I recently picked up a Daiwa Fuego CT bait cast reel in 8:1 which I spooled up with #50 lb. braid for Frog'n & Flip'n ... The more I read about 8:1 gear ratio reels I discover many more techniques guys are using them for such as : Buzz Baits , Toads , T-Rigs , Football Jigs , or other techniques where you either use the rod to move the lure or require high lure retrieve speed . Tell us about your different 8:1 gear ratio bait cast reel set ups you use ?
None.
Rodney
Nope, none for me either. 7.3:1 is the highest speed reel I own, a Revo STX.
None here either. I've thought about it but I really don't see the need. I guess it would be nice for a buzzbait.
One. JM Signature reel. Use it for buzzing swimbaits or speedworms.
There are times when every rod on my deck will have an 8:1 reel on it. From pitching to ripping traps. If it's not 8:1 I'm using a 7:1. Once past a strike zone I want the bait back to cast again.
I just like fast reels, I'll turn the handle slower if needed, but you have to remember to do so.
I have 3, all Daiwa. I have a Fuego a Tatula SV TW 103 and an Elite Pitch/Flip.
Like Mike I tend to like faster reels and for the same reason. Being a northern boy who also likes to finesse fish it makes slowing down a lot easier for me when I need to.
Quote from: Mike Cork on November 10, 2020, 08:59:16 AM
There are times when every rod on my deck will have an 8:1 reel on it. From pitching to ripping traps. If it's not 8:1 I'm using a 7:1. Once past a strike zone I want the bait back to cast again.
I just like fast reels, I'll turn the handle slower if needed, but you have to remember to do so.
*Hi Mike - it would be helpful to learn where you see applications where a 8:1 ratio reel as a: "have to have" vs. a 'nice to have" (which could be satisfied with a 7:3:1 reel ratio)... Thanks in advance !
Quote from: chrisD46 on November 10, 2020, 10:09:57 AM
*Hi Mike - it would be helpful to learn where you see applications where a 8:1 ratio reel as a: "have to have" vs. a 'nice to have" (which could be satisfied with a 7:3:1 reel ratio)... Thanks in advance !
I guess I would have to say tournament fishing. In my part of the country, I firmly believe I succeed in my tournaments because I can fish more strike zones than most of my competitors. Most anglers will fish a section of grass or group of cypress trees or even a dock and spend 30 minutes, where I'm only going to spend ten. A fast reel is part of that.
For my cover fishing conditions (Louisiana swamp lakes don't get deeper than 8 feet and average 3) it's about having a bait where a bass lives. That bass either wants the bait to move horizontally past him, say a squarebill crashing into his brush pile, or vertically, say a jig falling into his brush pile. All the peripheral water around him is useless and the faster I can burn the bait back to the boat through useless water the more presentations I can make to a piece of cover.
I will warn that in the beginning of my fast reel exploits I lost fish on the way to the boat because I didn't let the rod do the work and with a fast reel it's super easy to horse a fish to the point of loosing it. So if the fish is two pounds or less I burn it across the top and flip it in the boat (during tournaments) if three pounds or more, I have to be careful not to over speed it.
Now personally, the only reason I have 7:1 reels is because they didn't make the 8:1 when I bought them. That said, I'm glad I have them now. I feel a 7:1 is a better reel for slowing down even more. I mentioned that I'll just turn the handle slower, but there are times I forget and the 7:1 is forgiving compared to the 8:1. So winter time spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and crankbaits. I bought a tweaked out 6:1 from Largemouth Gambler last year and do enjoy it for the deep diving cranks I throw, very occasionally. Lower gear ratios won't wear you out with a long day of deep dive cranking.
Clear as mud?
Quote from: Mike Cork on November 10, 2020, 08:59:16 AM
There are times when every rod on my deck will have an 8:1 reel on it. From pitching to ripping traps. If it's not 8:1 I'm using a 7:1. Once past a strike zone I want the bait back to cast again.
I just like fast reels, I'll turn the handle slower if needed, but you have to remember to do so.
This
Many times I say I'm fishing slow at warp speed. I pitch a bait out once it hits the bottom I'm burning it back in to make another pitch. And when the fish are on a good swim jig bite you can not reel it fast enough
I've got 5. I'd like one around 10:1 as well.
I see a fast reel as a need for when I'm pitching jigs and creature baits to specific targets. One pitch and a couple of hops and it's reeled in and pitch again. I try to stay way back from the fish so that leaves a lot of "dead" water between me and the target. The faster I can get it back in the water the better.
I also use a high speed reel for frogging. I make long casts to pockets or isolated cover and work the frog with the rod, picking up line as I go. Again, that leaves a lot of water between me and the target to cover quickly.
That's just the way I fish. I fish super fast, and people who fish with me say I cast like a machine gun. Its relaxing to me so that's why I love the high speed reels.
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3: 8:1
4: 7:1
5: 6:1
4: 5:1
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All but my cranking rods are at least 8-1 reels. Pitching and dragging jigs, c-rigs, and t-rigs have 9-1 reels.
Like Mike I'm all about more casts and covering water.
I use the higher speeds pretty regularly myself. I don't tournament fish but I pitch for targets a lot. Like Mike said you can hit more targets in the same time if it only takes a few cranks of the handle to be ready to pitch again. I want to catch more fish in the time I am getting to fish so efficiency = more fun.
