Crankbait setup - whats the best gear ratio?

[Puggz]

I have 7'1", med. power, mod action casting rod and I'm looking for a reel.  It was originally equipped with a Chronarch Ci4 which I've subsequently moved over to my MH Crankbait rod as it works better with a little heavier bait.

 

I was originally looking at a Aldebaran 50 but a gently used Alde BFS XG has come across my path.  Love the upgrades and the BFGs ability to toss even lighter baits but is the 8:1 too much?

 

This rod will be used primarily for small cranks, jerkbaits, and square bills.  

 

Thoughts?

[roadwarrior]

The Aldebaran will be fine for those lures. For heavier lures and especially deep divers, a 5 something:1 would be more comfortable.

 

[thebillsman]

IMO 8.1:1 is far too high. Moreso than ratio's look at the Inches Per Turn.. I would be looking at mid-20s".

[NHBull]

This is the first time I heard anyone say the ci4 didn't through light weight bait well, but that is a separate issue.

After a lot of demos, a 6.3 is what I am going to.

Just personal preference 

[Puggz]

2 hours ago, NHBull said:

This is the first time I heard anyone say the ci4 didn't through light weight bait well, but that is a separate issue.

After a lot of demos, a 6.3 is what I am going to.

Just personal preference 

 

Depends on your idea of light.  It will be paired with a EBC71C which is rated down to 1/4 oz which is right where I plan to use it.  I had the Chronarch spooled with 8lb tatsu and didn't like the performance with baits below 3/8 oz. 

[kickerfish1]

I would look at Daiwa Alphas SV which is just under $200 shipped from Digitaka. It is what I would call a mag finesse casting reel. I used mine a bunch for 1/4 oz topwater poppers and 3/8 oz jerkbaits. It outcasted my Curado 50e by a noticeable amount for baits in that weight range. I believe there is a 5:8.1 ratio that would be perfect.

[FishOnLMB]

For me, I usually like a reel from 6:6:1-7:1:1 gear ratio. 

[DaveT63]

I used to use a Revo Winch with 5.4:1 on everything.  I still like it for bigger cranks, but I am really taking a liking to 6.3-6.4:1 for most things like squarebills and small cranks. 

[Angry John]

1 hour ago, kickerfish1 said:

I would look at Daiwa Alphas SV which is just under $200 shipped from Digitaka. It is what I would call a mag finesse casting reel. I used mine a bunch for 1/4 oz topwater poppers and 3/8 oz jerkbaits. It outcasted my Curado 50e by a noticeable amount for baits in that weight range. I believe there is a 5:8.1 ratio that would be perfect.

I use an alphas with the megabass deep spool from the zonda and my steez flexlight rod.  I use this for anything less than 1/2 and then i use my zillion HLC on a dobyns RM764.

[Raul]

Lipless cranks don't care about the speed, deep divers are a different animal, not only the resistance is huge ( it's like trying to reel in a bucket ) but also, they tend to lay on their sides when they reach high speed and then they are good for nothing since they won't run true, for those baits a 5ish:1 is the best option.

[mwh33]

I throw my deep cranks on a dobyns 805cb foot with a 5:1 or 6:1 gear ratio (conquest or curado). I throw squarebills, jerkbaits, and lipless on a dobyns 704 cb or 705 cb with 7:1 gear ratio (Curado or Tatula).

[BigGame0892]

I just stick with 5:1 for all cranks and rattletraps pretty much.  Gets the job done for me.

[Puggz]

14 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

I would look at Daiwa Alphas SV which is just under $200 shipped from Digitaka. It is what I would call a mag finesse casting reel. I used mine a bunch for 1/4 oz topwater poppers and 3/8 oz jerkbaits. It outcasted my Curado 50e by a noticeable amount for baits in that weight range. I believe there is a 5:8.1 ratio that would be perfect.

Thanks, the Alphas is now 230 shipped. 

Creation of this thread has now opened a big can of worms for me...LOL.

 

 

[CTBassin860]

Something 22-25 inches per turn works for me.

[Hulkster]

I use the Curado 200i PG which is 5.5:1 and its perfect. I think the inches per turn is 23.

[Attila]

Daiwa Tatula 100HL at 6.3:1 and 26.3" per handle turn. I fish all crankbaits including squarebills and chatterbaits that weigh 3/8oz or less with this reel.