Who Else Isn't A Fan Of The High Speed Reel Craze?

[iceintheveins]

Who else here gets frustrated because it's hard to find a good reel with a 5 gear ratio anymore, and most reels seem to be in the high 6 range, 7 plus, or 8 plus? Of course high speed has it's place, but in my experience you lose winching power in ratios above 7:1 or so. Reels with under a 5:3.1 ratio are almost impossible to find now.

[fishnkamp]

Most of my reels are 6.3-1 with the exception of a couple of 8-1 and a 7.3-1.  All 3 of those are used for either deep jigs, carolina rigs or big texas rigs or frogs.  Most everything else is a 6.3-1 and I use both left and right handed reels.  So not only is it harder to find a slower 5 X-1 reel sometimes an 8-1 lefty is hard to find.

I started using both lefties and righties a long time ago. If a bait is cast and basically just retrieved, I prefer a right handed reel.

If a bait is cast out and allowed to sit , then retrieved by hoping it, dragging it or making it twitch and jerk side to side then I use a left handed reels. So my jigs, jerkbaits, texas rigs, carolina rigs and frogs all use left handed reels.

 

Much too often the tackle industry follows only what the latest pros tell them and not necessarily what the customer wants.

 

I watched a video on youtube and it had an interview with Rick Clunn. He said the industry and the pros had done a disservice to the young angler in that, by example, they had convinced them that the only way to fish was with big 21 foot boat outfitted with a huge 250+ hp outboard, thousands and thousands of dollars worth of tackle, and electronics, not to mention that boat had to have 2 power poles and cost close to $80.000.  He mentioned that as an example he had personally purchased a Tracker Guide V series 18 foot boat and that he has owned it for years. He said he has caught as many fishing that boat as any of his big tournament boats and that it could reach tiny water, was equipped inexpensively and was a great fishing machine. Then he referenced the old days and how fun it was when 150 hp was the top hp allowed. It was neat to get his prospective since there are not a lot of guys still around from those days.

[Goose52]

I use BC reels with IPTs from 16 to 36 - all have a place in the tool box. And yes - I have also noticed the dearth of current reels with the lower IPTs.  

 

I have even considered purchasing two or three 4.7:1 gear sets to convert some of my existing BPS PQs and 1st Gen Carbonlites that are presently 6.4 and 7.1 down to 4.7 to assure that I have enough LowPro BC reels available to handle my slow-speed needs for the foreseeable future. I ordered two 5.2:1 gear sets from BPS a couple years ago and have already converted one of my Carbonlites to that ratio and still have the other gear set available for another conversion down the road.  

[PatrickKnight]

I hate that just about all good spinning reels are chasing down high speed as well. I really want a good 5.0:1 but about the lowest I can find is 5.6:1 on a Daiwa Ballistic. I could get another Stradic FK do swap to JDM gears but that's a lot of work.

[NHBull]

I have 1 5/1 with most being 6 and 7's, and 1 8.

In my area most don't have an arsenal of reals and are looking to accomplish a brand array of style with 1 or 2 reals.

I believe  a 6 gives them the best option

[OkobojiEagle]

8 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

 

 

Much too often the tackle industry follows only what the latest pros tell them and not necessarily what the customer wants.

 

 

 

I think too often the customer follows only what the latest pros tell them.  The tackle industry follows the money...

 

Count me as one who enjoys the more relaxed cadence of a left hand retrieve 5:1 ratio casting reel.

 

oe

[Jason Penn]

i do like the faster reels for taking up line jigs/plastics, but i don't like them for moving baits.  seems like a lot of folks are using 7:1 for spinnerbaits & shallow cranks, i just don't like fishing them that fast. if a reel has an ipt of around 25", it seems to work better for me on those lures.  when you get up in the 28" range, it's just too much pull for me.

[CTBassin860]

I have one 5.4:1 Abu Garcia Orra2 Winch.They are readily available and are an absolute workhorse.They cast smoothly and far.One of the best reel purchases i've made.You can get them for 80 bucks right now too.They also come in left or right handed retrieve.

[Columbia Craw]

Lower ratios in left hand are a bit more difficult to find but there are some good ones available.  The 5 to something reels seem to be considered deep cranking reels and are marketed as such. There are applications for all of the ratios.

[Jeff H]

I don't want anything faster than 7:1, of which I own 2 (Daiwa T3 1016) All others are 6's and 5's and there are quite a few.  I am about to gear one of my HSTA down to 5:1 as well.  For me, anything beyond 7 is not needed.  Yeah, I know all about the more pitches = more fish crap but I don't think it's that crucial to short distance shallow water performance.  I use my 7's for fishing t-rig worms in deep water and I prefer 5's for spinnerbaits with bigger blades and deep cranks.

