Baitcaster Reels By Application

[brittonp83]

Hey folks,

I'm switching up a few of my setups and have a couple questions. I'm all set for pitching jigs, cranking, and light plastics. I have some uncertainty in my setups for c rig/Texas, buzzbaits, and spinnerbaits (I separated those two because my preference usually involves a decent weight difference between them, last season I got very frustrated trying to throw heavy buzzbaits on a rod that did great for spinnerbaits). Ive got a tournament MB 7.5 on my c rig/Texas rod now that can be moved to a different rod.I love the reel, but I'm thinking of replacing it with a Tpro (haven't decided a gear ratio) for finer tuning and better distance. Ive got rods for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, but need to put reels on them (ideally mid range gear ratio). I'm thinking about a bb1 for buzzbaits since not many adjustments will have to be made, most of my buzzbaits don't vary greatly in weight. Ill probably throw my MB on the spinnerbait rod until I get tired of making myself slow down that 7.5 retrieve. Will magnetic only brakes be a hinderance? I do switch up between some varying weight spinnerbaits. Is the bb1 in mid gear ratio a good choice for buzzbaits? Ive got a Lexa 100 in 7.1 also, I planned on putting it on my frog rod, nothing too heavy, mostly hollow body frogs. The Lexa used to be my senko reel, but I wasn't happy with it and have since moved to a spinning setup for senkos. It could possibly go on the c rig/Texas rod, but it felt like it may not be suited for heavier bombing c rig casts. It is getting Boca bearings this week though, so that might help?

[IowaHusker28]

Ratios all come down to personal preference, for example, I like 5:4:1 for all cranks,7:1:1 for flipping pitching and jigs, 8:1:1 for frogging and a 6:4:1ish for just about everything else. Aaron Martens for example uses all 8:5:1 ratios because he feels that works the best for him and he has the control to slow down and he says he can make more casts in a day. But sure smaller reels throw smaller baits easier and large wide spools make long casts a little easier with big baits, but again both can be used for either, it just may be easier with one than another. 

 

Hopefully that answers something?

 

BB1's are sweet reels, I have two, picked up a BB1 pro series this week as an early christmas gift to myself. 

[deep]

Don't overthink stuff. 6.x:1 should work for everything. Slow down or speed up your reeling speed as and when needed.

 

My 200 size stock Curados fish everything from 1/4 oz to 1.5 ozs; all but one has 6.x:1 gears, one is a 7.2:1.

[brittonp83]

you're probably right, I'm overthinking this. What got me thinking so hard on it was wanting more distance with a c rig than the TMG was giving me, hence moving to the Tpro, and wanting a reel that would bomb heavy buzzbaits, hence the BB1. My buzzbait rod can probably serve double duty for frogs too. Of course, I could just leave the TMG where it is, use the Lexa for spinnerbaits, and only buy a BB1 in 6.x for frogs and buzzbaits.

[brittonp83]

Husker,

 does the pro justify the difference in price over the BB1?

[rippin-lips]

The reel stores the line.

The rod casts the lure.

Yes, some reels perform better than others but it's not by a lot.

[the reel ess]

• I like 5.4:1 for soft plastics (I don't pitch too much).
• I like 7.1:1 for my search baits because you cast a lot and you'll crank less with a fast retrieve. And there are times you just want that cast back to make another, better one. You can always slow down a fast retrieve, but you can only speed up so much with a slow one.
• I don't think I have one in the 6:1 range now (not all my reels have it on them), so that'll probably be my next BC reel. It'll be for spinnerbaits mostly.

 

Both my spinning reels are in the 5.?:1 range. These are mostly used for Trick Worm, jerkbaits and stick worms. None of this is a rule. It's just whatever you feel is best for you.

[PourMyOwn]

You asked about buzzbaits-I always have mine on the fastest reel I own. It's really the only time I ever noticed gear ratio-I don't do much with crankbaits. 

