Slowing Down With 7.3:1 Reel

[5/0]

Can you use this gear ratio to effectively throw crankbaits by slowing down the retrieve? I’ve looked at numerous articles and posts where the opinions are that it is a lot easier to slow down the retrieve with a higher speed reel than it is to speed up with a slower speed one.
Can you work the bait the same by slowing down a higher speed reel as opposed to using a slower speed?

 

Joe

 

[FishTank]

I use both low speed reels and high speed reels for crankbaits.  I just need to keep in mind what I am doing.  The main reason for me to use lower speed reels is the lower gear ratio seems to handle deeper cranks better when a fish is on and the higher speed reels I can use for cranks, jerkbaits and topwater.  

[NathanDLTH]

I’ll make it simple: crankbaits, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits all get a 6:1-6:3:1 gear ratio. 
 

Everything else is a 7:1-8:1 gear ratio. 
 

If I’m starting out and have 1-2 rods a 7:1 will work in a pinch. Just have to be mindful. 

[MN Fisher]

I do cranks and jerks on the 6.1:1 BC or the 5.2:1 spinner (near the same IPT). Spinners, chatters go on the 7.3:1 and if need be, I slow the retrieve.

[FryDog62]

6 hours ago, 5/0 said:

Can you use this gear ratio to effectively throw crankbaits by slowing down the retrieve? I’ve looked at numerous articles and posts where the opinions are that it is a lot easier to slow down the retrieve with a higher speed reel than it is to speed up with a slower speed one.
Can you work the bait the same by slowing down a higher speed reel as opposed to using a slower speed?

 

Joe

 

Yes. I’m much more in-tune to the proper vibration of the lure so that I can keep the retrieve at the right speed.  I can easily do that with a 7.3 and honestly even an 8.1.  I personally would hate to have a 5.3 or even a 6.8 and have to panic and pick up line faster than the dad-gum reel will allow me.  Focus on the lure feedback more than the gear ratio.. 

[TBAG]

I've got a 7.4 on my backup crankbait rod and sometimes I find it difficult to slow it down after being used to my main CB setup with a 6.2. I just have to pay attention.

[fishballer06]

Depending on the size of the bill on the crankbait, the higher your gear ratio, the more taxing it is on yourself to retrieve the bait. Sure, you could crank really slow with a 7:1, but it's going to feel like your dragging a wet towel through the water if you have a DD22 tied on. 

[jimmyjoe]

  

17 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

Depending on the size of the bill on the crankbait, the higher your gear ratio, the more taxing it is on yourself to retrieve the bait. Sure, you could crank really slow with a 7:1, but it's going to feel like your dragging a wet towel through the water if you have a DD22 tied on. 

  Same here. I judge by resistance. I can easily slow down a 3/8 oz. deep diver, but when I go to a big, heavy, high resistance lure I will use my Curado in 5.5 (200i PG for Power Gear). It doesn't make any difference to the bait or to my line, but it makes a difference to my wrist and forearm.   jj

[A-Jay]

I prefer to use the reel's gear ratio work with me rather than against me.

So I use slower, (5.3.1 - 5.7:1) - medium (6.3:1 - ish) and faster reels (7.3:1 and above) as the presentation & technique dictates.

When I'm doing it right I can reel at the same cadence and just change rigs to get what I'm looking for or need.

Additionally, I would much rather reel a slower reel fast or faster, as opposed to a faster reel slower.

For instance I 'burn' spinnerbaits with a cranking reel. 

Depending on the bait, the blades can & do offer a decent resistance, especially at speed, this makes it easy to turn the handle fast and I can do it all day without wearing myself out. 

A-Jay

 

[Joe_w1234]

18 hours ago, 5/0 said:

Can you use this gear ratio to effectively throw crankbaits by slowing down the retrieve? I’ve looked at numerous articles and posts where the opinions are that it is a lot easier to slow down the retrieve with a higher speed reel than it is to speed up with a slower speed one.
Can you work the bait the same by slowing down a higher speed reel as opposed to using a slower speed?

 

Joe

 

You can, but I don’t know if many would recommend it, but it will work

[Dirtyeggroll]

It is much more comfortable to use a slower gear ratio reel with deeper diving crankbaits (>6'). Its quite a workout to do it with high gear ratio reels.

 

For squarebills and shallow diver I use a 8.1.

