I remember when I bought my CFO 1988. Pawned the engagement ring my fiancee had given me back that day and drove over to Fly Fishers paradise in State College,Pa. Got that reel I always wanted and headed up Spring Creek to catch the sulphur spinner fall. Women may come and go, but a fine reel will last forever haha!
That's cool. I guess my decades old Orvis reels I still use are cool now, lol. All the rainbow patterned, extra large arbor, exotic metal whiz bang reels can take a back seat to old school...haha, I love it!
Many thanks for another fantastic upload, still got my first click,reels from 1989,bring it out ,now again 😀. Thanks Brian for your time. Kind regards Mike. Norfolk. 🇬🇧. 👍.tight lines.
Nice reel I love click reels up to this year all mine where yard sale special. My wife bless her got me a Abel 4/5 tr Brookie and a Ross Colorado. One for orvis sf glass and one for orvis recon. Guess Iam set for a while lol good video thank you
These are sweet reels. I wish they had produced these in some larger sizes for us out here in the Northwest. Trout, trout spey, single-hand steelhead, and standard spey.
Such a beautiful piece of equipment. I have a few Click and Pawl Battenkills and they are pretty special. I’ll be ordering a C.F.O. For sure! Thanks for the video!
@@Madriveroutfitters Absolutely! I’m going to pair the CFOIII Reel with a 5wt Orvis Superfine Glass Rod and dress it with the double taper Cortland 444 flyline. The color peach will accent the setup quite nicely.
Small fish, small water perfection light weight awesome. I own a few of the originals use them on 2,3 and 4 wt. 5 wt and above fish large arbor helios. Many times on western big water I have been in the backing. This means a large arbor line capacity and take up is a must. Small streams back east the CFO is fun to fish.
You nailed it Brian! I’ve been fly fishing for over 50 years now and as you can imagine have many reels. Lots of Ross (Gunnison’s & Evolution’s) but I fish primarily with my Vintage Orvis CFO’s. I have 6 CFO III’s that I’ve collected through the years (All of them are Hardy made in England and 2 of them are the coveted Green Disc versions. It would be impossible to improve on this reel. I love the size and especially the minimal weight. I’m hoping to get the new USA Made version for Christmas. I understand it is actually made in Manchester, VT at the Orvis factory. Without question, the best fly reel design ever made! I couldn’t agree with you more! I use them on my Winston B IIIX 8.5’ 4wt, Orvis Super Fine Carbon 8’ 4wt, Orvis S.F. Touch 7.5’ 3wt, Orvis S.F. Far & Fine 7’9” 5wt. Thanks for the vid!
The notion that the CFO is a "retro style reel" is dependent on the belief that a fly reel should resemble the wheel of a Maserati. If you do not buy that belief then the CFO simply looks the way a fly reel should.
I absolutely love my hardy made CFO's. They get more and more buttery as the years go by. The CFO II is the lightest weight reel I've ever used. I'll never part with those reels.
I have a really old CFO V and I just got into fly fishing for trout, interesting to see how it holds up over the years i will be learning how to trout fish with a fly.
Brian: Thank you for reminding everyone of the joy of click and pawl reels from Orvis. I have a discontinued Orvis Battenkill V for my spey rod, as well as a 3.5 inch click and pawl reel for trout flyfishing. I love the sound of the reel when the trout is taking out line. I also had at one time a Hardy click and pawl Princess reel before I left it on the top of my car one night after a caddis hatch in Utah. For my information, was Hardy the originator of the click and pawl reels?
@@Madriveroutfitters I'd say, clinking is the sound, a well designed reel makes, when a fish makes a run - so my claim is, that clinking is good. Cambridge Dictionary describes it: "a short ringing sound like pieces of glass or metal knocking lightly together."
I'm going to buy a new fly rod. $600 to spend and I've basically narrowed it down to 2 options: lightly used 9' 5wt orvis helios for $550, or brand new 9' 5wt orvis recon for $600. What would you do? Or should I look at something completely different? I've cast both and nothing I don't like about either rod. I'm torn between the 2. Leaning towards the helios just because it's cheaper being that it's used, but supposedly the better rod🤷♂️ by lightly used I mean maybe 10 trips a season over 2 years. No damage or anything, looks new besides the cork. It is nice to start fresh though
Thanks for being here. Please contact the folks at the shop directly via e-mail or better yet give them a call. They will be happy to help and answer your questions.
