Orvis launches 3rd generation Recon fly rod lineup | Hatch Magazine
January 28, 2026 
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Orvis is leaning into its heralded Helios technology as it launches its new Recon line of both fresh and saltwater fly rods this week. The newly designed Recon is reported to be 20 percent stronger than the previous Recon iteration, and is “built to be thrown in the back of a truck.” Made at the company’s Manchester, Vermont, shop, the new Recon will retail just under $700, putting it in a price range more anglers are likely to appreciate.
The new Recon, Orvis says, endured 150 days of testing through a variety of environments, all with the idea that the company wanted to engineer an all-season, all-conditions rod that can stand up the rigors of everyday fly casting. Designers at the venerable American brand wanted the new Recon rods to “set a new standard for durability in their class” and to “deliver all the performance a serious fly fisher demands in a mid-priced rod.”
Of course, we can debate the classification of the Recon as “mid-priced,” but compared to other rods billed as “do-it-all” implements, Orvis’ intent is appreciated. And, with its Helios pedigree, there is a certain amount of inherent trust in any product Orvis makes domestically.
With its Helios-inspired taper, the rod’s many variations have the potential to please just about any angler. From a 9-foot 3-weight that might be ideal for meadow brooks and spring-creek head-hunting, to an 8-foot-9-inch 11-weight saltwater rod, Orvis has built a Recon for just about every fly-fishing situation under the sun. And, that, of course, was the intent.
“Recon is built to adapt,” the company’s marketing materials claim, “whether you’re tucking baitfish patterns up under mangroves or picking pockets in headwater creeks. No unnecessary flair, just relentless go-anywhere versatility.”
That may be the ultimate appeal of the reimagined Recon. As high-end rod manufacturers lean into ever-more-expensive tech and fast-action rods retailing well north of $1,000, a multi-discipline offering from a reputable rod-maker will likely turn some heads. It might also get a few more interested anglers into the fly shop to give the new Recon a wiggle.
The freshwater versions of the Recon are handsome rods, indeed, built on matte olive blanks with honey accents. Made for “all freshwater applications,” the sweetwater Recons are built with anodized aluminum reel seats and hardwood inserts, as well as chrome snake guides and a stripping guide complete with a ceramic insert. Given that the rods are from the Helios family, there’s an innate assumption that they will be, at minimum, medium-fast-action rods, and Orvis claims they boast “increased hoop strength for enhanced lifting power, pinpoint tracking for long casts, and smooth loading in close.” There are 13 freshwater versions of the Recon, ranging from the 9-foot, 3-weight to “big game” rod for musky and pike — an 8-foot, 9-inch 11-weight. Of note, there’s also a 10-foot, 3-weight Recon designed for Euro-nymphers.
The saltwater version of the new Recon is billed as the line’s “workhorse” that can be taken “anywhere and performs everywhere.” The saltwater Recons are built on a matte blue blank with light-blue accents, and include anodized aluminum reel seats, fighting butts, and the expected corrosion-resistent chrome hardware and stripping guides with ceramic inserts. Orvis built six saltwater Recons, ranging from a 9-foot, 6-weight that might be ideal for Yucatan bones to a 9-foot 11-weight for inshore tarpon, snook, and hefty jacks.
All that said, a “mid-priced” rod that tickles $700 (both fresh and saltwater Recons carry the same price tag) intimates that the Recon is a quality implement. And, Orvis’ solid 25-year guarantee should instill some confidence in the company’s latest line of fly rods, and, frankly, make it easier for Orvis loyalists to make such a big purchase.