Gear Review - Orvis Clearwater 9'/6wt/4pc

Short story:

I'm very impressed with my new Orvis Clearwater 9'/6wt/4pc.  Its been a workhorse for me the last few months.  In some rather unsavory conditions.   

Long Story:

I purchased the Clearwater from the Ozark Angler in September 2015.  I'm not quick to buy new gear without testing it first.  Fortunately, I have a buddy who owns several Orvis fly rods.  Any time I have a question he's quick to offer up his collections.  I first borrowed the Clearwater Janurary 2015.  I kept it for a month using it as a streamer rod.  See post from Jan 2015: 

http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/2015/01/infected-with-fever.html.

I liked it so much I immediately asked my wife if I could buy one.  She quickly replied, "which trip are you not going to take this year?"  Say what!  I'm not sure she understood.  I wanted to buy a new fly rod, not trade a trip for one.  SO...my trips included, Southeast Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, including a few return trips to those areas.  If you would like to read more about those trip.  I posted some highlights on the Jackson Kayak page:
http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/2016/01/10/year-fly/.  

I wanted a light weight fly rod with the action to deliver small dry flies to grass carp and also small articulated to streamers on a sink tip.  It does both very well.  I can throw the Clearwater all day from my kayak without feeling like I just completed a Crossfit workout.  Throwing my 8wt all day is a workout.  Its got the backbone to fight trout, largemouth bass and some pretty large grass carp.

What I've been most impressed with is how its performed in the conditions I have used it.  For the most part when I'm targeting trout the water is clean and free of mud or silt.  Dropping it in a trout stream doesn't worry me.  Those conditions aren't found in my Southeast Arkansas cypress swamps.  Instead of telling you why I'm impressed with the Clearwater.  Let me show you with an example.

On one occasion I was fighting a 40" grass carp from my kayak.  I thought it was ready to be landed.  I got in the water and sank to my calves in the mud.  Guess what happened when I was ready to CPR the carp?  It was NOT ready and ran between my legs...still hooked!  I did my best Russell Wilson side-step and spin trying to avoid JJ Watt.  I'll be 39 in two weeks so I move like Peyton Manning hobbled by a torn planter fascia. 

I went to avoid the collision but couldn't move because I'm not athletic.  I lost my balance and started to fall backwards as the carp was splitting the double team.  I couldn't get my feet unstuck and drug the tip of the rod through the mud...seriously all 9ft passed between my legs and through the mud.  I fell backwards landing hard on my a$$ and drove the reel deep into the mud.  

My local water

I was certain I would be testing out the Orvis warranty and the customer service I've heard so many great things about.  However, after closer examination everything looked good.  That's tough and something I need in a fly rod.  I have limited space in my kayak and I'm hard on gear (see above).  There's a real possibility I'm going to bang it off a overhanging tree branch, sink it in mud, or skewer a cypress tree.  I need gear that can stand up to that kind of abuse.  The Orvis Clearwater has met all my expectations and more.  I have zero complaints.

See it in action here:

Check out my other fly fishing videos on my YouTube channel:  Looknfishy on YouTube

Other gear reviews:
Orvis Encounter 9'/8wt/4pc
Orvis Recon and Hydros SL review

Orvis Silver Sonic wader review

Weird day on the river (LRR)

Saturday was a family day but I found a minute to make my way over to the Ozark Angler (OA) in Little Rock.  I intended to only buy some tying material in preparation for a fishing trip planned in Oct.  But as I entered the store I remembered I like fishing more than tying.  Walked past the materials and straight to the rod case.  Stopped in front of the Orvis Clearwater 6wt...but I was only looking.  I don't have money for a new fly rod so there's no risk in just looking, right?

