossing PMDs over finicky cutthroats on 6X with the same rod—and it still maintained the same control and accuracy in both cases.

Power for Casting Large Flies for Saltwater

Then I took a 10-weight striper fishing for big June fish on Cape Cod. It handled big stripers and big poppers in the wind like nothing I’d ever used, and after 10 hours of casting, my arm was not the slightest bit tired. The 10-weight then came along with me to Rhode Island in search of small bluefin tuna in August. The bluefins were not around, but the rod helped me make some quick, precise long casts into the wind for some nice bonito that were blowing up the surface but only gave you a few seconds to make a presentation before they steamed away.

Our testers have had the rods on trout all over the world, tarpon, snook, bonefish, redfish, and many other species. The universal reaction is that for hardcore anglers who fish on the edge and demand the most out of their equipment, Helios sets the standard for the next generation of graphite fly rods. Personally, I think they’ll make plain old backyard trout fishing a lot more fun as well.

What others are saying about Helios

You’ve already read about the cool technology behind the ZG Helios Rod series and how it will make you a better caster. But don’t just take our word for it.

Here’s what the experts have to say about the Helios:

“Overall: A ‘crisp’ rod, you can feel the line moving through the guides, which reinforces that this is a very light, responsive rod.
-- Action: Faster, for sure, than most 9 weights (if not all) that I have cast in recent years. Feels similar to the Loomis GLX Pro series, if I had to draw a comparison.
-- Most Noticeable: Tip control. Didn't fee the tip wobble out of position, despite my tendency to let the tip wander. Seems to be a rod strength.
-- Cosmetics: Obviously this is a very light rod for its class. The finish is beautiful. Glad to see Orvis getting back to the more subtle colors; golden olive is a nice choice. Reel seat and butt are all obviously high-end and attractive.”
      —Marshall Cutchin, Midcurrent.com

“I don’t know what is going on with that rod, but it is the nicest 5-weight I’ve thrown in years, maybe ever. Since I’ve fished it the last couple of weeks it has landed 6-8 trout over 20 inches here in Michigan and in Wyoming. What impresses me the most is that the rod weighs nothing, yet can turn a 20-inch rainbow out of the wood (I rolled   a fish over backwards right after he ate on the Pine River in Michigan to keep him out of wood) and deliver an 80-foot cast with ease. I love that rod, not something I say often. Casting, it will carry 60 feet or so of a weight forward line and still shoot another 30-35 feet. Most 5 weights can’t do that (not that you should be fishing that far away with a 5 weight!).  
The other unique thing about the new rod is that, not only can I cast the hell out of it, average casters that have used it have done really well with it. It has that combination of power while keeping the ‘feel’ that lets average casters keep control of their loop and attain greater accuracy and distance. That makes this a great guide rod!”
      —Chuck Hawkins, Michigan trout/steelhead guide

“The rod is so powerful yet very light; it casts at distance as good or better then any rod I’ve ever used.”
      —Conway Bowman, mako shark expert and extreme fly fisher

“You know I’m fussy yet, I think it’s the best balanced, most responsive 9-wt I’ve ever cast. It feels like you’ve got a 6- or 7-wt rod in hand. Kind of like a sports car with a wide torque curve. Great  feel in close when you’re just cruising but with extraordinary, comfortable power when you step on the gas. Even markedly better than the Zero Gravity 9-wt, which I think is a super rod. The cosmetics are easy on the eyes, too. Love the new blank and wrap colors. ”
      —Fly fisherman Jack Coyle, in a e-mail to Captain Tony Biski, one of our field testers (Captain Biski asked some of his clients for feedback on the rods)

“Capt. Tony Biski had me try the new Orvis rod while fishing the flats of Monomoy. Absolutely the best rod I’ve ever cast—light, accurate, and you can cast it all day.   Hats off to you and your team for bringing such a great rod to market.”
      —Bill Pastore, client of Captain Tony Biski

“The Helios rod is the lightest most responsive rod I have ever fished. Whether I am casting streamers, nymphs, or dry flies, the ZG Helios delivers them accurately and effortlessly. I can (and have) literally fished with the Helios all day for many days in a row and never get tired from casting it. This rod is my new favorite fly rod!”
      —Jim Hickey, Wyoming / Idaho guide and owner of World Cast Anglers

“Jon Luke and I gave the Helios a workout in Wisconsin chasing muskies around, and the past few days over in eastern Washington fishing some fall bass. The rods are a dream to cast! They throw big flies with ease, handle big fish well, and appear to be one of the toughest, best casting rods I have ever had in my hands.”
      —Steve Probasco, Northwest Fly Fishing

