Shimano Cranking Reel

[bunz559]

Anyone know of a JDM Shimano reel that's geared in the 5:1 gear ratio that I am not aware of? I like to stick to the Shimano brand. Why doesn't the company offer much in this gear range. Doesn't seem like anything in the US market has the 5:1 gearing except the larger round reels or the Tranx which are heavy. Obviously older reels are available if you can find them but nothing new? I know the Bantam comes in a 5.5:1 in Japan but that's hardly available either. 

 

I'm looking for something for deep cranking. This is new to me. I previously had a Gen 3 Abu Garcia Revo Winch but sold it. Something about its build that didn't feel right in my hands. Slightly too tall, too wide, and the knobs just felt like cheap hard eva. Any pointers in newer Shimano reels would be greatly appreciated. Any pointers as to other reels that may have a more compact build would also be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thanks in advance! 

[Dwight Hottle]

The JDM Bantam MGL PG is readily available from Japan. I have one. The JDM Curado 200PG is also available and I have one also. Both are 5.5:1 ratio. Both work great for cranking. The Bantam is over the top in smoothness & quality. 

[bunz559]

Thanks Dwight. I'd really like to get my hands on the 5.5 Bantams. I have one in the 8.1 and that reel just feels right! Solid, super smooth, and palms perfectly. 

[NHBull]

Conquest 100 5.2 I believe 

[Dwight Hottle]

15 minutes ago, bunz559 said:

Thanks Dwight. I'd really like to get my hands on the 5.5 Bantams. I have one in the 8.1 and that reel just feels right! Solid, super smooth, and palms perfectly. 

Yes they feel really good in your hand. Japan Lure Shop has the PG in stock for $261.83 right hand model. 

[bunz559]

So I just picked up a Revo Winch Gen 4. As mentioned, I previously had a Gen 3 and didn't like it much. I happened to be out of a town that had a Bass Pro shop and stopped by to hold the Gen 4. To my surprise, the Gen 4 was much nicer than the Gen 3. Reel felt slightly more solid and ergonomics was much nicer. Felt more like a smaller low profile reel rather than a 300 series Curado. Looks like Abu made the profile smaller but gave it a much deeper spool to make up the difference. Although I could have purchased it cheaper on Ebay, I figured I'd spend my money there. I have yet to spool it and use it but I'm looking forward to casting some cranks. I will be pairing this Winch with a Irods Fred's Crank Launcher for deep divers, mainly 6XD and similar. 

 

Initial thoughts are that for a $200 price point reel, it surely does not match the build quality of a Shimano. Comparably to the Curado K. There's the slightest play with the handle which isn't unusual, but just doesn't feel like a $200 rig. What is nice, that I a not used to are clicks! Clicks when adjusting spool tension knob and external braking. Hopefully it proves me wrong once I start throwing some cranks. I'm sure the 5:1 gear ratio will feel a lot nicer than the 6:1 reels I've been throwing. 

[Hulkster]

the US market calcuttas are 5.8:1 i believe which should be good for cranking. 

 

however they are a round reel.

 

I use the curado 200i which is 5.5:1 and love it but its the previous model since the K came out. I love the slower powerful ratio so I won't upgrade to the K unless one with a lower ratio is introduced.

 

seems shimano is all about fast fast fast with newer reels. it sucks. 

[bunz559]

1 hour ago, Hulkster said:

the US market calcuttas are 5.8:1 i believe which should be good for cranking. 

 

however they are a round reel.

 

I use the curado 200i which is 5.5:1 and love it but its the previous model since the K came out. I love the slower powerful ratio so I won't upgrade to the K unless one with a lower ratio is introduced.

 

seems shimano is all about fast fast fast with newer reels. it sucks. 

Agreed. A lot of companies seem to be doing this. I fish lefty reels so it's even harder as some manufacturers do not offer every gear ratio in lefty. 

 

Shimano currently seems to only offer the 5 gear ratio in the Bantam, as far as low profile reels go. And that reel is only offered in Japan. ? 

