Check it out…Looks pretty bad ass…
Looks just like the Mach, which they never should have done away with anyways
There is no normal life, there’s just life.
Tarpon 140
Knot the Reel World Fly Fishing LLC
Notably I think this is the first “sealed drag” from Orvis. Always sounds a little arrogant, however, when I read statements like this from manufacturers: “A completely sealed and maintenance-free drag, impervious to saltwater, dirt, grit and other corrosive elements to last longer and hold up to real world abuse.” You and I both know how tough saltwater can be on stuff…
Alex
eww… Now they may be good for sweetwater but for the salt… I’ll take my Nautilis ANY day over anything orvis… Hell I’d even take my Okumas over them… 
But seriously if I was gonna drop Fo-and-a-quater on a reel… Nautilis is the way to go… Just cause it’s pretty don’t mean it’ll be better… Look at Paris Hilton I mean if Orvis wanted to send me one to compare with my reels I’d gladly give it a work out but from past experience if it starts with an Or and ends in vis, they can keep it… same deal with the helios rods… nice… but for the money I can get better…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
before we bash Orvis, lets not forget who gave us the lifetime guarantee!!! lets test products before making assumptions… Nautilus reels are sweet, as are Tibors, but that doesnt mean Orvis cant also make a quality product!!!
Newman
www.gtownkingfisher.com
I agree with you Capt.Newman.Orvis makes Great Fly Gear!!
Capt Chris Wilson
FinAddict Fly/Light Tackle Charters
www.charlestonflyfishingguide.com
Love my NEW ORVIS 10 wt Helios. Of my fly rods, it is the best. I’ve had some cheap and some expensive rods, the thing that I know about this rod is it will be with me for the rest of my life. You can buy cheaper, but if it breaks all you have to do is send it in and you know they will replace it. Plus the rod cast very well! I might say that my one question is this… the ORVIS flyline is good, but I know there is better. Capt Tommy Scarborough told me about the line he likes but I’ve forgotton the name.
Personally, I think the line is as important as the rod…
P Sasser
Founder, GoFishSC.com
Ummm… Orvis may have been the first but there are other companies out there that have the same deal… I have tested orvis rods and reels… Never was happy with them… Now I haven’t messed with the helios, but dayum, for the same $$$ there ARE comperable rods out there… March Brown and Sage come to mind and as far as orvis’ gaurentee… why didn;t they replace the orvis rods that were sent to the Baghdad Angles Club and School of Fly Fishing when we had 6 broken rods and they told us they wouldn;t support the replacements? St. Croix replaced a rod that broke in 12 days… March Brown sent me a replacement for my rod in 8 YES Eight days to IRAQ… TFO, replaced the broken rods we had from them, yeah orvis… there are still 6 broken orvis rods in a locker over there… Sorry Guys… You love orvis and are happy with them and I am glad for you… personally I will never give a cent of mine to orvis… their idea of a lifetime gaurentee was taken buy other rod companies and made better and those companies kept the promise they made…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
The orvis Mach was a piece of ****… period… disagree if you like, but I saw no less than a dozen of those reels come to me in pieces.
This reel however doesn’t seem to share any characteristics of that reel other than the look. I will hold judgement until I see one in person, take it apart and such… but in my experience orvis has never made a good high end fly reel… their mid arbor is a good little reel for the money, but when you get up into the $400+ range they never seem to be able to hold their own in the market… just too many good reels for the same price. But they will sell a ****load of them to all the orvis whores out there… who knows, maybe they will prove me wrong this tim… but I doubt it.
BTW- the carbon fiber “aircraft braking system” style drag, sounds alot like the Sage system or CCF system from nautilus… Orvis never has an original idea… they just copy everyone else and stamp their overpriced name on it… thats fact…
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
And I agree with Mike on his position for a hands on di-section of the new reel. Mid arbor/ LA probably the best reel values in each price class. Very curious to see the workmanship on the new Mirage. It has some quality reviews from respected fisherman, but to each his own, for a final verdict.