Daiwa Tatula CT Type R 8.1:1 ?

[Brett's_daddy]

I've been tossing around the idea of swapping the Tatula CT 7.3:1 RH I just got for my birthday for a CT Type R in a LH as I just seem to feel more comfortable using my dominant hand/arm for my rod and reel with my left hand. That being said, should i get the Type R in a 7.3:1 or a 8.1:1 gear ratio? I guess a more proper question would be what are the pros/cons to each of those gear ratios as far as what techniques you can use them for?

[kstephes033]

7.3 is more of the all around now, can use it for moving baits and bottom contact baits, whereas the 8.1 is geared more to bottom contact baits in general as you are using the speed to pick up the slack line or reeling in to make another cast/pitch/flip. Really depends on what rod and technique you are looking to use it for.

[Brett's_daddy]

Here are my rods: IRod Fiber 7'5" Heavy Fred's Magic Stick, Dobyn's Fury 7'3" 734C and Abu Garcia Veritas 7ft. 2.0 Winch (crankbait model). I already have a Lews Tournament Pro 6.4:1 which I'm most likely using on the Veritas, that leaves the Fury and the iRod open, whichever rod the Type r doesn't go on I'm putting a Shimano Curado I 7.2:1 on.

[Yudo1]

7.3 is still pretty fast. It would be slightly more versatile than the 8.1, but if you're going to frog, pitch or use for bottom contact then you may want the faster retrieve.

Put the 8.1 on the irod.

[Brett's_daddy]

What about for 3/8oz. - 1/2oz. jigs (plus trailers)? Can you still pitch with the 7.3:1?

[Yudo1]

17 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

What about for 3/8oz. - 1/2oz. jigs (plus trailers)? Can you still pitch with the 7.3:1?

Absolutely

[lmbfisherman]

I guess I'm old school because I still consider the 6 ratios as the all around and would use 7 and 8s as bottom contact or if I feel I want to burn something a bit more.

[Big-Bass]

6's are still all around...7's are too but 8's and 9's are getting specific to bottom and frog use!

[Brett's_daddy]

11 minutes ago, Big-Bass said:

8's and 9's are getting specific to bottom and frog use!

What about for larger top water?

[CenCal fisher]

Get the 8, just don't turn the handle as fast when you want to pick up less line. 

[Brett's_daddy]

People are saying to use the 8.1:1 for frogs but when you're fishing frogs they are generally going into the middle of lily pads are other nasty vegetation...to me that would be when you'd want more torque to pull those big bass outta' there so why would you want a reel with the lesser amount of torque like the 8.1 versus a reel with more torque like a 7.3?

[kstephes033]

When you have a fish back in the thick stuff, you want to get their head up and keep them up, less chance of losing them that way vs trying to "winch" them out when they bury. Plus the whole winching them out aspect seems to be a bit overblown, i have no trouble winching one out with an 8:1 at all. If they do get buried, best bet to get them out is to try and keep them pinned right under the mat and go get them, again the 8:1 comes into play there as you are just keeping tension on them and reeling as you turn the trolling motor up to 100 to go get em. 

[SFL BassHunter]

With the frog you want the faster retrieve to turn their head and get em up. Winching them through the pads works just fine with a faster gear ratio. For me its all about the rod at that point. The tatulas have very good cranking power even at higher ratios.

If your fish is in the middle of pads and some thick stuff you get that rod up high and make the fish come up.

 

A 7:3 or 8:1 will both work for frogs. I use a 7:3 for my frog bank fishing since it is my all round reel. Tatula CT.

If frogs is going to be your main focus then the 8:1 is the better choice. If it isn't then I would go 7:3 for a more all around type of use.

[Brett's_daddy]

8 minutes ago, SFL BassHunter said:

If frogs is going to be your main focus then the 8:1 is the better choice. If it isn't then I would go 7:3 for a more all around type of use.

I will also be getting a Shimano Curado I in the 7.2:1 ration so...two new reels.