Sometimes a product is designed that really captures the essence of a company’s vision, their processes, and everything they are about. Ross Reels is a Montrose, CO based company that prides themselves on hand crafted and completely American made high end fly fishing reels. For this Ross Reels Colorado review, we’ll examine the intricacies of this finely crafted reel and explain what makes it tick….er, I mean click.

Ross Reels Colorado Review: Hands On

Ross Reels Colorado Review: Features

4. Unidirectional click-pawl drag

5. Canvas micarta handle for extra grip when wet

Ross Reels Colorado Models

4 | 5 Weight

Ross Colorado Review: Our take

The second generation of the Ross Reels Colorado Reel is a massive improvement over the first version – the Colorado LT. They’ve given us a highly functional reel with premium features but have also made this a flat out beautiful piece of machinery.

Composition

Let’s start with the design. The updated design features a spacious, open caged design that serves two purposes: first, it shaves ounces off of the weight, and second, the open frame allows you to see the colors from your backing and line on the large arbor. The 2 | 3 wt model comes in at 3.22 ounces and the 4 |5 wt version at 3.5 ounces.

The CNC machined frame also has a rounded, beveled edge giving it a smooth look and feel. And the machined badge with the reel name and silhouette of the San Juan mountains is a very nice touch. Some people don’t care about looks, but if they matter at all to you, this is an incredibly good looking reel.

One other thing worth mentioning is that there are no extra buttons, levers, or hardware necessary to change spools. All you need to do is gently pull and jiggle the spool and it comes off. This mechanism no doubt contributes to the lightweight design by eschewing the need for any additional spool release buttons.

Drag System

One of the big changes that you don’t normally see on a click-pawl reel is the exposed unidirectional clicker. This enables the reel to essentially be ambidextrous so that no adjustment is necessary to switch between left hand and right hand retrieve. 

The only downside is that there is no extra resistance when pulling the line off the reel. It’s the same amount as when reeling in. This may or may not be a problem considering that most clicker drag reels only have a single resistance setting, but there’s usually a bit of resistance when pulling line off. Honestly though, this is the only possible negative I could find on this gorgeous reel.

Looks

The appearance of this reel is a night and day difference when compared to the original Colorado LT. The open frame features a minimalistic approach with beautifully rounded edges and simplified spool supports and arbor bays to maximize capacity and functionality. 

The inherent paradox with reel design is that you want the most features, while at the same time creating a reel that is increasingly taking up less and less space. Ross has balanced a structurally sound design, but have also kept it sparse enough to minimize weight and create a stunning look. 

Eliminating the Colorado badge with the machined graphic of the San Juan Mountains maybe could have saved some weight, but it’s a beautiful touch that I think is worth the weight.

Value

Ross Reels excels at making very high quality reels. They are not cheap, but I would argue that the features and the aesthetics are worth the cost. 

They are also proud that their reels are made in the USA – and that may be a key point in your decision process. Sending the manufacturing of these reels overseas would no doubt decrease the cost, but the tight tolerances and consistent quality would probably suffer.

Overall

The Ross Colorado reel is a wonderful offering. The design is top-knotch, it’s extremely lightweight, it’s incredibly functional for a click-pawl reel, and the high quality construction and components mean that it will be a favorite for years to come. The higher price tag means it probably won’t be the first choice for beginning anglers, but for those who love the sport and want to invest in a quality piece of machinery with the classic click-pawl feel, the Ross Reels Colorado is a great choice.

Ross Reels Colorado Pros and Cons

Cons

! Very little, if any, drag resistance

Overall Ranking

8.25 / 10

Ross Reels Colorado Deals

Accessories: Rod and Fly Line

Scientific Anglers Mastery MPX Fly Line

Ross Reels Colorado Starter Pack

If you’ve decided to pick up the Ross Reels Colorado, or found another reel that suits your needs, there are some bare essentials you’re going to need to get read yot hit the water. Check out some of our suggestions below:

• • Rod – You’ll need a fly rod that complements the reel. For this we suggest the Orvis Helios 3F Fly Rod.
  • Fly Line – For fly line we suggest Scientific Anglers Mastery MPX Fly Line.
  • Waders – If you plan on wading into a stream, we suggest Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders 
  • Boots – If you need waders, well then you’ll probably need boots too. For this we recommend Korkers Darkhorse wading boots.
  • Wading Pack – We also recommend a good wading pack like the fishpond Switchback Pro Wading Belt Pack System to carry your flies, hemostats, tippet, and other accessories
  • Flies – Fill your fly box with this collection of Saltwater streamers.

Ross Reels Colorado Accessories

Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders