Are 5:1 Reels Becoming Extinct?

[Chance_Taker4]

I am looking around for a 5:1 casting reel. I have noticed that more and more manufactures are going away from "slow" ratios and speeding everything up. I understand IPT is more important than ratios but I think it is weird how only high ratios are available. Just a few years ago 7:1 was your fast ratio now it is more like your middle ground with 6:1 being your "Slow" reel. But even with 6:1 ratios used to be 6.1 or 6.3 and now they are 6.6 and 6.8. What is all the craze with 8:1 or even 9:1 that is making manufactures do away with the slower ratios?

[NYWayfarer]

People feel the need for speed. Faster sounds better than slower from an advertising standpoint.

 

Some will argue if your reel is fast just slow down your retrieve when fishing crankbaits and such. I find that hard to do that so I broke down and bought a 5:1 Kastking Whitemax with some gift cards I got. Now I can crank the bait at normal speed and shift into overdrive when I get a bite.

[WRB]

You can always find them on 6’ rods.

Tom

[Chance_Taker4]

29 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

People feel the need foe speed. Faster sounds better than slower from an advertising standpoint.

 

Some will argue if your reel is fast just slow down your retrieve when fishing crankbaits and such. I find that hard to do that so I broke down and bought a 5:1 Kastking Whitemax with some gift cards I got. Now I can crank the bait at normal speed and shift into overdrive when I get a bite.

I agree fully with you. No matter what reel I always find myself reeling at the same speed so it is easier for me to get a slower reel than slow my hand.

[tander]

Lew's BB1 still has a 5:1, great cranking reel. You are right, ratio in reels and length in rods are going up.

[DroneFisher]

2 hours ago, Chance_Taker4 said:

I agree fully with you. No matter what reel I always find myself reeling at the same speed so it is easier for me to get a slower reel than slow my hand.

Have you fished with a high speed reel regularly? I will say that it is a great feeling when you can pick up like so fast during ANY application. Yes, you do need to mentally slow your retrieve down for slower presentations but I think having the option to pick up line fast is better than not having that option. I personally got used to having that high speed that when I put that reel down, I found myself picking it back up and slowing my retrieve down. Just my $.02.

[J Francho]

Some of the higher ratios are necessary since some of the new spools are so small in diameter.

[Chance_Taker4]

1 hour ago, DroneFisher said:

Have you fished with a high speed reel regularly? I will say that it is a great feeling when you can pick up like so fast during ANY application. Yes, you do need to mentally slow your retrieve down for slower presentations but I think having the option to pick up line fast is better than not having that option. I personally got used to having that high speed that when I put that reel down, I found myself picking it back up and slowing my retrieve down. Just my $.02.

Out of my 15 setups 12 are 7:1, one is 8:1 and two are 6:1. I use high speed quite often but I'm a fan of the 23-25 ipt especially when the whether calls for it

[68camaro]

They are difficult to find.....I love a slow reel for cranking, I lost a Curato 5:5.1 to bottom of lake with E6x, replaced the reel with a Diawa TDZ 103P, 5:1:1 Magnesium reel, 6.2 oz. Great reel.

 

 

[Hulkster]

I for one, think it is a stupid trend. try cranking a big lipped crankbait, or #5 Mepps spinner with a fast reel. it sucks.

 

the slower more powerful gear ratio is the way to go for those presentations.

 

I, for example have the 5.5:1 Curado 200i PG and love it.

 

I get it that the fast reels are popular, but the power ratios should at least be available. or make a gear swap kit to easily convert. I understand the manufacturers won't offer them if nobody is buying them. But I believe the demand for 'cranking' reels will always be there as long as crankbaits are popular.

[BobP]

I think one thing driving higher gear ratios is that reel manufacturers have changed designs to larger diameter main gears with smaller teeth.  It allows more cranking power to be applied to faster ratios without binding the handle.  So since they could go there, they did.

[Chance_Taker4]

8 hours ago, Hulkster said:

I for one, think it is a stupid trend. try cranking a big lipped crankbait, or #5 Mepps spinner with a fast reel. it sucks.

 

the slower more powerful gear ratio is the way to go for those presentations.

 

I, for example have the 5.5:1 Curado 200i PG and love it.

 

I get it that the fast reels are popular, but the power ratios should at least be available. or make a gear swap kit to easily convert. I understand the manufacturers won't offer them if nobody is buying them. But I believe the demand for 'cranking' reels will always be there as long as crankbaits are popular.

I agree I bought a 5.1:1 Quantum Smoke yesterday with 22" IPT. I cant wait to use it tomorrow. It feels real stout and powerful.

[J Francho]

10 hours ago, 68camaro said:

They are difficult to find

Really? Took me about five clicks to find three of them on a favored retail site ranging $150-$250.

[npl_texas]

[fishballer06]

5:1 reels are quickly fading from popularity, especially if you reel left handed. I use a 5:1 a good bit still, and I've had to buy reels offered only in Japan to keep getting a lefty Shimano 5:1. I can't see a 5:1 ever not being a useful ratio for bass fishing, especially with the crankbait guys. 

