Reel gear ratio question

[JigMaster4]

Hi, I have been reading more about gear ratios and was wondering if higher ratios make it harder to play a fish. Like say a 7:5:1 ratio would be harder to play a fish than say a 6:8:1 or 6:4:1, is this true? If so please elaborate!

 

Thanks!

[Snakehead Whisperer]

You'll actually generate more torque with the same effort using a higher gear ratio reel. I'm not sure what you mean about "harder to play a fish." It's true that you will make less turns of the reel to get a fish in with a higher gear ratio. Depending on the size of the gears used and the number of teeth, different reels with the same ratio may have large variations in the amount of line they retrieve per reel turn (IPT, or inches per turn.) Look up IPT for the reel you're considering, if you really want to get a sense of how fast it is. 

Get a reel with a good drag system in the gear ratio that works for you, set the drag properly, and you will be able to play a fish just fine. 

Usually I choose reel gear ratios based on what technique I will use the reel for. A simplified example would be to use a reel with a lower gear ratio for throwing deep cranks to reduce fatigue and work the bait slower, and a reel with a high ratio for throwing into deep cover to pull fish out quickly before they go deeper into the cover. 

[FloridaFishinFool]

Not much difference between the numbers you mentioned, so I'd have to say no.

The difference between a 6.4:1 and a 7:1 is only like 3 inches of line take up difference with the 6.4 at like 28 inches of line take up per one handle rotation, while the 7 is 31 inches of line take up per handle rotation- average numbers here.

So no, I don't see or feel much difference at all, but then again, maybe I am just different, but I don't crank the fish in on the gears usually. I use my drag and rod to pull the fish in my direction and only use the reel to take up the slack. I suppose I am playing the fish more with the drag mech than grinding it in on the gears.

There is another thread on here about this:

 

Felix77 posted this info:

Abu Silver Max - 6.4:1 Gear Ratio - 28 IPT

Bass Pro Qualifier - 7.1:1 Gear Ratio - 29 IPT

Abu Pro Max - 7.1:1 Gear Ratio - 31 IPT

Again, not much difference. To me the reel speed is for varying lure presentation, and line take up demands.

[WRB]

You have more control over bass with a higher IPT then a slower. The reason is you fight a fish (bass) using the rod, the reel is used to take up slack line to keep the rod loaded. The faster you can recover line when a bass runs toward you the better, when the bass is running away your drag becomes essential.

Tom

[WIGuide]

I don't feel that it makes much of a difference at all. I've never felt like I couldn't battle a fish with my faster reels. With the few slower reels I have, there are times I feel like I'm cranking as fast as I can just to keep the rod loaded. 

[Mike L]

Don't like slower geared reels, never have. 

When I hook a fish I want to get him to the boat as fast as I can as soon as I can. Playing a fish is hard on me and even harder on the fish to recover as I always either toss them right back or put them in a livewell for release later. 

Other than working a deep diving crankbait down to its designed depth and helping to keep it pinned,  which I can do with a faster reel, I see no advantage. 

I understand the fun it is to play with a fish before landing. I just don't like to do it.

 

 

Mike 

[Sheepdog]

I like to compare the gear ratios of reels to that of a bicycle. When you throw a big deep diving crank, that big lip is causing all kinds of resistance to get that bait down low in the water column. This is like riding a bike up a hill. You shift your gears down to make it easier to peddle up the hill. You have to peddle faster and don't cover as much ground, but it's WAY easier to peddle. This is equivalent to a low gear ratio on a reel.

When you wanna go fast, you shift up, and peddle WAY less to cover more ground but it's harder to peddle, just like a higher gear ratio in a reel.

I've heard A-Mart talk about gear ratios quite a bit, and I don't think he uses any lower gear ratios due to the better technology in the newer reels. The more advanced gear systems eliminate the resistance because of the gear design.

I think this is a matter of preference gained from experience for the most part, but I have to agree that you play the fish with the rod more than the reel. A higher gear ratio/higher IPT will be the most advantageous for picking up the slack in the line for the vast majority of fishing techniques. Hope this helps.

 

[Sheepdog]

I do want to clarify, when I say "play" the fish, I don't mean leave it on the end of my line longer than necessary. I completely agree that getting the fish landed and released as quickly as possible, is extremely important. I just mean doing whatever I can to keep the fish "buttoned" until he is landed, without breaking off, spitting the hook, or any other version of what I so affectionately call LDR. Long Distance Release.

[Angry John]

I think playing the fish is just fine.  If you take some time to get in your catch it will not harm the fish at all.  There are times you need to be quicker and smart.  In the hot part of summer is not the time to take all day.  Flipping them into the boat and then taking forever to let them go as you showboat for pictures or video is way more harmful IMO.  The reel speed has no real impact on the health of the fish.  

 

Now matching your ratio will have an effect on properly boating a fish.  The lower raito's help a lot with high resistance and large baits.  Grinding in a hudd on a 7:1 or higher is not my idea of fun.  +8:1 on jig rods are great and a good way to help keep your fast or xfast rod loaded.  Just my opinion

[Josh Smith]

Lift, reel.  Lift, reel.  Lift, reel.

I've horsed 'em in when I had to, you know, out of thick cover, and this is one reason I prefer Ambassadeurs.  They can handle it.  The 4.7:1 and 5.3:1 (21ipt and 26ipt) ratios work best for this.

However, for general open-water, there's no real advantage, and with treble hooks, you don't want all that much torque.

When I river fish, I have not noticed any difference between 21ipt, 26ipt, and 31ipt when fighting the fish.  I have time to let the rod do the work, and I frankly very rarely feel the reel handle in any conscious manner.

I kinda' doubt I'd feel a 100ipt reel handle during a fight, though.

Regards,

Josh

[cottny27]

Sheepdog, you hit the nail on the head with your explanation.  I love low ratio reels for those big bladed spinnerbaits and cranks.  Makes it seem effortless.