Gear Review: Orvis Superfine Graphite 7-Foot 6-Inch 3-Weight “Tippet” Fly Rod

June 23, 2025 By: Rick Mikesell

Big Colorado brookies on a 3-weight make for a good test—and the “Tippet” makes it a lot of fun. All photos: Rick Mikesell

Somehow a rumor started going around that I’m not a fan of trout, that I think they are somehow beneath more challenging, more clever warmwater species. The truth is that I love trout. I love the beautiful places they live and the long lineage of craft and tradition that goes into catching them well. I prefer trout fishing on my own terms, though: Small streams, tight banks, short casts, and splashy eats. I like to fish dry flies, I like pocket water, and I like wild fish. I want to see them eat. I not only enjoy it, but I genuinely love it, too.

New Rod, Old Soul

I’m also a fan of fly-fishing history. There is something special about casting a rod built decades ago and feeling how much anglers could do with so little, but I’m glad to live in a time when modern rod technology gives us a performance edge. The new Orvis Superfine Graphite blends both worlds. It delivers a classic feel in hand, with modern materials and control. It is made for anglers who want to fish traditional waters, with deliberate technique, but without giving up what contemporary rod technology has to offer. It also happens to be a very fun option for panfish and other warmwater species.

The new Orvis Superfine “Tippet” (left) alongside a vintage original, currently listed by eBay user staygold.japan. The modern build carries its lineage proudly, right down to the engraved butt cap.

The “Tippet”

I tested the 7-foot 6-inch 3-weight “Tippet” model paired with an Orvis CFO reel and a Scientific Anglers Mastery Trout WF3F line. This model traces its lineage back to some of the first graphite rods Orvis ever built, rods that found a middle ground between fiberglass feel and graphite accuracy. The latest generation is built on the same design principles as the Helios series, which means it carries far more refinement than the vintage Superfines, while still honoring the original’s full-flex, deep-loading action.

Build and Aesthetic

The blank is notably slim for a 3-weight and lighter in hand than most comparable rods in its class. It might appear fragile at first glance, but it has more than enough strength to handle outsize fish. Orvis has done a remarkable job carrying over the look and feel of the early Superfines. The matte gray blank, vintage-style white labeling, and narrow cigar grip are all in the spirit of tradition. There’s a cork insert in the reel seat, and the rod sock features a custom vintage trout pattern that is genuinely hipster cool. Even the butt cap includes a nod to the model’s original nickname. “Tippet” is etched cleanly into the anodized cap, a subtle but appreciated detail. The included Cordura tube is simple and functional, adequate, but nothing particularly special. Overall fit and finish on the rod itself are excellent, with guide wraps, cork quality, and hardware choices all well matched.

High country meadow stream, dry fly eat, and the “Tippet” doing exactly what it was built for.

Field Test in the Colorado High Country

I fished the Superfine in a variety of small-stream settings throughout the Colorado high country. Over several weeks this spring and early summer, it saw action in narrow meadow creeks, quick pocket water, beaver ponds, and alpine lakes. All of the fishing was done with a single dry or dry-dropper rig, when absolutely necessary, and I occasionally used larger dries in size 10 or 12 with tungsten-beadhead droppers. With the right pacing and a slower casting stroke, the rod handled these rigs with ease.

Casting Characteristics

The Superfine shines in the 25- to 40-foot range. It loads easily and recovers with enough stability to cut through a light breeze. For shorter-range work, something like the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Creek Trout might offer quicker turnover due to the shorter belly, but I found a traditional three-weight taper performed just fine. This is not a long-distance casting tool, but it was never meant to be. What it offers instead is precise control in close quarters.

Dry flies land softly with minimal effort, and the rod allows for beautiful line control at short and moderate distances. At 7-foot 6-inches, it is not built for large mends and is not meant for big water. On tight creeks, both upstream and downstream presentations were clean, accurate, and efficient. What impressed me most was the accuracy. Despite the deep flex, the rod tracks well and delivers a straight, clean loop. That is where the Helios technology shows up in a meaningful way.

The rod is equally at home for an afternoon on the local pond with eager bluegill as it is on a mountain trout stream.

Creek to Pond, Trout to Panfish

Fighting fish is where this rod comes alive. Small trout give the rod a satisfying bend, but it’s the bigger ones that turn it into something special. The tip is soft enough to protect fine tippets, and the deep load allows you to use the entire rod when playing fish. Not once did I feel underpowered, even on fish well above what a 3-weight is expected to handle.

This rod may have been built for trout, but it’s also a blast on panfish. It throws big foam bugs and micro poppers with ease, and turns every aggressive bluegill into a full-contact experience, every bit as enjoyable as battling a creek-dwelling brookie. For warmwater anglers working tight spots for panfish and small bass, this rod is right at home and brings plenty of life to every fight.

A Modern Classic Worth the Price

The Orvis Superfine Graphite “Tippet” is a modern tool with a vintage soul. It honors the legacy of the original Superfine series while using updated materials and technology to create a rod that feels intentional, refined, and fun. At $598, it delivers impressive value given the performance, aesthetics, and build quality. This is a rod for anglers who know what kind of fishing they love, and want a rod that reflects that style and pace.

It is a love letter to trout, a capable panfish rod, and an absolute pleasure to fish.

Click here to check out the new Orvis Superfine Graphite Fly Rod Series