Overview

The Ross Colorado is a click-and-pawl fly reel for anglers who like light rods, small water and the sound of a fish taking line. There is no disc drag: a unidirectional click-and-pawl gives light, steady resistance, and you slow a fish with your hand on the spool. That is all a trout on a 2, 3 or 4 wt needs, and it keeps the reel light enough to balance short rods and fiberglass.

It is machined in Montrose, Colorado, and the frame carries an engraved silhouette of the San Juan Mountains. A semi-caged frame adds stiffness for very little weight, and Ross runs the spool on a Vesconite bushing, a material made for tough marine bearings, so it turns smoothly for years. The large arbor shows off your backing and line and picks up slack quickly, and the canvas micarta handle keeps its grip when wet.

Which size? Choose the 2/3 for creek rods and light glass, or the 4/5 for 8' to 9' trout rods. Spare spools are available so you can carry a second line.

Want a disc drag instead? For bigger fish, heavier tippets or saltwater, step up to the Ross Cimarron, Animas or Evolution LTX.