We took a best-selling reel and removed unnecessary material to further reduce the weight while stiffening the narrow spool, which minimizes line stacking. The older black Clearwater reel was a good reel and I liked it — but the Orvis’ designers clearly knew how to tweak a good thing to make it better. Honestly, I was pretty skeptical as they have never really delivered a high-performance reel that didn’t fall short in one area or another. From a performance standpoint, there’s nothing better. For those of us who have been at this long enough, you'll remember when Greys left us some 6 (or so) years ago to become a European only brand. The drag on the Hydros SL was the best in our test. Releasing the spool is done via the small lever on the center cap. Some said the drag knob was too small and unfeatured to get a grip on with hot, sweaty hands. Several weeks ago I was asked by a customer which saltwater reel I would recommend that “wouldn’t break the bank” – since it came out, my answer has always been the Hydros SL. We changed the drag knob to be more ergonomically accessible and comfortable to use. Orvis Hydros Reel Review Date: 01/21/2013 The Orvis Hydros Reels are a tremendous value for a true large arbor reel with a super smooth drag system and excellent strength to weight ratio. There's a rundown of all available models at the end of this review. NEW! This fly is intricately tied with a variety of techniques that are easy to learn and fun to use in a variety of other streamer patterns. It features precision-machined, anodized 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum for superb durability and longevity, and offers maximum line pick-up, optimum drag consistency, and solid fish-stopping power. Uprading an already great reel, Orvis took the iconic Hydros Reel and removed unnecessary materials to reduce weight while also stiffening the narrow spool to help minimize line stacking. 2020 marks the return of Greys to the United States. While the vast majority of online consumer reviews of the previous Orvis Hydros SL were glowing, there were a few criticisms that made you go “Hmmm.” A few people complained that after use in salt water, grit and debris got inside the drag housing. It had a neat look, but it was awkward to use. The Orvis Mirage IV Reel earned rave reviews from test team members thanks to its incredible durability and smooth drag system. Battenkill Fly Reels $119. The new Orvis Hydros Reel is the result of our own desire to make something great, that much better. The Hydros Reel Series features a sealed drag surface that increases total drag surface by model. It is second lightest fly rod I have found in my reviews. The new Orvis Hydros Reel is the result of our own desire to make something great, that much better. Mirage Reel $498 - $849. No. Orvis removed any unneeded materials to create a lighter, more comfortable reel. The new machined Delrin handle is thinner and (I think) taller and provides adequate comfort while cranking. It’s way too small and someone had the not-so-great idea of adding an indent for your thumb. It feels as smooth and solid as several of my reels that cost over twice as much. The Orvis Hydros SL is all about the ease of line pickup. No. It’s sharp, it doesn’t work well. Watch as we review the all new Orvis Hydros SL Reel and compare it to the old Hydros SL. Needless to say, Orvis solved that problem, and then some. I've always thought that rating most modestly-sized reels for just two line weights is a lot more realistic as far as what most folks will be spooling up with for the given size. We changed the drag knob to be more ergonomically accessible and comfortable to use. I can tell you, it does NOT disappoint. Orvis took that feedback to heart and came out with the Orvis Hydros SL a few years later. 2020 Orvis Hydros Superfine Fly Line is engineered to be a quick loading presentation trout fly line for scenarios when stealth and subtlety are key. Another great fly fishing reel for less than $300 is the Orvis Clearwater. And now, they're back. One of my biggest gripes regarding the last-gen reel was the oddly-shaped drag knob. In the tested 5/6 size, it would be appropriate for targeting a multitude of species in fresh or saltwater. Next, it’s got a super linear drag, so you can really adjust it to your specifications. Only time will tell how it holds up with use. Orvis says the handle now has tighter tolerances, and while I still detected a smidge of play there, it's not enough to be of concern while fishing. This is your standard quality and performance fly fishing reel that is going to give you the chance to have a lot of fun on the river. We liked the old Hydros and this new one didn't disappoint. The Hydros has tons of drag totaling 5.12 lbs. Simply put, this reel has the best drag in the test. For under 250.00 dollars you cannot beat this reel. If you want a reel that has faster retrieval with less line coiling, this is the real for you. The finish on the Hydros is also excellent. Orvis Hydros® Reels $198 - $279. Long ago, I fished the predecessor to the Hydros and it didn't really have the drag to stand up to big fish. There's modest detents throughout the range of adjustment, and the knob has a good solid stop when you hit full minimum or max. Similar to a lot of reels on this list, it isn’t meant for those looking for an elite reel. With all the high-dollar reels out there, the solid value of this series remains strong. The Hydros SL features low tolerance machining, a large drag knob, and a narrow spool to minimize line stacking. Containing 16 carbon and stainless discs, the drag system ramps up without any real hint of startup inertia. Second, the entire bodies of the reel and spool are machined, rather than cast like many of the other reels in this price range. The Clearwater isn’t terribly light, but it feels good in the hand. Our test of the last-generation Orvis Hydros SL in 2018 proved once again that there are some excellent