ROSS REELS - Introducing the Cimarron Creek Fly Reel Series

I'll forever have a soft spot for click and pawl fly reels and Ross Reels recent announcement of their Cimarron Creek fly reel series brings a new design forward with a ton of value that is fully machined, available in three sizes, four color choices, made in Montrose, Colorado, and priced at $249.  

Oh, and along with two included pawl sets and tool, if you'd like to customize your pawls for fun or feel, they are offering up the e-files to 3D print your own.  How fun is that?  

 

From Ross Reels...

Never seen before. Brand new to the lineup. Meet the Cimarron Creek Reel.

The first open source click pawl reel ever made. The first Ross Reel under $250. Designed, machined, assembled, and anodized right here in Montrose, Colorado.  And yeah…you can 3D print your own pawls at home.

Available in sizes 2/3, 4/5, and 5/6 in the following matte finishes: Black, Platinum, Olive, and Blue.  Each reel comes with the Cimarron tool, stiff black pawls, and extra screws; everything you need to dial in the sound and feel to your preference.



Visit the Ross Reels website to learn more and find your new fly reel at your local dealer.  

PATAGONIA - Pheasant Tail Simpicity - How to Fish a Nymph

One of my favorite books from last year was Pheasant Tail Simplicity with the trio of Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo teaming up again for this Patagonia paperback which is full of stories, techniques, and fly tying recipes with step-by-step instructions.

In this short film, Mauro Mazzo shares his techniques for how to fish a nymph most effectively.
   

Order your copy of Pheasant Tail Simplicity on the Patagonia website or pick one up at your local book store or fly shop.  

Want to jump ahead and watch other Pheasant Tail Simplicity videos?  You can find them on the Patagonia YouTube channel.  

6 Good Reads

I am in somewhat of a daze after a long day of travel back from Andros from a quickie bonefish excursion.  More on that later but in the meantime, let's fire up the new week with a six-pack of stories that start with glass fly rods, an excerpt from Castworks, a reminder that if you haven't watched Listers to cue it up this evening, Deeter on working with Gierach, mixing golf and Atlantic Salmon in Iceland, and Jess on being physically ready for destination angling, which hits hard after nursing a torn meniscus in my knee on this trip.  Getting around in the skiff and stairs wasn't always pretty...

Anyways, click, read, and enjoy...

SI.COM - THE FIBERGLASS VS. GRAPHITE DEBATE

FLY LAB - CASTWORK ON GUIDE DAN STEIN

AUDUBON - THE REISER BROTHERS ARE ON THE IBWP HUNT

TROUT UNLMITED - DEETER'S NOTES ON WORKING WITH GIERACH

THE OLD GHOSTS - ON BEING A "DUAL SPORT ATHLETE"

JESS ON BEING PHYSICALLY READY FOR THAT NEXT TRIP

YAWN...  I might take a nap...

LEGACY: The Story of Cathy and Barry Beck

I watched this the other day and thought it was really well done.  Press PLAY...



Click subscribe to the Fly Fisherman YouTube channel if you haven't already. 

NATIVE FISH COALITION - Annual Epic FastGlass Benefit Raffle

It great to see Epic Fly Rods continue to support Native Fish Coalition and this year's raffle puts up for grabs one of my favorite "Do-All" 4-weights with the Reference Packlight Fly Rod in the Limited Edition Black.  You could travel to a lot of "trouty" places and never feel like you didn't have the right fly rod with this one.  

Not familiar with the Native Fish Coalition?  Give their website a deep dive.  I like their mission and what they are doing to protect, preserve, and advocate for native fishes everywhere.

There are only 75 tickets available in this raffle so get your tickets today.  The winner will be chosen when all the tickets are sold.  Good luck.  

BUFFET SERIES - Hopper Fly Fishing | The Story of Fall Anticipations

After a bit of a hiatus, filmmaker Gilbert Rowley's Buffet Series is back with a thrilling film of hoppers being slurped by massive brown trout.  It's not a bad way to start your Monday...



This Buffet Series season is being celebrated with a huge giveaway where everyone who enters will receive an ebook copy of "Confidence Flies".  If you win the grand prize, you'll be headed to Patagonia.  You have until April 9, 2026, to enter.

 

Follow Gilbert Rowley on Instagram and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

ORVIS - A Look Back at Spinning Rods & Reels in 1976

Well, this is the fourth and final look back post from scans that I took from the Orvis Spring 1976 catalog that I scored from Vintage Trouts.  In previous posts we've highlighted the Fiberglass Fly Rods, an unbelievable number of Bamboo Fly Rods, Fly Reels classics, and in this one, the fiberglass and bamboo fly and spin and spinning rods that were paired with their series of spinning reels.

The real finds would be to come across one of the several presentation or suitcase fly and spin outfits.    

Do you have any of these spinning rods, fly spins, or spinning reels in your own collection?  I'd like to hear about it with an email or DM on Instagram.  Send photos!

Check out Vintage Trouts, follow on Instagram, and subscribe to the Vintage Trouts Journal.