Faster Bait Cast Reel Gear Ratios : The New Norm ?

[ChrisD46]

Besides bait cast reel companies offering faster and faster reels now (8:1:1+)  , the Pros are advocating faster reels for applications unheard of just a couple of years ago . Essentially , a  7:1:1 bait cast reel is the NEW "normal" best all around gear ratio replacing the  6:3:1 which held the formal "normal" spot just (again)  a couple of years ago .

 

See more below on bait cast reel  gear ratio trends  :

 

1. Deep Cranking : Up until recently a 5:4:1 gear ratio was the norm for deep cranking so you wouldn't wear yourself out due to deep crank baits resistance . *Now you are seeing 6:3:1 and 7:1:1 gear ratios being used for deep cranking .

 

2. Lipless Crank Baits / Medium To Shallow Crank Baits : Up until recently a 6:3:1 gear ratio was the norm . *Now the 7:1:1 gear ratio is the new norm for these applications .

 

3. Jerk Baits  / Walk - The - Dog  - Baits / Poppers / Surface Twitch Baits  : The 6:3:1 gear ratio was the norm up until a couple of years ago . * Now you are seeing 7:1:1 gear ratios being used for these applications .

 

4. Flipping / Pitching Soft Plastics / C-Rig / T-Rigs /  Jigs : The "fast" 7:1:1 gear ratio was being used up until a couple of years ago . * Now the new norm are the faster 8:1:1 and 9:1:1 gear ratios for these same applications .

 

Regarding the above : Please give me your current bait cast gear ratios for the applications I have listed above . Next , are you considering moving to any faster gear ratios for 2017 - if so , for which applications and what new gear ratio will you use ? Lastly , provide any comments regarding the trends I have listed above .

 

*We all can agree that to a Pro "time is money" and they have to work fast . Conversely , I am seeing new fishing shows where the Pros are touting the attributes of faster bait cast gear ratios for above applications targeting the week end bass fisherman as well . Do you see advantages to new faster gear ratios ? Do you believe it's just a new technology capability reel makers (spinning too !) have and now they are trying to create a market for themselves ? Are the Pros responsible for driving the higher gear ratios ? ... I want to hear your thoughts and experiences to all I have stated above - thanks in advance and I look forward to your replies !!

[Bluebasser86]

Deep cranking-5.1

Lipless-6.3

Squarebills-5.2 and 6.2

Jerkbaits-5.2, 7.1, and 6.2

WTD and poppers-7.1

Jigs and plastics-7.1, 7.1, 7.1, 7.3, 7.3, 7.3, 8.0, 8.2

[Yudo1]

Deep cranking:  5.7

Lipless/medium/shallow cranks:  6.3

Jerk baits/topwater:  7.1

Jigs/plastics: 8.5

[Fishes in trees]

I don't worry about it that much.   I can remember when 5-1 was touted as a "high speed" reel.  The old original Lews Speed Spool ( made by Ryobi I think ) was 4-1.   The original red Ambassadors weren't much more that.   Once upon a time Shimano made a Curado in a 3.8 - 1 gear ration and I got a good deal on 4 of them.   Then I fished with them and I found out why they were on sale, i.e. they were TOO slow.   I found a guy who could switch them over to 5-1 gear ratio reels and now they are great back up reels.

For a long time, most of my reels were 5-1.  Curados, Calcuttas, Calais.  When I decided that my Calcutta reels were getting too heavy to fish with all the time I decided to go to Curado and Chronarch 50's.   Anyway, they were like 6.4 to 1, something like that and that worked for me too.   I got a Curado 70 last year and it is 7-1 or 8-1, I forget.   Anyway, the point is that when I'm fishing I don't notice the different gear ratio's all that much - to the point that I don't think about it when I'm fishing.

When I'm fishing lipless cranks I use a Calcutta 200 TEGT which is 5-1 and I can reel comfortably and make the bait go fast enough, I think.

[Robert Riley]

If I were to take a gander at why, it'd be improving technology. Reels get lighter, stronger and faster, and ultimately, the faster you can pick up slack line for any presentation the better.

[WRB]

Some good reasons why higher gear ratio's are popular is excellent bearings combined with drive train design allows for smooth retrieves without binding from high torque forces, you don't fight the reel anymore. 