I don't understand why clicker reels went out of style in the first place. I love them, especially my Martin 62 that I picked up for $10 from an antique store in Connecticut. Clickity-click. I swear the click is magical, I was up to 139 blue ridge brook trout with it since late February this year until I sprained my ankle 2 days ago. Big plus, it didn't dent when I tossed my rod when I slipped.
Good to see the CFO back, but Wow, the prices have escalated. We are now solidly in the world of $1000 rods and $350 reels. I have BBS3's on my 4wt and my 1wt and they are sweet. I have the original CFO1 on my old Orvis 2wt one ounce. The anodized CFO3's are more durable. The baked on enamel of the original sure has taken a beating on my small stream/ deep woods combo. Love it though.
Thanks for watching. Certainly the fly fishing world is not immune to rising prices. The cool thing is that there is still some decent quality equipment out there for reasonable prices. The fish don't care how much your gear costs!
@@Madriveroutfitters Luckily I built my collection when I was a bit younger and prices were a bit lower. Even then, my wife would say: "let me get this straight, you paid $400 for a plastic stick"?
I Bought another CFO III about 10 Years ago? American Made by GALVAN or maybe Ross at the time? When HARDY stopped making them Orvis and The Reel manufacturer sent all the machinery to the new guy. They were only made 2 or 3 years and then nothing! Gad they are AGAIN being made!
@@Madriveroutfitters I haven't given up yet, but life is just "to much" at the time being. If crowd funding had been an option back then, I'm sure, you would have, but "illness is every man's master", as the danish saying says.
I remember when I bought my CFO 1988. Pawned the engagement ring my fiancee had given me back that day and drove over to Fly Fishers paradise in State College,Pa.
Got that reel I always wanted and headed up Spring Creek to catch the sulphur spinner fall. Women may come and go, but a fine reel will last forever haha!
Thanks for watching. A true lifetime investment that will bring many years of pleasure.
This is a great story haha awesome
Whoa
Haha I guess you were all pissed off. Good decision you made that day buddy
Great story. You’re a true fisherman
It sounds even better loaded with backing and line. It’s the first great piece of equipment I owned and still love it today.
Agreed. They are fun reels to fish.
The delivery of “Like the way.. God meant em to be” killed me 😂 absolutely gorgeous reel too
Thanks for watching......By Golly.
That's cool. I guess my decades old Orvis reels I still use are cool now, lol.
All the rainbow patterned, extra large arbor, exotic metal whiz bang reels can take a back seat to old school...haha, I love it!
Thanks for watching. All reels matter.
Many thanks for another fantastic upload, still got my first click,reels from 1989,bring it out ,now again 😀. Thanks Brian for your time. Kind regards Mike. Norfolk. 🇬🇧. 👍.tight lines.
Thanks for watching. These types of reels you hand down from generation to generation. True heirlooms.
Thanks for the headsup and thankyou Orvis !
Thanks for watching. Happy to have this classic back in the reel case here at the shop.
Love how candid you guys are in your videos :)
Thanks for being here. It's the only way to be!!!
@@Madriveroutfitters glad you understood my gibberish... Apparently spelling is hard for me today 😆. Thanks for all your great content!
Your videos are like butter. 😊💪👊
Thanks for watching.
Nice reel I love click reels up to this year all mine where yard sale special. My wife bless her got me a Abel 4/5 tr Brookie and a Ross Colorado. One for orvis sf glass and one for orvis recon. Guess Iam set for a while lol good video thank you
Thanks for watching and yes.....sounds like you are set for a while!
Outstanding video and thank you for sharing. Click it don't clink it. I would clink it because it sounds better haha.
Thanks for watching.
These are sweet reels. I wish they had produced these in some larger sizes for us out here in the Northwest. Trout, trout spey, single-hand steelhead, and standard spey.
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for another Great Video
Thanks for watching.
You were channeling your inner Mike Tyson @ 1:34. Good looking reel! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching.
Such a beautiful piece of equipment. I have a few Click and Pawl Battenkills and they are pretty special. I’ll be ordering a C.F.O. For sure! Thanks for the video!
They really are! One of the best contributions Orvis has made....and there have been many.
