Fly Reels

The New Ross San Miguel Fly Reel

The new San Miguel fly reel is an instant classic and collector’s item.

Kirk Deeter

March 29, 2025

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Ross | San Miguel Fly Reel (Version 3)

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product description

“The redesigned San Miguel boasts a new frame with an all-new drag knob that provides exceptional tactile feedback for precise adjustments. The sealed drag system offers a wide range of adjustability, ensuring peak performance in various fishing conditions.” – Ross Reels

company ethos

“Our mission at Ross Reels is to inspire adventure. All of our products are 100% Made in the USA and built to last a lifetime. Over the past 49 years, Ross Reels has been the recipient of more industry ‘Awards in Excellence’ for innovation, dependability and performance than any other fly tackle manufacturer in the world.” – Ross Reels

Buy Now

I like all three versions of the Ross San Miguel fly reel. I got my first one in the mid-90s by winning the Telluride Premier Fly. It’s a smaller reel, and I still fish it with a Scott 2-weight fiberglass rod.

I purchased the second version several years ago for a 4-weight fly rod, and found it to be a worthy update to the original, specifically in terms of the drag (smooth start-up inertia), distinctive design and durability.

This spring, I’ve had the opportunity to fish the “third coming” of the San Miguel.

Sentimentality only goes so far, and if Ross keeps tinkering around with different iterations of my favorite reel, sooner or later, we’re gonna come to loggerheads.

But not this time.

Version 3 of the San Miguel is the finest version yet, insofar as it incorporates the best of what Ross has had to offer, and it even stacks up against a “holy grail” reel I’ve enjoyed for 30 years.

It isn’t cheap, coming in @ $650, but by way of smoothness on startup and functionality as you fight fish, it stands apart from the crowd. This version is lighter, if that matters to you. The drag system is completely contained and supremely reliable (though time will tell, as usual).

The best reel I ever bought was a Jack Charlton 8350, back in the 1990s. That reel is now worth north of $1500, though I fish it sparingly, with good reason.

I think the new San Miguel fishes almost exactly like a classic Charlton, though the Charlton is ported on both sides, and the Miguel maintains a solid-sided frame with a ported spool.

The rub with San Miguels, over the years, has been that the drag adjustment knob has been slippery and tricky to work, especially when your hands are wet. That’s never bothered me, because I’m not a big fan of drag adjustments during a fish fight.

The beauty of the Charlton model reels, however, is that the drag knob is large and sensitive. Just a tiny tweak can change everything.

The new version of the San Miguel, Ross includes a piece of shaped, hard rubber that fits over the drag knob. With this attached, the San Miguel drag is very similar to the Charlton.

One word of warning: once you attach the rubber covering, it’s hard to take off, so decide if you want it/need it before committing.

I think this San Miguel will be a collector’s item 25 years from now, but I plan on fishing the heck out of it between now and then.

Pros

One of the most fishable trout reels ever built.

Easy to clean and maintain.

Reliable, sealed drag and has one of the smoothest start-ups of any reel on the market.

Made in America and balances any rod gracefully.

Cons

The $650 price point is a lot of money.

The back isn’t ported, which would help shed some weight.

Might be a little easier to disengage the spool, but now we’re nitpicking.

Pricing

Anything north of $500 is a steep price to pay for a fly reel. You’re buying more than something to wind up fly line. There are reels that cost half as much, are made in America and more than do the job. The “practical” angler has dozens of other supremely worthy options to consider.

Durability

We’ve beat on San Miguel reels for years (new versions and old), and they can take the punishment. The drags also haven’t lost any performance over time. This new Version 3 is heavy and sturdy, but we’ll have more feedback later in the summer.

Price: $650
Sizes: 3/4, 4/5, 5/6, 7/8 (line weights)
Weight: 5.4 ounces, 5.8 ounces, 6.0 ounces, 6.0 ounces
Colors: 50th Anniversary, black, gold, platinum
Drag: Carbon / stainless sealed drag system
Handle: Aluminum handle with canvas micarta grip (enhanced when wet)
Spool release: Push-button
Arbor: Large
Warranty: Ross Reels warranty

Ross Reels proudly handcrafted in Montrose, Colorado.

Ross Reels warranty.

“Ross branded fly reels purchased through an Authorized Dealer are covered by a limited lifetime warranty for as long as the product is on the market. This limited lifetime warranty only applies to the original owner and is not transferable. This limited lifetime warranty is limited to repair or replacement of the product only, and does not cover direct, indirect, consequential, incidental or any other type of damage resulting from the use of the product.”

Likely buyers

If you’re simply looking to fight and control fish with a fly reel, you can spend less on other quality brands. If you’re searching for an artifact to collect and admire, you can spend more. The new Ross San Miguel strikes me as the sweet-spot reel, where functionality and the eye test meet up.

Conclusion

This fly reel is a design icon, both in terms of function and aesthetics. The “collector” angler, or the “high-performance” trout angler would be hard-pressed to find a better option. I think this reel will only increase in value, provided you take care of it.

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