Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 863 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:23 pm Post subject: ORVIS TLS Power Matrix And Battenkill Mid Arbor Review
Post what you like about the ORVIS TLS Power Matrix Rod or what you like about the ORVIS Battenkill Mid Arbor Reel. A post is all that is required to win. The winner will be chosen randomly and will win the ORVIS TLS Power Matrix Rod And Battenkill Mid Arbor Reel setup that was used to make the video you watched. This is not the first Flies And Fins contest that the ORVIS company has sponsored. Click below to see a list of past winners and the products that ORVIS has given them.
http://www.fliesandfins.com/forum8.html
Last edited by jeremy on Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:30 am; edited 1 time in total
Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 863 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject: Heading To Frying Pan
PS. The video you saw was captured and produced in Maine as a preview of what lies ahead. The rod and reel will be getting on an airplane this Saturday (Jan 7). It will be spending a week or so on the Frying Pan and other rivers in Colorado. It will be passed around and used by many. So, whoever wins this rod and reel setup will be winning something that comes pre-packed with alot of character and soul. It will be the winner's duty to cary the torch and put this rod/reel to use frequently and develop its character. Stay tuned for the TLS/Mid Arbor video from the Frying Pan....coming to a pc near you. Good luck.
Joined: Feb 22, 2005 Posts: 134 Location: Adirondacks
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject:
oooo ooo I know this one....
SO there I was, on the banks of the Big Blackfoot River, My brother and I had just finished fishing a nice afternoon with the salmonflies hatching. I spotted a nice eddy on the other side of a hard current. A place that just looked fishy. I set my cigarettes in my hat and waded out a bit further. Pulling out a bit more line from the Battenkill mid-arbour and the the Orvis rod flexed more with each false cast. The fly landed perfectly, hesitated for a few seconds and dissapeared in a huge boil. I set the hook and the large rainbow SCREAMED downstream giving me no choice but to chase it through the rapids. I lost my footing and ended up over my head, and spit out at the bottom. Luckily I kept my head and landed the fish so my brother and my father could snap a picture. It was a glorious day....
At least I think it was...Actually I just got a new 50 inch high def TV and a bottle of JD and I am having alittle trouble telling reality and hi def TV-drunk dreams....
First - I fish Orvis Rods and have been happy with them throughout the years. Especially Orvis customer service! The Mid-Arbor looks killer. I like the idea of a sealed drag. Good for keeping your drag from freezing up in the winter and nasty salt water out when chasing schoolies in the spring and summer.
Second - Nice hook up Joey!
Keith
Joined: Feb 06, 2004 Posts: 124 Location: Naples, Fl
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:54 am Post subject:
OK, I'm in...
TLS Power Matrix is Orvis' new version of the older TLS. It fills the gap beautifully between the lower-priced rods and the T-3. Because it's such a good rod, and reasonable in cost, I think that it encourages better anglers to fill their fly rod weight-vacancies...like, if you've always wanted a 7-weight, but couldn't afford one...the TLS Power Matrix's quality and value can push you over the edge....That's what happened to me when I needed a 10-weight for Tarpon. I bought the TLS Power Matrix tip-flex 4-piece. The customer service Ro-Reel Repair Dept. is excellent too. I take advantage of this whenever I have any issues with normal or accidental wear and tear. Orvis has replaced an entire grip free of charge and they stand behind their equipment.
The Battenkill MA is possibly the very best value in the industry for a fly reel. When I worked at Everglades Angler it was a popular choice for anglers who wanted a spare spool....They actually could buy a Mid-Arbor and a spare spool for less money than buying a spare spool of another reel. It has a good drag system, has a pleasing sound too and I love the silvery finish, durable and salt-resistant.
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject: Orvis Rod and Reel
I will post with doubtful hope of winning this magnificent outfit. As I have been lucky enough in my life to win absolutely nothing from lotteries, raffles,
sports pools, or any other games of chance I hold little hope that this rod and reel will ever be mine. I can attest to the fact that should the fishing gods intervene and my name is drawn from the fish bowl of hopefuls I will care for this equipment as if it was a newborn child. We would become inseperatable on every fishing trip. Tender care would be given to assure a liftetime of service. A day in the far future would come when Orvis would look back at the care this rod and reel received and say.."wow we sure built them well in the old days, look how this thing lasted."
Take care with this Joey... Enjoy your time together.......
Joined: Aug 24, 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Leòn, Gto. Mèxico
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:25 pm Post subject: Orvis rod+reel
I´m from México, and the Orvis tackle is the only one that give me guarantee for 25 year in my country, I saw the video of the TLS Matrix Rod and Batenkill Mid Arbor and this pair is how a dream to me, the couple perfect. I will try to have lucky in salt water(bones,snook etc) and fresh water(largemouth bass, crapies, carp etc) to listen the perfect music of drag reel and the rod working together, If I don´t have lucky whit the raffle, I will wait that they arrive to México to buy this wonderful couple.....good luck to everybody.