I bought 3 Daiwa Tatula R 8:1 ratio reels over 3 years ago to increase the IPT at 40-50 yards casting distance when jig fishing. I use the reel set technique and sometimes it is hard to catch up with bass that run towards you, faster line retrieve helps to solve that problem and helps to control the bass by keeping pressure on them at longer distances. I don't fish fast, making more casts isn't as important as making the right cast.

What surprised me was how smooth the drive train is even when lots of force agianst it.

I can see why higher gear ratios are trending upwards, these newer reels are very different then they were 5 years ago.

Tom

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

If you look at the IPT of some of the high ratio reels it's not much if any faster due to the small reels and spools. 

[new2BC4bass]

Most of my reels are it in the 6 range, but new ones are almost all 7 or higher.  I find I like the higher ratios and seldom have a problem cranking slow if needed.  I almost never throw a deep running crankbait, but do have a few Daiwas in the 5.7-5.8 range should I need a reel with a lower ratio.  I keep a 5.7:1 on a shallow to medium depth crankbait rod and just wind faster instead of switching the reel out because it has some serious upgrades in it.  

[Shadow93]

Purchased a Revo Rocket (9.0:1) sometime last year. Was expecting it to be fragile - that's hardly the case. The reel is an absolute horse.

 

10 hours ago, Robert Riley said:

If I were to take a gander at why, it'd be improving technology. Reels get lighter, stronger and faster, and ultimately, the faster you can pick up slack line for any presentation the better.

 

^This.

[ChrisD46]

Or perhaps another way to look at it : When would you NOT use a bait cast reel with a gear ratio of 7:1:1 or higher ?

[j bab]

12 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

If you look at the IPT of some of the high ratio reels it's not much if any faster due to the small reels and spools. 

This is a good point that is almost always overlooked. They should be advertising IPT instead of gear ratio for that reason, but that isn't as cool sounding...

 

Something else worth pointing out is that when working plastics, especially weightless, high speed reels can cause you to work the lure too fast, especially for beginners who are impatient 

[Kidflex]

I have a few "8" and mostly "7's" for reels but don't notice much difference between them. I still use "6's" for moving baits and use "5's" for cranking. I actually find using a 5:1 reel for chatterbaits the best for me. I can keep on bottom better. 

[WIGuide]

Almost all my reels are 7:1 the ones that aren't are only because I haven't worn them out yet and they don't need to be replaced. For me it's easier for me to slow down than it is to speed up because you can only wind so fast. When I upgrade I will probably go with the fastest retrieve I can get. 

[new2BC4bass]

23 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

Almost all my reels are 7:1 the ones that aren't are only because I haven't worn them out yet and they don't need to be replaced. For me it's easier for me to slow down than it is to speed up because you can only wind so fast. When I upgrade I will probably go with the fastest retrieve I can get. 

 

Sell them off.  Bought my 6.2:1 Scorpion SVS 4 x4 off a gentleman looking to upgrade all his reels to 7s.  Maybe you will get lucky like the seller did with me and get about $50 more than they are worth.    It did teach me to double check new prices before buying.

[Grantman83]

I have mostly high speeds.  One 5.5:1 for deep cranks which I rarely throw and a few 6.3:1 for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and shallow/squarebills.  I like a medium retrieve for these as it keeps the baits down.  Too fast on a spinnerbait or chatterbait and it goes too high in the water column.  It's also easier lol

 

Other than that, I like fast and furious.  

[WRB]

The gear ratio doesn't vary, the IPT changes with the spooled line level before and after each cast. IPT varies on spool diameter = circumference and spool width.

Tom

[ChrisD46]

What I have learned : If you move the lure with the rod it' a 7:1: or faster application ... If you move the lure  with the reel it's a 6:1 or slower application ! ... In general not bad advise and easy to remember ... Lastly , saw a recent video featureing Aaron Martens : Of the 25 baitcast rod & reel outfits he keeps on his Elite Pro boat - 23 of them are 7:1 or faster !! He goes in depth as to why too - shocked to see so many fast outfits (Aaron does not consider 7:1 as fast - he considers anything 8:1 or faster as fast !!) ... Wow .

[Darren.]

mmmm....faster baitcaster = good

 

[bigfruits]

for me its

8.x:1 for jigs,plastics,buzzbaits,lipless

7.x:1 for everything else except deep cranks

[Raul]

New standard ? I've had this one for more than 20 years, faster than many modern reels btw:

 

 

PT33SH

[crypt]

6.4-1 for most everything.  have some older 5.3-1 for cranking .