http://www.rioproducts.com

http://www.orvis.com

http://www.orvis.com

Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Magazine - Index

32
RIO AFS Shooting Head
The new AFS (“Advanced Flight Spey”) Shooting Head from RIO Products is a line that no twohanded
caster should be without. And if you’re just getting started with the long rod, this line is a
no-brainer—it will do more to quickly improve your casting than any other Spey line out there.
The AFS Shooting Head is just that—a 31- to 42-foot (depending upon line weight)
shooting head with welded loops at both ends for use with thin-diameter shooting line. Four
different densities are offered. The floating version—available in line weights 4/5 through
10/11—has a yellow body with a 15-foot subtle green-colored tip to prevent spooking fish. A
floater with 15-foot intermediate density tip (yellow body/translucent green tip) is also available in line weights 7/8 through 10/11.
Two full sinkers—a “hover” line in Glacial Green with 1 i.p.s. sink rate, and a Midnight Blue fast-sink Type IV—are also offered.
Our sample AFS head was the full floater in line weight 8/9 (520 grain). The first thing we noticed was that RIO is now marking the
tip for line weight the same way we’ve been marking our lines for years—a wide ring for “5”, plus four narrow rings for “1” each = “9”.
Paired with RIO’s Powerflex shooting line, the AFS head loaded the rod smoothly and quickly, and delivered long casts with surprisingly
soft presentations. See them at a fly shop, or contact RIO Products, Tel: (208) 254-7760; Web: www.rioproducts.com —Bill Battles
Orvis Battenkill Large Arbor Reels
The latest fly reel from Orvis to bear the name of Vermont’s most storied trout water—the
Battenkill—is the new Battenkill Large Arbor (not to be confused with an Orvis reel bearing the
same name from a few years ago). The new Battenkill Large Arbors are fully machined from 6061
aerospace-grade barstock aluminum, and are offered in six models. The three “trout-sized” reels
include the BLA I (line weights 1 through 3, 3.9 oz, 3.0” diameter, $179, extra spool $79),
BLA II (line weights 3 through 5; 4.1 oz, 3.5” diameter, $189, extra spool $89), and BLA
III (line weights 5 through 7, 4.4 oz, 3-5⁄8” diameter, $198, extra spool $99). The BLA I
through III are available in either hard-anodized black or gold.
On the saltwater side, Orvis is also offering three models in its Battenkill Large Arbor Big
Game Series: the BLA IV (WF7F + 225 yds. 20 lb. Dacron, 7.5 oz, $229, extra spool
$105), BLA V (pictured, WF8F + 275 yds. 30 lb. Dacron, 9.0 oz, $239, extra spool $115),
and BLA VI (WF10F + 375 yds. 30 lb. Dacron, 9.5 oz, $249, extra spool $125). BLA Big
Game reels are available in hard-anodized black or titanium (the color, not the metal).
All BLAs feature one-way roller bearings, carbon fiber-to-stainless steel centerline disc
drags, and 1-inch diameter, number-indexed drag knobs with positive detents. See them at
your fly shop, or contact Orvis, Tel: (800) 778-4778; Web: www.orvis.com —Chris Major