Orvis Hydros Reel Review
Orvis has blessed the fly fishing faithful for decades with various fly rods, reels, and has become one of the holiest names in fly fishing. While they have a wide array of reels that range from entry level to high-end, today we’re going to focus on the Hydros.
For this Orvis Hydros reel review, we got our hands on what is an incredibly affordable, well-constructed, and versatile ree for those who are looking to level up.
The Orvis Hydros Background
By Orvis’ own admission, the Hydros reels have been one of their best selling products. The Hydros has gone through multiple designs over the years, and the latest design tweaks the award winning formula to deliver even better performances.
When dealing with any Orvis reels, one thing to be aware of is the way they are sized. Most companies’ reel size span two weights. 3|4, 5|6, etc. However Orvis’ reel sizes span 3 weights(1-3 wt, 3-5 wt, etc) which makes comparisons a bit more complicated.
And while the Hydros specs definitely compete with other reels, a lot comes down to what size you need.
And for those who care about where a product is manufactured, the Hydros is made in China and then imported by Orvis. This no doubt contributes to its affordability.
Orvis Hydros Specs:
Line Weight: Five models:
- I (1-3 weight)
- II (3-5 weight)
- III (5-7 weight)
- IV (7-9 weight)
- V (9-11 weight)
Model Reviewed: II (3-5 weight)
Arbor Size: 3.1”, 3.4”, 3.7”, 4 and 4.25”
Weight: 4.7 oz, 5 oz, 5.5 oz, 6.6 oz, and 7.7 oz
Color(s): Black, Green, Silver, Matte Olive, and Ice Blue
Drag System: sealed carbon fiber and stainless steel disc drag
Orvis Hydros Reel Review: Hands On
Orvis Hydros Reel Review: Features
1. Carbon fiber and stainless steel sealed disc drag
2. Large arbor
3. Oversized drag adjustment knob
4. Lightweight anodized aluminum frame
5. Radiused reel foot for leader protection
6. CNC machined design
Orvis Hydros Reel Models
Hydros I
(1-3 wt)
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Hydros II
(3-5 wt)
 "RedingtonRise-Small")
Hydros III
(5-7 wt)
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Hydros IV
(7-9 wt)
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Hydros V
(9-11 wt)
 "RedingtonRise-Small")
Orvis Hydros Reel Review: Our take
One of the benefits of buying a reel from a company like Orvis is that they’ve had decades of experience that have helped hone and dial in their fly rod and reel designs. I’ve seen newer companies start out with sub-optimal design and slowly iterate to build a better product. So doesn’t it make sense that the longer a company has been hard at work, the better their designs will be?
Composition
Among the various models that Orvis offers, the Hydros fills in the position towards the higher end in terms of features and performance, but while still being affordable. While Orvis is a great American owned company, some of their reel options are made in the US and some are made in China. The Hydros is one of the imported models and that helps get the cost down.
The reel is machined from high grade anodized aluminum. The large arbor design has been tweaked from previous versions to lower the weight and increase the performance. But at the same time, they’ve stiffened the narrow spool to prevent line stacking.
The reel foot has also been radiused for a tighter fit against the rod which minimalizes damage to your leader. There’s nothing worse than losing a big fish because of a small nick in the line.
Performance
If I had to articulate everything about the Orvis Hydros reel in one word, it would be versatile. The nature of the design means that it will provide substantial performance whether fishing small creeks or chasing big fish. The sealed drag means it will perform well in both freshwater and saltwater.
The durable construction and lightweight design mean that your arm won’t wear out and yet it can take a beating.
Because of the way Hydros models span 3 different weights with overlap between the models, you have some flexibility on your choice depending on the application. For instance, if you have a 5 weight rod, you might pick the Hyrdros II (3-5 weight) if you are primarily nymphing, or the Hydros III (5-7 weight) if you do more streamer fishing.
