I started out with my introduction into euro nymphing with the introductory Orvis Clearwater combo to take the class with TCO on Spring Creek north of State Collage, PA(10' 3 wt.)
It worked fine. I caught two and hooked and lost more. It worked fine for me.
I did buy the same thing in the Recon combo and really like it even more. I do all of my fly fishing now at a R&G club in the western Poconos when I am not taking a class to learn even more about something that interests me.
If I am inviting someone to my club, I want them to learn/fish on the same basic tackle that I am fishing in terms of tackle. I start with Orvis Clearwater and then upgrade from there to Recon.
My friend who has gone on countless canoe trips with me and drives all the way from Richmond, VA doesn't own a fly rod. I lost count of how many fly rods I own and I have and never fished with, but I want him to keep making that long drive.
I own all of my late father's and grandfather's fly rods.
The guide who taught me my very first euro nymph class said that the Helios combo will let me feel the strike more so than watching it. I am sure that he is right.
I will spend the $ but went with the Recon because the Helios is too long(10' 6") to fit in my Rod Vault(10').
I have both the Helios and Recon combos in 9' 5 wt. combos, and have fished with both a lot for what I do, which is wooly buggers on fairly big water.
I think that for the $ spent, two Recons are a better value than the Helios, which I do like, but now that I know what I know, two Recon combos are better than one Helios.
My arm doesn't get as tired with the Helios as it does with the Recon, but the Helios combo is more expensive.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