[Chance_Taker4]

23 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Really? Took me about five clicks to find three of them on a favored retail site ranging $150-$250.

Shimano does not offer a 5:1, 13 new generations do not offer one (the older concepts do), Abu only sells a 5:1 in their Winch reel, Okuma, Pinnacle, Ardent all have gotten rid of the 5:1 and replaced it with a 6.3:1. Yet almost every reel comes with a 8:1 options. I think a 5:1 has more necessity than a 8:1. I may feel this way because I am a crank guy. I only use 8:1 for flipping and pitching (and then I'd rather beat my head against a wall than flip all day).

[A-Jay]

The Shimano Calcutta D Series Casting Reels have been a big favorite of mine for a while now.

 

I've been successful using the 200D to throw several different moving baits which include but are not limited to squarebills, Beefy spinnerbaits, Vibrating jigs, and of course mid & deep diving crankbaits.

 

At 5.7:1 it seems like a real sweet spot for me as far as IPT vs power is concerned. 

YMMV

A-Jay

[Chance_Taker4]

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

The Shimano Calcutta D Series Casting Reels have been a big favorite of mine for a while now.

 

I've been successful using the 200D to throw several different moving baits which include but are not limited to squarebills, Beefy spinnerbaits, Vibrating jigs, and of course mid & deep diving crankbaits.

 

At 5.7:1 it seems like a real sweet spot for me as far as IPT vs power is concerned. 

YMMV

A-Jay

I am not a big fan of round reel. I am hoping that low profile reels start making a comeback with these slower ratios. I seen that BPS even dropped the slow gears on their new 2.0 Carbonlite.

[J Francho]

I found 4 Daiwas, 2 13s, 6 Abus, 3 Lew's, 1 Pflueger, 2 Quantums, and 5 Shimanos.  These are all 22-24 IPT reels suitable for cranking.  I didn't include round reels in my counts.

[Deleted account]

Fast=good, slow=bad, so faster=better. Just look at rods, not only have some become (or are labeled as) ridiculously fast, but manufacturers can't even bring themselves to label slower rods as such, the opposite of fast isn't moderate. I find a 6. Something works for all around, I don't really mind a 7, though I don't notice any advantage. I crank, and fish larger more resistant lures with a 4.7 and 5.3. I don't really have a use for anything faster. But as all things to each his own. 

 

 

 

[fishballer06]

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

I found 4 Daiwas, 2 13s, 6 Abus, 3 Lew's, 1 Pflueger, 2 Quantums, and 5 Shimanos.  These are all 22-24 IPT reels suitable for cranking.  I didn't include round reels in my counts.

I'm curious where you found 5 low profile USDM Shimano's with a 5:1 gear ratio? I just went on the Shimano website and looked at every low profile reel they offered. Only the Antares comes in a 5.6:1 ratio, but even it is a 26 IPT reel. On top of that, it also has a $600 price tag. 

 

The only other "low profile" Shimano with a 5:1 ratio is the Tranx, but I don't even count that because it's an oversized reel.

[thebillsman]

Don't worry about the actual ratio. You should only concern yourself with IPT. 

[OkobojiEagle]

Be mindful that the listed IPT of a reel is with a full spool.  A slightly under-filled spool or spool 1/2 empty on a long cast will retrieve significantly less line per handle turn.  I measure the actual IPT of my reels... Curado B5 & BB1 19"; Chronarch 51e 22.5"; Morrum 1601c 23.5; Pixy 68 & Abu Premier 25".  The Chronarch, Morrum, Pixy & Premier are 6.x - 1 listed reels.  All of these reels are filled to 1/8" of absolutely full and all of these reels bring in considerably less line during the cast.  The sweet spot I'm comfortable with is 22" - 25", anything less and I have trouble keeping up with Smallies when they want to rocket to the surface... I haven't used the Curado or BB1 for a while now.

 

 

oe

[Chance_Taker4]

2 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Be mindful that the listed IPT of a reel is with a full spool.  A slightly under-filled spool or spool 1/2 empty on a long cast will retrieve significantly less line per handle turn.  I measure the actual IPT of my reels... Curado B5 & BB1 19"; Chronarch 51e 22.5"; Morrum 1601c 23.5; Pixy 68 & Abu Premier 25".  The Chronarch, Morrum, Pixy & Premier are 6.x - 1 listed reels.  All of these reels are filled to 1/8" of absolutely full and all of these reels bring in considerably less line during the cast.  The sweet spot I'm comfortable with is 22" - 25", anything less and I have trouble keeping up with Smallies when they want to rocket to the surface... I haven't used the Curado or BB1 for a while now.

 

 

oe

I'm was looking for something around 23-25 and found it in the Quantum Smoke I bought.

[Angry John]

This may be true for low profile reels.  Bass fisherman drive that market.  Round reels for other species are still slow for the power.