Swimbait Ratio Reel

[Montanaro]

I'm planning on getting a heavy daiwa frog rod rated up to 2 oz for throwing g2 shellcracker, hudd 6" and punching light mats.

I'm stuck trying to decide if I can get an 8:1 ratio and making it work with swimbaits or get a low ratio for swimbaits. If I split the difference with a 6 or 7:1 I'd not do either really well.

Does anyone swimbait with higher ratios? Certainly they would help pick up slack from bass hitting swimbait from behind and pick up slack for a good hookset.

[rippin-lips]

I tried to use my shellcracker on my flipping stick that has an 8:1:1 reel and I couldn't go slow enough to maintain it's action and not have it moving too fast. Also anything I've read on the Hudd says to go slow. I bought a dedicated setup since I'm going to be using them more often this year.

A lot of guys use a lexa 300 for swimbaits. It comes in a 6:3:1 and a 7:1:1. Also a low ratio model but I think the 6:3:1 is pretty widely used.

[Montanaro]

I've used 7to1 tatula with shellcracker without issue. Yeah I had to slow down but I don't think 3 or 4 more ipt would make it much different. Just can't justify a dedicated setup for such an expensive technique

[rippin-lips]

Gotta pay to play. Swimbaits aren't cheap. Why try to cut corners when throwing them?

I'm not even into the expensive bait realm of things either. $100 is my limit on a bait.

[IAY]

I like using higher gear ratio on glide baits, and lower gear ratio on rest.

[Montanaro]

Well I've got the rod...but still have the dilemma of which ratio.

This rod is good for punching and swimbaits, would a 6to1 ratio work for 6 inch swimbaits and punching? 7 to 1 seems too fast.

[MarkH024]

Yes you want to be in the 6 ratio.