The Orvis Recon Fly Rod is a midrange+ fly rod that handily outperforms entry-level rods. It also delivers excellent performance compared to high-end rods that cost nearly twice as much. Like other Orvis fly rods, you can pair the Recon with an Orvis fly reel as well as Orvis fly line and end up with a matched fly rod and reel outfit.
Long-term review update: I’ve now fished with a 9′ 5-weight Orvis Recon over several seasons, and I keep enjoying its all-around power and crisp casting. I fish with the Recon primarily for trout in rivers, both wading and from a raft. To help you decide if the Orvis Recon is right for you, here are my impressions and recommendations:
Orvis Recon Fly Rod Review
The Orvis Recon is a Made-in-America fly rod designed as a do-it-all workhorse. Of course, as the fly fishing world has evolved, do-it-all has changed considerably. Orvis offers 20 different freshwater and saltwater Recon rods to cover many kinds of fly fishing scenarios.
For trout, the most common do-it-all fly rod is a 9′ 5-weight, which is what I test most often at Man Makes Fire. Whenever possible, I like to test 9′ 5-weight rods because it helps with comparisons.
I appreciate that the Orvis Recon is Made in America. I also like the Recon’s finesse and power.The cork handle is excellent, as you would expect from a Made-in-America rod, but the new reel seat with a burled wood insert really stands out. The metal is an anodized aluminum with a pewter finish that reduces glare and fish-scaring reflections.
The blanks are an understated matte olive green in the freshwater Recon rods. The saltwater versions get a sweet matte blue rod blank. At first, you might be put off by the lack of shine in your new Recon rod, but the matte design is aimed at helping you spook fewer fish.
The Helios-to-Recon Trickledown Tech
When Orvis created its popular Helios 3 line of fly rods, the company stopped trying to make a one taper fits all flagship rod. Why? Every fly fisher casts differently and has different needs and casting preferences. A fly rod that has great feel and casts delicate dries at short fish-stalking distances won’t have the power needed for chucking hopper-dropper rigs against the wind.
Orvis’ answer was to create two versions of its new Helios rods — the 3F and 3D. Think of the “F” for finesse while the “D” is for distance. Basically, the 3F will have a bit more feel and deliver softer casts more accurately, especially at short and midrange distances while the 3D will sacrifice a bit of close-in feel in favor of distance and power. The two different versions result in a whopping 27 options. Heading into 2024, Orvis has updated its Helios line, dropping the 3 naming convention in the new rods.
If a do-it-all taper gets your attention, the Orvis Recon is for you
For fly fishers looking to buy a new Helios rod, the F and D presents a bit a conundrum — which should I buy, the F or D? It’s a classic “Presentation vs Power” decision. By offering those two options, Orvis helps you error toward the types of fishing you do most when buying an expensive flagship rod.
However, the drawback to the high-end Helios rod is more than just a difficult choice — it also comes at a very high price point that many anglers can’t afford.
Enter the Recon Option
Orvis designed the fast-action Recon to fit in between the Helios F and D — basically, it’s intended to have more power than a Helios F rod but more feel than a Helios D rod.
If a do-it-all taper gets your attention, the Recon is for you — especially if your Made-in-America rod-buying budget means you’re only going to get one new rod in the near future.
How Does the Orvis Recon Fly Rod Cast?
The Recon is a fantastic casting machine. I love the blend of power and finesse. In my opinion, Orvis did a great job. On a typical trout river, I can fish the Recon with confidence at all ranges and situations.
At short range the Orvis Recon is very good — softer and more accurate than I was expecting.
At midrange casts around 40-50 feet, the Orvis Recon comes alive. Most fly fishers can handle these distances fairly well, and most trout fishing casts are in this range. For the 80% of trout fishing most of us will do, the Recon is going to feel great and deliver great accuracy. I was pleased and impressed.
When the wind kicked up and I was throwing a double nymph rig with a large strike indicator, I had no problem getting midrange distances.
