Orvis Access 5 wt. Tip Flex Review

I was in the market for a nicer rod.  I’d been guiding for a couple of seasons and felt like I deserved a nicer 5 weight than the entry level rod I had been using.  Don’t get me wrong, I have a couple rods that were built for me that are really nice.  One is a four weight and the other a six weight.  I’ve caught tons of nice fish with them and they are one of a kind.  But for all around, everyday use, I wanted a solid 5 weight.

I have to be honest, I get a nice discount on Orvis products since I guide for a licensed Orvis fly shop, so I immediately started checking out the Orvis lineup.  Let me explain the actions on the Orvis rods first so you know what I was thinking.  

Full Flex rods are what most of the industry knows as slow action rods.  The entire length of the fly rod bends, or flexes, making the rod feel softer.  This allows the fly rod to load at close distances.  This means that you don’t have to have a lot of fly line out for the rod to flex and cast your fly.  Bamboo rods are the king when it comes to slow action, close quarters casting, especially for dry flies.  The Orvis Superfine is a full flex rod and is absolutely incredible for casting dry flies and making delicate presentations also.  It’s because the rod loads easily and casts softly.  

Mid Flex (medium action) rods are stiffer than Full Flex rods and begin bending or flexing somewhere in the middle of the rod.  These rods still load nicely in close quarters, so they work well for short, delicate presentations.  But because the rod is stiffer than a Full Flex rod, it’s also capable of casting heavier setups, like nymphs, longer distances.

Tip Flex rods are what most people know as fast action rods.  Tip Flex is the stiffest rod, and can cast a fly a mile.  They’re also great for casting heavy setups because the rod is stiff enough and has enough backbone to handle the weight.  Tip Flex rods are also suited to aggressive casting styles.  Tip Flex rods or fast action rods aren’t going to be very good a loading at short distances because the rod is so stiff.  Most of the action is in the tip of the rod. Most manufacturers of rods offer numerous rods in fast actions.  For some reason, this has been the fad, but most people I know are probably best suited for medium action rods.  They have less aggressive casting strokes and they generally don’t have to cast a mile, making medium action rods ideal.

Orvis has some sweet rods.  Many are industry leading and award winning.  I casted the Helios in a 5 weight, and it was sweet.  I didn’t get to fish it though before it was sold.  I had fished the Orvis Superfine that was in the shop a few times in a 4 weight and it was sweet . . . for dry flies.  It definitely wasn’t built for throwing heavy nymph rigs or streamers, so it wasn’t a good option for an all purpose rod.  Due to budget constraints, there wasn’t any way I could afford a Helios rod at the moment, but the Orvis Access seemed reasonably priced.  I decided to test it out.

After a day on the water, I was sold on the Orvis Access rod.  Here in Utah we have lots of wide open spaces, which lends itself to long casts.  But it’s also windy, so I needed a strong rod that could power through the wind.  I also have a pretty aggressive casting style that I blame on the wind, so a Tip Flex rod works well for me.  The first thing I noticed about the Access was the weight, or lack thereof.  The rod was light!  Orvis claims it only weighs 2.5 ounces and I believe them.  It doesn’t feel any heavier in hand than my 7.5 foot 3 weight rod I use on small streams. The rod however, is a deceptive little bugger.  It has tons of power.  It felt like my casting was on autopilot.  Most of the work in casting was being done for me.  The rod also didn’t feel overpowered fighting some nice, strong, healthy fish in the currents.  

I’ve now had my Orvis Access rod for almost a year.  I took it on all of my guided trips, and my clients absolutely loved it.  Many said things like, “Wow, so this is what a nice rod feels like.”  There were many others that were seriously considering an upgrade to the Access by the end of the day.  One client this past fall, who has fished the world over with a Sage 5 weight (including New Zealand), was pretty quiet throughout the day.  He was all business and didn’t stop for lunch, which matches my personal fishing style.  After landing an 18 inch rainbow on my rod with the classic Muddler Minnow, he asked about it.  I was shocked when he said he liked it more than his rod, that it cast nicer, and it felt more powerful than his rod.  I just mumbled something dumb like “Yeah, I like it too.”  

Most of my fishing is nymphing or throwing streamers.  The waters I fish don’t have prolific hatches, so I don’t need a rod specially designed for dry fly fishing.  My four weight rod, however, is that rod if I ever need it.  So my Tip Flex 5 weight Access has been ideal for me.  I have noticed, on those few occasions where I tied on a dry fly during a hatch, that the rod doesn’t load very easily at close range unless you cast at least 25-30 feet of line.  Don’t get me wrong, the rod is nice enough to do the job, and it worked for me, it just isn’t designed for that.

As mentioned earlier, the Tip Flex Access isn’t for delicate dry fly presentations in close quarters.  If I’m going to a small stream where it’s “dry or die” (meaning I’m only going to fish dry flies) then I take my three or four weight.  The four weight is a 9 foot rod, so it works well for nymphing too if I need to change setups.

My Access is my go to rod.  There are a few situations though where I’d use one of my other rods.  For fishing from a float tube on stillwaters (reservoirs, lakes, ponds) I use my six weight rod.  My Access is strong enough to handle big fish, but the six weight is a medium action rod, and when I’m fishing from a float tube, I don’t have to cast a mile.  Having a medium action rod also makes setting the hook less jarring, since the rod is less stiff and flexes more.  This is beneficial if you hook into that trophy trout because the chances of breaking him off during the hook set are decreased since the hook set will be softer and less jarring.  However, if I’m not in a float tube, but fishing a stillwater where I need to cast far, I’ll use my Access.

Overall, if you’re looking for a great all around rod, the Access is a great option, as numerous clients and myself have found.  You won’t be disappointed.  If you get a chance to cast the rod, or even fish it, do it!  You will consider the Access very seriously.

Orvis Access 5 weight Tip Flex Rod and a chunky Utah brown trout.