7.1:1 For Crankbaits?

[Ishmael]

You can putt with a pitching wedge, but that don't make it the correct tool for the job.   Reels are available in different ratios to help make fishing more efficient and enjoyable. Of course you can use whatever reel you have available for any type of fishing but using all the tools available always makes it a better experience in my fishing.

[HoosierHawgs]

Right now I use a low gear for all craknbaits, but I'm currently eyeing a Tatula 6 gear to lair with my squarebill rod, and thinking about getting another longer rod for my deeper baits, which I think I'll fish more once I have access to lakes with deeper water from my kayak. I'll have to see if any nice used gear pops up in local shops or they put something on sale. I've been spending a lot of cash in local tackle shops more and more now because I don't like the big box stores as much, unless they run some type of killer deal. The employees are just better to deal with, and you can have friendly chat w/them and they actually know a thing or too about fishing. As for ratio, I know for Squarebills, Greg Hackney says he likes at least 6 gear so he can control fish, especially around heavy shallow cover. Makes sense, especially since most squarebills don't cause that much resistance.

[A-Jay]

Really liking the Calcutta 200D at 5.7:1 and something around 25 IPT.

 

That seems just about right and allows me to fish a wide variety if baits  comfortably & effectively.

 

A-Jay

[HoosierHawgs]

I keep catching my oldes(12yrs) groping my new lews tourney lites and ive noticed one of his reels is on the bench and his rod is in the corner...he thinks im an old fool or something, i know excatly what he has invisioned lol! Should probably just give him one of them, but then he'll be eyeing something else hahaha

 

Wish I could even touch my dad's stuff lol. We've always just bought our own stuff, but I like his stuff too, maybe he'll hand some down if he stops fishing as much or finally realizes he has too much stuff

[jkoz88]

Nooooo. I don't like anything but a 5 ratio for cranks, though I can see some merits to a 6 ratio for heavy cover shallow cranks.

same here!

[RoLo]

I keep reading slower ratio for cranks like 5 or 6 to 1. I am just wondering if a 7.1:1 just retrieving slow would be good or mess with baits action too much

 

It's the reel operator who's responsible for the speed of the lure, not the reel ratio.

Reel ratios only make the operator's job easier by offering him more speed or more power.

In other words, regardless of the reel ratio, only the reel operator can mess up the action of the lure.

 

A high-speed reel is nice for quickly picking up loose line or for speed cranking with a lipless crankbait.

But when push comes to shove, "torque" is more of a need, while "speed" is more of a convenience.

Two situations when cranking torque is needed is for cranking deep-diving plugs and when horsing lures thru dense cover.

 

Florida for example is a 5:1 state. In our shallow weedy lakes, I rarely have the need for a deep-diving plug,

but always find myself in dense vegetation. If you use an ultra-fast reel to churn large lures thru gnarly vegetation

it'll feel like you're retrieving a drift sock 

 

Roger

[WRB]

One more time, gear ratio isn't the only factor to consider. IPT or inch per handle turn, reel line capacity and spool diameter coupled with handle width and smooth gearing under load are what you should be considering.

22" to 25" IPT at casting distance and near the boat for consistant retrieve speeds is good for most crankbaits.

The smaller and narrower the reel spool is the less line capacity it has, the greater the reduction in IPT is at casting distance. A 7.1-1 ratio size 100 reel maybe rated at 30" IPT full spool, drops down to 18" IPT at 40 yard casting distance, you must crank 50% faster to achieve close to 26" IPT and changes with every yard retrieved. This is why a round reel or larger size spool capacity is important.

Tom

PS, another topic that like whipping a dead horse, go with whatever works for you!