Ross Reels Makes Significant Donation to Colorado Trout Unlimited

Ross Reels recently made a $31,125 donation to Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) and the Poudre Headwaters Project as part of the Native Series Reel campaign which raises money for native fish species conservation. The donation was presented to CTU on July 8 at Troutfest Colorado at Denver’s Coors Field and is the first portion of the full $37,125 donation (to be completed after all of the reels have been sold).

"Native trout have a great friend in Mayfly Outdoors and Ross Reels,” David Nickum, CTU Executive Director, said. “The Greenback cutthroat reel has been a great success and is providing vital support to restoration efforts in the Poudre headwaters. Now as Ross Reels continues the native series to celebrate the Colorado River Cutthroat trout and contribute to its conservation, we look forward to partnering with them on other projects in western Colorado and Utah to help secure a future for the native trout of Mayfly's own home waters."

The Native Series campaign features limited-edition reels inspired by specific native fish species. The first reel in the series was the Greenback Cutthroat Reel, which was designed to celebrate the state fish of Colorado. The reel was limited to 495 units and $75 from every reel sold went to the Poudre Headwaters Project and CTU.

The Poudre Headwaters Project is a conservation project focused on restoring native greenback cutthroat trout habitat in the Cache la Poudre River watershed.

With the success of the Greenback Reel, Ross Reels has announced the release of the second reel in the series–the Colorado Cutthroat Reel. This special edition reel will again be limited to 495 reels, and $75 from every reel sold will go to CTU and the Clear Fork East Muddy Creek project focused on Colorado River cutthroat trout habitat restoration.

"This has been such a great 'everybody wins' collaboration with Colorado Trout Unlimited,” Jeff Patterson, Mayfly Outdoors and Ross Reels Director of Sales, said. “Our Ross dealers really stepped up their support as well as promoting this project through their shops with the greenback cutthroat being the ultimate beneficiary through the combined efforts.”

For more information on Ross Reels and the Native Series, visit www.rossreels.com/nativereels.

In related news, Ross Reels’ parent company Mayfly Outdoors has recently been recertified as a B Corporation. A “B Corp” certification means that certain social and environmental criteria have been met, as defined by the non-profit B Lab, with a goal of building consumer trust and generally doing good for the environment and the world (Patagonia being another good example).

“We are proud to continue our journey with the B Corp community and be recognized for the work we have been doing to create a more sustainable future for our customers and the planet,” said Mayfly Outdoors CEO Jeff Wagner. “As a fly-fishing equipment manufacturer, we have a responsibility to protect the pristine waters that sustain our industry and the world around us.”

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In 2022, Mayfly subsidiary Airflo Fly Lines brought a fly-line recycling program to hundreds of fly-fishing retailers across the United States–the first of its kind. The company also donates to many programs that provide trout-habitat restoration (such as the Poudre Headwaters Project) and fishing access and is committed to using environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.

“It’s a great honor to be a part of the B Corp community,” said David Dragoo, Mayfly’s founder. He noted that the certification is similar to Fair Trade or LEED certification, but for the operating businesses. “We can continue to measure our impact for our stakeholders and make improvements to how we operate. We can make money, but we also make a difference.”