But at the same time there are limitations. For instance, a 5|6 weight reel from a competitor may be slightly lighter compared to the Hydros III (5-7 wt) because the Hydros is built to support the 7 weight as well as 5 and 6. However this also minimizes the amount of inventory Orvis has to keep in stock by supporting fewer models and should theoretically help them provide a more affordable reel.
Drag System
The Hydros comes with a fully sealed disc drag that combines carbon fiber and stainless steelplates for a strong drag with zero startup inertia.This newer version of the reel also has a larger drag adjustment knob to enable easy adjustments when fighting fish.
The sealed drag contributes to the versatility of this reel by giving you the ability to use it in freshwater or saltwater. And the smooth, even action means that the line isn’t jerky when peeling off at high speeds.
Looks
I really think the design of this reel really reflects who Orvis is as a company. They’re a tried and true provider of quality gear for over 100 years.
The Hydros is a very nice looking reel without being too extravagant. It doesn’t have any avant garde elements that raise eyebrows. But at the same time the simplicity of the design can be appreciated by knowing it’s been tweaked and perfected over the years.
And while the reel isn’t overly flashy, they do provide some nice color options to suit your personality and your rig.
Value
The fact that the Hydros is Orvis’ top selling reel is a testament to the value it provides. It’s the highest level mode in terms of features before you make a huge price jump to the Mirage reel – which I consider a luxury item.
The people who are really going to benefit from this reel are those fishermen who are ready to move past their first entry level reel that they learned to fish with. If you’re ready to move forward to something with higher performance and a better feature set without completely spending a fortune, then the Hydros is the way to go.
Overall
The Orvis Hydros reel is a great option for anglers looking to up their reel game. It’s a durable and versatile reel that can handle nymphing, streamers, freshwater, and saltwater. And they’re able to offer all this at a decent price considering the feature set.
The only caveat is to be aware of your specific application. Because of the way the models span 3 weights, it’s hard to make apples to apples comparisons with other reels. But overall I think it’s a great option and is a welcome addition to my personal collection.
Orvis Hydros Reel Pros and Cons
Pros
√Lightweight CNC machined frame with stiffened spool
√Sealed carbon fiber / stainless steel disc drag
√Large arbor
√Oversized drag adjustment knob
Cons
! Reel models span 3 different weights so its value varies depending on the application
Orvis Hydros Reel Review: Ranking
| Looks | Simple, yet elegant design with nice color options | 7.5 / 10 |
| Composition | Durable, yet lightweight with large arbor and oversized drag adjustment knob | 8 / 10 |
| Performance | High performance fully sealed carbon fiber / stainless steel disc drag | 7.5 / 10 |
| Value | Great feature set at a decent mid-level price | 7 / 10 |
Overall Ranking
7.5 / 10
Orvis Hydros Reel Deals
Trident Fly Fishing Product Listing
Trouts Fly Fishing Product Listing
Ed’s Fly Shop Product Listing
Orvis Product Listing
Accessories: Rod and Fly Line
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Orvis Helios 3F Fly Rod
RIO Mainstream Trout Fly Line
Orvis Hydros Starter Pack
If you’ve decided to pick up the Orvis Hydros, or found another reel that suits your needs, there are some bare essentials you’re going to need to get read yot hit the water. Check out some of our suggestions below:
- Rod – You’ll need a fly rod that complements the reel. For this we suggest the Orvis Helios 3F Fly Rod.
- Fly Line – If you’d like to upgrade the fly line, we suggest Rio Mainstream Trout fly line.
- Waders and Boots – If you plan on wading into a stream, we suggest Orvis Men’s PRO waders and Korkers Darkhorse wading boots.
- Wading Pack – We also recommend a good wading pack like this Orvis Sling Pack to carry your flies, hemostats, tippet, and other accessories
- Flies – Fill your fly box with this assortment of flies from Orvis.
Orvis Hydros Accessories
PLUSINNO Floating Fishing Net
Tacky Daypack Fly Box
Loon Essentials Kit
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