To be blunt, fly fishing gear is expensive. It can be super daunting to browse through the racks of rods and reels that cost more than your first car. If a rod were all you needed to land a lunker, it would be a little more reasonable, but you still have to buy fly line, backing, leader, flies, nets, waders, boots, and the list goes on. That’s why the Orvis Encounter Outfit is such a killer deal. At $159, it includes most everything you need to catch your first fish. All you have to provide is a fly or two and you’re set. You’re even left with a handful of cash for some casting lessons or for a guided day on the river. Also — let’s be honest — you don’t always need the fanciest gear to catch fish. Huck Finn probably caught his fish with a stick and a piece of string.
The Orvis Encounter package includes a rod, reel, fly line, backing, leader, and a case to keep it all safe. I got my hands on the 8-foot-6-inch four-piece 5-wt model. It’s perfect for the small streams and rivers I most often find myself fishing. I really like how compact and light it is. It’s small enough you can easily pack it into the backcountry or just the back of your Mazda Miata. My first trip out with the Encounter was on the Thompson River just outside of Kalispell, Mont. I wasn’t landing any river monsters or anything, but I was able to catch a handful of small brown trout and rainbows. The rod was excellent. I couldn’t have asked for better, especially for the price. I’ve only been fishing for two years, so I’m no seasoned veteran, but I’ve fished with a couple of high-end, top-dollar rods and reels, and the Encounter measured up just fine.
Since that first trip in Montana, I’ve been out with the Encounter a few more times — still no complaints. I do wish the case for the rod had space for the reel, but I haven’t had a chance to use the rod enough to really get a feel for its durability. But, knowing Orvis, you can bet your lunch money (or what’s left of it) that it will hold up long enough to leave it in a will for your grandkids.
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