“It seems that Orvis has pulled out all the stops on this project, very high tech, right down to the graphite tube. I almost liked everything about the rod — the cork is triple A with hardly any fill, streamline ferrules, wraps and guides, excellent. I liked the drilled-out reel seat hardware and the graphite seat. But especially the light weight and the way it cast.
As you know, I have not gravitated towards the last two evolutions of Orvis rods. They seemed to have emphasized eye candy, were too heavy with minimal performance gains over the TLS’s. The Helios is an all out high tech fishing tool.”  
      —Philip Pantano

“Over more than 50 years of fly fishing I have used and tried hundreds of rods. For the past 10 years or so, very few rods have really excited me, but I think the new Helios is really something. In my humble opinion, probably the most perfect fly rod I have ever cast.”
      —Barry Unwin, Fulling Mill Flies

“Wow! Fished the Helios for everything from Bahamas bones in windy weather to Florida snook deep in heavy current. Super light, and delivers both in the delicacy and the power departments. Orvis’ best stick yet.”     
      —Mike Conner, Editor, Shallow Water Angler magazine

“What a great rod: incredibly light, super responsive, and impressive looks. I’m partial to Orvis rods but this is a fantastic fishing tool. Before I even got to fish it I let a guide client try it out and he loved it. He had no problem casting and fishing with it even though he had his first casting lesson just an hour before. Later that day I took the rod down to the river and put it through its paces, what a ball. The rod responds and does what ever you ask it to do. Up-stream tuck casts, across-stream reach mends, feeding line downstream (and still setting the hook), it does it all at any distance. Very impressive. It was also very forgiving on hard hook sets with 6X, around 40 fish caught and no breakoffs with the Helios. Then just for fun I put on a heavy weighted #4 sculpin on 3x and made a few casts. Casting 60' with such a large fly was no problem, finding a big brown was, but it was still fun chucking a big fly with a 4wt. The new Helios will let you fish as close and small as you want but when you need to reach out with a big fly it still won’t let you down. My birthday is in January and I know what I will be getting myself, the Helios 904-4 Mid.”
      —Brian Harris, White River guide

“I got to use the 9-foot for a 5-weight line last summer, when it was still a big secret, and was amazed. It was incredibly light, about 2.5 ounces, but that’s not what got me. It was the almost effortless casting. You just lifted the line off the water, did a quick false cast and let it fly.
For the past 10 years Sage has set the standards for upmarket fly rods. But when I tried the Helios side-by-side with a 9-foot Sage TCR, using the same reel and line, I thought the Orvis was noticeably better.
The light weight of the Helios trout rods is nice but not all that important. I’m 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, so a 5-weight rod that’s an ounce lighter isn’t a big consideration. But an 8- or 10-weight that’s 4 ounces lighter is appealing for saltwater, salmon, or bass fishing, where you hold it at head level as you make hundreds of casts a day.”
      —Eric Sharpe, Detroit Free Press

“The first thing one notices about the Helios rod is the weight, or lack of it. Touted as the lightest rod ever made, it employs resins to hold graphite fibers together rather than fiberglass scrim. The net result: weight reduction of up to 40 percent in the blank, another 20 percent trimmed from the reel seat. This featherweight somehow gains in performance and has played to rave reviews. This beauty is quick, powerful, sensitive, durable - the complete fly rod in sizes 3-10. Perhaps the only question is whether it will deliver sticker shock at $755.”
      —Charlie Meyers, Denver Post

“I found the Tip-Flex 9-foot 6-weight remarkably light in the hand, responsive, and powerful. Here was a smooth, sensuous pleasure in the cast. The Tip-Flex 8-weight was assertive and powerfully progressive, a casting joy without fatigue. This rod could easily replace my 10-weight. And I bet no angler can cast the Tip-Flex 4-weight without a smile. When my brother cast the rod, he dryly noted that now we have fly rods lighter than the lines they toss. Not quite, but the Helios is rising, and it is a new dawn in rod-making.”
      —Darryl Martin, Fly Rod & Reel Magazine

“The new Orvis Helios 9 wt is the best rod I have ever fished with. I just wish we had hooked up with the elusive permits so I could have experienced its response to large, very active gamefish. This should be a big seller for them since those of us now in our 60’s don’t have the strength or ability to throw flies as far or as accurately as we once could using the heavier rods. Using a rod about 2 oz lighter is a fantastic advantage. I think those fishing for salmon, steelhead, etc. where it is not just sight fishing will love the lighter weight and ease of casting. Please tell Orvis they have a real winner there.”
      —Malcolm Alpin, customer of World Cast Anglers in an e-mail to Jim Hickey

