![]() It was about 20 minutes into this onslaught that the first boil appeared. Frogs, Game Changers, Pike Bunnies, D&D’s – you name it. Still wielding the #8 Blackout, we pounded the black water over and over again. Upon closing into the suspected pike hole, voices grew quiet and rods became heavy. The lake was known to hold an abundant population of Perch, and more importantly, a well-fed population of Pike. It wasn’t long until we were loaded into miscellaneous sections of our guide, Robin Landin’s motorboat, that we were off land, cruising towards a marshy pocket located on the south side of a much larger lake. The fight wasn’t long, and soon after releasing the sprightly little fish, we packed up our gear and came to the mutual conclusion we might want to try a bigger body of water. Soon, with a shockingly powerful take, a juvenile pike consumed our tackle and began our first play of the day. With swift and powerful casts, we slammed flies over every lily pad, and under every log we could find. ![]() The #8 Blackout offered a fierce punch, complemented by its short length that really allowed us to work every crevice of the weed beds we floated by. It wasn’t long before we were rigged and ready to go, causing the shoreline in search of something big to smash our streamer. Nonetheless, our Scandanavian friends insisted we give the inflatable “Fish Cat” pontoon a test drive. The first lake was small enough to work from the bank. Itching to catching something of decent proportion that boasted some attitude: we unsheathed the 8’5″, #8 Blackout Rod, slapped a reel on, and went to work. However, it was time to play with the new toys, and I for one couldn’t have been more excited to test out the new blackout rods. There was a profuse scent of disappointment that floated through the air – an almost skunky smell. We had holstered our two-handed Spey rods, and for the most part, had relinquished our dreams of Salmon. The destination: Swedish Laplands, the mission: the bend some rods.įast forward to about a week and change into the trip. Finally feeling somewhat composed, all that was left to do was to catch our 6 am flight the next day. Upon leaving the testing facility, we made our way home and stuffed our suitcases full of clothing and gear that had spent the last week sprawled across our living room floor. The real field test started the same way most do nowadays: with a long plastic prod being inserted into my nasal cavity and tickling my brain. This leads us into the next segment… Field Testing: In preparations for an upcoming trip to Swedish Laplands, we figured these puppies needed their beauty sleep before the long adventure. Having played with the H3D and the H3F prior to this, we had a base to judge our comparison off of, and as we expected – these rods lived up to the family name.Īfter netting a few trout and having a few laughs, we reluctantly returned the rods to their tubes. When these rods finally showed up on our doorstep, they stayed in their plastic for around 30-seconds to a minute before they were reeled and lined up, en route to the river. How they even built the damn thing to work the way it does is beyond me. The new Blackout euro-stick manages to deliver more sensitivity, and more control, all while boasting a whole extra foot of rod. Now, in my opinion, the best euro-nymphing rod on the market (that I’ve used) was the Orvis Recon 10′ #3. Finally, the 11′ #3 is, as one could easily guess, designed for Euro-nymphing. This rod packs a hard punch and is designed for delivering powerful, fast casts, around the clock. ![]() Next, we have the 8’5″, #8 which, in my opinion, is one of the most fascinating designs of the rod line. ![]() Think of it like a 9′ #5, with all the perks of a 10′ #5. Its main purpose is for launching long, accurate casts, as well as making big mends over testy currents. The 9’5″, #5 is for those who are looking for a little more than an average trout rod. Each rod serves a unique purpose and is built for anglers who want to take their gear to the next level. In summation, for those who haven’t figured it out yet, the Blackout line is a complementary line of H3 rods that Orvis unveiled as specialty rods. Upon learning more about each rod, and actually getting to take one out for a day – we only knew one thing: we needed one (or in this case, 3). We didn’t know what to expect but we were extremely intrigued considering this release was shortly following releases of the same nature from competing rod brands. When we first heard about the new Blackout line back in April, we were briefed on the fact that a new “specialty rod” was coming out of Orvis HQ in Vermont. Contents: Orvis 8’5″,#8 Blackout Rod Review Orvis 9’5″,#5 Blackout Rod Review H3D/ H3F Comparison Conclusion Initial Impressions: This isn’t because the 11′,#3 Blackout is a euro-rod. Note: In this review, we will only be going over the 9’5″,#5 Rod, and the 8’5″,#8 rod. ![]()
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