For longer casts, you’re going to have to pay a bit more attention to your casting stroke, which is pretty much what you have to do with every rod at long distances. At least, very few recreational fly fishers can cast well on autopilot beyond 65 feet or so. What I did notice and appreciate is that the Recon seemed to settle down and recover very well after distance casts.
Does the Recon catch fish? Yes it does! I like the relatively soft tip with good backbone for setting the hook and fighting fish, like this nice 17.5-inch cutthroat trout.What do I mean?
With cheaper rods, after a big cast you’ll see and feel the rod wiggle around as the fly is settling on the water. Most fly fishers don’t notice because they’re busy watching their fly — which is what you should be doing. Because I was paying attention to this on purpose, I thought the Recon recovered well with great damping. The trickle-down Helios tech seemed to do its job.
Lots of different rods can load well, but to me, a great rod feels crisp and light at the end of a cast — and the Recon feels crisp and light.
Surprisingly, the new Recons are a bit heavier than the previous generation, but not by much. Orvis isn’t publishing the weight of each of its rod versions, but in case you’re wondering, the 9′ 5-weight review unit weighed in at a respectable 3.05 ounces.
Shop the Orvis Recon direct from Orvis and pair it with a Hydros Reel to make a combo!
Recon Price-to-Value Ratios
When I was early season euro nymphing and a monster mayfly hatch started, I grabbed my trusty Orvis Recon for some dry fly action. The relatively soft tip makes it easier to land fish with barbless hooks.If you’re considering the Orvis Recon, you likely care about buying rods that are Made in America. In addition, you’re likely looking for a great rod that’s a clear step up from entry-level and intermediate rods in the $200-300 range . . . but you aren’t able or willing to drop $1100+ on a Helios rod.
With a list price of $598, the Recon comes in at a midrange+ price point. Is it a great buy? You get a clear step up from the Orvis Clearwater 9′ 5-weight in both performance and fit-and-finish. While I like the Orvis Clearwater quite a bit — read my in-depth Clearwater combo review here — if you give me a choice on the river, I’ll pick the Recon to fish with any day. Why? The Recon is lighter, faster, and has better feel. It’s definitely an excellent upgrade.
One question you might be having is if you should buy a Helios rod and spend almost twice as much money doing it? That’s a tough question. If you have the budget, just go buy a flagship fly rod and get back on the water fishing. On the other hand, if you don’t have an unlimited budget, you can save a lot of money and get very good performance with the Recon. In addition, you could spend your remaining gear budget on other fly fishing gear, like the Orvis Ultralight Convertible Waders. I more often recommend midrange gear over high-end gear because the price-to-value ratios are so much better.
The Orvis Recon Fly Rod Outfit with a Hydros Reel
The new Hydros Reel is lighter, stronger, and has an improved drag.If you buy directly from Orvis, you can easily choose to pair the Orvis Hydros Reel with a matching Orvis fly line and backing when you choose the Recon Fly Rod Outfit. Orvis lets you choose left hand or right hand retrieve because they load the backing and line for you. Don’t worry, the reel is the same no matter which retrieve you choose — you can switch the retrieve direction any time at home.
The new Orvis Hydros Reel is lighter than its predecessor, and features an improved drag with no start up inertia. The drag knob is easy to adjust on the fly, and it has great feedback. I very much like the new Orvis Hydros Reel. It promises to deliver excellent performance for the money — and it’s definitely a big step up from the thoroughly decent Orvis Clearwater Reel.
My Orvis Recon Review Verdict
The Orvis Recon is an excellent all-around fly rod that’s Made in America. For most fly fishers, it will get the job done for the vast majority of fishing situations. It’s an excellent midrange+ upgrade, and if you’re looking for a super-capable backup or speciality rod, you can’t go wrong with the Orvis Recon. Pair it with the Orvis Hydros Reel in the Recon Fly Rod Outfit for a well-matched combo. Very highly recommended.
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