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Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! #11477083 03/14/16 09:07 PM
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RonL Offline OP
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Got a relative that bought a Clearwater combo from Orvis at a fly shop. He sent me a picture showing it was made in China. Well on their websites they state they're made in USA . SO I EMAILED Orvis and asked them about it and their reply was the Clearwater is not made in USA and the Helios is and says so on their rods. So I checked every single rod on their website and seems the Clearwater and Encounter are not made in USA but are designed in USA. All other lines that are more expensive are made in USA and says on their websites. I was going to buy the Clearwater line but have changed my mind. I'll have to go more expensive or buy a Sage outfit.


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RonL] #11477195 03/14/16 09:47 PM
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RexW Offline
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The Clearwater series has been made internationally for many years. This isn't a recent change.


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RexW] #11477279 03/14/16 10:20 PM
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RonL Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: RexW

The Clearwater series has been made internationally for many years. This isn't a recent change.





It's new news for me and maybe for some others that might be interested in Orvis flyrods . Just passing along news that I received from Orvis mouth verifying the Made In USA on their website.

Last edited by RonL; 03/14/16 10:21 PM.

RonL
Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RexW] #11477400 03/14/16 11:35 PM
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Charlie47 Offline
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Originally Posted By: RexW

The Clearwater series has been made internationally for many years. This isn't a recent change.


This is not news to me! However, just because it's made overseas, doesn't mean it's bad. My
Cabela's CGR's are also made overseas but me and many others love 'em! I wish you well with whatever you choose!
Many tight lines! texas







Very Kind Regards,
Charlie47
Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: Charlie47] #11477709 03/15/16 01:44 AM
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RonL Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: Charlie47
Originally Posted By: RexW

The Clearwater series has been made internationally for many years. This isn't a recent change.


My Cabela's CGR's are also made overseas but me and many others love 'em! I wish you well with whatever you choose!
Many tight lines! texas






Heck my Cabelas RLS combo is made in China too but they don't advertise made in USA either.

Last edited by RonL; 03/15/16 04:32 PM.

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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RonL] #11477755 03/15/16 01:52 AM
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RexW Offline
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Who's pissed off? hmmm


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RexW] #11478759 03/15/16 04:34 PM
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RonL Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: RexW
Who's pissed off? hmmm


I erased the bad comment , sorry . It just kinda sounded like i made you upset with my posting .


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RonL] #11479100 03/15/16 07:11 PM
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TFO rods, while based in Dallas, are made in Korea. Many rod manufacturers have entry level rods, or even their entire lines, made overseas.

Having said that, I've had the opportunity to visit the Orvis Rod Shop in Manchester, VT, where many of their higher end rods are made. It's an impressive facility and process, with many hand-crafted steps along the way. They also have a decent amount of floor space devoted to repair and replacement, in keeping with their 25 year warranty, which means, among other things, that they need to keep an inventory of parts and materials for every rod they've made for the last 25 years.


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RonL] #11479116 03/15/16 07:17 PM
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We can thank American's for it's luster of "lower" priced options.

I sell office furniture and people love buying the cheapest, which comes from China, then they gripe about the quality. Go figure.

I won't even present foreign made products to my customers....cause I don't want to assemble that cheap stuff and make no money. I rather sell American any day, but customers don't want to pay for it. We are our own enemy when it comes to China.


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: mickfly] #11479146 03/15/16 07:28 PM
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RonL Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: mickfly
TFO rods, while based in Dallas, are made in Korea.


I'm very surprised by that . From way all TFO owners talk i thought the base was out of Dallas somewhere ?


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: Bass_Bustin_Texan] #11479150 03/15/16 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted By: Bass_Bustin_Texan
We are our own enemy when it comes to China.


How true it is ! Sad but true !


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RonL] #11479406 03/15/16 08:52 PM
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TFO is based out of Dallas and all of there rods are manufactured overseas. Never been a secret. All warranty repairs and replacements are sent to Dallas, and I have always had the replacement rod or section back in the mail to me within the next business day.

Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RonL] #11479407 03/15/16 08:53 PM
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TFO's headquarters and distribution operation is located in Dallas, but their rods are made in a dedicated factory in Korea. Only TFO rods are built in that location, both their fly rods and their casting rods.

As Mick mentioned, most of the rod companies offer some version of an internationally built rod. Some companies such as Orvis offer both international and domestic rods under the same brand label. Other companies offer their rods under different brand labels, for example the company that owns Sage also owns Redington.

If you look at the warranties offered by the major rod brands, they obviously stand behind their products. You can't offer a lifetime or even a 25 year warranty on a poor quality product and expect to stay in business.

So, does that mean all internationally built rods are well made? Of course not. There are rod brands that use whichever supplier is the low bidder when they need more rods. The practice of using multiple factories means that it can be very difficult to control consistent quality. The rods built in one factory may not cast the same as the rods built in a different factory. Many of the rod companies that try using this model don't stay in business very long.

The topic about where rods are made comes up on bulletin boards fairly often and it always seems to turn into an emotional issue. So, I'm going to bow out of this topic with the best advice I can offer for buying a rod: Go cast the rods you are interested in and then get the one you think casts best, regardless of what someone on the internet or what the marketing materials say. After all, you'll be the one using it.


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RonL] #11479492 03/15/16 09:29 PM
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G Loomis is built in Washington state as is Gary Loomis' new Edge rod brand. I own G Loomis and TFO rods and will own Edge when introduced. That said, Rex had the best comment I have seen in his post above. I would only add the obvious "that fits your budget".


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Re: Orvis Clearwater line and Encounter line made in China ! [Re: RonL] #11479538 03/15/16 09:47 PM
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I have a couple old outfits at home that i bough some 15 yrs ago . They are "Martins" , 8' 6-7wt . The reels really suck and are frozen up but the rods themselves are still in great shape . I can still use the rods , just would have to get new reels and line . The Cabelas RLS i already bought , i have not fished with but have played around with it outside and it really seems to be a very nice rod and reel . I got the 9' , 5wt, 4-pc. with case . I'lll be testing it out soon as i go on vacation and get close to a body of water i can fish in .


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