Any Ultrafine fans?

[skiltonian]

So, back in the 90s I fly fished but was a teenager or into my 20s and Orvis was out of my price range, but always wanted the 2wt ultrafine. I don’t know why. Over the years I’ve had other 2wts, liked them, and sold them. Been wanting another 2wt for a few years now and just picked up a 90s Ultrafine from a very nice gentleman unable to fish much anymore. It’s basically unused. Bonus Lamson Lp1 (I think) clicker with 444 and a spare spool. Can’t wait for Spring! Who else is still throwing some line around with one?

 

[CRB]

Nice I have a 1wt 7'6"

 

[TimMurphy]

Nice I have a 1wt 7'6"

Dear CRB,

That's my only Orvis rod. I bought it with a CFO1 when they were still made in Vermont from FFP.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[salmo]

Not me but I do have an 80s vintage Flea #4 6’6” rod. I haven’t fished it in years because I find my 8’6” fishes small water pretty well.

 

[Bamboozle]

Great score!!! Those early Orvis graphite rods are still highly coveted...

Not me but I do have an 80s vintage Flea #4 6’6” rod. I haven’t fished it in years because I find my 8’6” fishes small water pretty well.

Not me either, but my 2nd fly rod, partially funded with funds from a traded-in spinning rod (that was donated to the Boy Scouts) was a similar vintage 8'6" 6wt Orvis graphite Limestone Special that served me well until I went down the slippery slope of bamboo. BTW - I sold it and bought it back decades later... 😉

OT - I own the bamboo version of the Flea & the Limestone Special. Different, but really nice rods...

 

[CRB]

Dear CRB,

That's my only Orvis rod. I bought it with a CFO1 when they were still made in Vermont from FFP.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Wow I purchased mine from FFP with a cfo 123
@1999. It too made in Vermont and 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England 😃

 

[GANGGREEN]

I don't have one and honestly, I'm not sure that they really suit me that well because I lean far more towards faster rods (though I do have a number of bamboo rods and one fiberglass rod too), but I also always drooled over them in the catalogs when I was growing up and should I ever fall into the right opportunity, I'd likely purchase any of the Superfine rods, but especially the Ultrafine or the 711 (don't ask me why those two specifically, because I don't really know). Nice score.

 

[JeffP]

I had one that I won at a TU meeting. Promptly left it along West Valley. And the reel that my wife bought me for Christmas for it, thrown out with the wrapping and boxes. I don't remember the details, but somehow insurance covered both. I still have nightmares about both events.

 

[TimMurphy]

Wow I purchased mine from FFP with a cfo 123
@1999. It too made in Vermont and 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England 😃

Dear CRB,

Sorry, I meant just the rod. The CFO's were always made in England. I don't think Orvis ever made a reel on their own, they were always contracted out to a maker. I have an Orvis Magnalite multiplier that is exactly the same reel as my JY Young multiplier except for the etching on the back. Parts are interchangeable with my Shakespeare multiplier too since JW Young made all of them.

Regards.

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[salmo]

I had one that I won at a TU meeting. Promptly left it along West Valley. And the reel that my wife bought me for Christmas for it, thrown out with the wrapping and boxes. I don't remember the details, but somehow insurance covered both. I still have nightmares about both events.

So how old were you when this all happened?

 

[JeffP]

So how old were you when this all happened?

I can't say.

 

[JeffP]

OK 30.

 

[Ogdonia Ollie]

There is an Orvis 1 weight 71/2 foot in the closet along with an Elkhorn western 2 weight-a very excellent light line fly rod .

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Sorry, I meant just the rod. The CFO's were always made in England. I don't think Orvis ever made a reel on their own, they were always contracted out to a maker.

Dear Timothy,

Eventually Orvis bought BFR (British Fly Reels) in the early '90s, so technically they were making their own reels at that time.

Your pal,

gfen!

 

[dbancewicz]

I've actually got two Ultrafines. One, built 11/89 and another built in 2003. I've found that the older one has a little bit slower action. I really enjoy the black tube with brass cap era of the Superfines.

I've paired it with an Abel TR Light with a textured SA DT2 and also with a Battenkill 1 with a textured TT3. Both balance and cast great.

 

[dudemanspecial]

I don't think Orvis ever made a reel on their own, they were always contracted out to a maker.

I know the discussion is focused on classic reels, but they made their Mirage reel in house. I believe they just announced that is ending though and will be outsourced to S. Korea.

 

[Bamboozle]

I know the discussion is focused on classic reels, but they made their Mirage reel in house. I believe they just announced that is ending though and will be outsourced to S. Korea.

It depends on how you define "in-house," which is usually thought to mean "in the same company building(s) like where they make their rods...

The Mirage reels and the new CFO's are made by an independent machine shop in Vermont for Orvis. The same shop also makes the nippers, pliers and newest iteration of the CFO. Unless Orvis recently purchased that business, the reels are made in the USA, made in Vermont, maybe even made in Manchester...

However they are still "outsourced."

Even the "original" Orvis reel, the Orvis Patent 1874 was made for Orvis by Manhattan Brass & Manufacturing Company so this is nothing new, at least for Orvis. But let you heart not be troubled; unless something has changed recently, even venerable reel makers like Hardy follow a similar practice...

The last time I inquired with the "home office," since Hardy brought back a majority of the classic reel production to the UK, the machining has been done by a machine shop in Peterlee (50 miles away) who machine the bar stock first before sending them to Alnwick for assembly.

That's too bad about the Mirage...

I wonder if Orvis will pull the same crap as Hardy when they did the same with the Classic Reels in 2007; only slightly dropping some prices while leaving others at UK built highs...

 

[JG63]

So, back in the 90s I fly fished but was a teenager or into my 20s and Orvis was out of my price range, but always wanted the 2wt ultrafine. I don’t know why. Over the years I’ve had other 2wts, liked them, and sold them. Been wanting another 2wt for a few years now and just picked up a 90s Ultrafine from a very nice gentleman unable to fish much anymore. It’s basically unused. Bonus Lamson Lp1 (I think) clicker with 444 and a spare spool. Can’t wait for Spring! Who else is still throwing some line around with one? View attachment 1641248826View attachment 1641248827View attachment 1641248829View attachment 1641248828

I’m not an Orvis guy per se - but this is beautiful! Any sub 2 ounce rod is just beyond cool - hoping you enjoy it - the vintage Lamson is sweet too! Nice catch!

 

[afishinado]

I know the discussion is focused on classic reels, but they made their Mirage reel in house. I believe they just announced that is ending though and will be outsourced to S. Korea.

Actually no, the last versions of the Orvis Mirage reels were contracted by Orvis and made by an independent machine shop located in either Vermont or close by in New Hampshire.