Orvis Vortex

Review Date
January 4, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Dorianjps ,  40 days a year

Price Paid:  $315.00 at Orvis in Paly Alty

Body of Water:
Sea of Cortez

Favorite City:
San Francisco

Favorite State:
CA

Favorite Country:
Belize

Summary:
I needed a 5-6wt saltwater fly reel, and found this one to fit the bill. Other saltwater reels seemed too light, were missing the out-going/in-going click combination I needed, or had infant-sized handles (I know 5wt isn't normally a saltwater size, but today's rods are great!). I wanted something beefy in case the mackerel I was casting to ended up being a bonita or small tuna.

Strengths:
Built like a tank. Large arbor. Big 'spindle' handle. Easy spool exchange. Available in gold! HUGE drag. I love the clicking (would have bought an Old Florida Reel, but the LA and SA had no click). Fin nor just didn't feel right for this size. Maybe I'm just used to the big reels...

Weaknesses:
I used this in the surf. Fell in and got sand in everything. Can't blame the reel, but you should be careful with any reel in the surf.

Customer Service:
Great! Never had to use them with many days of fishing this past summer. Easy care of the reel kept if going even after I fell into the surf.

Similar Products Used:
Fin nor, Abel, Fenwick (old world class fly reels), Ross, Teton

Review Date
October 3, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: yogi (Unregistered User) ,  40 days a year

Price Paid:  $350.00 at second hand

Body of Water:
Cape Cod

Summary:
Orvis Vortex 7/8: Nice reel but, as others have stated, a bit heavy.

Strengths:
Very well built but have limited miles on this so time will tell. Very interesting design, perhaps a bit complicated but seems to run well. Nice drag system.

Weaknesses:
I have a real problem with Orvis's handle design. Comfortable rubber but has a tendency to be a good place to catch a line wrap, which can be a fish looser if you are not careful. I think I'll make a new handle for mine, tapered so it doesn't catch line.

Customer Service:
not used.

Similar Products Used:
Orvis Battenkill 5.

Review Date
April 12, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: Anonymous -(Unregistered User) ,  30 days a year , from Norway

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Orvis.com

Body of Water:
Otra river

Favorite City:
Kristiansand

Favorite State:
-

Favorite Country:
Norway

Summary:
Nice reel. Good looking and functional.

Strengths:
Fast retrive. Good break system. I have the 9/10, and it has plenty capacity for my use. It's robust, but at the same time delicate.

Weaknesses:
Drag click turns itself of.
Running line gets under the spool support.

Customer Service:
Never used.

Similar Products Used:
Fenwick F-series

Review Date
March 8, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Anonymous User(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from Frisco, Tx.

Price Paid:  $530.00 at Store

Body of Water:
Swan River

Favorite City:
Breckenridge

Favorite State:
Colorado

Summary:
The perfect reel for Texas. I can take it on the Brazos and pull in huge stripers or go down to the coast and play monster redfish! The only complaint is the weight, however, it does balance out the trident 8 weight extremely well! Can't beat having 3 extra spools for the price of 1 from another company :)

Strengths:
Built like a rock. Great Drag! Amazing pickup. Best feature is the cheap spools.

Weaknesses:
Heavy. Heavier than any other like it.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
March 3, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Joseph Zarecki(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from 25 Banks Hill Road

Body of Water:
Housatonic River

Favorite City:
West Cornwall

Favorite State:
CT

Favorite Country:
USA

Summary:
Great Reel,Does not freeze up when fishing in extremely cold temp.

Strengths:
Fantastic!Smooth drag on long runs. no hot spots on the drag. Solid construction.

Weaknesses:
little heavier than competitors of the same class reel

Customer Service:
not needed to date.

Similar Products Used:
Waterworks