This is most of my reels that I actually use except for the 5 speed ones I rarely get out.
(https://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=153443.0;attach=37958;image)
Quote from: Mike Cork on November 10, 2020, 10:28:22 AM
I guess I would have to say tournament fishing. In my part of the country, I firmly believe I succeed in my tournaments because I can fish more strike zones than most of my competitors. Most anglers will fish a section of grass or group of cypress trees or even a dock and spend 30 minutes, where I'm only going to spend ten. A fast reel is part of that.
For my cover fishing conditions (Louisiana swamp lakes don't get deeper than 8 feet and average 3) it's about having a bait where a bass lives. That bass either wants the bait to move horizontally past him, say a squarebill crashing into his brush pile, or vertically, say a jig falling into his brush pile. All the peripheral water around him is useless and the faster I can burn the bait back to the boat through useless water the more presentations I can make to a piece of cover.
I will warn that in the beginning of my fast reel exploits I lost fish on the way to the boat because I didn't let the rod do the work and with a fast reel it's super easy to horse a fish to the point of loosing it. So if the fish is two pounds or less I burn it across the top and flip it in the boat (during tournaments) if three pounds or more, I have to be careful not to over speed it.
Now personally, the only reason I have 7:1 reels is because they didn't make the 8:1 when I bought them. That said, I'm glad I have them now. I feel a 7:1 is a better reel for slowing down even more. I mentioned that I'll just turn the handle slower, but there are times I forget and the 7:1 is forgiving compared to the 8:1. So winter time spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and crankbaits. I bought a tweaked out 6:1 from Largemouth Gambler last year and do enjoy it for the deep diving cranks I throw, very occasionally. Lower gear ratios won't wear you out with a long day of deep dive cranking.
Clear as mud?
*Great reply Mike !!
Being a geezer and retired, I'm just not in a hurry when I'm not on the water and other than replacing several reels, with low speed for cranking, most likely won't get any.
Rodney
OP here : I have one 8:1 for frog'n and flip'n with #50 lb. braid ... I think I'll add another 8:1 with straight FC line in #15 lb. for Football jigs , T-Rigs & C-Rigs (anything I use the rod to move bottom contact baits) .
Different strokes.. Personally, I've too many fish bite on a cast I had given up on too take it away from them any faster.
At least two. I have been gravitating to 7 or faster reels. Many of my reels are older models. No 8 ratio available back then. 6-7 are 5.8 with one at 5.7. Have had gear sets changed to faster ratios in at least 2 others that were 5.8 from the factory.
I'd rather slow down than have to speed up.
QuoteBeing a geezer and retired, I'm just not in a hurry when I'm not on the water and other than replacing several reels, with low speed for cranking, most likely won't get any.
Rodney
Rodney, I think I even have one reel with 4.3 to 1 gears or something close to that. So, I'm not in any hurry when I fish either! lo
a lot of the stolen replacements are 8:1
i used to be a huge fan of 6.3:1 and 7:1. really its all about IPT IMO
still have my crazy cranker at 4.9:1 for cranks....really like that one
I have several of those 4.8 or so jobs Quantum Irons. old 3 bearing reels, they still work quite well.
Rodney
Two and a Zillion 9:1. Sometimes speed equals efficiency. ;PEP)
I have 3:
1. Frogs
2. Worms and Jigs
3. Squarebills and Traps
None, as a matter of fact I have a couple that are 1.? to one.
Those big salt water fish need the lower gears just to winch them in.
5 and 6 to one seem to be a good mix for some inshore fish.
Quote from: Mike Cork on November 10, 2020, 08:59:16 AM
There are times when every rod on my deck will have an 8:1 reel on it. From pitching to ripping traps. If it's not 8:1 I'm using a 7:1. Once past a strike zone I want the bait back to cast again.
I just like fast reels, I'll turn the handle slower if needed, but you have to remember to do so.
5. most are 7's. a few 6's. two 5's.
I should really sell the 5's. I just don't use them. I'd STILL rather have a 7/8 for cranking 'cause I can slow down (and 'feel my way' through cover)...but when I need speed, it's hard, much harder to get.
'burnin' a bait now describes the pain in my forearm. not the speed of the bait. when I use those lower geared reels.
Quote from: coldfront on February 21, 2021, 10:16:30 AM
5. most are 7's. a few 6's. two 5's.
I should really sell the 5's. I just don't use them. I'd STILL rather have a 7/8 for cranking 'cause I can slow down (and 'feel my way' through cover)...but when I need speed, it's hard, much harder to get.
'burnin' a bait now describes the pain in my forearm. not the speed of the bait. when I use those lower geared reels.
If you like the reels that have 5s in them you might see if its a option to swap the gears for a faster set. I have 5 of the old Smoke reels one was a 5 speed and yesterday I ordered new gears in 6.6:1 for it. They made the SL150SPT that is a 6.6:1 ratio and the SL150PPT that is a 5.3:1 ratio speed as well. Makes for a easy swap and I get to put another reel I really like back in the rotation for $25 and a little of my time.
I know its not a 7 or 8 but maybe your reels have a 7 that they can swap to.