Slow Reels For What?

[FunkJishing]

While noticing the gear ratios getting higher and higher on new reels I thought I'd ask this question.

 

-what are slower reels best for? and do you prefer a slow or fast reel and why?

[roadwarrior]

Big and/or deep diving crankbaits.

 

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

^^ Maybe add big colorado bladed spinners, basically anything with a lot of drag/ water resistance. Be sure to check IPT (Inches Per Turn of the handle) as the correlation between ratio and IPT isn't always a direct one.

[Catt]

I use a 5.0:1 for slow rolling spinner bait

[Catch and Grease]

Its all preference, I like fast reels (6.4:1 and up) for pretty much everything.

[FunkJishing]

cool cool i figured this^^^ but the other reasons make sence too.

[fishballer06]

Up here in the north, I like the slower gear ratios in the colder water as well. A 5:1 reel is also great for getting that perfect Jitterbug action. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

I dont use slow reels.  Like said above its all preference.  For me its easier to reel slower then it is to reel faster.  I've tried the 5. reels.  I cant use them and its always seemed like I'm working a lot harder then I should be.

[F14A-B]

You can also throw Trig's , senkos, or jigs..

There is a mechanical advantage in these reels which work extremely well for high resistance rigs, whether it is artificial or Live/ cut/ dead bait rigs. I own both, higher ipt/ low ipt.. Almost nothing in between. Works well enough for me.

[FunkJishing]

 its easier to reel slower then it is to reel faster. I cant use them and its always seemed like I'm working a lot harder then I should be.

makes perfect sence.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I use a 3.8 abu4600 for wakebaits and squarebills.all sizes

[long island basser]

Its all preference, I like fast reels (6.4:1 and up) for pretty much everything.

Myself also, if need be I just reel slower, pretty simple.

[EmersonFish]

Personally, for fishing deep cranks, I prefer a lower geared reel. I've never found myself feeling like I needed to reel unreasonably fast, and I feel like I have a better feel for the bait. There is probably a little less tension in my hand and arm as the reel is doing more of the work. It could also be my imagination. No one has ever accused me of being an elite crankbait fisherman.

[Raul]

I' m a lazy sob, like to reel in at a certain pace and not worry to speed up or slow down, I just want to grab my setup and fish, reason for which I have several reels with different speeds.

[aavery2]

I prefer low speed reels for almost all of my crankbait fishing. There are several reasons for my preference.  I enjoy how a low speed high torque reels moves a high resistance bait effortlessly through the water, and how it helps keep my bait in the strike zone longer.  I appreciate that I do not have to consciously think about how fast or slow I am cranking the reel handle, and that the gear ratio allows me to operate the reel at a rate that is normal and comfortable to me.  I also find that after a day on the water throwing deep diving high resistance baits that my fingers, hands, forearms are shoulders are a lot less tight  and fatigued as the result of the increased torque that a low speed reel has. 

 

Select and use the right tool for every job.

[OperationEagle]

All my reels are 6:3 or 6:4 but this thread makes me wonder about my choice...and why the 6 is most popular.  I am constantly reminding myself (especially when jig fishing) to SLOW DOWN.  I also see this as one of the most commonly given advice.  I, therefore, find it strange that the slower reels aren't more popular...or at least more commonly suggested? 

 

Maybe the benefits of a 6 outweigh a 5? (but not sure what they are)

 

Some people say (as posted earlier) they prefer a 6 as you can always slow down the presentation by reeling slower ...but the opposite is also true; you can get a 5 and always reel in faster if/when you need to?

 

Puzzled at this one.

[Josh Smith]

Oh, boy.

[hatrix]

I dont use slow reels.  Like said above its all preference.  For me its easier to reel slower then it is to reel faster.  I've tried the 5. reels.  I cant use them and its always seemed like I'm working a lot harder then I should be.

You probably fish to fast as it is and don't need to reel faster unless it was cause your trying to keep something up. Everyone fishes to fast and my self included. I am super guilty of doing that lots of times. Really you can;t fish slow enough I mean like stitching slow always if possible. The best way to actually really slow down and see how fast you actually reel is to watch your hand turn the reel. It a trick I use and so do others for fishing hudds painfully slow along the bottom. What you probably think and reality is 2 different things. You don't really know till you watch and you will see.

[deep]

I like slower reels. I find it easier to speed up than slow down. Hatrix nailed it perfectly. Most people fish waaay too fast. Sometimes speed catches fish, sometimes it doesn't.

Even 2 to 3 seconds per reel handle turn is actually reeling quite fast. Heck, that's my normal big bait retrieve. Just look at the spool and see how fast it's turning over if you don't believe me.

[hatrix]

I like slower reels. I find it easier to speed up than slow down. Hatrix nailed it perfectly. Most people fish waaay too fast. Sometimes speed catches fish, sometimes it doesn't.

Even 2 to 3 seconds per reel handle turn is actually reeling quite fast. Heck, that's my normal big bait retrieve. Just look at the spool and see how fast it's turning over if you don't believe me.

You can probably look at the spool also but I always watch my hand and then you can make your self reel evenly and not have a stutter when your trying to hardly move it. That actually happens a lot if you know it or not and are kind of chopping but just slightly and very slowly and you might not even know your doing it.

 

Really though you can get away with fishing like you normally would and still be a great fisherman. But if you really want to catch that big one you just can't go slow enough. That planets would probably have to align for you to catch the biggest one in the lake as a trap go zipping by. but you slowly move that jig or whatever inches at a time right by it. Guess what... It is proven and it just a fact of life. It sucks but that's the truth usually.

[OkobojiEagle]

5.x-1 (<20" line retrieve per handle revolution) used to be pretty standard... and caught a fair number of fish.

 

 

oe

[J Francho]

Don't know why you guys are looking at your spools....I look at the bait in the water, and how it acts, and get a feel for what that means in my hands.  Repeat.  As far as ratios/IPT, I have reels that run the gamut.

[BasshunterJGH]

While noticing the gear ratios getting higher and higher on new reels I thought I'd ask this question.

 

-what are slower reels best for? and do you prefer a slow or fast reel and why?

I use slow reels for deep cranks and big swimbaits. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

...I look at the bait in the water, and how it acts, and get a feel for what that means in my hands.  Repeat. 

 

Agreed.  you can  "feel" the speed of the crankbait by the way it is pulling through the water or bouncing off the bottom.  Each bait has its sweet spot that it performs best at. 

[Josh Smith]

While noticing the gear ratios getting higher and higher on new reels I thought I'd ask this question.

 

-what are slower reels best for? and do you prefer a slow or fast reel and why?

 

Tell you what:

 

Next time I build an old 5000, I'll keep its original gears.  I'll upgrade to bearings, of course, and put a better reel handle on it. 

 

I'll send it to you.  You can fish it and figure out what it's good for.  It largely depends on the individual. 

 

I don't know when I'll get around to doing this, but I do know I have a box full of parts.  I probably just need bearings, truth be told.

 

I'll take a look-see.

 

Josh