What reel ratio do you use for different techniques?

mygreenihc · May 23, 2022, 09:46:49 AM

I have been known, on occasion, to be a little hardheaded. I know you guys won't believe me, but it is true....

I started my bass fishing career with one baitcaster. I used it for everything from weightless worms to spinner baits, crankbaits to walking baits. I no longer have to do that since I now have a rod box full of technique specific rods. But, I still have the old mindset, thinking that I can slow down or speed up the retrieve based upon what I am fishing. While the concept is very true, the reality is not so true.

What reel ratios are best for specific baits? Example, what ratio would I need for spinnerbait fishing. Something that I would retrieve normally and comfortably at the correct speed? Crankbaits, walking baits. etc?

Thanks,
Brad

Smallie_Stalker · May 23, 2022, 12:27:46 PM

For me it's mostly about IPT more than gear ratio. MOSTLY.

One exception is deep cranking where I personally prefer a low gear ratio for the extra power they offer for pulling big plugs deep regardless of how much line a single turn takes up.

Because gear ratio and IPT are usually grouped together so that the lower the gear ratio the less IPT recovered, there was a time when I based gear ratio on the fish's position in the water column.

The theory was that the higher up in the water column or the shallower they were the more active they were. Therefore these fish were most likely to hit a fast moving reaction bait (think burning traps or shallow square bills) so a fast gear ratio was the best choice. On the opposite end of the idea, fish on the bottom were said to be in a negative mood and not willing to chase a bait so you would use a low gear ratio to fish the bait slower to match their mood. This also applied to cold water where fish are lethargic.

At that time a reel in the 6.1 gear ratio range was considered a HIGH speed reel. So we had reels in the 3 or 4.X ratio for deep cranking and fishing bottom, a 5.X ratio was a good middle speed for fish suspended fish or fish holding down of the sides of points etc. And 6.X reels for the really fast moving baits. This was pretty consistent for a good while.

Nowadays you can't go by gear ratio alone . One company's 7.X reel might take up 33" of line while a different company's 7.X might only take up 26" or 28".

If you have 2 reels with identical IPT but one reel is 6.X to get that IPT and the second reel is 8.X to get that same IPT, that 8.X reel has to work harder to achieve the same result. At least in theory anyway this means that reel will breakdown quicker than the 6.X reel.

So these days I'm mostly concerned with IPT more than gear ratio. Mostly.

Confused yet?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Frnknsteen · May 23, 2022, 06:39:36 PM

While I agree with Smallue Stalker about IPT varying from reel to reel, I think it muddies the water and confuses people. IPT is typically a relationship of spool diameter and gear ratio.

So,... That being said,.. On reels with consistent spool sizes (150 size spools for example), I typically use lower ratios (5spd) for baits I want to work slow, like deep cranks' slow rolling spinnerbaits and some chatterbaits. I like 6spd reels for moving baits like shallow to mid depth cranks, spinnerbaits, paddletails, etc. I like 7spd for quicker reaction baits like swim jigs, squarebills, lipless cranks, or lures where I am imparting part of the action with the rod and just using the reel to pick up slack.

I only have a handful of 8spd, and reserve them for flipping and pitching, frogging, or techniques where I either need to pickup slack quick, or recover the lure quickly once out of the zone to get it cast back out. Buzzbaits go on a mid 7 to low 8spd reel to get it up on the watertop quickly and keep it there.

Those are general statements though. Ratios may vary slightly by brand though.

Oldfart9999 · May 24, 2022, 05:57:22 AM

Frankly I think there is a lot of confusion about this whole thing. If you listen to the pros you'll get different answers and if you ask good sticks who aren't pros you'll get different answers. Along with gear ratios you have inch per turn tossed in.
I like somewhere around 5:1 for deep cranks, some jerkbaits and some spinnerbaits shallow, while I like a high speed for some cranks, including a few deep, some spinnerbait and some jerks. I also use a high speed for jigs and soft plastics.
For me a high speed reel starts at about 6 to 1 and up, my highest is 7 to 1, I'm old school and in general don't follow trends, I use what has worked for me and I replace reels when they become tired not to jump on the latest and greatest.
Ultimately reel speed is determined by what I'm doing with a bait` and nothing else.
Rodney

big g · May 25, 2022, 12:53:38 PM

I personally like high speed reels for almost everything. I will slow down the retrieve to accomplish what I need for a given situation. When I do need to take up line when feeling a bite it's always there and always available. I just don't get why people feel they need different speeds. I understand why manufactures push this senecio, to sell reels. A slow turn of the handle will get me as slow a presentation as I could ever want. A fast reel also gets me out of a dead zone and back in the strike zone in minimal time. Keeping your bait in the strike zone directly relates to more bites.

Frnknsteen · May 25, 2022, 03:42:13 PM

Quote from: big g on May 25, 2022, 12:53:38 PM
I personally like high speed reels for almost everything. I will slow down the retrieve to accomplish what I need for a given situation. When I do need to take up line when feeling a bite it's always there and always available. I just don't get why people feel they need different speeds. I understand why manufactures push this senecio, to sell reels. A slow turn of the handle will get me as slow a presentation as I could ever want. A fast reel also gets me out of a dead zone and back in the strike zone in minimal time. Keeping your bait in the strike zone directly relates to more bites.

