Top Water Gear Ratio : 6:3:1 or 7:5:1 ?

[ChrisD46]

I know it's not exactly the right time of the year for top water fishing but wanted to ask any way - what gear ratio (6:3:1 or 7:5:1 ) do you use with bait casting gear for walk - the - dog , chuggers and poppers ? - it's possible you may use both gear ratios (depending on the technique) ... Thanks in advance .

[Logan S]

I like a fast reel so that I can burn it in quickly to cast at blowups I might see.  The difference from 6.x to 7.x+ is very noticeable to me in that situation.  In terms of the presentation of the bait, I don't think it matters too much.  

[Bluebasser86]

I use a 7.3 for WTD baits, 6.2 for poppers and prop baits, 9.3 for buzzbaits, and 9.3 for frogs.

[J Francho]

42 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

what gear ratio (6:3:1 or 7:5:1 ) do you use with bait casting gear for walk - the - dog , chuggers and poppers ?

Since I use the rod for these presentations, and it's fairly tough on the hands, I've used whatever was more comfortable, and adjusted to whatever gear ratio the reel had.

[JeepFisher]

I just saw Revo has a 10:1 that i may pickup for topwater.

[Log Catcher]

I use a 6:3:1 for all of my top water fishing. I have used a 5:1:1 for buzz baits. I don't try to run buzz baits like they are on a race track.

[fishballer06]

Generally speaking, I like a 7:1 for most topwater presentations because I want a faster retrieve and I want to be able to pick up line quickly to keep fish from getting down into weeds/wood, and I generally go 8:1 for frogs. However, I have found better success with the Cavitron buzzbaits when using a 5:1 ratio Chronarch E series. The holes in the blade really allow me to slow that bait down and it still stays on the surface. I've noticed the sound and bubble trail that the bait makes is totally different between a 5:1 reel and a 7:1 reel.

 

Moral of the story - use whatever ratio works better for you. Everybody is going to have a different answer because everyone's successes and failures are going to be different.

[Dens228]

Like most here I prefer the faster ratio.  I work the bait with my rod, the reel is just to pick up slack or get the fish in after the hook set.  

[NHBull]

I would have said 7's as it was my comfort zone, but I tried 8and found I could control the fish better, including keeping them in the water until they got in the boat......but it is really personal preference 

[ChrisD46]

Good replies as to what / why you use the gear ratios you do for top water . Not counting frogging - I can now see the need for at least a couple of top water gear ratio bait cast outfits for top water .

[Deleted account]

I don't own anything faster than a 6.3, so I use that. Seems to work....

[Smalls]

I have a rod that pulls double duty for the time being -crankin and top water. It has a 6.xx reel on it.

 

It does great crankin. It does... ok with topwaters. It works, but definitely not an ideal choice. There are plenty of times I have to pause my cadence to make half or more of a reel turn. Works great for wakebaits though, obviously. 

 

For christmas I'm buying myself a longer crankbait rod, and a faster topwater reel. 

[Deleted account]

3 hours ago, Smalls said:

There are plenty of times I have to pause my cadence to make half or more of a reel turn. 

My head hurts....

[Heartland]

I.P. T.  ?

[Smalls]

6 hours ago, reason said:

My head hurts....

Walking a Sammy or a spook across the water as fast as I can, there’s been times that a 6.xx ratio just doesn’t bring the line in fast enough. I’ll fumble the handle trying to reel that fast. Could just be me, I’m not necessarily “graceful”

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Smalls said:

 I’ll fumble the handle trying to reel that fast. 

I don't know if this is "right" or not, but what works for me is keeping the reeling hand off the reel, I basically push, nudge or flick the handle in rhythm as required. I find I usually either want just the slightest amount of slack, or a bunch between twitches. This goes for spooks, poppers and JBs.

[Heartland]

Anyone ever notice why reels of the same or similar gear ratio often retrieve very different amounts of line per handle rotation?     Gear ratio is only half of the equation, I.P.T. or inches per turn might be the better measurement when you start talking about fast line retrieval.

[JustALineWetter]

1 minute ago, Heartland said:

Anyone ever notice why reels of the same or similar gear ratio often retrieve very different amounts of line per handle rotation?     Gear ratio is only half of the equation, I.P.T. or inches per turn might be the better measurement when you start talking about fast line retrieval.

That depends on two factors

 

1) The base diameter of the spool - a larger spool picks up more line per turn

2) How much line is on the spool - a half-empty spool will pick up line slower than a mostly full spool.

 

The gear ratio is still a baseline measurement that gives a general indication of how fast you'll pull line back in.

[Deleted account]

9 minutes ago, Heartland said:

Anyone ever notice why reels of the same or similar gear ratio often retrieve very different amounts of line per handle rotation?     Gear ratio is only half of the equation, I.P.T. or inches per turn might be the better measurement when you start talking about fast line retrieval.

Yes, but IPT only varies in reels with the same gear ratio if the spool is of different diameter and/or are filled to different levels. Most LP reels have spools with very similar dimensions, so the difference is minimal. 

The other thing to keep in mind is that IPT isn't constant. It increases as your lure gets closer. Usually this is not significant, but if you use heavy braid (50-65) or mono (15-20) it may be noticeable on long casts.

[Heartland]

I don't disagree with a thing you said, well almost, I have several spools with different dimensions.  I still prefer to know how much line I am picking up (all things being even) as compared to gear ratio.

 

36 minutes ago, JustALineWetter said:

The gear ratio is still a baseline measurement that gives a general indication of how fast you'll pull line back in.

Technically it is the number of spool rotations to one complete turn of the handle, but I get your point.   I still prefer to speak in term of IPT, gear ratio gives me no idea how much line I am moving.