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Post 29 May 2021, 07:24 • #126 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/09/06
Posts: 2517
Location: US
No experience with that specific Western fly rod but my understanding is they are stronger blanks than similar weight fly rods for distance and dealing with the wind.


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Post 29 May 2021, 12:36 • #127 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/14/11
Posts: 1018
Location: Chicago Western Suburbs
My favorite vintage Orvis graphite is the 8’ 4 wt Rocky Mountain. It was the first serious fly rod I bought back in 1989. It is still one of my favorite rods to use. It’s a very smooth casting rod and I still enjoy casting it.


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Post 29 May 2021, 14:22 • #128 
Guide
Joined: 08/04/11
Posts: 253
Location: Loveland, OH
Superfine seven foot one ounce four weight (the older two piece model, they ruined it when they went to four piece). It was an HLS model before it became the Superfine. Same rod.


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Post 30 May 2021, 09:23 • #129 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
I just sold a 9' 6wt western from the early 90's. It was a really nice 7wt in my hands, and still pretty powerful. It was way to stiff and heavy for a 6wt for me. I don't know about the 8'6" version.


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Post 30 May 2021, 10:08 • #130 
Sport
Joined: 05/13/18
Posts: 69
Location: US-KS
Old Superfine 7' 4wt 4 piece Trout Bum


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Post 03 Jun 2021, 19:33 • #131 
Guide
Joined: 01/19/11
Posts: 223
Location: Ontario, Canada
I doubt that my 8' 4wt/4pc. Orvis Superfine Touch, Full Flex (2012) qualifies as vintage. But I'm vintage, so this rod should count.

For a graphite, this rod is the sweetest in recent memory. The guides are bright gold as is the reel seat's hardware. Rather garish, but actually looks rather good with my golden SA. 50th Anniversary System #5 reels. After a long string of Sage, Winston & Loomis stiff sticks this little Superfine was easy on my casting arm, fun to cast & fish.
At one time I did have an Orvis 8'3" 2pc. 6wt "All Rounder", that I really liked. In '94 I traded it for one of the first Redington 4 pc. 5wt rods that came out of their Stuart Florida shop.


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Post 07 Jun 2021, 10:10 • #132 
Guide
Joined: 06/25/16
Posts: 156
Location: Southeast PA
I have owned or fished just about all of them. Two of my favorites are 7’9” Far & Fine and the Seven Eleven. Here are a few pictures from last week with a 7’9” Far & Fine.




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Post 08 Jun 2021, 16:42 • #133 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 01/26/07
Posts: 1385
Location: Ada, Oklahoma
My 6'6" 2 weight One Ounce rod made in the early 90's.

Larry


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Post 08 Jun 2021, 17:38 • #134 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/12/18
Posts: 457
My old Rocky Mountain 8'6" 2wt (fished with a WF3) is my favorite, I think.
(My real favorite would be a not-really-all-that-old (15-20 years?) T3 909-2; my Striped Bass rod for the salt. I really like this one, but is it "vintage"?)

Other vintage Orvis graphite rods I have:
Green Mountain 905-4 (Yuk!)
HLS Silver Label 905-2 (Meh...)
HLS Silver Label 906-2 (Meh...)
HLS 908-2 (Don't care for this one)
Silver Label TL 908-4 (OK)
(My only other Orvis graphite is a newer Recon 909-4 that is pretty nice.)


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Post 10 Jun 2021, 19:48 • #135 
New Member
Joined: 05/19/21
Posts: 4
Rockthief,
I have the same Rocky Mountain Far and Fine, bought new in the early 90s with a Batenkill 5/6. I still have, love and use them both. That rod and that reel were darn good equipment for the money and still good for any trout fishing I do. I have a 9'/9 weight early Orvis graphite with Battenkill 8/9 for steelhead and larger. Even though I now have a few bamboo rods and seem to favor old double digit Fenwick glass rods these days, I could really go back to just those two Orvis graphite rods and do it all perfectly well.

I used to peruse the Orvis catalogues endlessly as a kid. When I finally could afford my first good fly tackle, I went with Orvis graphite and got used to the older softer graphite feel. Ive always thought of Orvis as the Hardy's of the US.


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Post 26 Jun 2021, 16:46 • #136 
Guide
Joined: 06/08/16
Posts: 298
Location: US-MI
I've owned several now. I like them all. I think the Limestone, circa 1985, is my favorite all around rod. I fish nearly 100% big flies, Hex 6-8, Brown Drakes mayflies 10-14s. I rarely take out a small rod or tiny flies, just doesn't excite me as much anymore. The Limestone allows me to fish those small flies nicely with a 4/5wt line though delicately when waiting on a big fly hatch in the evening!

Limestone 8'6" 6wt does everything at a high level. I like it with a 5.5 MPX
Trout 8' 6wt awesome, didn't prefer the grip, 5wt wf line.
Allrounder 8'3" 7wt powerfull a bit short
Spring Creek 9'3" 5wt. Super nice, but a bit heavy in hand, needs a 2nd chance!
Advantage 9'3" 7wt my favorite until the Limestone! Caught my 2nd biggest fish!
Performer 9' 6wt, powerful, but a bit heavy in hand VS Limestone. Awesome still.
RiverMaster 9'6" 8wt, 7-8wt lines, perfect HEX rod. Light for how big it is.
10' 7wt fantastic casting rod, RiverMaster really was better, SOLD it!


