JawjaBoy Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 Am I the only one that reads through all of the "which speed is best for ____?" threads wondering how we fished for so many years and caught so many fish using basically 3 gear ratios? All of which, by the way, were slower than current "cranking" ratios!! I know I can't be the only one! 2 Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted February 2, 2018 Super User Posted February 2, 2018 2 minutes ago, JawjaBoy said: Am I the only one that reads through all of the "which speed is best for ____?" threads wondering how we fished for so many years and caught so many fish using basically 3 gear ratios? All of which, by the way, were slower than current "cranking" ratios!! I know I can't be the only one! 3? I fished for umpteen years with one....a Mitchell 300. 2 Quote
JawjaBoy Posted February 2, 2018 Author Posted February 2, 2018 My formative fishing years were the late 70's, and I started getting seriously addicted in the mid 80's. Baitcasters then were pretty much 5.1:1 across the board with a couple of 3.8:1 and 5.4:1 reels thrown in! Quote
OCdockskipper Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 What is funny is to now switch back to a lower gear ratio and try fishing with it. I put some 4lb test on an older Shimano spinning reel to test if I got more bites on a Ned Rig than with 8 lb test. The combination of a no feel retrieve and having to reel like a madman to take up slack was really unnerving. Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted February 2, 2018 Super User Posted February 2, 2018 Older reels were slower, but not by how much the numbers would suggest, spool diameters (as well as widths) were generally larger. Quote
Super User Catt Posted February 2, 2018 Super User Posted February 2, 2018 The fastest gear ratio I own is 5.8:1 ? 2 2 Quote
Super User Angry John Posted February 2, 2018 Super User Posted February 2, 2018 I live and breathe 6.3. I have faster ones but don't use them. 1 Quote
The Bassman Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 1 hour ago, Angry John said: I live and breathe 6.3. I have faster ones but don't use them. I really feel this is the sweet spot for most apps. Quote
DINK WHISPERER Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 We all know if it's not an 8.1:1 then there's no way we can ever keep up with that fish when it shoots straight for the boat ? 1 Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted February 2, 2018 Super User Posted February 2, 2018 9 minutes ago, DINK WHISPERER said: We all know if it's not an 8.1:1 then there's no way we can ever keep up with that fish when it shoots straight for the boat ? At this rate I'll soon be able to spool my reels with one turn of the handle (I'm guessing right after ICAST).... 1 Quote
Super User Angry John Posted February 2, 2018 Super User Posted February 2, 2018 46 minutes ago, DINK WHISPERER said: We all know if it's not an 8.1:1 then there's no way we can ever keep up with that fish when it shoots straight for the boat ? Well I guess the 7.9 that sits on the shelf still missed the mark Quote
The Bassman Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 One thing to consider also is that other factors affect retrieve rate. How large a spool is, as @reason mentioned and how full it is play into the equation. 1 Quote
nascar2428 Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 It's all about the Inches Per Turn(IPT) for me. Gear ratios are just numbers, IPT is an actual distance. I can relate to a distance better than a gear ratio. That's just me. 2 Quote
CroakHunter Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 4 hours ago, Catt said: The fastest gear ratio I own is 5.8:1 ? And probably picks up line just as fast as most 7.1:1 reels. As long as you have a full spool 4 hours ago, Catt said: The fastest gear ratio I own is 5.8:1 ? And probably picks up line just as fast as most 7.1:1 reels. As long as you have a full spool 1 Quote
Super User Catt Posted February 3, 2018 Super User Posted February 3, 2018 Just now, CroakHunter said: And probably picks up line just as fast as most 7.1:1 reels. As long as you have a full spool Why would I not have a full spool? 1 Quote
Human torpedo Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 my guess is the gear ratio has steadily increased due to the smaller spool diameter. It seems like the modern reels are smaller and easier to palm so I guess that translates to smaller spools. My 90's reels all had 5 or 6:1 ratio. 7:1 was blazing fast for buzzbaits.... 23 minutes ago, Catt said: Why would I not have a full spool? IMO, a half or less full spool will backlash less. Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted February 3, 2018 Super User Posted February 3, 2018 I don't own a baitcaster slower than 7.1:1 anymore. Well, I own one, but I just retired it. I just see no reason to crank more than necessary. Especially if they cost the same as slower reels. 2 Quote
LAO162 Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 36 minutes ago, Catt said: Why would I not have a full spool? For me, Fishing jigs in a quarry leads to less than full spools and a lower inventory of jigs 2 Quote
CroakHunter Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 42 minutes ago, Catt said: Why would I not have a full spool? Well I wasn't really implying that you would. But just reiterating the fact that low gear ratio reels still can have a good amount of ipt because of spool size/capacity. 1 Quote
LionHeart Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 Just changes as tech matures. I'd say just about every piece of fishing gear there is has improved as time goes by. Better rods, line, boats, and yes, reels. Not that faster is always better, but for certain techniques, faster is better. 1 Quote
MichaelCopeland Posted February 4, 2018 Posted February 4, 2018 6.2:1 is the slowest that I use of what I have. 7.1:1 is the fastest. I have a couple 5.1:1 those are on cheap Wal Mart rods. I don't use them anymore. I'll eventually get more Lew's combos, spinning and baitcaster, to meet my needs though. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted February 7, 2018 Global Moderator Posted February 7, 2018 I learned to fish a worm with a 3.8:1 Lew's. Caught a lot of fish with it, but also lost a bunch of fish because of it. I'm glad to have the options we have now. 1 Quote
Jaderose Posted February 7, 2018 Posted February 7, 2018 The only place speed matter to me is froggin. I didn't believe that for the longest time and was happy using a 6.3:1 until the day I lost what would have been my personal best because I couldn't take up slack fast enough. Currently using an 7 something and seriously looking at the KastKing Speed demon. I want those big girls SKIING outta that slop 1 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted February 7, 2018 Super User Posted February 7, 2018 What were the old Abu's 4600C ? Thats all I fished with for about thirty years . Quote
Super User Boomstick Posted February 7, 2018 Super User Posted February 7, 2018 Not at all. I'm convinced if I only had a 6.3:1 or even 5:1 ratio, I would still manage just fine. I will however put a 7.1:1 or a 8.1:1 reel on rods where I know I'll take advantage of the extra speed however. Quote
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