[WRB]

Can anyone tell me the IPT of the 200 size 5.5:1 vs 5.1:1 Shimano reels after casting 40 yards? Gear ratio alone is meaningless without knowing IPT at casting distance.

Tom

[bunz559]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Can anyone tell me the IPT of the 200 size 5.5:1 vs 5.1:1 Shimano reels after casting 40 yards? Gear ratio alone is meaningless without knowing IPT at casting distance.

Tom

That's something new to me. What does IPT stand for? 

[A-Jay]

Just now, bunz559 said:

That's something new to me. What does IPT stand for? 

Inches Per Turn of the reel handle.

In other words how much line you're getting back & how fast you get it.

A-Jay

[bunz559]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Inches Per Turn of the reel handle.

In other words how much line you're getting back & how fast you get it.

A-Jay

Ah... Got ya. Maybe not new, just didn't think of the acronym. 

[WRB]

1 minute ago, bunz559 said:

That's something new to me. What does IPT stand for? 

Inch Per Turn, the amount of line put back onto the reel spool with each full turn of the reel handle. Gear ratio is the number of time the spool spins with each full turn of the reel handle. What is important is line recovery because line is attached to the lure and moves the lure forward.

Most size 100 and 200 low profile bass reels have small diameter narrow width spools that hold about 110 yards of 12 lb (.012d) line. Casting Removes line whatever distance the lure travels. If the spooled line is about 1/8" below full before the cast, 40 yards removes about 50% of the line. If a reel starts with 24 IPT, average for 5.5:1 ratio when full of line to the max capacity, the IPT drops significantly to around 16 IPT, for example. 

The way to know the IPT at casting distance is to measure the amount of line recovered after casting.

Tom

 

[Brad in Texas]

9 minutes ago, WRB said:

Can anyone tell me the IPT of the 200 size 5.5:1 vs 5.1:1 Shimano reels after casting 40 yards? Gear ratio alone is meaningless without knowing IPT at casting distance.

Tom

Tom, Some time ago, a year or so, I developed the formula for just what you are asking and committed it to an Excel spreadsheet. One has to know several inputs . . . without digging around for the spreadsheet, but these come to mind: spool dimensions of height, diameter, width; and, line diameter.

 

For others, what Tom knows and is asking the particulars of relates to the fact that as cast is made, more line goes out per revolution on the larger circumference of a spool, then less and less as it goes out. So, when one then retrieves a lure, as you turn the handle, more and more line is being picked up. The lure actually accelerates as it returns as each spool revolution picks up line, makes the circumference of the line sitting on the spool larger.

 

I'm an amateur math nerd and I bought and often use a 2 lbs. braid that claims to be .001" in diameter. I began developing the spreadsheet when I became curious how much of this tiny line it'd take to fill my reel spool.

 

Hint: Lots!!!

 

I'll get it out and work on the spreadsheet again, post it under a separate topic.

 

Brad

[WRB]

Lots of variables to consider and simpler to make a cast, mark the line at the rod tip and turn the handle 1 full revolution, make a second mark on the line at the rod tip, them measure between the 2 marks= IPT. 

Deep diving crankbaits create a lot water resistance when moving foreward to dive and we like to cast them as far as possible so they get down and stay down as long as possible. Lower gear ratios seem like a good idea, however with small narrow reel spools with low line capacity you must crank twice as fast the first 1/3rd of the cast after hooking a bass just to keep it under control because the bass swims much faster then you can recover line. Using a 300 size reel with wider larger diameter spool having twice as much line capacity the IPT isn't radically reduced and easy to keep a lure running the same speed and controlling bass after hooking them.

For deep diving crankbaits a 300 size, 5.8:1 Calcutta or Cardiff is ideal. For general fishing a 7.1:1 to 8.1:1 size 100 reel work good and the reason the industry is making faster gear ratio reels in the smaller sizes.

Didn't want to hijack this thread, just bring some logic into the discussion.

Tom