[5/0]

Thanks all! My older Curados are 6:1, so they’ll get the moving bait duty.

I just got a Fuego in the 7.3:1 and wanted to get it in the lineup. Since I only carry at most six rods, usually 3 spin and 3 bait, I was thinking double duty for the Fuego.

Now that I think about it, I couldn’t tell you the gear ratios on the spinning reels! It never crossed my mind that it would matter. Live and learn!

 

Joe

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, 5/0 said:

Now that I think about it, I couldn’t tell you the gear ratios on the spinning reels! It never crossed my mind that it would matter. Live and learn!

Just don't directly apply the gear ratio of spinners vs BCs. Spinners usually have a larger spool diameter, so a faster retrieve.

BC - my Nitrous - 6.1:1 yields 23 IPT

Spin - my Trion-30 - 5.2:1 yields 25.9 IPT

[moguy1973]

I'm thinking people are looking at gear ratio the wrong way here.  Sure a higher ratio like a 7:1 or 8:1 will make it easier to reel line in faster than a 4:1 or 5:1 reel will, but it really comes down to what different gear ratios do.  Lower gear ratios reels have more torque which makes turning the crank easier and when you pair that with a heavy deep diving crank bait it makes using that bait all day long, if that's what you are going to do, a whole lot easier.  That being said I've been to a lot of seminars where the pros are using higher gear ratios for cranking because they are studs and can take the pain.  LOL

 

A lot of anglers misinterpret gear ratio with inches-per-turn (IPT).  An 8:1 ratio on one reel may have the same IPT as another reel with 7:1, due to size of the spool and whatnot.

[Raul]

Can you reel in a crankbait with that reel without trying to "slow down" ?

Yes you can but ...... it depends on the crankbait.

Can you reel in a deep/xdeep diver with that reel ? Good luck trying to slow down or good luck if the crank can be reeled in, most deep divers won't stand being pulled with that reel no matter how much you try to slow down, they just roll on their side and won't run true.

So what kind of cranks can be reeled in ?

Lipless cranks, many of the wake baits, lots of super shallow and shallow runners can take being reeled at high speeds and still run true but you'll have to experiment.

 

Reels with those high gear ratios are not new, I got a Daiwa that fast, PT33SH  7.3:1, 31" IPT that must be some 25 years old that I purchased with that function in mind, to burn spinnerbaits and cranks.

[5/0]

1 hour ago, Raul said:

most deep divers won't stand being pulled with that reel no matter how much you try to slow down, they just roll on their side and won't run true.

^^^This is what I was looking for, failed to mention it in any of my posts.

 

Thank you.

 

 

[Shimano_1]

I prefer a slower ratio for crankbaits.  I feel like they have more torque and just feel better. If I wanna burn a squarebill I just crank faster. I think a higher speed just feels bad with a crankbait. 

[LionHeart]

The answer is absolutely.  A 7 speed reel works great for crankbaits smaller than a 6xd.  I find a 6 speed ideal and a 5 speed too slow and torquey for just about anything.  There ain't a wrong answer here.   It's like asking what is the best seat position while driving a car.   It's whatever you are comfortable with. 

[CrankFate]

There is no problem with slowing down a 7 speed reel. But it is not possible to consistently speed up a slower reel.

[swhit140]

I use 6:3:1 & 7:3:1 on baitcasting set up, I only have 1 spinning set up 6:2:1. 

[dodgeguy]

Ipt on a spinning reel will be higher than a baitcaster of the same ratio due to spool diameter. I use a 6.8 to 1 for deep cranks. You can get reels with a 95 mm handle which gives you more torque and makes it easier.

[WRB]

Gear ratio needs to be compared to IPT or inches per 1 full handle turn, IPT is the distance a lure moves forward when you slow down or speed up how fast you crank the handle.

The smaller the spool diameter and width the less line the reel holds and the larger a spool diameter and width is the more line capacity a reel has.

Compare 100, 200 and 300 size baitcasting reel with the same gear ratio;

Gear ratio 7.4:1

Size 100 IPT is 29" at full spool line.

Size 200 IPT is 31" at full spool line.

Size 300* IPT is 40" at full spool line.

*Shinamo Tranx

What is very important is reel line capacity after you cast 50 yards. Size 100 reels loose about 50% dropping the IPT about 50% or 16 inches, reel size and line capacity is very important evaluating gear ratio's.

Tom