New From Orvis Updated Battenkill and the H2 Covert Rod

 

Orvis doesn’t rest.  Two new products hit the market this spring and they promise to deliver.  Jon Easdon, Director of Services, spotlights the updated Orvis Battenkill reel and their H2 Covert rod.

 

The longest running model in Orvis’s reel lineup received a significant makeover this year. The new disc drag Battenkill is a welcome update to these iconic reels. The drag system features the same qualities of the system on its big brother, the Hydros SL. The 6 point eased disc drag enables minimal start up drag when that fish starts to run. This is a conventional mid-arbor reel making it ideal for trout fishing. The Battenkill still features the classic heritage look of models past. At a price tag of $149 to $199, it’s hard to go wrong with this reel.

 

New to the Orvis arsenal this season is the H2 Covert fly rod. These spin-offs of the original H2 came about at a roundtable discussion with guides and key retailers at the Orvis guide rendezvous in 2016. While Orvis would have a hard time coming up with a new rod to replace the H2 (how do you improve upon near perfection?), the H2 Covert is the result.

 

This rod is made from the same blank as an H2 and has the same taper.  A new snub-nose wells grip rounds out this rod. The key difference is in the finishing of the rod. This matte black rod has no finish to it, making it less likely to spook fish with the glare of a standard rod bouncing off of it. All black wraps and guides make this rod look fully stealthy.

 

In the first two minutes of casting this rod, I could immediately tell the difference. The fact that it has less paint on it really changes the rod…in a good way. The Covert felt crisper, and a touch faster than the stock H2. It had me bombing dry flies with ease in no time. Personally, I love the H2, but the Covert is a step better.  

 

The H2 Covert will have a limited production run making them a bit more exclusive than the stock H2. Couple this with Orvis’s amazing lifetime warranty and this rod is a winner. If you are looking for a slightly different rod than the H2, please stop by and cast this bad boy. You wont be disappointed. This rod is available in 2 sizes: 9ft. 5 wt. and 9ft. 8 wt.  for chasing pike, wiper, and carp. Retail price is $850.00.

 

You can check out both these products at the Colorado Springs Fly Fishing Show on March 4.  Give the Covert a try on our casting ponds!

 

Be sure to enter our 2017 Casting Challenge:  Cast 5 rods and be entered in the rod giveaway!