 

But...IF all I fished was smallmouth I'd get more higher ratio reels.  They like to run right at the boat and they come fast sometimes.  I have a dedicated smallmouth finesse rig that has a Revo LTX (7.9:1) that I mainly throw tubes with just for this reason.

[bigfruits]

3 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Lower ratios in left hand are a bit more difficult to find but there are some good ones available.  The 5 to something reels seem to be considered deep cranking reels and are marketed as such. There are applications for all of the ratios.

 

The JDM version of the Curado 71 comes in 6.3:1 which is a good all around ratio for some. What a coincidence, I have one for sale! https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/188335-new-shimano-scorpion-71/#comment-2125607

 

Shameless advertising aside, I like something around 7:1 for all around fishing. I like lower ratios for high resistance baits like med-deep divers and some spinnerbaits/chatterbaits. For bottom contact and baits i move with rod and not the reel, i see no reason not to use something fast.

 

Anyone unhappy with a reel that is too fast, try a 90mm+ handle on it. It feels a bit more powerful and the longer handle orbit slows things down in my hands/mind.

 

Its all personal preference. If you never burn hard swimbaits you dont need 8:1 on that rod. A 5.8:1 on a dedicated jig rod is slowing you down.

[Big Bait Fishing]

a lot of companies are coming out with '' swimbait reels '' that are 7.1:1 or higher which is way to fast to be slow rolling a Hudd or other slow retrieved baits , wish they would offer a 5 gear still .

[crypt]

I still have and use my Ambassadeurs with 5.3 gear ratios all the time. 4500,4600 pro max, black max. all older round reels that are at least 20 years old. still catch fish all the time. but have newer Abu's with 6-7 to 1 gears in em and use them for faster baits. each reel is a tool in my boat. use the right tool for the job at hand.

[Deleted account]

I use 4.7 and 5.3 for cranking, large spinnerbaits, other large baits, and other times I want a slow presentation. My other reels are all 6.4, I don't see the need for anything faster, but to each his own. 

[d-camarena]

For hudds i use a 7 gear ratio lews superduty widespool. I dont feel its to fast. I just slow down my retrieve. Make pulling them in the boat a lot easier since you catch up to the fish a lot faster

[Angry John]

1 hour ago, Big Bait Fishing said:

a lot of companies are coming out with '' swimbait reels '' that are 7.1:1 or higher which is way to fast to be slow rolling a Hudd or other slow retrieved baits , wish they would offer a 5 gear still .

Daiwa luna  or any other of the round reels are slow.  My 253 is wonderful and still sold new on tw

[tkunk]

I love fast reels. They make it much easier for me to pick up slack quickly and keep fish buttoned down. Every bass reel I have is over 30 IPT. Two of my three musky reels are over 40 IPT.

 

When I use jerkbaits in warm water or do any kind of rip jigging, I hate having to reel super fast to pick up slack. When I use swimbaits, on the other hand, I don't mind reeling super slow.

[Raul]

Oh well,  this one has been with me for a while and never saw the need to get another one :

[Big Bait Fishing]

2 hours ago, Angry John said:

Daiwa luna  or any other of the round reels are slow.  My 253 is wonderful and still sold new on tw

yeah i hear you on the round reels , i only use low-profile baitcasters , i have a Revo Toro 51 that has 5.4:1 gears in it  and if i ever need another swimbait reel i would get another .  my comment was about the newer low-profile swimbait reels .

[Hulkster]

the Curado 200i PG is 5.5:1 and is one of the few exceptions. I have one and really like it. its on sale now too because a new one must be coming even though shimano hasn't admitted it yet lol. nothing goes on sale for them unless a new reel is coming out. ever.

[Airman4754]

11 hours ago, MassBassin508 said:

I have one 5.4:1 Abu Garcia Orra2 Winch.They are readily available and are an absolute workhorse.They cast smoothly and far.One of the best reel purchases i've made.You can get them for 80 bucks right now too.They also come in left or right handed retrieve.

 

I love these reels. I have one and still use it often. The Revo winch is about double the price and offers the same performance. 

[RoLo]

I'm with you, Ice....where do I sign? 

 

Roger

[lmbfisherman]

I have a couple, but not a fan.  Most of my reels are 6s and 7s.  I use my XGs for jigs and plastics in general, definitely too fast for other things.  I'd stick with the 6 and 7s for everything else.  

[papajoe222]

Almost all my reels are geared 6.3.1. the exception being my cranking reel and a 7.1:1 i use for jigs and buzzbaits.  I find That I get into a comfortable/familiar rhythm when chucking and winding and can't adjust  for reel speed as easily as I can when working a bait