What is the ideal reel ratio for...

[pauldconyers]

A lot of you have been giving me some good advice at some budget baitcast reels and I was hoping to get some more advice regarding the ratio of the reels. I have a 7' fiberglass rod crankbait rod and a 7'6" jig (and probably going to have to double up and do frogging with it too) rod. For both rods what would you recommend for the ratio of reel of each rod and purpose and why? If it affects your recommendation I use 40 lb Sufix 832 on all my stuff primarily.

 

TIA

[Backroad Angler]

For both I would get a 6:∞:∞, especially for fishing jigs, as you don't want it to be terribly fast for them. Although you can get away with a 7 gear ratio for crankbaiting, as some people like to burn them. Personally I use the 6 gear ratio for everything, as its got the best of both worlds. It's very versatile and you can fish it fast or slow if you need it.

[pauldconyers]

15 minutes ago, JoshFromBolo said:

For both I would get a 6:∞:∞, especially for fishing jigs, as you don't want it to be terribly fast for them. Although you can get away with a 7 gear ratio for crankbaiting, as some people like to burn them. Personally I use the 6 gear ratio for everything, as its got the best of both worlds. It's very versatile and you can fish it fast or slow if you need it.

You put 6:00:00 is that what you meant to write?

 

[mrcimon]

Cranking 6.x:1

Frogging 8.x:1

 

It’s typically easier to slow down your retrieve than it is to speed up. 

[pauldconyers]

15 minutes ago, mrcimon said:

Cranking 6.x:1

Frogging 8.x:1

 

It’s typically easier to slow down your retrieve than it is to speed up. 

And for jig fishing?

 

Only had 1 rod and needed it to be universal?

[Matt_3479]

I use 6.x:1 for cranks

a d a 7.x:1 for jigs and frogs but debating on trying a 8.x:1 on either my frog or jig rods to give it a shot

[Backroad Angler]

43 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

You put 6:00:00 is that what you meant to write?

 

Yeah those were infinity symbols, meant it as 6 gear ratio anythingf.

[pauldconyers]

29 minutes ago, JoshFromBolo said:

Yeah those were infinity symbols, meant it as 6 gear ratio anythingf.

Kind of figured but wanted to ask. The first digit is pretty obvious but what do the other 2 signify?

[FishTank]

5.4:1 for cranks (or a 6.4:1)

7.3:1 for frogs

[TBAG]

I currently use a 7.4:1 Curado K for my dedicated jig/texas rig setup, but thinking of switching to an 8.5:1, my crankbait rods are both 6.2:1. 

[LionHeart]

6 for cranks.  Just the right balance of torque to overcome the drag of larger crankbaits comfortably, but plenty of speed so that when you want to burn them you wont have to struggle to do it.  To me, a 5 speed is too slow.

 

8 for jigs.  With jigs, you move the lure with your rod, and use the reel for collecting slack line.  I can't thing of any reason you'd not want the ability to take in slack line quickly.  Never tried a 9 speed, but one would think it would be even better.  I just have never felt that I needed faster than an 8 speed though.

 

I don't fish frogs, but the idea is the same as for jigs.  If you could only have 1 speed, 7 would be a good mid point in my experience.

 

[burrows]

7 speed or higher is optimal for jigs.

[Dangerfield]

My 2 baitcasting set ups are basically what you're looking for but I have a seasons experience with both.

 

If I could do it all over again, I would have gone with the 6.3.1 for cranking as other have stated, it's easier to slow down than to speed up your retrieve. My cranking rod, is a 7' MM, so there's a ton of flex half way up the rod, and a good amount of back bone. I double duty that rig for 'finesse' style applications, mainly Ned rig and light t-rigged plastics. Braid really helps with setting the hook.

 

My frog/jig rig was constructed of total compromises. I bought the 735, which is a frog/pitching rod because the 734/704 was sold out and same goes for the 8.1.1 reel, if the 7.3.1 was available it would have been my selection. The rig works great but I wish it was a bit more forgiving and the reel had a reduced IPT. When I triple duty this rig lobbing small swimbaits, I really gotta think about my retrieve or I don't end up with the proper presentation. So many tradeoffs but it works.

