That is to say that there is very little side-to-side movement of the rod blank and it loads and unloads. The fundamental idea behind the claim of accuracy is that the new H3 tracks true during the casting stroke. I have seen the testing they performed on the H3 and it is impressive. Even before Sean Combs, who brings with him a serious technical background, joined the company Orvis was very diligent with their collection and use of data. Orvis is actually very good with their science. It would be easy to dismiss as pure marketing but I do believe there is more to it. That’s quite a claim and one which is certainly difficult to either prove or disprove. You’ve likely seen the ads claiming that the Helios 3 is the most accurate fly rod ever made. I don’t know that “distance” and “feel” tell the whole story but the idea may be more approachable for some anglers. The idea, I believe, was to give the consumer some idea what these rod actions might be used for rather than expecting them to understand the technical aspects of rod flex. With the introduction of the Helios 3, Orvis dropped their description of fly rods as “tip flex” and “mid flex,” opting for the distinctions of D for distance and F for feel. It was the perfect opportunity to test each of these rods for their strengths and their weaknesses. In my rod quiver for the trip were two Helios 3 eight weights, the F and the D. As you would expect, there were some beautiful days and some real howlers. I have spent the last two weeks fly fishing for bonefish in the Bahamas.

Which Helios 3 fly rod is right for the saltwater angler?

Orvis helios 3 blank