Somewhere in the clutter at the back of my mind lies a rough list of line-weights, rod-lengths and the fishing tasks, the types of fishing, I use them for. I've built that list over time, based in my experience as an angler and, probably just as much, guided/-influenced by things I read or have been told. So where does a 10ft 6-weight fit into my list? Oddly enough it doesn't fit immediately into any of my simple categories.

Casting this rod, it feels taut and disciplined. Matched with a #6 line this throws a long accurate line with ease. Casting to medium range targets the Helios feels almost dismissive – as if saying, “Is that all?” At short range, however, I felt the stroke I had to use to make a neat loop was verging on too narrow; short but quick so the rod loaded, ie bent against the line. Consequently, at short range this seemed to lack ‘feel’ or ‘touch.’ Then open the shoulders again and a long line flows out sweetly.

The issue at short range can be solved easily by using a heavier line, however, I can’t see that I would fish this at short range – up to 30ft. Fishing close I would have a shorter rod in my hand, and would probably choose a softer (less stiff) rod which loaded more easily.

Personally, I would happily fish this rod matched with #6 lines from a boat on a large trout water – I can think of other fishing times when this would be ideal but a reservoir boat is where this fits for me, in my fishing. From a boat I want a rod to throw a full line with ease and I rarely need to make short casts, I can roll-cast the line if I need to cover fish close to the boat. I want a rod which can help me throw a tight, fast loop into the wind on my back and I need a rod which will consistently turn over a long leader fitted with a team of flies.The Helios 10ft #6 scores top marks on each of the points on that ‘wish-list’.

The slim, light, powerful blank cuts through wind, so when I accelerate the rod into a back-cast less of my effort is wasted moving the rod, the line can move fast, can cut into the wind. If I extend the back-cast nicely, if the line straightens nicely, my forward cast will normally be good. That seemed to me to be where this rod excelled. Then the power, the stiffness; this rod could be rated for #7 lines and it would be an exceptionally light 7-weight: but then I lose some of that speed into the back-cast. As it stands this can lift a long line, can punch a very fast line and has the backbone to handle sinking lines.

So, where does this fit in my mental list matching line-weights, rod-lengths to types of fishing? Hmm ...well really it's more a matter of me asking if I still need my 10ft seven-weight. As I see it, the current generation of top-specification blanks, the lightest and toughest carbon-reinforced blanks to date, are begging anglers to revise their ideas. Why use a 10ft #7 when I can use a lighter line and lighter rod to make a much lighter outfit?

Overall: a very well built and well specified rod and a formidable fishing tool.