 

I'm still eyeing the 734c + 7.3.1 tatula sv as a dedicated jig rig, next up will be a 795+ 6.3.1 zillion or tatula 200 and last but not least a proper finesse rig, something like a HMG/BassX/Fury spinning rod + tatula LT. Oh a dedicated MH travel rig would do me wonders for the trunk and griping from the wife dragging rods back and forth from the cottage. In that case MH Ardito + 7.3.1 tatula/fuego CT.

[mrcimon]

10 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

And for jig fishing?

 

Only had 1 rod and needed it to be universal?

An 8.x:1 should work just fine for jigs as well as frogs. As someone else has stated you’re  dragging a jig and reeling in the slack.  Let us know what reels ya end up with. 

[Boomstick]

It's personal preference. For swim jigs, I would prefer a 6.x:1 ratio. For vertical jigs, frogs and soft plastics, I like a faster gear ratio so I can quickly reel up some of the slack. For moving baits, a gear ratio, 6.3:1 or thereabouts is fairly ideal but I will note that some like it faster to burn them in the fall.

 

I will note that for a moving bait where I'm constantly reeling, I personally find it easier to speed up than slow down. It's just my natural rhythm. Some people find the opposite.

[pauldconyers]

Sounds like if I want this reel only to handle jig/flipping/frogging it need to be a 7 or 8. I am kind of leaning towards the 8. I imagine since there would not be much of a difference in the jig/flipping department it kind of comes down to the frog side of things. Recommend a 7 or 8 for that?

[islandbass]

On 10/3/2018 at 7:43 PM, pauldconyers said:

Kind of figured but wanted to ask. The first digit is pretty obvious but what do the other 2 signify?

The ratio of x.y:1

 

the values of x and y make up a number that describes the number of revolutions a reel’s spool will make with one revolution of the reel’s crank (handle). That last number of one at the end you see denotes one revolution of the reel’s crank. 

 

So if reel’s gear ratio is 6.3:1, that means the spool will make 6.3 revolutions for every 1 revolution of the crank. 

 

A more revealing indicator is the actual amount of line the reel recovers as opposed to the reel’s gear ratio. 

 

The line recovery is dependent on a number of things such as the size of the spool and the amount of line on the spool. 

 

A spool that is nearly empty will not recover the same amount of line as the same spool optimally filled, yet the reel’s gear ratio did not change. 

 

I believe, although I could be wrong, that the last number is probably always going to have the value of 1. 

[pauldconyers]

4 hours ago, islandbass said:

The ratio of x.y:1

 

the values of x and y make up a number that describes the number of revolutions a reel’s spool will make with one revolution of the reel’s crank (handle). That last number of one at the end you see denotes one revolution of the reel’s crank. 

 

So if reel’s gear ratio is 6.3:1, that means the spool will make 6.3 revolutions for every 1 revolution of the crank. 

 

A more revealing indicator is the actual amount of line the reel recovers as opposed to the reel’s gear ratio. 

 

The line recovery is dependent on a number of things such as the size of the spool and the amount of line on the spool. 

 

A spool that is nearly empty will not recover the same amount of line as the same spool optimally filled, yet the reel’s gear ratio did not change. 

 

I believe, although I could be wrong, that the last number is probably always going to have the value of 1. 

This is GREAT info, thank you for this!!!

 

[detroit1]

To me, reeling faster is easier than reeling slower.  I remember when a 6.1 to 1 was a fast reel. Also, the first Berkley lightning rods were "100 mph" fast. (it said so in their commercials)

[Log Catcher]

I use a 5:1 reel for crank baits and have no problems with it. I feel anything else is too fast for crank baits. I recently saw an article by Dave Fritts saying that about 20 or 21 IPT was the ideal speed for crank baits. If you are using really deep diving baits a faster reel turns it in to work really quickly.

[Nitreaux]

I like a 5.x:1 for my deep cranking. Those big billed large crankbaits have a lot of drag and the lower geared reels don’t tire me out as quickly. For lures that I move with my rod and only take up slack with the reel I like the 7.x:1. I have an 8.x:1 only for fishing a lure that I want to burn. If I had to limit myself to two it would be a 6 and a 7.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The only application where gear ratio provides a real mechanical advantage is a 5:1 for deep cranking/high resistance baits. The rest is really personal preference