The Ross Colorado LT Reel :: Cutthroat Anglers
A NEW TREAT FOR AN OLD DOG
Our “Old Dog”, Jim B., has been an “Abel Guy” for as long as we’ve known him. There’s plenty of reasons for that – Abels are bombproof, gorgeous, have always had that “stop a sub” drag (not to overlook their new, very cool sealed drag), and they have never failed him.
But, even old dogs learn new tricks. Casual observers around the shop noticed that Jim B. has been carrying a non-Abel reel into the field for the past few weeks, the Ross Colorado LT. We asked him what was up, and here’s what he said:
“The Colorado LT mixes Old School click and pawl drag design with modern machining to produce one of the most functional, gorgeous, lightweight reels on the market today. If you are under 30, ‘click and pawl’ might be something new for you, given the explosion of disc drags for fly reels. But, this basic design has been around since the late 1800s and is still included in high-end reels such as the $2700 Saracione Deluxe II Trout Reel. There is no plastic among its 15 parts, which ought to give you an idea about its ruggedness, despite its slight size. And, speaking of ruggedness, the handle of the LT is actually an epoxy-layered canvas that is machined into a comfortable shape. Finally, Ross has provided a cool touch on the drag with a mountain silhouette that reminds you the reel was made in Montrose, CO.
I always loved the “click out” feature on Abel’s old reels – I thought it always gave you one more sense when you were ripping line off your reel. And, it was kind of nice to notify nearby anglers that you had a fish on when they heard that distinctive sound.
I have been fishing the LT in the 4-5-weight model size. I have it teamed up with a 4-weight rod and it balances very nicely with my 3 1/16 ounce Sage Z-Axis. In terms of performance, I have taken it to the nearby Williams Fork tailwater and found that tying into 18-22 inch rainbows was an absolute hoot. The click and pawl drag applies just enough tension to prevent over-spooling and using a little palm pressure when needed just makes bringing the fish in a little more special”