mid-priced reels to be had these days. Since they had essentially fixed all of our complaints, we’ve been selling tons of these and they’ve been one of our top sellers. Our mission is that you are 100% satisfied and as always, want to exceed your expectations for product quality and service. Retrieve rate is good, and the clicking sounds are modest yet crisp when reeling or pulling off line. Sure, there's a plethora of reels out there for all types of budgets, but does choosing a more affordably-priced option carry a heavy performance and "coolness" penalty? At very first glance you might ask "what changed?" The newest examples indeed do look nearly identical to the old reels, but there are key alterations both inside and out with some changes addressing minor complaints we had in our last review right here. Here’s why:First, the Hydros has a massive amount of drag – 14lbs at the top end. I own 6 different makes of fly reels and this Orvis Hydros SL has become my favorite. The reel is well made with easy to change LH to RH retrieve.Light and well balanced on the rod. The huge arbor gives a 12% increase in retrieval rate and the narrowness makes level winding easy. It was a little too expensive and didn’t offer any real advantages over the Access Mid-Arbor. This alone takes the reel out of contention for me. Even in the green color, it’s hard to find the scuffs on most of the reel. Once it gets going, consistency is plenty good but I wouldn't label it buttery smooth. Much lighter than any reel with this much power. It not only bests its big brother the Mirage (which is also great), but it beats out reels like Hatch, Abel, and Nautilus. Orvis introduces an entirely new line of reels for spring 2016, with extremely fast line retrieve (8.25 inches per second in the Hydros SL III trout reel size), completely sealed drag, and a new design to enhance rugged durability. We took a best-selling reel and removed unnecessary material to further reduce the weight while stiffening the narrow spool, which minimizes line stacking. The spool on the Hydros is also epic. While the looks of the SL are fine, the ergonomics are not. DEMYSTIFLY is part of the TackleTour Group, Copyright  © 2020 Demystifly.com All Rights Reserved, At very first glance you might ask "what changed?" Back in our 2015 5-weight shootout, we noted that the Hydros LA was a solid reel, but it didn’t really fit into the Orvis line up well. Yes, if you want a large arbor you can go to the slightly pricier, heavier, and uglier, Hydros SL (review … The intricate machining, sparkling finish, premium touches, and silky performance can really spike the desire meter. Startup Inertia Reel makers love to talk about how powerful their reel's drag is, about what manner of animal or machine it can stop, and so on. However, you can’t quite use all of it, so when w… In comparison, this new reel had a max in the neighborhood of 4 pounds. Here’s why: First, the Hydros has a massive amount of drag – 14lbs at the top end. ... Orvis reels are sized using Roman numerals I, II, III, IV, and V, and coordinate with the following line weights: • For Orvis fly reel size I, choose 1-3 WT fly line Orvis makes a wide variety of reels. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. that takes less turns to go from minimum to maximum. Great write up on this reel. Bought one Hydros III for 5 weight action , first time fishing on River Test.did not disappoint 5.1/4 lb fighting fit brownie was held and controlled. 7.7 ounces. However, you can’t quite use all of it, so when we backed it off ¼ turn, it still maintains over 12lbs, which puts it second only to the Hardy Fortuna. At a $240 price point, it’s so much better than anything else out there that you’d have to drop 10 places to get to a reel that’s in the $300 price point. I stand by that statement. Like the Mirage, there’s nothing special here. 5.0 out of 5 starsReely what more can you want from a reel. Another solid upgrade is that it only takes 1 1/4 turns of that wonderful new knob to go from zero to maximum drag — about a full turn less than our last tester. Orvis introduced the Mirage fly reel a few years back to rave reviews from an extensive list of product testers and industry insiders. Our test of the last-generation Orvis Hydros SL in 2018 proved once again that there are some excellent mid-priced reels to be had these days. On the whole, I remain neutral, neither pleased nor displeased, with how the reel has worn aesthetically. Rather than all models being rated for three line weights, three of the five models are rated for just two line weights each. All things considered, I would say the Orvis Hydros is one of the the best fly reels, especially considering its reasonable price tag. I'm still having a hard time choosing tho. Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2019 Cheap for it's value. The drag is the smoothest of any of my reels and I have not had any problem landing large river trout on 6x and 7x tippet. What about the $400 price range? Ok, the handle is ok, but the drag knob is horrible. Both the Mirage and Mirage LT are proudly made in the USA. If course, like most products it wasn't perfect, and there were a couple little things that in our eyes could be improved. A high-end fly reel is a thing of beauty. Test Reel Colors: Matte Black & Matte Silver. Orvis Hydros 9ft 6wt 4pc Fly Rod Review By admin 10/14/2010 Fly Fishing Tackle Reviews The Orvis Hydros Fly Rod is the little brother to the Orvis Helios fly rod. It retains almost 50% at the halfway mark with nearly 7lbs. We took a best-selling reel and removed unnecessary material to further reduce the weight while stiffening the narrow spool which minimizes line stacking. Orvis Mirage Reel Review Date: 01/10/2013. However, from what we are able to measure in this test, the Hydros comes out on top. However, from what we are able to measure in this test, the Hydros comes out on top. 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