@@Madriveroutfitters Absolutely! I’m going to pair the CFOIII Reel with a 5wt Orvis Superfine Glass Rod and dress it with the double taper Cortland 444 flyline. The color peach will accent the setup quite nicely.
@@nathancottrill1363 That will be an awesome set up. We’d be happy to set that up for you!
Small fish, small water perfection light weight awesome. I own a few of the originals use them on 2,3 and 4 wt. 5 wt and above fish large arbor helios. Many times on western big water I have been in the backing. This means a large arbor line capacity and take up is a must. Small streams back east the CFO is fun to fish.
Certainly fun reels to fish in certain situations. Thanks for watching.
Bought my cfo 6 years ago. One reason I purchased it because it was made in the USA. Paired with my 3 wt. Orvis Superfine it is my favorite outfit.
Certainly gorgeous reels and super fun to fish. Thanks for being here.
The hippies were right about: "Think global - buy local"
You nailed it Brian! I’ve been fly fishing for over 50 years now and as you can imagine have many reels. Lots of Ross (Gunnison’s & Evolution’s) but I fish primarily with my Vintage Orvis CFO’s. I have 6 CFO III’s that I’ve collected through the years (All of them are Hardy made in England and 2 of them are the coveted Green Disc versions. It would be impossible to improve on this reel. I love the size and especially the minimal weight. I’m hoping to get the new USA Made version for Christmas. I understand it is actually made in Manchester, VT at the Orvis factory. Without question, the best fly reel design ever made! I couldn’t agree with you more! I use them on my Winston B IIIX 8.5’ 4wt, Orvis Super Fine Carbon 8’ 4wt, Orvis S.F. Touch 7.5’ 3wt, Orvis S.F. Far & Fine 7’9” 5wt. Thanks for the vid!
Thanks for watching.
The notion that the CFO is a "retro style reel" is dependent on the belief that a fly reel should resemble the wheel of a Maserati. If you do not buy that belief then the CFO simply looks the way a fly reel should.
"The way God intended"- Brian Flechsig 2022
Haha I was admiring the alloys on a BMW the other day and I suddenly 💡 realized where reel design comes from!
Thanks Brain 👍
Thanks for watching. We wont' tell him that you called him Brain. Might give him a big head.
@@Madriveroutfitters :D
Finally , some good news ..........Thanks
Thanks for watching.
I absolutely love my hardy made CFO's. They get more and more buttery as the years go by. The CFO II is the lightest weight reel I've ever used. I'll never part with those reels.
They are truly gorgeous reels!
I have a really old CFO V and I just got into fly fishing for trout, interesting to see how it holds up over the years i will be learning how to trout fish with a fly.
Cool! If taken care of, they should last forever! Thanks for watching.
@@Madriveroutfitters I also have an Orvis Madison IV for nymphs, is the reel too small or should anything work.
@@peterwilly9240 Anything should work!
Nice reel
They certainly have done a great job, as usual. Thanks for watching.
my go to setup for small stream fish, cfo 123 disk, on a 3 weight trident. For a 3 weight its a cannon
Thanks for watching.
Brian: Thank you for reminding everyone of the joy of click and pawl reels from Orvis. I have a discontinued Orvis Battenkill V for my spey rod, as well as a 3.5 inch click and pawl reel for trout flyfishing. I love the sound of the reel when the trout is taking out line. I also had at one time a Hardy click and pawl Princess reel before I left it on the top of my car one night after a caddis hatch in Utah. For my information, was Hardy the originator of the click and pawl reels?
Thanks for watching and happy to help. Feel free to email or call Brian with your questions. He’s always happy to help.
...very nice reel...what rod length and weight would you add to this reel for euro style fishing...10' 10'6" or 11'...
Please contact the shop directly via email or phone and they will be happy to help. Thanks.
very nice
Thanks for watching.
" Click it, don't clink it" lol😎
Sound advice right there. Clinking is not good. Clicking is better.
@@Madriveroutfitters I'd say, clinking is the sound, a well designed reel makes, when a fish makes a run - so my claim is, that clinking is good. Cambridge Dictionary describes it: "a short ringing sound like pieces of glass or metal knocking lightly together."