You can guess what happened next.  I explained the money situation (lack of it).  They understood and explained they have this machine just for people like me.  It takes plastic and turns it into money, as soon as the bank gives them the cash from your account.  From what I can tell those credit card machines are nearly perfect.  If only they didn't also create proof of the transgression, now I have "some splainin to do"!  Meet the proud new owner of a Clearwater 6 wt and debt.  Hi, I'm Drew, and I have an addiction.  You say, nice to meet you Drew...b/c you're at the meeting.

1st fish on the 6wt ate a streamer

Seriously, I borrowed my buddies for a month at the beginning of this year.  Took it out several times on the Little Red.  I'm not quick to spend money but since I wasn't spending any real money...just plastic...figured I'd add to the armory.  

From Jan.  Borrowed CW but should have borrowed a net...lost mine in the river that day and later found it...weird  

Can't speak highly enough about the actual experience.  OA didn't have all the components for the actual combo.  So after explaining my plan of replacing the reel on my 5wt, lining the spare spools,  (3) with the 6 wt...effectively using 1 reel for both the encounter and the clearwater (1-WF6F, 2-sink tip for both, 3-WF8F), basically making it as complicated as I could.  I ended up with the Access Mid Arbor and Hydros WF6F all for the regular price of the original Clearwater.  They lined all my reels and b/c I wasn't happy enough gave me a free hat.  Awesome!  Now I have a spare reel waiting for that new 3 wt I plan to buy next year.  That explanation was really for my wife who, at times, doesn't understand the "words coming out of my mouth"....maybe she'll read the blog for the 2nd time ever and all will be good.  Wishful thinking.  Time to get fishy...

New Access on my TFO

It was a weird day.  That's the best way to describe it.  It started when a car pulled into the dark and empty parking lot at 3:30 am.  I positioned myself on the passenger side of my truck...keeping the truck between me and whoever was stopped on the other side.  And then I slowly moved off into the darkness of the trees.  Then a person started calling out for, "the guy behind the truck" and flashing their spot light around the area.  When I realized what was going on I re-emerged and asked him not to shot me, explaining I had just bought a new fly rod and my wife would "literally" kill me if I had to replace these waders.  After a short conversation (remember I was wearing waders and there was a 12 ft kayak sitting halfway off the truck rack).  I thanked him for stopping and checking the parking lot.  Great to know he's in the area!

On the water at 4:30 am slinging the 6 wt with something black attached to the end.  Must have appeared to be some sort of fish eating bacteria b/c nothing wanted to touch that streamer.  No problem, I start early so I can get to those spots that the boaters will beat me to if I wait until the sun is out.

Everything was going as planned.  Get to a good spot and waded out.  I notice the little birds don't have any place to live.  I do my best to build them a nest with my leader, strike indicator, and 3 fly set-up.  As I'm working on the finishing touches to their new home.  I hear a boat coming up behind me.  It's carrying 2 men and judging by their appearance they look like they know what they are doing.  I gave a wave and as expected they slowly pass behind me.  At this point I focus back on the building project expecting the sound of the jet to fade in the distance.  But the sound of the jet doesn't fade.  Rather, it's not moving away from me at all...and actually appeared to be getting closer.  Are these 2 guys anchoring 10 ft away?  Are they beaching and wading?  Decided I better check on them.  Just about that time I hear a voice and the words, "look out, my jets clogged with moss".  Your what is who?

As a kayaker, I've thought about getting run over in my kayak.  It's always a possibility.  I have never considered it might happen while I was wadding.  The boat drifted back into me...a fully loaded boat and gear being carried down river by the current is a load to stop.  Technically I wasn't run over and no one was hurt, except they killed the shoal I had spent over an hour paddling to.  Initially I was annoyed, surprised!  Oddly, after talking with those guys I later laughed about it.  I saw them a few other times and they were always respectful, telling me which direction they were heading and always giving me plenty of space.

As expected the fishing wasn't great with the crowds and boat traffic.  But fish were caught and I enjoyed the day.  What I lacked in numbers they made up for in quality.  Beautiful fish that had been in the river a long time.  Plus I got the new car smell out of the 6 wt.