Last edited by lvm on Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:38 pm; edited 3 times in total
Joined: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Reynès 66 Pyrénées Orientales - France
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject:
Hello !
I look for this film with enthousiasm because the river look like mine near home in Vallespir where I live, in the south of France.
This material seems to be very good for enjoying flyfishing in all weather and all rivers, I am very jealous of the quality and quantity of fishes
you have in a lot of yours rivers in america. It's not the same here in France, infortunately, there are often problems with quality of waters or pollutions
and the governement don't seems to be concerned with theses problems, the first to be killed are the insects and others, then the fishes.
Fortunately, we have a lot of lake in the mountains near the "Carlit", and they are very well protected.
In these lakes, the brown trout and the rainbow trout are present, and give us good emotions during all the summer.
So, if I will win this magnificent outfit, be sure it will fish all the year in all my rivers and my lakes here, with love and emotion.
Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 863 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:01 am Post subject: france...
hello fab66 and other recent members from France,
welcome to fliesandfins.com - due to the recent interest from fly fishermen from France - we created this thread - that you will want to see.
http://www.fliesandfins.com/postt338.html
some of us are better (much better) at speaking your language than others and if all else fails - translation software works too. again, welcome to fliesandfins.com - we are looking forward to more participation from across the pond. marcel and his group from denmark certainly make things fun and i am sure you guys will do the same.
Joined: May 23, 2004 Posts: 359 Location: Enschede - The Netherlands
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:25 am Post subject:
Wel Jer, you have relocated me to Germany and Denmark since I have been on flies-and-fins.
Now I would not mind to be relocated to the Valhalla aka Denmark at all but I am still stuck here in the Netherlands, in French Royaume des Pays-Bas.
Maybe I should send you a map of Europe , or even better just install Google earth.
Joined: Feb 05, 2005 Posts: 85 Location: Syracuse, NY
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:19 am Post subject:
An ORVIS TLS Power Matrix Rod with a Battenkil M/A reel would be just the ticket. It would be better in fact than a genuine Red Rider 200 shot carbine with a compass in the stock and that thing that tells time.
Joined: Jan 13, 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Portland Maine
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:28 pm Post subject:
Well… I cant exactly talk up Orvis and how great the rods and reels are because the truth is I’ve never used one or owned one…. ever since I started fly fishing I’ve been using old pflueger fiberglass rod my dad gave me in 5th grade and a Beans Stream light setup that I’ve had for a few years now. I’ve always found that best way to have the most fun and catch the most fish is.. to get out on the water as much as possible…haha..even in the dead of winter…in between college classes…I know there’s a hog in the Presumscot(my winter nymphing training grounds) waiting for me..haha. I will say I never been much of Rod coinsure merely due to my lack of knowledge about the performance of rods…but I’ve been learning…So back to the fishing…..well…native brookies are defiantly my fish of choice during the spring summer when I’m up north living on the river working as a video kayaker. But also during the summer I like to take my canoe out in backbay hear in Portland and catch Schoolies….using my 6 weight rod….and a red an white clouser. And of course chasing the Salmon on the Crooked in the fall.
Well after watching that video clip It seemed to me that rod and reel looks pretty sweet! But the one thing that did standout which I liked was the big knob for adjusting the drag on the reel…it looks like it was pretty easy and smooth…. compared to the tiny little ghetto knob on my reel that you have to twist with the tips of your fingers to adjust. I just finished reading the write-up on the Orvis website about the drag system…sounds pretty wicked. All in all the rod and reel looks awesome!. I like the videos on this site. very cool…this is my first time visiting this site a friend of my recommended I check it out…looks great.
Joined: Jan 13, 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Portland Maine
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject:
I just read caddisheads post above mine......it seem our fathers both had a love for fiberglass...or maybe they were just too cheap to buy anything else. I wish say my dad had given me a handcrafted bamboo rod that been handed down through my great flyfishing heritage ..not quite....but the truth is ......my dad and grandfather couldnt cast a fly if there life depended on it..although it is funny to watch..."dad ur not trying to hurd cattle....with ur flyrod whip...splashing and whipping isnt good". K-Mart was probably running a special and thats how I ended up with my prized glass pflueger rod. Thank god for my dad and KMART ....getting me into flyfishing
Joined: Jan 13, 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Portland Maine
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:41 pm Post subject:
I just read caddisheads post above mine......it seem our fathers both had a love for fiberglass...or maybe they were just too cheap to buy anything else. I wish say my dad had given me a handcrafted bamboo rod that been handed down through my great flyfishing heritage ..not quite....but the truth is ......my dad and grandfather couldnt cast a fly if there life depended on it..although it is funny to watch..."dad ur not trying to hurd cattle....with ur flyrod whip...splashing and whipping isnt good". K-Mart was probably running a special and thats how I ended up with my prized glass pflueger rod. Thank god for my dad and KMART ....getting me into flyfishing
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:55 am Post subject: Great mid-line setup
I like that Orvis has given folks a shot at a rod that uses the same technologies as their higher end rods. A nice rod to move up to from your first/beginner rod. The Battenkill is also a nice "next" reel.
