Why Use 7:1 Gear Ratio?

[katmandew]

I'm looking at getting another Lew's.  I already have a 6.4:1 TP.  The 7:1 only gives you 3 more inches per turn.  Other than being a tad better at allowing you to catch up with the fish as he runs toward the boat, how does this help you?  Wondering if this is technique specific?  I've always used 6.4:1 bait casters and don't completely understand in what situations the 7:1 may help me.  Generally, even if the difference is more than 3 IPT, what techniques do you use the 7:1 reels for?

[gripnrip]

I use them for flipping and pitching, spinner baits, some crank baits, and plastics.   Basically anything I want to reel in the slack quicker if the line jumps on the fall. 

[tbone1993]

I'm looking at getting another Lew's.  I already have a 6.4:1 TP.  The 7:1 only gives you 3 more inches per turn.  Other than being a tad better at allowing you to catch up with the fish as he runs toward the boat, how does this help you?  Wondering if this is technique specific?  I've always used 6.4:1 bait casters and don't completely understand in what situations the 7:1 may help me.  Generally, even if the difference is more than 3 IPT, what techniques do you use the 7:1 reels for?

I feel that a 7.1 ratio is a lot more versitile than a 5.4 ratio. Though I have done everything on my 5.4 ratio reel. The 7:1 are a lot faster and they allow you to pick up line quickly.

[OkobojiEagle]

We fish too fast already... slow down and enjoy the experience.

 

oe

[PondBoss]

After this fall and winter I will be putting a 7.1:1 reel on my jerkbait rod.  I can't count the number of fish I lost that hit the bait and came flying right at me and I couldn't catch up with 6.3:1.  It may only be 3-5 inches but that adds up fast when you're cranking to set the hook.

[lmbfisherman]

Like others have said, it helps you reel up the slack quicker to set up a for a quicker hook set.

[Jay Ell Gee]

The faster retrieve will also help you to get a fish away from cover after a hard hookset. That 3 inches per turn could keep countless bass from wrapping up around sticks and boat dock beams.

[bmlum415]

It' really comes into use for me when fishing in the delta punching and needing to pull the fish put of the cover as fast as possible

[Christian M]

7.1:1 Gear ratio helps with baits that you want to cover water quickly with. If you're casting a spinnerbait, rattle trap, or buzzbait all day long and getting an average of 20-30 yards per cast, think about how many cranks that extra 3-5" is saving you. On the other end, if you're flipping & pitching into heavy cover, that one crank that picks up 5" of extra line could be the difference between a fish wrapping around a branch. I'm not saying the 7.1:1 is the best reel and ratio for everything, there are some situations where a slower gear ratio will help like crawling crankbaits. It's all about how you are planning on utilizing the reel

[LgMouthGambler]

Its easier to slow down with more IPT than it is to speed up with not enough IPT. I personally like a faster reel.

[BrettD]

Its easier to slow down with more IPT than it is to speed up with not enough IPT. I personally like a faster reel.

Im just the opposite I use 6.4 reels because they help me slow down. I have hard time reeling slow I have one speed when reeling and its fast and with 7.0 gear ratio reels I feel like Im fishing way to fast alot.

[Capt.Bob]

Like said, lot better for quick line recovery, I fish deep a lot and this helps big time. the only time I prefer the slower 6.4 or 5.4, when I am throwing crank baits, if I was limited to one quality outfit I would then choose the 6.4 good all round speed.

[Shoalamfishin]

I prefer a 6.4 as well mainly because it is versatile and because as some have talked about I find myself working lures and baits too fast too often with a 7.1 ratio reel. For me 7.1 ratio reels take some getting used to in order to not work lures to fast but they are useful. I use a 7.1 ratio reel on my flipping/pitching rod I generally use the same thing for punching and for frogging. I just prefer the 7.1 to pick the slack when fishing fast and to really winch fish out of thick nasty cover.

[CTGalloway21]

use 7 gear ratio for worms, topwater, buzzbaits, pitching jigs.  Anything you want to burn or have slack line in.  a 6.4:1 ratio is pretty standard for everything.  I do tell a difference with a 7 gear when reeling in something.  I do not use any 5 gear ratios although some of the round spooled Abu Garcias are 5 gear ratio.  Those are better for deep diving cranks, although I still use a 6.4:1 for cranks.  

[katmandew]

Awesome info.  Thanks.  GIves me a better idea of what techniques I might want to use it for. 

[kickerfish1]

Don't forget frog fishing. At times when a fish makes a pass at the frog on a long or even average cast it can help in being able to follow up cast, by bringing that bait back to the boat faster. Plus it may help turn fish away from cover and help keep them coming towards you. I have used 6.2:1 and 6.4:1 ratios and just prefer a 7.1:1 for frogg'n although it is NOT necessary... just preference.

I also prefer them for all weightless plastics, jigs, T-rigs, C-rigs, keel weighted swimbaits, rage rigs, etc. Essentially I like to take up the line quickly on these techniques to be able to set the hook before the fish has a chance to reject my bait.

Almost all my casting reels are 6 or 7 ratio reels except my cranking reels.

[Basswhippa]

Just remember, 7 gear ratios are fast but they are the weaklings of the fishing world for decent sized bass.   They have no power compared to a 5 or even a 6.   If people can't pull deep diving crankbaits with them, or 1 ounce  spinnerbaits, think about moving  a 5 pound plus fish.   Not easy unless you have a heavy action rod with which you can move them and then catch up with the reel.

[Bluebasser86]

I use the 7.1 reels for jigs and plastics. I have no problem slowing down and it's much easier to catch up with a fish that charges the boat and I can reel in faster to get my bait back in the water and start my next retrieve faster. As far as not having any power, I landed a 40+lb flathead catfish on my MH/F pitching rod and a E7 Curado this spring, they pull just a tad bit harder and longer than any bass could ever dream about and I didn't have any problem landing it. 

[tomustang]

I have E7's that I use for everything including my cranking. All you need is to tune into the reel and you'll set for speed

[flippin and pitchin]

Here is the simple answer. Any time you move the lure with the rod and not the reel, a fast retrieve will benefit you.

[new2BC4bass]

Here is the simple answer. Any time you move the lure with the rod and not the reel, a fast retrieve will benefit you.

 

 

Thanks.  That is simple enough that even I can understand. 

[Capt.Bob]

I use the 7.1 reels for jigs and plastics. I have no problem slowing down and it's much easier to catch up with a fish that charges the boat and I can reel in faster to get my bait back in the water and start my next retrieve faster. As far as not having any power, I landed a 40+lb flathead catfish on my MH/F pitching rod and a E7 Curado this spring, they pull just a tad bit harder and longer than any bass could ever dream about and I didn't have any problem landing it. 

The problem of more effort required to crank a load with a 7.1 reel is not reeling in one fish, any baitcaster will and easier than any spinning reel, but more rod pumping and a total different retrieve is used. Anyone who has thrown deep diving crankbaits that run 15-20+ feet,  will tell you there is a huge difference winding for 2 or 3 hours non stop with a 7.1-1 gear ratio reel, and doing it with a 5.0 or 5.4-1 gear ratio, weather it is my Calcutta or Lews Tournament, the 5.4-1 or 5.0-1 is much easier on you than constant winding with a hard pulling crankbait and a high speed 7.1-1 reel. That is when you will appreciate the difference in a power gear drive to a high speed gear drive. Both will work but the older you get the more you appreciate doing things the easy way (efficient)!!