DEMYSTIFLY

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship The Ross Evolution LTX series are not exactly new reels, having been out for about four years now. Designed with attributes from the Evolution R and original Evolution LT, the result is a modern, downright sexy lineup that's suitable for fresh and saltwater use. While it took me forever to get my hands on an LTX, I recently became the owner of a new 3/4 model, which is the smallest in the family. Let's get into this reel and see if it's truly as good

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Along with fiberglass rods, click-pawl reels have grown in popularity over the last several years. Out of the various offerings on the market, the Colorado LT undoubtedly was and still is a favorite among trout chasers everywhere. Those reels are lightweight, high-quality, and offer a ton of visual appeal. While the Colorado LT has enjoyed a highly-successful run, production of those reels has ceased, but the brand-new Colorado now takes over! Reel S

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Some fly reels come and go with little fanfare. Others might register higher on the popularity meter, but still lack that truly special aura. Then, there are those reels which slot into a much more exclusive category — the reels which attain huge fan bases and are remembered by anglers far and wide many seasons later. The Ross San Miguel is one such reel. Want to label it an icon or a classic? Sure, go right ahead. If you were a fan of that original

The return of an icon. Since Ross Reels started in 1973, there has been one model that epitomizes what a Ross Reel is: the San Miguel. It defined the ultimate in class and finesse, and now, over two decades since it was first launched, the classic returns. Meticulously designed in our Colorado factory, the new San Miguel blends modern machining and materials with all of the elements that made the original iconic. Returning are the polished high-gloss black finish on a solid-b

Most fly reels available today will come equipped with a disc drag system. Typically, this drag setup will consist of either an exposed ring of cork mounted on the inside of the reel frame, or, more commonly, a synthetic/carbon fiber drag stack inside of a protective housing which will also be mounted on the inside frame. Both of these setups are so prevalent because they work well and allow you to adjust the drag tension through a range of settings. I wouldn't call the above

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Every so often, a fly reel series comes along that simply becomes a hit with anglers. It takes a pretty special blend of quality and performance to gain such status, yet some of these famed reels deliver the goods at less-than-premium price points. Over the years, the Ross Gunnison lineup has been a perfect example of this! Particularly prolific among trout anglers, Gunnison reels have been in use for quite a while now. In Ross' words, it's "one of t

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship I had my first glimpse of the newly-redesigned Ross Animas at IFTD 2018. In my opinion, the outgoing Animas was a good-looking reel, but this new model absolutely demolishes it in the beauty department. While the elegance factor was definitely turned up several notches, everyone knows that appearance is only half of the equation. Thanks to the great folks at Ross Reels, I received one of these new Animas reels in a 5/6 size via overnight shipping jus

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship At IFTD 2016, I had my first glimpse of the upcoming Ross Evolution R reel here. Despite scarce details and the release date being many months off, it was a treat being able to hold and examine one of these specimens in person. Well, fast forward to present-day, and the Evolution R is finally here...literally...on my desk! Taking its place at the top of the Ross lineup and well above the Evolution LT, the R has some big shoes to fill as the flagship

Fly reels can be expensive. REALLY expensive. Those new to fly fishing must be astounded when they see some of these prices for the first time. The premium stuff can be downright amazing to fish with, but thankfully there's some really good moderately-priced reels available these days that are far more budget-friendly. But what if you're looking for an even bigger bargain? Finding a reel at what I'd call an extremely-affordable price is not hard, but in my mind low prices alw

Lightweight. Simple. Classy. Those are three adjectives I'd use to sum up the Colorado LT fly reel from Ross Reels. It's difficult not to stare at this beautiful reel as it looks not only extremely unique, but very elegant as well. Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks this way either, as the Colorado LT earned the award for "Best of Show Freshwater Fly Reel" at IFTD 2016. I recently got to spend a bit of time with the 3/4 model to get a feel for how this intriguing reel

Evolution R: The latest reel coming from Colorado-based Ross Reels is the Evolution R. Thanks to generous porting, this new model is extremely lightweight, making it the perfect companion for a high-performance fly rod. At the heart of the R is a synthetic drag system that's sealed from the elements. To adjust the drag, the "spoked wheel" (as I call it) on the back of the frame is turned rather than the typical adjustment knob you'd find on many reels. The Evolution R will ar