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Post 18 Jun 2017, 14:28 • #51 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/03/07
Posts: 1152
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Creek wrote:
It's funny. Just the other day in another thread some were talking about how worthless graphite rods were. You sure couldn't tell that by this thread. :)


Tons of great graphite rods out there, and many that are still quite a bargain.


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Post 18 Jun 2017, 14:38 • #52 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/13/07
Posts: 630
Location: GB
I agree.


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Post 23 Jun 2017, 02:48 • #53 
Sport
Joined: 07/05/10
Posts: 31
Location: Germany
Ruff Hunter wrote:
carlz wrote:
I rounded out my collection today. A Spring Creek 9' 3". It joins the Far&fine, Henry's Fork, Limestone Special, and Seven Eleven as my truly special named rods. I have two 1970's rods that predate the naming that fall into this category: an 8' 6wt (trout) and 8' 3" 7# (Allrounder).



It's good to see I'm not the only one expanding his collection. I recently added a 9' 4wt Zephyr. The jury is still out on how I feel about it as its awfully tip heavy, while still very lively with a fish on it and it does cast a country mile.

Still favor the 711 and the Ultrafine.


Nice to see there is onother one out there with a Zephyr, apart from you I have never heard anyone having or even knowing this rod. Yes it is tip heavy, but using this rod for nymphing and roll casting it really excells. the tip weight makes it effortless and control of the drift is much better with a longer rod.


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Post 23 Jun 2017, 08:17 • #54 
Guide
Joined: 03/12/15
Posts: 269
Location: US-CT
when I was quite young, the orvis catalog had the 7 weight all rounder. the original graphite un sanded 8'3" version.
it was listed as the rod that could do everything. Unfortunately it was well out of the range of my finances but the 7 weight "all rounder" mantra stuck with me. As it turned out, I bought and still own several 6/7 weight rods that will do everything asked of them. The Orvis Allrounder was a great rod in its day and the advice of using a 7 weight as a general purpose rod was pretty darn good.


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Post 23 Jun 2017, 08:31 • #55 
Sport
Joined: 07/05/10
Posts: 31
Location: Germany
I have become a real fan of the graphite series. It all started with the Tippet, the flex rate just fits better to my casting style, and fish can really bend these rods. Meanwhile I have several:
Ultrafine 7'9"#2
Tippet 7'6" #3
Flea 6'6" #4
Brook trout 7'6" #4
Zephyr 9' #4 3-pcs.
Spring Creek 9'3" #5 4-pcs.
Allrounder 8' #7 4-pcs.
HLS series 1 10' #7 3-pcs. full-flex 5.5

the latest catch on my brook trout:
Image


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Post 04 Apr 2018, 02:10 • #56 
Sport
Joined: 07/05/10
Posts: 31
Location: Germany
Since collecting these rods, I have also started collecting the catalogs in order to get more information. I now own a catalog form each year between 1975 and 2003. In order to share the knowledge and joy, I have started a Facebook page called Vintage Orvis Graphite Fly Rods. Feel free to visit, ask questions and share experiences and photos.


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Post 06 Apr 2018, 13:10 • #57 
Guide
Joined: 09/06/17
Posts: 163
Location: New Hampshire
I have inside info on this subject: the favorite older graphite rod among all the Orvis bigshots was the Henry's Fork, 8'9"; I have the Rocky Mountain version, and it's easy to see why they loved it. Talk about rod's with a personality!


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Post 06 Apr 2018, 14:11 • #58 
Sport
Joined: 10/06/07
Posts: 39
Location: US-DE
I still own 2,an 8'6" 8wt Powerhouse an a 7'11" 4wt 7/11.Havent fished either in some years but the 7/11 was a pleasure to trout fish with.Probably as close to bamboo as graphite gets.


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Post 06 Apr 2018, 15:28 • #59 
Master Guide
Joined: 06/27/06
Posts: 774
Location: SW Missouri Ozark Plateau
I've owned a number of Orvis graphites, but my favorites are the two I still have: 8.5 foot Limestone Special which is the first I bought new in 1979, and a 7'9" HLS for 5 weight I bought in 1991. I have also owned several Battenkill bamboos and still have a Fullflex glass fly/spin rod. The older Orvis graphites are very smooth, progressive tapers that I really like.


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Post 10 Apr 2018, 16:32 • #60 
Sport
Joined: 12/14/12
Posts: 25
Location: US-MO
I own and enjoy fishing several of the older Orvis unsanded graphite rods. My most used by far is the 8' "Trout" model for a 6wt, with a superfine grip and cork reel seat. It fishes a 5 or 6 for me and has been a great stream rod. Mine has been fished hard and shows it, but you can't wear these rods out.


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Post 10 Apr 2018, 16:37 • #61 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/03/07
Posts: 1152
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
WD68 wrote:
I have inside info on this subject: the favorite older graphite rod among all the Orvis bigshots was the Henry's Fork, 8'9"; I have the Rocky Mountain version, and it's easy to see why they loved it. Talk about rod's with a personality!


Pretty sure the Henry's Fork was an 8'6" 5 weight.


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Post 17 Oct 2018, 19:40 • #62 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
I am still having fun collecting these vintage graphite rods.

I thought I was done when I picked up my 9'3" Spring Creek, but an Orvis Spring Creek 9' 5wt 4pc popped up on the auction site recently and found it's way to my front door. I got out in the back yard to do some casting and it is a great rod. A bit stronger than the 2pc. Not quite as delicate, from first impressions I like it better. I can understand why FFFTroutbum likes his.


I also recently rewrapped a 1974 Orvis Graphite 8' 6wt. This rod is a gem and is listed as under 2oz. I like it with a 4wt line. With a 6wt line on it, it is slower than most glass.


