Using 7.x:1 For Everything?

[Josh Smith]

Thanks for taking the time to draw the picture and do the math. I understand the physics of it completely. On a larger scale a longer handle would have some real world implications that would have to be considered if you wanted to gain the additional leverage by extending it.

The trade off for gaining the additional leverage of a 100mm handle over that of an 80MM handle is that you have to move the handle an additional 2.5" per rotation to perform the same work. In real world application with a fishing reel, the time it takes to move this additional distance is almost unmeasurable. Fractions of a second.

So what you end up with is this, a shorter handle requires more effort to perform the same amount of work and is insignificantly faster.

Just my thoughts

 

I noticed I messed up the math.  It should have been 2πr.  I don't know why I did that.  The new numbers should be 12.56 inches vs 9.42 inches.  I don't know why I did that.  It's embarrassing.

 

I agree that it may be insignificantly faster taken by itself.  However, taken as a whole and multiplied by the reel's gears, it starts to become significant.

 

The true overall ratio of a reel should be measured in inches per turn of the handle for inches of line retrieved.  This gives a truer picture.

 

If I have a 3" handle, one complete revolution will travel is 9.42" .  A 2.5" handle will travel about 2" less.

 

The insignificance does give way to what feels right for a given application.

 

The small handles which came with the first Ambassadeur reels, for example, feel too small for most things save maybe panfish.  They do let you reel faster on the 3.8 gears, but it doesn't feel right.

 

A larger, aftermarket handle and upgraded gears feel better, to me, anyway.

 

That's the thing:  The difference between a 2.5" handle and a 3" handle is insignificant until you start talking subjective observation.  At around 3" of handle, your wrist stops doing all the work and your forearm and even upper arm begin doing the work.

 

This is why I'm interested in IPT and overall ratio vs gear ratio. 

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[aavery2]

I noticed I messed up the math.  It should have been 2πr.  I don't know why I did that.  The new numbers should be 12.56 inches vs 9.42 inches.  I don't know why I did that.  It's embarrassing.

 

I agree that it may be insignificantly faster taken by itself.  However, taken as a whole and multiplied by the reel's gears, it starts to become significant.

 

The true overall ratio of a reel should be measured in inches per turn of the handle for inches of line retrieved.  This gives a truer picture.

 

If I have a 3" handle, one complete revolution will travel is 9.42" .  A 2.5" handle will travel about 2" less.

 

The insignificance does give way to what feels right for a given application.

 

The small handles which came with the first Ambassadeur reels, for example, feel too small for most things save maybe panfish.  They do let you reel faster on the 3.8 gears, but it doesn't feel right.

 

A larger, aftermarket handle and upgraded gears feel better, to me, anyway.

 

That's the thing:  The difference between a 2.5" handle and a 3" handle is insignificant until you start talking subjective observation.  At around 3" of handle, your wrist stops doing all the work and your forearm and even upper arm begin doing the work.

 

This is why I'm interested in IPT and overall ratio vs gear ratio. 

 

Regards,

 

Josh

This was part of your original statement and what I was addressing, "That larger handle effectively reduces the overall gear ratio because the handle is, itself, a gear." and I will stand by my statement that handle length has no effect on gear ratio. If we are now discussing something different it may be above my pay grade.

[David P]

I like fast reels. I like catching big bass and showing them to people. I don't like doing math.

If you feel like you're reeling a bait too fast, slow down. If you don't feel like you can slow down, get a slower reel for the job.

I like the fastest reel I can get away with.

Simplest and best explanation. Go as fast as you personally like.

 

 Lot of guys deep crank with HIGH speed reels, others think it's too much "work" and get fatigued.

 

 EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT... fish what feels best for you.

 

 Can you use high speed for everything? Hell yes.

[Loop_Dad]

Is it just me or does anyone else do this? I never deep crank so there's no need for the 5.x:1's. With a 7.1:1 I feel that if I want to fish something slower, reel slower. If a fish is coming at me, I have a better chance of not letting him get slack in the line.

 

No just you. I do exactly that. To me it is much easier to adjust the speed manually by me, than trying to remember 'which reel am I using again?' Also keeping them same makes it possible to rotate the reels.