Reel on a crank bait rod

[pauldconyers]

Looking to get a budget friendly crank bait rod setup. From all I gather it looks like I want to go with like a 7'2" or a bit longer composite rod. But what speed/characteristics do I need for the reel itself?

[CroakHunter]

I like a 6.4 gear ratio with a fairly high line capacity.

[tander]

I have always used a 5.1:1 ratio, no use to change now. I like and use Lew's BB1. I pair that up with a Lew's David Fritts Perfect Crankbait rod with 14# mono, Sunline Supernatural. Put on a Bandit crankbait and I am ready to go !!!

[Log Catcher]

I have to agree with tander on this. I also use a Lews BB1 in a 5 to 1 gear ratio. I use Sufix Siege mono in 12 pound test. I like the idea of a slow speed reel instead of using a high speed and trying to force myself to reel slower.

[pauldconyers]

Why do you guys recommend such a "slow" reel? Not saying you are incorrect, just trying to understand the mindset.

 

Thanks

[Log Catcher]

As I stated above I like my baits moving slower. If you try running them too fast a crankbait lose its bite in the water and not work like it should. If you are throwing deep running crankbaits a high speed reel will wear you out reeling them in.

[GReb]

Square bills or deep divers?  I prefer higher great ratios for square bills 

[pauldconyers]

Well for me personally I would look for something I could do both with. This rod setup would probably be assigned to do all my crank bait fishing, deep diver and smaller square bills.

[Hulkster]

I use a 5.5:1 curado 200i PG, the last generation, but I don't think shimano offers any USA cranking reels anymore.

 

I also use Sufix Siege mono 12 pound test (on an E6X MBR903c).

 

I like the slower, more powerful ratio for big crankbaits and big spinnerbaits and large inline spinners like the #5 mepps. Trying to retrieve big water resistant baits with a fast reel is difficult and annoying IMO. more powerful is better, but its getting tougher to find higher torque reels. Everything these days is fast fast fast

[burrows]

Anything in a 6 speed is optimal. Maybe lower if you crank those deep divers. 

[Fishingmickey]

     A lot depends on the size of the crank bait. If your throwing the DD22's & 6XD - 10XD sizes you need a slower reel 4:1-6:1 range with serious torque/hp to reel those baits back in. Round reels like the Shimano Calcutta type or Abu Garcia Ambassador's fill that 4:1 range and Shimano Curado 300E's, Diawa's Lexa or Abu's Revo winch are faster but they also have the strength of gearing to handle those size lures.

     With the smaller crank bait sizes you can get away with the higher speed/retrieve ratio reels 7:1-ish. Big baits, high water resistance cranks need a tool to match that size. You can tie them on your high speed reel and throw them with a regular mh/f rod but you'll find your wrist's aching and hands cramping off with your arms falling off if you try to fish this for more then 30 minutes to a hour or so. Hope that explains the need for the lower gear ratio reels. Sometimes you need the tractor and sometimes the Ferrari.

FM 

[bagofdonuts]

another vote for the lews bb1 in 5.1-1. i spool it with sniper floro and love it. i like to reel pretty fast and with this i don't have to worry that i'm going too fast, plus if your cranking all day you'll notice a big difference in fatigue.

I also have an old abu wench that is in the 3's on gear ratio that i use for bigger deep divers.

[OnthePotomac]

Take a look at the BPS ProQualifier reels.  I had one for over three years on a frog rod and even though I am a Shimano nut, I was really impressed with that reel.  I strip my own reels for cleaning and again was impressed with its build.  It cast well and was problem free.  I traded it in on the Spring Classic sale toward a Chronarch MGL and got a $50 credit for it.

[sll]

I prefer 4.9 to 5.4 gear ratios myself for deep divers. If you are referring to deep cranking,  a fast ratio reel will put a lot of stress on your wrists and arms at the end of the day as already mentioned.

[CrankFate]

I use a 7 speed reel for almost everything. Especially crank baits. If you fish a floating crank stop and go, the really fast swim after stoping and floating up usually gets anything that might bite interested in biting. It only takes one crank to get it ripping through the water. You can also skip it on the surface like a frog with a faster reel, which gets the fish that spend their lives looking up.

[FoulHooked]

On 8/15/2018 at 7:14 PM, pauldconyers said:

Why do you guys recommend such a "slow" reel? Not saying you are incorrect, just trying to understand the mindset.

 

Thanks

Think of it like this.........8 year old you is on your 10 speed mountain bike, the higher gears are just fine for riding along the neighborhood just shooting the breeze, but when it comes the time to climb the big a** hills to head off to the creek you will definitely start downshifting. All around easier on everything,  gear, and your body. Also allows for the deeper cranks to stay in the strike zone longer.

[r83srock]

I use a curado 200b38 for medium to deep divers, it allows the bait to run its best for me, and never wears me out. I use a curado E 5:1 for square bills, and a 6:1 Citica G for traps.

[J.Vincent]

Shallow Crankbaits = 26 to 28 IPT

 

Medium CrankBaits = 26 to 28 IPT

 

Deep CrankBaits = 25 and lower IPT

 

This is my rule of thumb unless my instinct tells me otherwise or in rare situations like colder water or fishing pressure

[pauldconyers]

1 hour ago, J.Vincent said:

Shallow Crankbaits = 26 to 28 IPT

 

Medium CrankBaits = 26 to 28 IPT

 

Deep CrankBaits = 25 and lower IPT

 

This is my rule of thumb unless my instinct tells me otherwise or in rare situations like colder water or fishing pressure

This is where I look dumb and ask what IPT stands for....

[Log Catcher]

35 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

This is where I look dumb and ask what IPT stands for....

IPT means inches per turn or how many inches of line the reel takes up in one complete handle turn.

[LionHeart]

Personally I don't care for a 5 speed reel, ever.  At the end of a long cast, you really have to turn the reel handle to get the lure moving.

 

I feel like something in the low 6's is perfect, even for magnum cranks.  It's just a preference thing but I'd rather give up a bit of torque by having a faster reel than have to turn the reel handle a little faster with a lower speed reel.

[Hulkster]

Quote

I also have an old abu wench that is in the 3's on gear ratio that i use for bigger deep divers.

*Winch lmao