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Post 17 Oct 2018, 22:57 • #63 
Sport
Joined: 07/25/18
Posts: 73
Location: South central IL
I picked up some old dusty blanks in a tackle shop near my home almost 20 years ago. Wiped of the dust and they were original Orvis graphite. The guy said they had been on the shelf for nearly 20 years! He made me a great deal so I bought a 8’3” labeled for 3wt, the 7’9” 5wt, and an 8’ for 6 wt. I built them out and fished them for years, great rods. I sold the 3wt to a good friend and retired the other two, although I still get them out on occasion. Absolutely love them, they will be passed on to my kids, my daughter picked the 8’ and my son picked the 7’9”.


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Post 18 Oct 2018, 01:19 • #64 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/06/15
Posts: 1249
Location: Central Oregon
I don’t use my 7’9” 5wt that often. It is good but my glass rods are more fun. Everythime I think about selling it, I look at the 2 1/8 oz sticker, think about the times I’ve had tendonitis, and keep it. Plus, the tube fits my Fenwick 806 807 pair perfectly!


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Post 18 Oct 2018, 05:05 • #65 
Guide
Joined: 10/26/16
Posts: 100
Location: UK
I just acquired a 20+ year old Superfine Salmon: a 10ft #9 rod, with a 5" extension handle.
It's an oddity in the Superfine range , and clearly didn't stay in production long, but has great water coverage, and the ability to mend, roll- and Spey cast.
And a few weeks ago, the first time on the river with it, I caught a nice sea-run Brown!


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Post 18 Oct 2018, 06:25 • #66 
Sport
Joined: 07/25/18
Posts: 73
Location: South central IL
That is a huge rod for superfines, good find and great catch! Not long ago I contacted Orvis about the rod blanks I found and they said they predated the superfine series. The only thing these rods have on them is “Orvis Graphite.” They came with the tip-top already installed.


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Post 18 Oct 2018, 07:56 • #67 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 03/16/08
Posts: 3540
Location: Upstate-NY
one thing for sure: as far as build-quality, fishing performance, and aesthetics go,
these 1st generation Orvis are at the pinnacle of graphite rods.

Right up there with 1st generation Thomas&Thomas, Scott G, Sage LL.
(hard to pick a clear favorite out of those choices...)

Sleeper Pick: 1st Generation Fenwick HMG (grey blank)


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Post 18 Oct 2018, 11:55 • #68 
New Member
Joined: 06/03/18
Posts: 4
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
+1 on the 7'9" Far & Fine. While not graphite, the 7'6" Far & Fine bamboo is another great all around rod.

I've always kept an eye out for a 9'3" Spring Creek in the 4 pc variety.


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Post 18 Oct 2018, 17:44 • #69 
Guide
Joined: 06/28/18
Posts: 338
Location: Bozeman, MT
Between 1985 and 1990, I must have owned at least one Orvis graphite rod in each available weight from 1 to 12, excluiding 10 & 11...working for their school program allowed me to buy at great discount--at that time their top of the line rods sold for $275 and my cost was $114.25. Since then I have divested myself of all but the 8 1/2' "Western 2 wt" (built in 1988) so that must be my favorite.

I guess that 25 year guarantee isn't in effect on that rod anymore.


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Post 19 Oct 2018, 08:47 • #70 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/09/06
Posts: 2517
Location: US
pgwulf wrote:
Since then I have divested myself of all but the 8 1/2' "Western 2 wt" (built in 1988) so that must be my favorite.


I have several of the vintage Orvis graphites and love them all. The Western 2 wt is a favorite of mine also but I fish it with a 4wt line which I find a nice match.


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Post 19 Oct 2018, 09:36 • #71 
Sport
Joined: 07/05/10
Posts: 31
Location: Germany
For anyone interested in more information on a specific rod, there is a facebookpage called Vintage Orvis Graphite Fly Rods


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Post 19 Oct 2018, 13:08 • #72 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/23/18
Posts: 614
Location: Eastern Wa
Late 80s i built a far and fine 5wt and ultrafine 2wt. Still have them but Im new to the new glass and feel it blows away these two rods. I have the sickness now and have 5 now and 4 more on order $$$$ cant stop.....

Image[/URL]


Last edited by fishhuntmike on 19 Oct 2018, 14:28, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 19 Oct 2018, 14:03 • #73 
Sport
Joined: 07/25/18
Posts: 73
Location: South central IL
I feel your pain or joy! I’m afflicted as well!


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Post 19 Oct 2018, 15:05 • #74 
Guide
Joined: 06/28/18
Posts: 338
Location: Bozeman, MT
jeffsod wrote:
pgwulf wrote:
Since then I have divested myself of all but the 8 1/2' "Western 2 wt" (built in 1988) so that must be my favorite.


I have several of the vintage Orvis graphites and love them all. The Western 2 wt is a favorite of mine also but I fish it with a 4wt line which I find a nice match.


Indeed, that Western Series had a progressive taper that gave the butt sections the guts to fight fish and (if necessary) over line the rods...I fished the Western "Spring Creek" 9'-3 wt with WF4 for all situations except spring creeks when I needed a long 4...I use an old Airflo Delta Taper 2/3 on the "Western Two" and that bridge weight line makes great presentations...I just wish Airflo (or any manufacturer!) made these Delta taper lines that span 2 line weights like the original (1984) Wulff Triangle Tapers and the Airflo Deltas did.


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Post 19 Oct 2018, 16:06 • #75 
Guide
Joined: 09/05/17
Posts: 305
Location: On a Stream
Far and Fine - prefer the early version with cork down locking reel seat.


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