“The wind blew consistently between 10 and 20 knots everyday during my most recent trip to Casa Blanca, Mexico, where I fished for bonefish, tarpon, and permit. Not only did the high wind make casting with accuracy more challenging, but the fish were even more spooky than normal. The 9 wt. ZG Helios, which felt lighter than an 8 wt. rod, made casting in these conditions pleasant while other rods did not perform nearly as well. Not only could I cast with accuracy into or across an often stiff wind with the Helios, but the rod had both the sensitivity (due in large part to it’s light weight) to hook and fight 3-5 pound bonefish as well as the backbone to land 35+ pound Tarpon very quickly. Stated simply, the 9 wt. Helios outperformed other rods of both smaller and larger line sizes from 8 wt. to 10 wt.”
      —Jim Hickey, Casa Blanca Mexico trip

“Thanks again for getting the Helios 10-wt to me this fall. I used the rod a bunch of times on albies, blues, and stripers from NY to NC. The rod is sweet to say the least. It casts unbelievably easy and feels so light. At first I was a little leery of putting the screws to the rod for fear I might break it. It just felt too light to really think it could be strong too.   Anyway, I cranked the drag on my reel all the way down and put the screws to bunch of crazy NC albies... kicked their asses! This rod is tough. I did the same with some jumbo blues and fall run, but not so jumbo stripers, and had a blast doing it. Everyone who fishes this rod loves it, and how could they not?”
      —Joe Demalderis

“I fished the 909-4 Helios on Andros last week. Freaking awesome stick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great in close and at distances. All the guides and even Crazy Charlie loved it. They could not believe it was a nine weight. Top notch baby.”
      —Ian Davis, Yellow Dog Outfitters

“Took the 8-weight Helios out yesterday for the first time – just to throw it around for a little and caught a 7-lb. redfish on the 5th or 6th cast. That is hands down the most amazing fly rod I have ever thrown...period. Light as a feather, and solid as a rock. As a matter of fact that 8-weight feels like a 6.”
      —John Brett, fishbuzz.tv

“Thought I’d let you know: I gave my new Helios 6-wt a workout Friday. Caught about 50 stripers in the 18-22” range at the bay. Halfway through hooked into one that took me to my backing. 10 minutes later landed a 30” 11-lb. on the 6-wt. Carson was wondering about the Helios being so light if it would stand up to bigger fish without blowing up. His fears were laid to rest…”
      —Gordon English, Albemarle Angler

“I have let six of my clients use the Helios and they all think that it is the best rod they have ever cast; I know that four of them will buy them when they arrive back.”
      —Dean Whaanga, Otago Trout Fishing Company, New Zealand

“The new Helios rods may just be the best rod that I’ve ever fished for trout with. They look good and fish even better!”
      —Toby Swank, Bozeman Fins & Feathers

“The Helios is an awesome rod! This is definitely the best graphite rod that Orvis has ever produced and, in my opinion, the finest currently being produced by any manufacturer. It’s perfect. I can’t think of a single thing I would change. I rarely say that about any piece of fishing equipment. Although the Helios stands out from the crowd in all of the line weights and lengths that I cast, after having cast the 9 and 10 weights at the shop, and after having fished this 10' 7-wt, I can say that the heavier and longer the rod, the more the Helios stands out as superior.”
      —Don Adams, Adams Guide Service

"Thanks to Mike and Brett I am lucky and I’ve tried the first HELIOS rod that came to Argentina, a 865-4 – 2 1/8 oz. - Mid Flex 6.5. The first test was on Tunuyan’s Rio Grande, fast water but a very small stream, It’s impossible to describe the lightweight sensation of this new Orvis rod, the perfect balance for the BLA I. But the greatest surprise was its strength and soul to throw flies in any difficult situation. Wind doesn’t exist for this rod. Then comes the though test for the Helios, Tordillo and Salado rivers in Mendoza, here the wind it’s really strong, I was able to cast with the same elegance, a delicate dry or a bead head streamer. A whole afternoon without stress in my back, that has more than 45 years as you know, casting flies… But no one can imagine the power that this rod has to fight a big trout and land it so nicely. It has an incredible strength despite of its weight. I’ve never used such a wonderful and nice rod in my life."
      —Benito Perez, Orvis Authorized Dealer, Mendoza Fly Shop, Argentina