Technique Specific Gear Ratio Question

[Quarry Man]

I am preparing fo my first tournament of the season the second week of June. It is a small event on a small lake (100 acres or less) and most people fish out of Jon boats. Over the last few years, I have had great success with both 3/8 original man chatterbaits, and kid finesse spinnerbait. I have since branched out and built a collection of these baits. I want to build two combos that fish these techniques very well. Basically I go into the middle of a barren lake with 4' visibility in 2-6' of water and cast and reel. There is almost no structure, the occasional boulder and stump but thats it.

 

I am getting two 7’0” MH Mod-Fast Falcon Lowriders. looking at the Tatula SV for both rods, and will like be using 17 lb floro (its also a pickerel tournament) I may switch to 40 or 50 lb braid someday, but im starting with floro.

 

basically, I start my tournament fan casting the two lures into open water and reel them in. What gear ratio should I use? options are 6.3, 7.3, and 8.1

[MN Fisher]

For spinner/chatter/buzzbaits, I'll be using my President in 7.3 if that helps. Putting 20# Power Pro on it.

[Quarry Man]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

For spinner/chatter/buzzbaits, I'll be using my President in 7.3 if that helps. Putting 20# Power Pro on it.

I used very similar reels this year for all three applications, and it worked great, im interested to learn if a 6.3 is better though?...

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Quarry Man said:

I used very similar reels this year for all three applications, and it worked great, im interested to learn if a 6.3 is better though?...

To keep them moving at a decent speed, you're going to be working harder with a 6.3 - have to move the reel handle faster.

[Russ E]

I personally only use 7.3 or higher ,for baits I move with the rod. Texas rig, jig, etc.

People often have a tendency to fish spinnerbaits or chatterbaits too fast.

I stick to 6.3 or lower on most horizontal baits to help keep myself from unconsciously burning the bait.

It still has plenty of speed to keep a buzzbait on top.

 

 

 

[Largies4Life]

I have the Daiwa Tatula SV in the 6.3.1 gear ratio and had no problems throwing the Zman custom chatterbait around all day this past summer. In fact, I used this reel for swim jigs, spinnerbaits, t-rigged plastics, etc. and performed great for me all year around! Totally personal preference I would say. If you are looking to burn your chatterbaits, then you may want to bump up to the 7.3.1.

[Quarry Man]

3 minutes ago, Russ E said:

I personally only use 7.3 or higher ,for baits I move with the rod. Texas rig, jig, etc.

People often have a tendency to fish spinnerbaits or chatterbaits too fast.

I stick to 6.3 or lower on most horizontal baits to help keep myself from unconsciously burning the bait.

It still has plenty of speed to keep a buzzbait on top.

 

 

 

thats a good point, lower gear ratio, more power for baits with more resistance, and faster reels for baits that need slack picked up

[TBAG]

7.3 for those techniques, I use lower 6.3 for crankbaits.

[WRB]

You all realize 6.3:1 was the standard high speed bass reel gear ratio for over 30 years.

Todays reels have wider handles to add leverage but 6.3:1 is still the most popular gear ratio for good reason, it's a good all around ratio.

17 lb FC line on a small 100 size reel is going to be problematic do to line memory.

Toothy fish you may be better off using a highly tieable wire leader with 12-14 lb FC or 15 lb Big Game mono.

Tom

[Heartland]

Is there a reason you are going with two Mod-Fast rods?

 

[Quarry Man]

10 minutes ago, WRB said:

You all realize 6.3:1 was the standard high speed bass reel gear ratio for over 30 years.

Todays reels have wider handles to add leverage but 6.3:1 is still the most popular gear ratio for good reason, it's a good all around ratio.

17 lb FC line on a small 100 size reel is going to be problematic do to line memory.

Toothy fish you may be better off using a highly tieable wire leader with 12-14 lb FC or 15 lb Big Game mono.

Tom

good point, I have only used up to 15 lb floro with no issues, was gonna try 17 lb abrazx. will likely stock its 15 lb for now

1 minute ago, Heartland said:

Is there a reason you are going with two Mod-Fast rods?

 

I feel like they prevent me from ripping the hook out of the fishes mouth, (problem of mine is setting hook to fast and relying on reaction time). I guess its just what I prefer?

[Heartland]

Moderate and Moderate/Fast rods are often thought of as rods to be used with treble hooks, so that you do not tear holes and lose fish.  Faster action rods typically give a better hook set at the end of a long cast with thick wire single hook  especially if the hook is to penetrate a gill plate or roof of the mouth.  Good luck.

[WRB]

Learn to reel set with a firm rod sweep, better % hook set when casting over 25 yards and using moving lures, Carolina and split shot rigs. I use this hook set for nearly everything except vertical hook sets.

Tom

[Quarry Man]

2 hours ago, Heartland said:

Moderate and Moderate/Fast rods are often thought of as rods to be used with treble hooks, so that you do not tear holes and lose fish.  Faster action rods typically give a better hook set at the end of a long cast with thick wire single hook  especially if the hook is to penetrate a gill plate or roof of the mouth.  Good luck.

so would you reccomend the 7' mh fast instead of the 7' mh mod fast?

https://falconrods.com/falcon-lowrider.html

 

[Heartland]

12 hours ago, Quarry Man said:

so would you reccomend the 7' mh fast instead of the 7' mh mod fast?

https://falconrods.com/falcon-lowrider.html

 

Yes, at least, and being it is a Falcon Rod, of which I own several, I might even consider the Heavy Fast if I knew I would be using the rod for baits 3/8oz and up.