Ross Colorado Reel - Rio Grande Cutthroat Special Edition 4/5

Ross Reels is proud to partner with Trout Unlimited in an effort to restore native trout species throughout the U.S. As part of the Native Series, Ross Reels and Trout Unlimited strive to bring awareness and funding to the projects that support the revitalization of native trout species by releasing beautiful limited edition reels with designs inspired by the fish they seek to save.

$75 from every special edition reel will be contributed towards the Rio San Antonio Improvement Project for restoring native Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

ABOUT THE RIO GRANDE CUTTHROAT TROUT:

• New Mexico’s official State Fish and is also known as the New Mexico cutthroat trout
• The Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus virginalis virginalis) historically occupied various cool streams throughout the Rio Grande Watershed. Today, they currently live in only about 100 headwater streams in Colorado and New Mexico (10 percent of their former range).
• The yellow-green to gray-brown body is scattered with black spots, with a more heavily spotted tail section.
• The species has declined in recent years due to competition from introduced Rainbow and Brown trout and challenges from climate and land practices.

ABOUT THE RIO SAN ANTONIO WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT PROJECT:

• In 2021, Trout Unlimited identified a previously unknown population of Rio Grande cutthroat trout in the Rio San Antonio. These trout have survived against all odds.
• 2023 saw the implementation of phase one of the Lagunitas Rio San Antonio Watershed Improvement Project.
• The first phase saw efforts focused on the implementation of riparian and river restoration on 1.5 miles of the Rio San Antonio and Lagunitas Creek.
• These initial treatments will reduce channel incision, increase floodplain access and deposition, expand flood-prone areas across the valley bottom to promote wetland vegetation, and increase pool depth and frequency.
• Conservation efforts will continue into 2024 with plans to plant additional willows and riparian vegetation, along with wider efforts over the next ten years including: population surveys, genetic analyses, and fish stocking efforts; habitat improvement and flow manipulation; and policy development for the long-term protection of the species.

ABOUT THE RIO GRANDE REEL:

• The Rio Grande Cutthroat Reel is a special additional Colorado 4/5 reel.
• With only 495 of these special reels available, each one will include a number of 1 to 495 as well as “Rio Grande” on the reel foot.
• Unidirectional click-pawl drag with a crisp, audible sound.
• Color is Rio Grande Green.
• A novel, all -metal external clicker accentuates the back of the reel - complete with a hand painted cutthroat clicker plate, emphasising the inspiration of our limited edition