It was a great day for the sport of fly fishing when Charles Orvis, in 1856, formed the Orvis company in Manchester, Vermont.  Only sixteen years later, in 1874, Orvis received a patent on a new design in fly reels. "Patent Number 150,883 is now regarded as a milestone in American fishing tackle history. The 1874 reel was in some ways a major break with previous reel design. Its spool was narrow, quite unlike most fly reels then in use. The perforations on the side plates, which lightened the reel considerably, permitted air circulation through the line when it was on the spool. As the patent claimed, "A current of air is continually forcing itself through the wound-up line, and all mildew and rot thereby avoided, as under these circumstances the line soon becomes thoroughly dried." Thus the fly fishing reel reached a level that has reached into the 21st Century with only minor changes such as the exposed rim they introduced to the world in 1972."  Some of the things Orvis has introduced to the world are:  First impregnated bamboo rod 1046, Orvis introduced the "Zinger" to the world in 1967, Orvis is first to produce and market Georgia Fatwood Kindling, World's first brown camouflage hunting gear is introduced in Orvis catalog, America's first dedicated wing shooting school opens at Orvis Manchester, Orvis introduces Sporting Clays to America,  Orvis.com  (Above picture is Orvis clothing, Orvis rod, etc. in Belize just before I caught an Island record bonefish that can be seen in the "click on" below).

My relationship with the celebrated Orvis company started over 40 years ago and has proven to be a long and enjoyable journey.  Leigh Perkins had only bought the company about three years prior to me "finding out about Orvis" as a young man not long out of college and starting into the world of fly fishing.  When I first started with Orvis my main purchase was one of their fine bamboo rods, the Limestone Special- which they (pre credit card era) set up a payment account  at the home office for monthly payments.  Soon I was adding Wheatly fly boxes, flies, a vest, waders, reels, etc.  I had the privilege of designing the first auto-inflatable wading vest and sold the idea to Orvis, and for many years it was carried in their catalogue. That and the fishing in Argentina when Leigh and Perk (now the CEO) were in the same area of the country as I was (establishing a reel company there) led to my being an "ambassador at large" for Orvis.  I have had the honor of representing the famed Willis and Geiger company, and other fine organizations in my life as a world fly fisherman and traveler.  This year my 14 year old grandson, my daughter and her husband all decided to join my wife and me in fly fishing the Yellowstone area for their first fly fishing experience (son-in-law had been once) and, of course my fist thing was to call Orvis to equip them out with Orvis for as a lifetime supplier.  With Orvis rods, lines and leaders I have taken:

My Orvis Kayak and bass on fly rod.

Grandson with me on his first fly fishing trip

    wearing his "Orvis stuff" and with his Orvis equipment.

Click Here

For Pictures of me around the

world with record fish from

Africa, Belize, Argentina, etc.

all caught on Orvis Rods and lines.

Orvis Photographer/Travel Vest	Rainbows caught in Argentina on Orvis  rods, wearing Orvis waders and clothes.

      Orvis Luggage In Amazon

My relationship with the Perkins family grew with the Orvis company, and they promised me that "anything I ever needed them to do for me in the way of Orvis products - including getting me products where ever I was in the world - ASAP."  Two generations of Perkins family have been faithful to keep that promise!  Even as recent as this year, 2008, when I broke my first fly rod ever by taking a fall in the Firehole river of Yellowstone Park, and they overnighted me another rod ASAP just as I was promised many years ago.  I never thought it would happen - but the next day getting out of the RV with my newly received rod the wind caught the door and broke the tip off of a second rod - again, they rushed the rod to me.  (Not that I don't have a supply of Orvis rods, but it was a particular weight and size I needed in the new Zero Gravity series.)   During these 40 years I have done a number of trips to Argentina, over 30 fly fishing to interior Amazon Jungle, Africa, etc - and Orvis has always been there for me without fail.   I have carried their luggage line literally around the world, including shaving bags, worn their clothing line from Belize to China, and cast an Orvis rod wherever fish are to be found!  There are a lots of fine rods, reels, and fly equipment in the market, but there is not a finer "stand behind our product" company in the entire world of fly fishing.

Peacock bass caught on Orvis #9 wt. fly rod (to right). This was one of over 30 trips fly fishing the Amazon Jungle through the '90s. 

It is rare in today's world that a company will stand behind their products with the "whatever it takes to satisfy the customer policy" of Orvis.  ( The Orvis 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: For 150 years, we have offered the strongest return policy in the business. We will refund your money on any purchase that isn't 100% satisfactory. Anytime, for any reason. It's that simple).  Since 1988 they have had a 25 year warranty on their fly rods "if they break for whatever reason."  Orvis is truly a company that has built an outstanding business and now face the competitive markets of the 21st Century.  It is their "customer care" and quality products that will cause them to survive when fabled companies are falling all around us.  I am glad to be a spokesman for Orvis.

Happy Hunting/Fly Fishing.