My problem is I have a hard tine slowing down. When I start getting distracted or chatting with friends I then realize I am cranking faster than I should. If I have different speeds for different techniques, I can crank at relatively the same speed for all.

Truth is it's all personal preference.

big g · May 25, 2022, 03:47:02 PM

Quote from: Frnknsteen on May 25, 2022, 03:42:13 PM
Quote from: big g on May 25, 2022, 12:53:38 PM
I personally like high speed reels for almost everything. I will slow down the retrieve to accomplish what I need for a given situation. When I do need to take up line when feeling a bite it's always there and always available. I just don't get why people feel they need different speeds. I understand why manufactures push this senecio, to sell reels. A slow turn of the handle will get me as slow a presentation as I could ever want. A fast reel also gets me out of a dead zone and back in the strike zone in minimal time. Keeping your bait in the strike zone directly relates to more bites.

My problem is I have a hard tine slowing down. When I start getting distracted or chatting with friends I then realize I am cranking faster than I should. If I have different speeds for different techniques, I can crank at relatively the same speed for all.

Truth is it's all personal preference.

I have never had that problem. 50 % of the time it's half a turn and pause. One slow pull and pause. Many bites happen on the pause.

Donald Garner · May 25, 2022, 05:37:21 PM

Interesting comments posted reference gear ratios. I use a 5.4:1 ratio for my crankbait fishing and a 6.4:1 for all my other baits.

Oldfart9999 · May 26, 2022, 05:51:41 AM

Catch a big fish and you'll be reeling faster, it's normal and natural to get excited, that is one reason to use different ratios.
Rodney

Dink Dawg · May 26, 2022, 04:38:29 PM

I tend to agree with most everything written so far. I would add however,

Lower ratio such as 5.4 to 1 to address the torque required to offset baits that generate a lot of resistance. This reduces the strain on your hands and wrists. It's the four wheel drive of ratios.

Mid range ratios such as 6.5 to 1 provide more IPT at a moderate retrieve. It's this ratio that you can apply to just about all moving baits. It's in most cases, slow enough and or fast enough to be efficient.

Then there is a "high speed" ratio which can be from 7.3 to 1 all the way up to 10 to 1. The only benefit I see is the ability to quickly take up slack or reel in as fast as possible for the next presentation. This is about efficiency.

The final issues are select a ratio that gives you the ability to get into a comfortable rhythm during your retrieved and fish handle lengths that provide leverage in ratios that reduce torque. All my 8 and 9 ratios have 100 mm handles. Relaxing while winding is a good thing.

mygreenihc · May 27, 2022, 09:55:03 AM

This was all great information guys. Just what I am looking for.

Brad

chrisD46 · July 04, 2022, 05:34:25 AM

*S0 , in general - what gear ratio for top water walking baits ? 6:3 to 1 , 7:1 or even faster for line take up ?

Dink Dawg · July 04, 2022, 08:11:41 PM

I like 7 ratios. I'm working the bait in smaller strike zones and then I want to get it back quickly for the next cast. Slack generally generated between manipulating that bait is minimal. Just me.

loomisguy · July 05, 2022, 04:39:17 AM

Quote from: chrisD46 on July 04, 2022, 05:34:25 AM
*S0 , in general - what gear ratio for top water walking baits ? 6:3 to 1 , 7:1 or even faster for line take up ?

I remember back when I learned to fish a Spook from my Dad it was considered a Art form. Today they and other walking baits like the Vixen "woops"y Dawg ect walk so easy especially on braid I don't think it matters a bit.
I look at them like a stickbait where your just rolling up slack. I wouldn't use a super slow reel like I learned on when 5:1 was considered fast. But anything 6 something or quicker is fine. Whatever suits your style.

Capt. BassinLou · July 05, 2022, 04:46:23 AM

Quote from: chrisD46 on July 04, 2022, 05:34:25 AM
*S0 , in general - what gear ratio for top water walking baits ? 6:3 to 1 , 7:1 or even faster for line take up ?

7:1

Oldfart9999 · July 05, 2022, 06:27:15 AM

Anything from 6:1 to 7:1 and higher is fine, it's a broken retrieve, meaning a snap or jerk of the wrist not reeling then reeling in the slack so you stop reeling then the snap or jerk of the wrist, repeat. I post spawn and summer I'm bringing the bait most of the way to the boat because the targets I throw to are on flats, usually with grass so the fish can set up other places beside the docks or other cover I'm casting to. Many times I'm casting over grass beds that top out just below the surface.
Rodney

coldfront · July 05, 2022, 06:52:59 AM

i have only two 5.3:1 reels. pretty much don't use them... but if/when tossing those really big, really heavy ultra-deep cranks? they're 'it'.
most 'moving baits' I toss are on 6.3:1 reels.
the 7:1s are for those pitch, flip... 'slow moving' contact baits. or frogs/toads...

If I had to only have ONE? it'd be the higher speed reels. I can always slow down. but I won't ever forget an epic day of buzzbaiting years ago where all I had was a 5:1 reel in the boat. 5 hours of burning a buzzbait on a 'slower speed' reel and my forearms were on FIRE...

lesson learned.