Ideal reel ratio for jig/frog rod?

[pauldconyers]

Based upon a lot of guys recommendations here I decided on the Dobyns Champion 735C, now to get a reel for it. I am now looking for a reel for this jog/frog rod. I am leaning towards either a Curado K or a Curado DC but I can figure that part out. My question concerns the gear ratio to go with. I am considering the 7 or the 8. I hear a lot of guys say you want the 7 geared reel because it would offer you more power/torque to horse a fish out of slop when froggin or prevent it from getting into a brush pile when fishing a jig. I would think that is more done with the rod but people say the reel is of importance as well. Others say the 8 geared reel is better because you can take up more excess line quicker which is helpful because the bait is moved more with the rod.

 

IDK, I can understand how the 7 might have more power but I can see how taking up that excess line would be ideal. Which is the best route to go here?

[Shimano_1]

I'm a fan of the 7 ratio or more importantly 30 to 32 ipt on the reel.  I have a cple higher speed reels and they're fine but I just find that for me and my style I like the 7. Also for frogging I have always liked the 7 ratio. I'm sure plenty of other will prefer the 8. I find the 7 to be really versatile,  use it for jig, frog, jerkbait,  some smaller crankbaits and a few other things. Good luck

[pauldconyers]

Just as an FYI in the Curado K the 7 has an IPT of 31" and the 8 has an IPT of 36".

[new2BC4bass]

I used, and plan on continuing to use, a Curado 201E7 for my frog rod that I keep in Florida.  Got a new frog rod for home, but haven't decided yet what reel to keep on it.  Rod will be used for more than frogs. Considering a 7 Zillion or 8 Exsence DC.  Time will tell.

 

I am new to frogging...this year was my first time throwing a frog...so I can't offer an experienced opinion.  I chose the reel based on what others use for frogging.

[WRB]

I caught thousands of bass using a 6.3:1 ratio baitcasting reel and considered that high speed because it was higher speed then original Abu Ambassadors 4500C's high speed 4.8:1. I can't remember what my old Langley reel gear ratio was ans caught tons of bass with it.

About 7 years bow Daiwa Tatula R100 8:1 came and I can't see any improvement over 6.3:1 TD HTSA's regarding jig or worm fishing performance.

Tom

[Hammer 4]

You could use any reel, 6 to 8 speed, I used a 6:3 for a long time. In the last year, I chose a 8:1 Tatula, which I really like, due to the IPT.

 

Also, if jig fishing, I'll go to my 6:3...I should mention that for pitching or punching, it's 8:1.

[newyorktoiowa57]

I choose 8:1 because I like to be able to take up the slack on a long cast

[NorthernBasser]

Like others have said, you can use anything in the 6 to 8 range. But ideally, 7 or 8 is best for these applications. 

[MN Fisher]

For me -

Frogs are done with my pitch/flip rig...8.3:1 with 33.9IPT. I'm normally tossing them into lily-pads or across matted vegetation, so if it gets hit I want to haul it out of there as fast as I can.

Jigs I do on the MH/F rig...7.1:1 with 29IPT. Allows me to move it slower if I want but still get the speed to reel them in when needed and the added torque of the slower reel allows me to rip it through any vegetation easier.

[Bankbeater]

I like a reel with around a gear ratio of around 7:1, and about 30 ipt, for for jigs, and bottom contact baits.  The only reason I like that speed is to take up slack when the fish is swimming right at me.  For topwater baits I want a slower retrieve so I'm not moving the bait a whole lot when I reel in slack.

[NHBull]

If your using 1 reel for both, I would get an 8/1. Being able to pick up slack and make more cast is nice

[Dens228]

My bottom jigging rod is 7.3:1

Swim jig is 6.3:1, I use this for bladed jigs too. 

[deadadrift89]

9 hours ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

I choose 8:1 because I like to be able to take up the slack on a long cast

 

3 hours ago, NHBull said:

If your using 1 reel for both, I would get an 8/1. Being able to pick up slack and make more cast is nice

Same for me. Especially since it's dedicated to a frog/jig rod. 