Joined: Apr 29, 2005 Posts: 4 Location: Waterville, Maine
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:
I own several Orvis Trident TLS rods and have purchased others as gifts for family. I also own several Orvis Barstock reels. Always a pleasure to fish with and never an issue with quality or service. Would love to add another rod to the family.
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 1:28 am Post subject: TLS Pro Guide Piscataquag River what a trio
Reflexions of a newbie fly fisherman. That will be the name of my column. I hate to admit that it took me 31 years to pick up a fly rod, but it did. My father and uncles fly fished for Pacific Northwest steelhead from the time I was a kid. I can still remember my grandfather with his old Aristocrat split bamboo rod tossing effortless casts to rings on the water in my hometown lake. It wasn't until last year that a friend of mine finally dragged my out to the Deerfield river and let me use some of his old equipment. Five minutes of me slashing the water with my ugly 15 foot casts produced a large rainbow shooting down river at me. I think I was more scared than him when we finally locked eyes not three feet from eachother mid stream. That moment I think our souls rubbed off on eachother. I was hooked and no matter how many times I made a run for the other bank I couldn't shake this hook called desire to get my own equipment and start fly fishing in earnest.
The next week I was in the Orvis Store in Boston looking around lost amid so much equipment that I knew very little if anything about. The very nice guy with glasses hanging from the end of his nose told me his name was Jim and if there was anything he could help me with to let him know. I jumped on the opportunity to glean information from someone and asked him what outfit I should buy as a new fly fisherman. He very nicely asked me what I would be fishing for. I said trout and he immediatly said we have a wonderful rod in out clearance bin. It is last years model but for a 100 dollars less who cares. Here is a 5wt trident tls that I think will do you well. I said yes and then asked for a reel. Well, the pro guide III is on sale for a 100 bucks and comes with a free line and backing is that a good deal for you. I said sure and I was off. Several flies and some other stuff I was out the door. I couldn't wait to get out and do some fishing.
So, since I just moved to New Hampshire last January my knowledge of North East trout rivers was very limited. I looked at the map of New Hampshire that sat in my desk. This little river looks like a good one I told myself, "hmm the Piscataquag, that looks like a fishy river" So the next morning I made my way down to New Boston and started in. After two hours of thrashing the water a very nice guy aproached my and asked how I was doing? Well, not too well, I can't seem to hook up with anything. He then showed me a very easy nymphing technique and gave me a couple flies. I left him and not 10 minutes later I was into my first fish. I was so excited and loved the greatness of catching a trout on a fly. Several nice stocker rainbows later I packed my gear up and headed home. Now a year later and several hundred days of fishing gone by I still love my Trident TLS and Battenkill Pro Guide reel. The rod can launch a heavy wet sculpin pattern or present a size 24 griffiths knat without so much as a wisper. As for the reel it is a tank. I have, being a new guy beat the living hell out of the reel and it still fights a 24" jumping rainbow without zapping me in the face with a 6x tippet. I will fish this outfit until the guides fall off and the spool melts, then of course I'll send it back and wait for the replacement.
Wow, count me in for the drawing on this one! I may be lucky enough to get to try steelheading for the first time this winter, and I don't really have the ideal set-up, gear wise (from what I've read about steelheading, anyway.) Also, I plan to do more striper fishing next summer, and the Power Matrix and mid-arbor would serve me very well there. A rod that has the power to cast those heavier, bulkier striper flies would definitely get me on the water as often as I can -- so, anything that accomplishes that is very good in my book!
Good luck to everyone, and thanks Jeremy and Joey for making the awesome video - sure got me wishing for spring.
The reel looks like it is going to be a classic. Nice compact lines, simple chrome finish. looks like it can take a bit of a veating without carrying scars. A good setup for trout, or grayling up in my end of the woods.
Joined: Sep 19, 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Central Massachusetts, Between Quabbin and Wachusett
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject:
This would be a nice upgrade to my two Orvis Clearwater rods, allowing me do donate one of these lesser-used rods to my brother who caught his first trout on a fly rod this past year with an entry-level St. Croix setup.
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