Reel ratios, best uses for each

[Heartland]

Crankbaits in general, chatterbaits, slow rolling spinnerbaits, anytime you need to slow down a moving bait.  Just out of curiosity what reel is this we are talking about?

[ChrisD46]

5:4:1 Ratio - deep diving , big crank baits

6:4:1 Ratio - square bill crank baits , spinner baits , chatter baits , swim jigs (the standard ratio for a quite few years)

7:1 Ratio - jigs , T-Rigs , top water (many say the new standard ratio for many things other than deep diving cranks)

8:1 ~ 10:1 Ratio : frogs , pitching , flipping

[greentrout]

 

my mileage .... using high gear ratios 7:1 and up for most everything now ...do use old bc with 6:4 for some spinnerbait fishing ... better rhythm...

 

all my other old baitcasters are now on the closet shelf ... 

 

good fishing ...

[blckshirt98]

On 4/22/2019 at 7:24 AM, Bdnoble84 said:

I have a 4.3 to 1 that ive never really found a great application for. Would you guys use that for deep cranking as well?

Deep cranking, especially large deep crankbaits like a 10XD, and swimbaits you need to retrieve very slowly.

[Josh Gann]

On 4/22/2019 at 10:41 AM, Heartland said:

Crankbaits in general, chatterbaits, slow rolling spinnerbaits, anytime you need to slow down a moving bait.  Just out of curiosity what reel is this we are talking about?

It is a Abu Garcia Revo X 5.4:1. 

I figured I'd use it deep cranking , just wondered if there were any other baits or techniques I could use it with.

[GeekOutdoors]

On 4/12/2019 at 9:25 AM, BassWhole! said:

5.3 good for bass fishing

6.3 good for bass fishing

7.0 good for bass fishing

8.0 good for selling reels

 

And what about 9ish ? ??

[Deleted account]

4 minutes ago, GeekFisher said:

And what about 9ish ? ??

Just like large pickups, fast boats, and loud sports cars, compensating for not being able to please the ladies....

[GeekOutdoors]

1 minute ago, BassWhole! said:

Just like large pickups, fast boats, and loud sports cars, compensating for not being able to please the ladies....

Luckily my fastest one is a 8.1:1, guess Im no more than a marketing victim ?

[MountainMan83]

1 hour ago, BassWhole! said:

Just like large pickups, fast boats, and loud sports cars, compensating for not being able to please the ladies....

Well I ride my bicycle to work and most other places. 00--------->

[Heartland]

19 hours ago, Josh Gann said:

It is a Abu Garcia Revo X 5.4:1. 

I figured I'd use it deep cranking , just wondered if there were any other baits or techniques I could use it with.

It's a fishing reel, fish any d**n thing you want on it.  Stop listening to the media hype and the internet pro fisherman, tie a bait on and go fish.    All this gear ratio stuff makes for good conversation, but it and 8 dollars will buy you a cup of coffee.  /rant

[Spoons1]

1 hour ago, Heartland said:

It's a fishing reel, fish any d**n thing you want on it.  Stop listening to the media hype and the internet pro fisherman, tie a bait on and go fish.    All this gear ratio stuff makes for good conversation, but it and 8 dollars will buy you a cup of coffee.  /rant

Seriously. Its ******* bass fishing. They go after anything on any rod or reel. 

[Deleted account]

23 hours ago, MountainMan83 said:

Well I ride my bicycle to work and most other places. 00--------->

Hipster fixie, or something functional?  

[I'm Blue]

This is funny, back in the 90's when David Frits first came out,  reels where 3, 4 and 5 to 1.

[Josh Gann]

On 4/27/2019 at 12:20 PM, Heartland said:

It's a fishing reel, fish any d**n thing you want on it.  Stop listening to the media hype and the internet pro fisherman, tie a bait on and go fish.    All this gear ratio stuff makes for good conversation, but it and 8 dollars will buy you a cup of coffee.  /rant

Lol, I understand. Just wondering if there where any techniques that were better suited for a slower gear ratio besides deep cranking . since I posted this ive found out it's excellent for me to throw  spinnerbaits on, being that I rarely burn em and mainly fish em slower 

On 4/27/2019 at 1:22 PM, Spoons1 said:

Seriously. Its ******* bass fishing. They go after anything on any rod or reel. 

I guess, but you catch a hell of a lot more if you learn techniques correctly , and the best gear to use for certain techniques and situations . and other than certain parts of the spawn they d--n sure don't go after anything on a rod an reel . Maybe if you're fishing a stocked farm pond or some BS like that. 

[I'm Blue]

It's a gear ratio, not a speed. So I would assume there isnt a "best" there is only a best for individual.
Ive been fishing baitcasters 40 years, kinda developed a rythm,,, that if I real a crankbait handle a certain speed the bait works ok and I occasionally catch something. Fast forward till now hand me an 8:1 reel, cant catch snot. Speed I reel is kinda ingrained.
I imagine if you started with a 7:1,,, you would have developed a slower hand movement than I did, fishing 3 and 4 to 1's. 
Top water baits I can see and judge speed,... these new reels like the Lew's are working out great,, I can see the bait so vary my retrieve speed. I also seem to be catching my topwater fish lately just like back in my clear water days. LOOOOOOONG casts... So works out good make the LOOOOONG cast, reel through the productive zone,,, then can burn it back to boat for another cast.
FOr me,,, I am liking Lews 7:1's for topwater, or baits I can judge by feel like blades rattle traps, and heavy colorodo spinner baits.
For cranks I am liking the Dawia 5:1's Woulda bought 4:1's if anyone still made them from a brand I had heard of.