The appeal of wet-wade fishing, to me, is its minimalistic nature — no waders to slog around in, no watercraft issues to deal with. That minimalism translates to my rod, reel, terminal tackle, and accessories as well. I’ve never understood how a 4-6 hour wade could necessitate multiple rods and an expedition-sized backpack stuffed to the gills. Give me one rod, one reel, a spool of tippet, and a pocket-sized fly box with a handful of trusted patterns. Throw in a LifeStraw or some other lightweight water filter and I’m good to go for miles and all day long if necessary.

As Orvis has worked to rethink and reinvent many of their rod series in recent years – starting with its award-winning Helios 3 (H3) series – I was curious to see what they’d do with their fiberglass offerings. Part of me even wondered if Orvis would opt to keep glass rods in their lineup. But with the recent release of its latest version of its “Superfine” line of fiberglass rods, Orvis has made clear that it intends to maintain its commitment to offering anglers fiberglass options.