[scbassin]

I must agree with WRB. I am L/H & I used a spinning reel for several years.  Then ABU came out with the 5001 C bait casting reel which I think had a gear ratio of 3.8: over the time I used them I caught 100's of bass using topwater, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, & bottom style baits. In the mid to late 70's Shimano came out with the Bantam Magnumlite Plus 2001 which I think is a 5.1:1 gear ratio. Over the 20 years or so using those reels I have no idea how many bass I caught but it is a BIG bunch including double digit ones. My point is that you can catch lots of bass with lower gear ratio reels. I am a Shimano reel fan & have all the gear ratio's to 8.5:1 but my favorite series is the Antras & Calais they are in the mid range gear ratio's that are super smooth & a pleasure to fish with.

[5by3]

I use 6.3:1s for pretty much every technique and do not fee that I’m at a disadvantage. The 8 and 9 gear ratio reels are probably great too, but imo it’s an escalating game for marketing.

[J5877]

I would recommend a lews superduty  or the lews carbon fire. The shimano slx is a nice one also. But for flipping and stuff I’d go with the super duty 

[Angry John]

I have more than a few reels and almost all of them are 6.3.  I tried a 7.9 and hated it but I do have a 7:1 zillion for punching and frogs.  A low 7 is plenty fast and works well for me.  Dont get caught up in marketing, or what the pros use.  They are out their to make money, and for them a few seconds matter.

[waymont]

A 7 or 8 speed reel will work better for you than a 6 speed reel. First so you can retrieve out of the unproductive areas faster so you can make your next cast. Second, when you hook a fish in some cover you will be able to turn them faster, because the reel is faster. You can use 6 speed reels but they are not as effective, and might tire you out quicker.

[FishTank]

I have both the K and the DC in the 7.x:1 and both are great.  Really for what you are doing the 7.x:1 will be more than fast enough.  I think for frogs, the DC would be a better choice but for jigs the K will get the job done.

 

[pauldconyers]

10 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I have both the K and the DC in the 7.x:1 and both are great.  Really for what you are doing the 7.x:1 will be more than fast enough.  I think for frogs, the DC would be a better choice but for jigs the K will get the job done.

 

Why do you feel the DC is better for frogs? Casting distance?

[FishTank]

8 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

Why do you feel the DC is better for frogs? Casting distance?

 

A couple of the lakes I fish there is a funnel of swirling wind that pushes the lily pads in to one spot.  When fishing a frog, the DC is great at handling the windy conditions.  Some of frogs I fish cast like a bullet no matter what but others can turn into a kite.  The DC will cast consistently.  It makes fishing more fun and less frustrating. 

[RichF]

I use  the 8.5:1 Curado K for frogging and love it. I'd like to switch out all the 7s i use for flipping and jigs to 8s. I know a lot of guys think it's unnecessary but the speed is so important for the way I fish. I like to cover water so when I bomb a frog out, I'm usually not working it ALL the way back to the boat. It gets worked around the cover I'm hitting then burned back in to cast again. A super fast reel gets my bait back in so much quicker so I can cover more water with less effort.

[WRB]

Most of today's baitcasting reels are 100 size with small narrow spools that may hold 110 yards of .014 Diameter line. The 8:1 ratio reels claim 31" IPT, what isn't well known is the IPT after you make a 40'yard cast. Let's say for the sake of debate 40 yards is 40% of the reels line capacity, what is your reels IPT after you cast? 31" IPT drops about 50% because the spool circumference ( Pi X dia) is reduce radically to around 16" IPT.

You now have a 8:1 gear ratio with 16" IPT. 6.3:1 w/26 IPT drops to 13" IPT or 3" not a big difference. To overcome the reduced IPT you need a larger size reel with wider larger diameter full spool of line not higher gear ratio's. 

Tom

[LionHeart]

7 'speed' (roughly 31ish ipt) is a pretty fast reel and there ain't alot it won't do well.

 

Personally I use an 8 'speed' (33 fish ipt) for anything I drag across the bottom or frogs, and love it.  Would a 7 speed work just as well?  Oh sure.  But I prefer an 8.

 

I see guys always make the comment that with the loss of torque, they fear a fast reel won't be able to pull a fish away from cover, muck, or whatever.  That is not the job of the reel or its gears.  That is the job of your fishing rod.

 

Let the rod do its job, and use the reel to take up slack line.  In which case, an 8 speed is better than a 7 speed.  Just my opinion which ain't worth much.