Airlite V3 Fly Reel
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Airlite V3 Fly Reel — Designed by the Ross Reels Team in Montrose
Premium engineering at a value price. The Airlite V3 was designed right here in Montrose by the same team behind Ross Reels — the people whose office is three blocks from ours. Distributed by Mayfly Outdoors, Ross's parent company, the V3 brings serious machined-aluminum construction, a fully sealed saltwater-resistant drag, and Ross-level engineering to a price point that punches well above its weight class. If you want the build quality of a premium American reel without the premium price tag, this is it.
Designed by the Ross Team
The V3 isn't just another import. It was engineered alongside Ross Reels right here in Montrose, Colorado, by the team responsible for the Evolution LTX, San Miguel, and Animas. Manufactured overseas to bring the price down, but designed by people who've spent decades figuring out what makes a fly reel work. That's why the drag system, the spool geometry, and the ambidextrous conversion all feel a generation ahead of other reels in this price class.
The reviewers who've put the V3 through saltwater flats trips and Wyoming brown trout fights have all said the same thing: it performs like a $400 reel.
Fully Machined From 6061-T6 Aluminum
This isn't a cast or composite reel. The V3 is fully CNC machined from 6061-T6 barstock aluminum and ported throughout for weight reduction. A machined frame brings far greater resilience than cast or composite construction — whether the reel is being bounced in a boat, dragged on a riverbank, or accidentally dropped on rocks. The deep charcoal smoke finish with satin olive accents makes a striking visual statement that stands out in any reel lineup.
Sealed, Saltwater-Resistant Drag
The heart of the V3 is a fully sealed, saltwater-resistant drag system with a wide range of adjustment. There's ample stopping power for saltwater species — Bonefish, Redfish, Snook — but the smooth startup inertia protects light tippets, an area where most budget reels fall short. You can fish 7X for trout in the morning and 12 lb tippet on the flats in the afternoon, all on the same reel.
Deep V-Spool Design
The "V" in V3 nods to the deep V-shaped channel in the spool. This design provides generous backing capacity without crowding the spool — important when you're chasing big fish on big water. Combined with the large-arbor geometry, the V3 delivers fast line pickup, reduced line memory, and confidence-inspiring backing capacity even at the smaller sizes.
Ambidextrous Conversion
The V3 converts quickly between left and right hand retrieve without tools or hardware swaps. Set it up the way you fish, then change it back when a friend borrows it.
Available Sizes
The V3 is available in five sizes covering 2 weight trout setups all the way through 12 weight big-game and saltwater applications. The 9/10 and 10/11 sizes feature a full cage design for added strength on large fish.
Specifications
| Sizes Available | 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 10/11 WT |
| Color/Finish | Deep Charcoal Smoke with Satin Olive Accents |
| Drag System | Fully Sealed, Saltwater-Resistant |
| Construction | Fully CNC Machined 6061-T6 Barstock Aluminum |
| Arbor | Large Arbor with Deep V-Spool |
| Cage | Open frame (3/4 - 7/8); Full Cage (9/10, 10/11) |
| Retrieve | Convertible (left or right hand) |
| Best Use | Freshwater trout and warmwater; full saltwater capability |
| Designed In | Montrose, Colorado, USA (by the Ross Reels team) |
| Includes | Neoprene reel pouch |
Weight, Diameter & Capacity by Size
| Size | Weight (oz) | Diameter | Width | Rod WT | Capacity | Recovery (Inches Per Turn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4 WT | 5.60 oz | 3.1 in | 1.4 in | 2/3/4 | WF4 + 100 yds / 20 lb | ~6.8 IPT |
| 5/6 WT | 6.10 oz | 3.3 in | 1.4 in | 4/5/6 | WF6 + 175 yds / 20 lb | ~7.2 IPT |
| 7/8 WT | ~6.70 oz | 3.7 in | 1.5 in | 6/7/8 | WF8 + 200 yds / 20 lb | ~8.0 IPT |
| 9/10 WT | 7.20 oz | 4.1 in | 1.7 in | 8/9/10 | WF10 + 275 yds / 30 lb | ~9.0 IPT |
| 10/11 WT | 7.60 oz | 4.5 in | 1.7 in | 10/11/12 | WF12 + 350 yds / 30 lb | ~9.8 IPT |
Note: 9/10 and 10/11 sizes feature a full cage design for additional strength on large fish.
Why Anglers Choose the Airlite V3
- Designed in Montrose, Colorado by the Ross Reels engineering team
- Fully machined 6061-T6 aluminum — not cast, not composite
- Sealed saltwater-resistant drag performs like reels twice the price
- Low startup inertia protects light tippets without sacrificing stopping power
- Deep V-spool for generous backing capacity
- Five sizes covering trout, warmwater, and saltwater applications
- Full cage design on the 9/10 and 10/11 for big-fish reliability
- Striking finish — deep charcoal smoke with satin olive accents
- Includes neoprene pouch for transport and storage
- Ambidextrous conversion with no tools required
Best Pairings
- 3/4 WT: Small stream and creek setups; ultralight 2-4 weight rods
- 5/6 WT: All-around trout reel for the Gunnison, Uncompahgre, San Miguel
- 7/8 WT: Streamer fishing, light saltwater, bass on warmwater rivers
- 9/10 WT: Permit, redfish, snook, and Pacific salmon
- 10/11 WT: Tarpon, big game, and offshore species
Stop by Ed's Fly Shop at 432 E Main St in Montrose to handle the Airlite V3 in person — and ask us about the Ross/Mayfly Outdoors connection. We're proud to carry reels designed by our neighbors. Available in your choice of size above.
