9' 5wt Orvis Clearwater

Tom Butler · Apr 3, 2022

I know I said I decided I didn't need one. I didn't. I've been fishing every rod and line I have lately just seeing what they can and can't do. I was looking for something that would fish in the wind better, and figured I had 6wt's, but a 4 was more fun for the average stocker trout that consume a lot of my time this time of year. My wife won big at the casino, and maybe she was still loaded, because after home depot we went to get her license and she said she would get that stupid rod that keeps popping up on her computer for me.
I'm glad we did it. I only got to fish it this morning so far but it is a real nice, fun rod to fish. It will be with me on a usual day I suspect. I paired it with the Clearwater line that I like so much with the Steffen, and instead of the Marquis I test cast it with the other day (a touch heavy), I lined up a CFO III that balanced perfectly at the nose of the grip.
The rod is faster than I own, and it does have power. By faster I mean that the loaded weight seems to release quicker, less wait on the backcast, and with a haul I can shoot more stripped line. My loops also seemed tighter, but the bobber and weighted leech never tangled. The whole rhythm is quicker, but I could still feel the energy working. I had no issue with changing valley breezes in the morning or a 10mph breeze later. When I got carried away and applied too much pressure on the forward cast the rod didn't "collapse" and screw up the cast either, it still went out. Additionally it is nice for fighting fish. Not a stick at all, really nice bend and just right to get to fight the fish, not haul them in like with a 6.
I like this one, and my Echo Carbon XL, my Reddington Classic Trout, and other rods that are not top shelf spendy. Maybe I'm just easy to please.

Tom Butler · Apr 5, 2022

So, these are the kind of days that give me issues.

I think with my other rods that are slower, and my slower rhythm, I tend to carry more line in the air and then let it rip. It's up there longer, Not sure I'm saying that right. The 9' 5wt Orvis Clearwater rod is much faster and more powerful and can move this same line as I've fished on another rod much better, shooting it. I like to fish my indicators on the lake much like I would a river, cast perpendicular (or up/down across the wind), reach upwind and throw that first little circle mend before the line hits the water, then follow the indicator with the rod tip just like in the river. This rod allows me to do that with precision, I mean really nicely, although there is a more noticeable plop to the rig at the end. Mending is easy too and the rod recovers quickly for that stike that seems to come after a mend. Just really different than I'm used to but exactly right for this, fishing 40'-70' with ease.
The rod and wraps are actually quite handsome. The grip very vanilla. The reel seat, ah, whatever it stays put, however there is no keeper. After a bit I didn't even notice the reel seat or anything else, I was just able to do what I wanted and focus on the indicator. I can see why @Irafly prefers a slightly larger size than I've been fishing. In the wind the minute movements are hard to see. I think this rod will work with a larger size just fine. And I still think it's a good size for getting to play the average fish.

I had a clearwater line and maybe the rod is built for the line, feels like it. I took my reel to the sportsman and the guy let me try it carefully. I did walk away then but I'll be happy with it, I got the shelf model I tried. I'll let you know if there are durability issues.
(sorry for the double post, this should be here)