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Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 01:13 • #1 
Sport
Joined: 02/02/21
Posts: 55
Location: Brittany,France
Looking for a reel to pair with my Thomas and Thomas heirloom 7'6" 3 weight and I stumbled across a Orvis CFO II. Any experience with this reel and is it to small to pair with the afore mentioned rod. The guy is asking 130 bucks for it.


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 06:38 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/10/07
Posts: 1632
Location: The Netherlands
That rod probably has a 6 - 6.5 inch grip (as all factory built rods do). Matching it with a tiny (2.5 inch?) reel like the CFO II looks out of balance (also literally!)


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 07:05 • #3 
Guide
Joined: 06/30/20
Posts: 250
to be fair, separate and apart from your rod, that reel at that price is a steal.


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 07:19 • #4 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/05/05
Posts: 742
Location: US-VA
I've always thought that CFOs smaller than III were too small for practicality.


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 09:36 • #5 
Sport
Joined: 02/02/21
Posts: 55
Location: Brittany,France
Yeah, I thought it looked like a good deal, too bad it is that small. I live in France and can often find good deals on vintage reels and rods. The fiberglass/vintage craze has not yet made it over here.


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 11:20 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 08/25/08
Posts: 1526
Location: Delton, MI
The III is already a somewhat small reel. I find the II is just too small for my taste. It's not just how the reel looks though. Personally I find that turning a reel spool less than 3" is uncomfortable for the size of my hands. You don't need a large arbor reel (wasted space on those) , but at less than 3", the time to get a line back seems like forever, especially if you're casting a long line. Plus the 3" is more versatile, being able to hold line sizes to five weight or even six.


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 11:51 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
At that price, I’d buy it. Sooner or later, you’ll have a rod that matches it if you don’t already. I had a CFO I when I owned a 1-wt graphite for a few years.


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 12:06 • #8 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/09/09
Posts: 2796
Location: US-NM
The reel is to light but at that price I would buy maybe you might buy a shorter rod someday.........Aurelio


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 02 Sep 2021, 12:14 • #9 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19076
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
do not pass go...

If you don't like it, can turn it for twice what you paid


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 03 Sep 2021, 07:26 • #10 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/05/06
Posts: 2086
Location: US-PA
Which CFO II is it?

There are several version of the CFO II out there to consider or not consider, depending on your preferences and if that isn't confusing enough, the CFO II was smaller than the CFO 123 that replaced it in 1989 and smaller than the CFO I that first appeared in 1993.

The two CFO II's most folks are familiar with are:

The original CFO II introduced in 1971 and built by Hardy and later BFR that was dropped in 1989, reintroduced as a machined reel in 1992 and dropped a year later in 1993. That original CFO II is 2-9/16" in diameter at 2 oz although I believe the 1992 machined version MAY be slightly heavier.

Then there is most recent CFO II iteration made for Orvis by Abel which was introduced in 2013 and discontinued in 2017. The Abel CFO II is 2-7/8" in diameter at 3.30 oz.

I use an Abel CFO II on a 7'6" 4wt Winston Retro and IMHO it would be perfect for that Heirloom.

Good luck!


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 03 Sep 2021, 16:11 • #11 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/06
Posts: 2516
Location: Nature Coast Florida
Could certainly resale if it doesn't work on your rod. Of course that always depends on condition.


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 05 Sep 2021, 19:52 • #12 
Guide
Joined: 09/08/17
Posts: 117
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Commenting only on the Reel’s diameter, I owned a CFO II in 1978, and lined it with a 2 weight line. IMHO, while reeling in line it felt like I was cranking a quarter, and the 2 weight line was simply too light for my taste. I gave the reel and line away. Good Luck, Bob


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 07 Sep 2021, 07:56 • #13 
Sport
Joined: 06/27/14
Posts: 73
Location: US-NY
I have a CFO II, it mates with a 7" 3# Ben's of Holland rod. The balance is about 1/4" from the top of the grip, or put another way, right where I like it to be.

I do have a CFO I, that I admit is pretty small, but I have a thing for British made CFO's


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 07 Sep 2021, 10:53 • #14 
Sport
Joined: 02/02/21
Posts: 55
Location: Brittany,France
Image


Went ahead and pulled the trigger on the CFO II. This group is a bad influence LOL


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 07 Sep 2021, 15:34 • #15 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 07/11/14
Posts: 1784
Location: urban Colorado
at that price it's a great deal.. should work fine on a 3wt..

I have a CFO III, fished with a 5wt DT for many years, but it's really too small for a DT5. Now have a SA Mastery Trout 5wt, which is a WF with a very long front taper, the closest thing to a DT I could find in WF ;-)

My guess is the CFO II should be OK with a 3wt DT, if not, I can recommend the Mastery Trout lines..



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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 07 Sep 2021, 17:56 • #16 
Sport
Joined: 01/21/17
Posts: 93
Location: US-WI
I use a CFOll on an Orvis 7ft6in 3wt Tippet. It's perfect. Also very nice on an ff605 that Dennis Franke built himself and sold to me for the insane price of $60. As he built it a 406 wf3f is just right. Wonderful reel and as others have said that's a very good price. Phil


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 08 Sep 2021, 12:48 • #17 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/05/06
Posts: 2086
Location: US-PA
doug in co wrote:
...My guess is the CFO II should be OK with a 3wt DT...

The reel purchased by El Gato appears to be one of the original UK built versions (2-9/16" in diameter at 2 oz) which was my first ever fly reel. I used a WF4 444 Peach on mine with just enough backing to attach the line to the spindle.

A DT3 or WF3 should fit just fine (a 406 which is thinner & shorter would be perfect) with maybe 20+ yards of backing.

Enjoy!


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Re: Orvis CFO II
Post 08 Sep 2021, 21:34 • #18 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/19/08
Posts: 1218
Location: Branson, Missouri
El Gato - show us the backside and the foot... ooh la la... open it up and look around inside...


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