Orvis Superfine Glass.

[DFoster 0]

Hi everyone- 

Friday I picked up a new Orvis Super Fine Glass 7’ 6” 3 weight.  Based on what I’ve read along with video reviews the Super Fine sounded perfect for the 10’ to 20’ wide streams I generally fish. A fly shop employee whose opinion I trust owns the 4-weight version and he has been telling me for a year that if I tried one I would buy it.  This is my first brand-new rod since 2014.  I have an appreciation for fine tackle, but I never buy into the hype surrounding the latest rod designs.  In my world, most of my fishing is at ranges between 10’ and 30’ with lots of overhanging vegetation.  All I really need my rod to do is to not fight me in getting a small fly or light nymph on target at those distances.  There are a couple of photos of the waters I typically fish below.

Full disclosure, to begin with I love glass rods and I love Orvis products in general.  I own a 9’ 6” Orvis Recon that I will never, ever part with and my favorite color is green.   So, I admittedly have a huge bias towards wanting to love this thing to start with and I haven’t even taken it out of the tube.  Friday after work a line of thunderstorms put an end to any hope of trying out my new rod. Saturday morning, we had our Grandchildren until the early afternoon.  After returning them to Mom and Dad it was finally time to see if the Super Fine and I were going to get along.  A close by stream that has more than a few spots that have proven tough to cast into in the past was my destination.  I have no complaints about the fit and finish on the rod, I really like the look of it. Orvis has stopped putting hook holders on their rods, I have no idea why but I have gotten used to not having one on my Recon.  I barely noticed that the Super Fine doesn’t have one either.    With the first cast it immediately felt like I had been using this rod for 20 years. At close ranges I was able to accurately cast a 9’ leader with only 4” of fly line out.  A very useful casting quality when on tight quarters small streams and one that all of my graphite rods struggle to do.  At 15’ out to 30’ I was able to hit targeted water repeatedly that I could only achieve with my bamboo 3 weight roughly half of the time.  Out to 45’ I was still able drop my fly on the water I was aiming for although it did require a little more casting effort.  My fly choices were a #12 winged wet and a #10 bead head nymph.  I will say that I could tell just by feel that the Superfine isn’t going to like much heavier flies than that or wind resistant flies.  I don’t believe it will like windy days very much either.  That’s fine, I have other rods for those situations and conditions.  I bought this rod to be my go-to small stream rod and IMO, for that application it’s a masterpiece.

This Orvis Super Fine for me is the perfect tool for use on the streams I most often fish. This is just my opinion.  I am not casting expert but from my average fly caster’s point of view this rod just feels right and cast beautifully.  We all know that rod preferences are very subjective but if anyone out there is considering buying a glass rod, or a tight quarters/small water rod I would highly recommend trying out one of the Super Fine offerings. 

[partsman 0]

I have the superfine carbon 7.5 3 wt. It’s my go to small stream rod, wish they still made the graphite version.

[DFoster 0]

I’ve never used the graphite super fine.  Which may be a good thing for my wallet  because I can’t miss what I never had.  I just got off the river a few minutes ago and I have to say I’m really happy with this rod!

[Sandan 0]

17 hours ago, DFoster said:

... I just got off the river a few minutes ago and I have to say I’m really happy with this rod!

That's what matters. Enjoy as you seem to be.

[DFoster 0]

29 minutes ago, Sandan said:

That's what matters. Enjoy as you seem to be.

Thanks Sandan- I honestly don't remember ever having this much fun from just casting a rod, not to mention a Bluegill feels like a Steelhead on it.  It's just a fun small stream rod.

 

[Sandan 0]

46 minutes ago, DFoster said:

Thanks Sandan- I honestly don't remember ever having this much fun from just casting a rod, not to mention a Bluegill feels like a Steelhead on it.  It's just a fun small stream rod.

 

Sounds just perfect.