[brittonp83]

Great advice, thanks guys, I was definitely putting too much into it.

[Missourifishin]

I use 6.4:1 for everything. If I did more deep cranking I might want to go down to a 5.4:1

[Evan K]

I use 6.8:1 for MH and M fast action rods (so anything that doesn't have trebles, pretty much) and 5.6:1 for my MM crank bait rod. I tend to reel pretty fast, so I think a slower gear ratio does me good.

[IowaHusker28]

As of right now, I would say probably not but I like it because it feels like a Lews super duty. Also the pro series was on super sale and was the same price as a regular bb1. That was the only reason I bought it, always looking for the deals man. It does have 2 more pounds of drag and I plan on throwing A-rigs with it, so that was also a factor. 

Husker,

 does the pro justify the difference in price over the BB1?

[WRB]

Gear ratio's are meaningless without factoring in IPT at the end of your normal casting distance.

For sake of discussion 100/200 size low profile reels loose about 50% of the IPT at 40 yards casting distance, depending on line diameter and how full the reel spool is.

Spinner baits are retrieved slower than buzz baits normally. C-rigs and T-rigs are retrieved with the rod motion, slack line taken up with the reel, gear ratio/IPT isn't a major factor until a bass bites, then fish control is the only factor to consider.

So....what is your reels IPT at 40 yards? My guess is you have no idea!

Ideally 20-24" IPT at 40 yards works for most lure retrieves. Tie your off on something, pace off 40 yards, mark the line with a Sharpie at the rod tip, crank the reel 1turn mark the line again at the rod tip, then measure the the inches between the marks..IPT at 40 paces with whatever reel you used should equal 20-24".

Tom

[smalljaw67]

A lot of confusion so I'll try to make this simple. if you are using a lure or technique in which you move the bait more with your rod than your reel, like jigs and worms, you will want a high speed reel as you will need to pick up slack quickly and also keep big fish out of cover. For baits with heavy resistance like spinnerbaits with large Colorado blades or deep diving cranks, a slow retrieve works better as they normally have more torque. If you really want to make it easy just go with a 6. _:1 and you'll be fine. I use 7.1:1 for almost everything anymore, it is just easier for me as I don't go much deeper than a DT-16 and those are the only baits I use a 5.4:1 reel anymore. Get yourself set up with reel in the 6 bracket and don't over think.

[st041986]

I use a 5.4:1 for cranking and 7.1:1 for everything else.

[smalljaw67]

 

• I like 5.4:1 for soft plastics (I don't pitch too much).
• I like 7.1:1 for my search baits because you cast a lot and you'll crank less with a fast retrieve. And there are times you just want that cast back to make another, better one. You can always slow down a fast retrieve, but you can only speed up so much with a slow one.
• I don't think I have one in the 6:1 range now (not all my reels have it on them), so that'll probably be my next BC reel. It'll be for spinnerbaits mostly.

 

Both my spinning reels are in the 5.?:1 range. These are mostly used for Trick Worm, jerkbaits and stick worms. None of this is a rule. It's just whatever you feel is best for you.

 

 

You really want a faster reel for plastics, not that a 5.4:1 won't work but that gear ratio nowadays is used for cranking, faster gear ratios allow you to pick up slack line faster on techniques that you use the rod for, just some food for thought.

[Puggz]

In very general terms, my approach is as follows:

 

5.x -> Crank Baits, Swimjigs/baits,

6.x -> Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, small/shallow cranks, C rigs.

7.x or 8.x -> Techniques when you need to take up a lot of line fast. My idea of this is when a technique generates slack line like jerk baits, T RIgs, Jigs, Pitchin, Flipin, Punchin, Frogs, topwater, etc.  Also its nice to have the speed for pulling fish out of cover.

 

 

Not much different to what others are sayin but there's merit to buying only 6.x's.. versatility and flexibility as you can use them for anything.