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We’re starting to get into the very best saltwater reels. Enter the Ross Evolution R Salt: long name, amazing results. It’s Ross’s first true entry into the saltwater game since the Momentum was discontinued a few seasons ago. While the Momentum was kind of a meh reel, they’ve done tons of R&D and this reel is a game changer.
We asked Ross to send us both the 7/8 and 9/10 because, while the 7/8 is “not heavy”, the 9/10 is really light for a 9/10 (the 11/12 is ridiculously light for a tarpon sized reel) and we thought that it would be good to have both reels to see how they did.
8-Weight Shootout Full Results
Weight
The 7/8 weighs in at a very nice 7.6 oz, while the 9/10 is a bit beefier at 8.2 oz. for a reel with this much power, it’s still pretty light.
Drag
The drag on the Ross Evolution is MASSIVE! I don’t know how they managed to pack so much power into such a small package, but they’ve done it. The R Salt boasts a massive 23+ lbs of max drag. It beats out every system out there except the Abel SDS (which I believe is also the same drag system due to a nearly identical amount of torque), with its smaller arbor. As you’d expect, it’s right there on the effective drag as well with over 11lbs. Unfortunately, this drag is highly non-linear. At the halfway mark, we’re only seeing about 1.6lbs or 7%. On the bottom end it stops at a, not too bad .15lbs.
The drag systems on the 7/8 and the 9/10 are virtually identical, so I’ve discussed the 7/8 size only. It has a little more drag out due to its smaller arbor, but everything still applies to the larger 9/10 reel as well. Check the chart for the exact specs.
Drag Test Graphs
Sound
The R Salt has a nice sound, but it’s definitely not as powerful as I’d like on either the incoming or outgoing.
Spool & Retrieval Rate
Both the 7/8 and 9/10 have pretty fast retrieval rates, but the 9/10 really shines in its spool design. It’s in the top 5 in line pickup and has a massive capacity.
Looks & Ergonomics
Since Ross and Abel have been under one parent company umbrella, Ross has taken the minimalist route. The R Salt comes in just two colors: black and silver. That’s fine by me. It’s got a great handle as well.
Probably the most thought provoking part of the reel is the drag knob. No, it won’t break your fingers if a fish is running with the drag unless you’re really trying hard. I had a 35lb roosterfish on and I can tell you that you can still adjust the drag plenty with a fish running. Needless to say, while the drag knob looks awesome (and you can palm it if you’re wearing mittens ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ), it isn’t *quite* as functional as the big drag knob on say the Nautilus CCF-X2 – if for no reason other than it takes some getting used to.
Finish and durability
The finish on the R Salt is solid. As with most of the reels we’ve tested, the silver color held up to dragging better than the black. Both did well when dropped.
Both reels feature ported reel seats. As we’ve seen, these bend when dropped at the wrong angle much more often than non-ported seats, so the reels lost some points here as well.
Warranty
Lifetime to the original owner + $30.
Price: $595 for the 7/8 and $695 for the 9/10
Conclusion
The Ross Evolution R Salt is a really, really nice saltwater reel. So, I ask myself “why didn’t it win?” The answer is not obvious, but a few little things took away enough points to knock it off the podium. It's a lighter reel than our winner and has more drag, but it's got less adjustability and a drag knob that's a little unorthodox. It's a superb reel that is definitely worth buying if you are counting the grams and still want top notch performance.
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Ben Freeman founded Trident Fly Fishing in 2012 to cut through the marketing fluff and provide anglers with the technical info they actually need. He’s built his reputation by putting gear to the ultimate test in the world’s most unforgiving fisheries. With fishing stamps from over 22 countries and 17+ states, Ben’s passport is a roadmap of bucket list angling—from landing a 25lb Golden Dorado in Bolivia and 150lb Arapaima in Guyana to sight-casting for Roosterfish off the beaches in Baja. Whether it’s battling 60+mph winds to land a 20lb Rainbow at Jurassic Lake or a full day of casting 8in streamers in Mongolia, Ben has spent decades ensuring his gear performs when a trip of a lifetime is on the line.
At Trident, Ben serves as the lead gear geek, specializing in the deep-dive mechanics of rods, reels, and lines. Over the past 15 years, he's reviewed 250+ fly rods and 150+ fly reels and is likely one of the most prolific rod reviewers in the world. But he doesn't just curate the catalog; he scrutinizes every taper and drag system through the lens of a traveling angler who knows what it's like to have gear fail a thousand miles from home. For Ben, the mission is simple: leverage his experience across nearly 100 species to ensure that when you head into the wild, you’re equipped with gear that has been vetted by someone who has actually been there.
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