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Post 23 Dec 2021, 17:39 • #137 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/30/07
Posts: 2342
Location: Arlington, TX

All
I recently grabbed an Orvis All Rounder 8'3" from a web site. Jeff (wabash1967) and I took it out last night to put it through the paces on the lawn. Although I had DT7, I wondered aloud if WF7 might load it differently or better. It loaded well and felt great - very glass like with its moderate flexing action. The un-sanded blank reminded me of Superfines from the same era.
Today I decided to test it out on Stripers below Possum Kingdom dam, a Brazos River tailrace known for high limestone cliffs overlooking some of the most scenic waters in the Texas CrossTimbers area. Here Stripers were literally flooded out of the lake following last season torrents. Many if not hundreds of these fish died which came as a result of lack of oxygen due to stifling low flows from the dam. Sadly it's time to harvest some.





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Post 23 Dec 2021, 21:36 • #138 
Sport
Joined: 11/24/21
Posts: 70
For the folks asking about the Western series, yes they were faster than the Superfine series. Some people call them Superfine Western, but that's probably not 100% correct since they are a different action and Orvis went out of their way to differentiate them.

My 1988 Orvis catalog has a description that says the Western Series action (they specifically call it a different series) is faster than the Fullflex action with a more powerful butt section and softer tip.

As far as favorites go....if I could pick a favorite I wouldn't be looking at this! Performer, Performer, Western Traveler, Henry's Fork, Henry's Fork, Trout, Marbury, HLS Far & Fine, Far & Fine, HLS One-Ounce, Ultra-Fine and One-Weight....and I'm inches from clicking the mouse to buy another :eek



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Post 24 Dec 2021, 08:36 • #139 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3925
Location: USA - Illinois
Ahh, what a wonderful lineup G-ManBart !


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Post 24 Dec 2021, 10:25 • #140 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/30/07
Posts: 2342
Location: Arlington, TX
G-ManBart
all I can say is WOW!


Les


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Post 24 Dec 2021, 12:25 • #141 
Sport
Joined: 11/24/21
Posts: 70
Thanks guys...luckily I bought a couple of them new and then searched for good deals over the years so it wasn't too painful. I'm not a hoarder, but have told my wife that I could see having a closet full of fly rods and not feeling one bit bad about it at all! :lol


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Post 24 Dec 2021, 14:10 • #142 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3925
Location: USA - Illinois
A dozen Orvi, thinking about making it a baker's, closet getting half full yet? ;)


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Post 24 Dec 2021, 18:47 • #143 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
Since the time I started this thread, I acquired quite a few of these rods. I recently sold most of my extras, but I still have plenty. I prefer the 1970's era rods that became the Trout and all-rounder.

I'm on the lookout for a reasonably priced 9x9 to try a heavier rod.


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Post 24 Dec 2021, 20:41 • #144 
Guide
Joined: 08/11/21
Posts: 208
Location: Tucson, AZ
I sold Orvis for a time, tried a lot of their rods...my favorites were the Far&Fine and the AllRounder in the older, lower modulus composite rods.

Rocky Mt or Green Mountain, the blanks worked for what they were designed, no matter the cosmetics. Good rods


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Post 24 Dec 2021, 20:58 • #145 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
The Far & Fine and the 8’ 6wt “Trout” model. The latter is one of my all-time favorite fly rods, period. It’s a real “do everything” trout rod, and feels great to cast as well.


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Post 25 Dec 2021, 13:11 • #146 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/10/07
Posts: 1632
Location: The Netherlands
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.


My Western 2 is gone for about 10 years, but when I did fish it I also liked it with a #4 line.






G-ManBart wrote:
For the folks asking about the Western series, yes they were faster than the Superfine series. Some people call them Superfine Western, but that's probably not 100% correct since they are a different action and Orvis went out of their way to differentiate them.

My 1988 Orvis catalog has a description that says the Western Series action (they specifically call it a different series) is faster than the Fullflex action with a more powerful butt section and softer tip.


Correct. Orvis rods (Superfines) were generally liked by eastern fishermen. To get more market share in the west Orvis came out with the Western series with a faster action that would handle 'western conditions' (longer casts & wind). Then Sage came out with the RPL series and it was a huge success. To keep up with Sage Orvis came out with the HLS series which used a higher modulus graphite. The HLS failed miserably and basically Orvis never recovered until the recent Helios 3.


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Post 25 Dec 2021, 14:48 • #147 
Sport
Joined: 11/24/21
Posts: 70
Saying the HLS line failed miserably is debatable. Considering the blanks lived on in the Silver Label, Rocky Mountain and Clearwater lines for over a decade says a lot. I only have two now but they are rods I won't part with until I'm no longer able to fish.


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Post 26 Dec 2021, 17:41 • #148 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/22/07
Posts: 871
Location: Out West
I've heard so much praise over the years for the Far and Fine 7'9" 5wt. I've owned and fished this rod in the Superfine, Rocky Mountain and Clearwater versions over the years, but honestly have been underwhelmed. It's a good enough rod, but in my opinion, rods like the ********* Glass 805, Steffen 8' 4-5 and Barclay 7'9" GP just blow it away. Just my opinion, and I have long loved and appreciated moderate older graphite.

With that said, to answer the original question, my favorite vintage Orvis graphite tapers that I have fished have been the Henry's Fork (8'6" 5wt) and Seven Eleven (7'11" 4wt).


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Post 31 Dec 2021, 09:09 • #149 
Sport
Joined: 02/10/17
Posts: 40
Location: US-TX
At least for me--it's the Far and Fine and Brook Trout. The two rods I take when heading to northern New Mexico.
I also bring the Superfine Fiberglass 8'-5wt just for kicks.


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Post 31 Dec 2021, 10:40 • #150 
Sport
Joined: 11/24/21
Posts: 70
I've never managed to get my hands on a Brook Trout model, but that would seem to be a perfect rod for many smaller streams. I used to live in Santa Fe, NM and I know a couple of places that rod would be perfect. I used my Far & Fine and the HLS One-Ounce 4wt on many of those waters and they were perfect.


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