I'm going to buy a new fly rod. $600 to spend and I've basically narrowed it down to 2 options: lightly used 9' 5wt orvis helios for $550, or brand new 9' 5wt orvis recon for $600. What would you do? Or should I look at something completely different? I've cast both and nothing I don't like about either rod. I'm torn between the 2. Leaning towards the helios just because it's cheaper being that it's used, but supposedly the better rod🤷♂️ by lightly used I mean maybe 10 trips a season over 2 years. No damage or anything, looks new besides the cork. It is nice to start fresh though
Thanks for being here. Please contact the folks at the shop directly via e-mail or better yet give them a call. They will be happy to help and answer your questions.
Reminds me of my Pflueger Medalists.
Same concept for sure. Thanks for watching.
It needs the classic handle like the one he is holding in the picture, that would make it perrrfect :-)
Thanks for watching.
The one Stan Bogdan is holding in the picture isn’t a CFO. This new CFO is based on the original CFO that Stan Bogdan designed.
I have the Abel cfo by Orvis in the gun metal only thing that better if you can get a spare spool I only use it with a 4 wt
Thanks for watching.
It’s a looker glad to see it back but I wish they would have modernized it with a larger arbor. I just can’t go back.
Understandable but then it wouldn't be an exact copy of the original. Thanks for watching.
I don't understand why clicker reels went out of style in the first place. I love them, especially my Martin 62 that I picked up for $10 from an antique store in Connecticut. Clickity-click. I swear the click is magical, I was up to 139 blue ridge brook trout with it since late February this year until I sprained my ankle 2 days ago. Big plus, it didn't dent when I tossed my rod when I slipped.
Thanks for watching. Folks think they need hi-tec drag systems to stop tiny fish. That's why. The industry has convinced us of this.
Churning butter again.
Again......it's all he does. Thanks for watching.
Good to see the CFO back, but Wow, the prices have escalated. We are now solidly in the world of $1000 rods and $350 reels.
I have BBS3's on my 4wt and my 1wt and they are sweet. I have the original CFO1 on my old Orvis 2wt one ounce. The anodized CFO3's are more durable. The baked on enamel of the original sure has taken a beating on my small stream/ deep woods combo. Love it though.
Thanks for watching. Certainly the fly fishing world is not immune to rising prices. The cool thing is that there is still some decent quality equipment out there for reasonable prices. The fish don't care how much your gear costs!
@@Madriveroutfitters Luckily I built my collection when I was a bit younger and prices were a bit lower. Even then, my wife would say: "let me get this straight, you paid $400 for a plastic stick"?
Clink the lick !!! :D
Better just to click it.
Reel butter without the calories!
Good....very good. Thanks for watching.
Sweet, but $329 is rather steep for me... Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching.
The new style are better…no doubt about it.
Thanks for watching.
Is it machined or cast?
It is a machined reel. Well machined.
Like no salted butter! 😂
Thanks for watching!
I Bought another CFO III about 10 Years ago? American Made by GALVAN or maybe Ross at the time? When HARDY stopped making them Orvis and The Reel manufacturer sent all the machinery to the new guy. They were only made 2 or 3 years and then nothing! Gad they are AGAIN being made!
Has been a great selling, benchmark trout reel for many, many years. Glad they are back as well. Thanks for watching.
Were made by Abel btw.
You funny.
Thanks for watching.
I invented/designed the worlds best fly reel - 20 years ago. A shame I didn't know, how to raise money, to get it on the market.
Sounds like a missed opportunity. Shame, would have loved to haven seen it. Thanks for watching.
@@Madriveroutfitters I haven't given up yet, but life is just "to much" at the time being. If crowd funding had been an option back then, I'm sure, you would have, but "illness is every man's master", as the danish saying says.
At least SOMETHING is made in the USA.
Starting to see more and more in our industry.....thankfully.
I’m getting one…don’t tell my wife 😐😬
It will be our secret…..and everyone else here. 😉
Thumbnail LOL
Thanks for being here.
Click and pawl drag at that price point, nope.
Ok, how about this one:
www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-15008-abel-tr-45-fly-reel.aspx
How about this one:
www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-12239-ross-colorado-fly-reels.aspx
This one for sure:
www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-18003-abel-tr-45-fly-reel.aspx
@@Madriveroutfitters lmaooo
Lol lol
No Auto-reels? (NOT interested, just joking)
Can easily be converted if you do change your mind.