Gear Review: The New San Miguel Fly Reel from Ross Reels
The Ross San Miguel is a true return to form. Photo: Rick Mikesell
When I worked the floor daily in the fly shop, customers would bring in all sorts of amazing vintage reels for servicing and spooling: Hardys, Ari ’t Harts, Seamasters, Charltons. I enjoyed every minute of the brief time I got to spend with them. The marquee reels of yesteryear are truly works of art, with hand machining, close attention to detail, and classic forms and finishes that were mostly lost in the modern age of lighter, sleeker, machine-efficient designs.
Hometown Favorites
Vintage Ross reels always felt more like the working man’s reels: bombproof and ahead of their time in reliability and performance, but fairly plain in form. The Cimarron and Gunnison of that era were tried and true, but aesthetically dull. The one exception was the San Miguel. If the Cimarron was a Toyota, the San Miguel was a Lexus. The flower-petal porting (a nod to the original Ross Reel), the glossy finish, and the distinctive stainless drag plate set it apart from the more utilitarian models. I drooled every time a customer brought one in. As a Colorado native, there was something especially appealing about seeing such iconic, high-quality reels being built right here in my home state.
The author putting his new San Miguel through its paces on mountain brook-trout lake. Photo: Rick Mikesell
Secondhand prices remained high, and collectors snatched them up on eBay. They were certainly products of their time—difficult to service, tricky to open, and equipped with a small arbor—but those issues were forgiven, thanks to their attractive design and legendary smoothness. The inbound retrieve was nearly frictionless. Ross eventually updated the reel into the Vision, which kept some of the original design and internal workings but introduced modern porting. Visually, it didn’t quite hit the mark and never gained the following of the San Miguel. I never pulled the trigger on a vintage model, but I always hoped I’d have one someday.
When Mayfly Outdoors acquired Ross in 2014, they made a point of honoring the brand’s heritage. They began reintroducing classic models, with modern technology and aesthetic nods to the originals. In 2019, the San Miguel was brought back in classic gloss black, with the iconic flower-petal porting. That reissue came close. It had the weight and feel in hand that made the original so special, but it wasn’t perfect. Early runs had issues with the spool release, and some reels required service straight out of the box. The new arbor was larger but had a harsh, angular shape that didn’t match the rest of the design. The most common complaint was the drag knob; it was difficult to grip and adjust, especially during a fight.
The new San Miguel is available in some cool colors and combinations.
Return to Form
About a month ago, Ross released a new generation of the San Miguel to celebrate the reel’s 50th anniversary. After several weeks of fishing it hard, I believe that this version might be the best yet.
Visually, it’s a stunner. The design team absolutely nailed it. To most eyes, it could pass as more period-correct than the original. It’s available in high-gloss black, platinum, a patinaed gold, and a special 50th-anniversary finish that blends the gloss black with vintage patina gold. Ross even released a very limited-edition collaboration with Coors Banquet Beer—a fitting combination of two Colorado iconic brands.
All four colors give it a timeless look. The flower-petal porting has been updated with a subtle curve, creating a fresh, art deco-inspired look that still honors the past. The arbor is now a proper large-arbor design. There’s no line coiling problem, as there was with the vintage model, and the shape flows with the rest of the reel rather than clashing with it. Changing an iconic design element like the porting was risky, but Ross pulled it off. The new version is absolutely beautiful.
Although some anglers may find the San Miguel bulky, others may appreciate the weight. Photo: Rick Mikesell
The frame remains unported and solid, with a more rounded silhouette that feels truer to the original than the previous reissue. The canvas Micarta handle is a signature of modern Ross reels and a true performance upgrade. Borrowed from the custom-knife world, Micarta offers excellent grip, and it actually gets grippier when wet.
The 50th Anniversary model also features meaningful technical upgrades. Most notably, it now comes with a sealed drag for the first time. I’ve been fishing the 5/6 model, but it’s also available in 3/4, 4/5, and 7/8. I would love to get my hands on the 7/8. It would be a perfect match for a well-balanced trout Spey setup.
Modern Improvements
I’m hard on gear, regardless of how nice it looks, and the unsealed drag on earlier models would have made me nervous. Over the past month, I’ve dunked this reel repeatedly, and the sealed drag has worked flawlessly. Ross also addressed the two most common issues with earlier versions. The push-button spool release now works smoothly every time. At one point I got tippet stuck between the spool and frame during transport, and it took just seconds to pop off the spool, clear the line, and snap it back into place.
The sealed drag system has plenty of stopping power. Photo: Rick Mikesell
The drag knob is also vastly improved. It’s bigger, easier to grip, and turns smoothly without disrupting the classic lines of the reel. Ross must have received a lot of feedback about this, because they now include a plastic “drag enhancer” in the box. It slides over the knob to increase grip surface. I tried it briefly, but it didn’t last long. It clashed with the clean aesthetic and added another place for line to snag. I took it off after a few minutes. Still, it could be useful for anglers with limited dexterity, and since it’s fully removable, it’s easy to discard if it doesn’t help.
This is a trout reel. Most of the time it just holds line, but when called into action, it shows up. The inbound pickup is as smooth as any reel I’ve used, and it retrieves line quickly. The sealed drag is VERY smooth, with enough power to stop a hot fish and very little startup inertia, which is key for protecting light tippet. I used it mostly for stillwater fishing this spring, from both shore and a float tube, and it never jammed, even after being dropped in mud or dunked mid-landing. A few spring rainbows put it to the test with quick runs, and the reel handled them all with ease.
The flower-petal porting features a subtle curve, creating a fresh look while paying homage to the original. Photo: Rick Mikesell
Because it’s unported, this reel is heavy by modern standards. Personally, I like that. The solid feel in hand is reassuring, similar to the tactile confidence of a Tibor in saltwater. Those seeking the lightest setup possible might find it too much, but for me, that weight adds character.
I know looks and price aren’t what make a great reel, but this one has both, along with performance that rivals other premium trout reels. The San Miguel isn’t cheap at $650, but it’s among the best-looking reels available today, and the modern upgrades make it a top performer. I’ve wanted one for a long time, and now that I have one—without the baggage of a vintage version—I couldn’t be happier.
Check Out the New for 2025 Ross San Miguel Reels
