Overview

The Orvis Recon Freshwater is Orvis's rugged, go-anywhere performance rod for all freshwater fishing, made in the USA in Orvis's Vermont rod shop. This third-generation Recon packs high-end performance into a rod made to be thrown in a truck bed, strapped to a pack or stowed in a floatplane pontoon, and Orvis builds it with construction techniques inspired by the Helios.

Durability is the headline: the new Recon is more than 20% stronger than the previous generation, with stronger tip sections, without giving up castability. The lighter trout rods have moderate, presentation-friendly tapers, while the bass and musky models are faster. Every freshwater Recon has a matte olive blank with honey accents, a black type III anodized aluminum reel seat with a hardwood insert, chrome snake guides and a stripping guide with a silicon carbide insert, and ships in a nylon-covered rod tube.

Which Recon Freshwater Should You Choose?

Small dries and light tippet: 3L8R2151 (9' 3 wt).

Euro nymphing: 3L8S2151 (10' 3 wt).

Smaller rivers and dry flies: 3L8T2151 (8'6" 4 wt) or 3L802151 (8'6" 5 wt).

Versatile trout with lighter rigs: 3L8Y2151 (9' 4 wt) or 3L8Z2151 (10' 4 wt).

One trout rod for everything: 3L812151 (9' 5 wt).

Big rivers and indicator rigs: 3L822151 (10' 5 wt) or 3M8J2151 (10' 6 wt).

Foam bugs, poppers and smallmouth: 3L842151 (9' 6 wt).

Steelhead and big stillwater trout: 3L9A2151 (10' 7 wt).

Big bass: 3L9B2151 (8'9" 8 wt). Pike and musky: 3L9K2151 (8'9" 11 wt).

Orvis Recon Freshwater Specs

Orvis Recon Freshwater Models

3L8R2151 - 9' 3 wt

A durable, precise 3 weight that excels with small dry flies and light tippets, and still makes long casts to rising fish during trico and midge hatches.

Best for: small dries, tricos and midges, light tippet.

Line pairing: A 3 wt trout line. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Trout GP (WF3F) or the SA Amplitude Textured Trout Expert (WF3F).

3L8S2151 - 10' 3 wt

Built specifically for modern tight-line contact nymphing, with the precision and reach Euro nymphing demands.

Best for: Euro and tight-line nymphing.

Line pairing: A Euro nymph line. We recommend the SA Mastery Euro Tactical Nymph (0.022 in level) or the SA Amplitude Textured Trout Expert (WF3F).

3L8T2151 - 8'6" 4 wt

Durable and versatile, tuned for lighter rigs. It shines on smaller rivers and general trout water and is an ideal dry fly rod for wade fishing with smaller flies.

Best for: wade fishing with dries on smaller rivers.

Line pairing: A 4 wt trout line. We recommend the RIO Elite Gold (WF4F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Expert (WF4F).

3L8Y2151 - 9' 4 wt

Tuned for lighter rigs and dries, a go-to for versatile trout fishing with extra tippet protection and delicate presentations of smaller flies such as PMDs and Olives.

Best for: hatches, delicate dries, light nymphs.

Line pairing: A 4 wt trout taper. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF4F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Expert (WF4F).

3L8Z2151 - 10' 4 wt

Built for reach and delicacy, it mends easily and excels with dry-droppers and light indicator rigs, from New Zealand yarn indicators to a small bobber.

Best for: dry-droppers, light indicator nymphing, long drifts.

Line pairing: A 4 wt trout taper. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF4F) or the RIO Elite Gold (WF4F).

3L802151 - 8'6" 5 wt

A versatile 5 weight for smaller rivers with the precision, strength and feel trout anglers rely on. It is an ideal on-foot rod for freestone fishing where a shorter rod helps.

Best for: smaller freestone rivers, hike-in fishing.

Line pairing: A 5 wt trout taper. We recommend the RIO Elite Gold (WF5F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF5F).

3L812151 - 9' 5 wt

The go-to 9' 5 weight for trout in any freshwater setting, a true do-it-all rod and a favorite among trout anglers everywhere.

Best for: one rod for most trout water.

Line pairing: A 5 wt weight-forward trout line. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Trout GP (WF5F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF5F).

3L822151 - 10' 5 wt

Durable and responsive, made for big-water trout and easy mending on larger rivers, with precise line control for indicator rigs.

Best for: big rivers, indicator nymphing, mending.

Line pairing: A 5 wt trout taper. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF5F) or the RIO Elite Gold (WF5F).

3L842151 - 9' 6 wt

From trout to smallmouth, with the power and precision to fish foam flies and poppers. It is the dry fly rod Western guides reach for when foam bugs are the go-to.

Best for: foam bugs, hoppers, smallmouth, poppers.

Line pairing: A 6 wt trout or bass taper. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth MPX (WF6F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF6F).

3M8J2151 - 10' 6 wt

Built for stillwaters or heavy indicator rigs, with precision and more control at distance.

Best for: stillwater, heavy indicator rigs.

Line pairing: A 6 wt floating or stillwater line. We recommend the SA Stillwater Float (WF6F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF6F).

3L9A2151 - 10' 7 wt

Built for steelhead, with strength and precision without the premium price, and the go-to rod for big stillwater trout.

Best for: steelhead, big stillwater trout.

Line pairing: A 7 wt anadromous or indicator line. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Anadro (WF7F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF7F).

3L9B2151 - 8'9" 8 wt

Built for big bass and heavy streamers, throwing big streamers and poppers with ease.

Best for: big bass, heavy streamers, poppers.

Line pairing: An 8 wt bass or big-fly taper. We recommend the SA Mastery Titan (WF8F) or the RIO Elite Tropical Outbound Short (WF8F).

3L9K2151 - 8'9" 11 wt

Purpose-built for big pike and musky, with a grip designed for boatside figure-eights and the power for big baitfish patterns.

Best for: musky and big pike.

Line pairing: An 11 wt big-fly or predator line. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Tropical Jungle Titan (WF11F) or the Cortland Pike Musky Floating (WF11F).

Recon Freshwater vs Helios vs Clearwater

The Recon sits in the middle of the Orvis lineup. The Orvis Helios F and Helios D are Orvis's flagship rods, and the Orvis Clearwater is the best value. Choose the Recon for USA-made performance and toughness without the flagship price. For saltwater, see the Orvis Recon Saltwater.

Orvis Recon Freshwater FAQ

What is new in this Recon?

The third-generation Recon is more than 20% stronger than the previous one, with stronger tips, built with construction techniques inspired by the Helios.

What is the difference between olive and blue Recon rods?

Olive Recon rods are the freshwater models on this page. Blue Recon rods are the saltwater models, with a fighting butt on every rod.

Where is the Recon made?

In the USA, in Orvis's Vermont rod shop.

What is the warranty?

Orvis covers the Recon under its 25-Year Guarantee for the original owner: Orvis repairs a broken rod, or replaces it with a model of equal or greater value if it cannot be repaired. Orvis charges a handling fee for each repair, and lost or stolen rods are not covered.