Baitcaster ratios

[Sturner333]

I have a baitcaster with a 6:1 ratio. If I want to add a second reel would you recommend an 8:1 ratio

[JediAmoeba]

Depends what you are doing with it.  Also, the gear ratio is important but really look at the IPT of the reel to get the lowdown on how much line you are cranking in.  

 

For most intents and purposes you don't need to go over a 7.x:1 ratio and that 6:1 you have can pretty much be applied to any technique.  

[Sturner333]

Just curious why have 8:1

thanks

[dodgeguy]

I say yes but put a 95 mm handle on the reel..

[garroyo130]

15 minutes ago, Sturner333 said:

Just curious why have 8:1

thanks

8:1 for faster line pickup when fishing lures that are fished with the rod and not the reel such as plastics and jigs as opposed to lures fished with the reel such as spinnerbaits and crankbaits. 

[Heartland]

23 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

I say yes but put a 95 mm handle on the reel..

Why?

[mrpao]

Longer handle will give it more torque and leverage to move lures and fish.

[Heartland]

4 minutes ago, mrpao said:

Longer handle will give it more torque and leverage to move lures and fish.

Leverage yes, torque no.

[Sturner333]

So a 6:1 and an 8:1 would be beneficial for different bait?

[OnthePotomac]

I say yes to the OP's question and use the 8.1:1 for plastics fishing, which is what I do  with 8.1:1 and 8.5:1 reels.  Faster back with no bites is faster back out.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, Heartland said:

Why?

 

43 minutes ago, OnthePotomac said:

I say yes to the OP's question and use the 8.1:1 for plastics fishing, which is what I do  with 8.1:1 and 8.5:1 reels.  Faster back with no bites is faster back out.

Larger handle gives you more turning torque helping to make turning the crank easier with the higher gear ratio with a load on it like a 5lb bass.

1 hour ago, Sturner333 said:

So a 6:1 and an 8:1 would be beneficial for different bait?

Yes.

[garroyo130]

1 hour ago, Sturner333 said:

So a 6:1 and an 8:1 would be beneficial for different bait?

Yes but id sooner go to a 7 speed reel than 8:1. More versatile and IMO the best speed for lipless cranks.

[JediAmoeba]

I have 21 baitcasters I use regularly - 3 are 8 speed.  If you are only running 2 reels, I would get a 7 because it is a more rounded reel for you to use overall.  

 

This year I have added 2, 5 speed reels for cranking.  8.x:1 isn't great for a lot of applications.  

[MN Fisher]

Five BC rigs here and three are 7-speed as that is the most versatile IMO.

 

My 8-speed is strictly for tossing things into heavy weeds - frogs across the top, flipping and pitching into the mess, etc.

 

My 6-speed is primarily my cranking reel with jigs as a secondary option though I rarely use it for those.

 

Jigs, T-Rigs, soft swimbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, buzzbaits - and more - go on the 7-speed rigs.

[DitchPanda]

I have probably 15 baitcasters...fastest I own is a 7.3 to 1...never had a fish come off cuz I couldn't catch them

[WRB]

IPT* changes with line capacity on the spool, gear ratio stays consistent. * inches per turn (1 full handle rotation).

Combination of larger size spool diameter, width and depth determines line capacity.

Example a typical size 100 bait casting reel 6.3:1 ratio with 110 yard capacity of 12 lb mono (.013 diameter line) the IPT with a full spool of line is 26". After casting 40 yards the IPT is reduced 50% to 13", the gear ratio hasn't changed.

Increase the gear ratio to 8:1, same reel, the IPT at full spool is 33", at 40 yds the IPT is about 17". The reason you see higher gear ratio's using 100 size reels is increasing IPT after casting. 

Increase the reel size with larger and wider spool the IPT is reduced less then 20% after casting 40 yards. The lure speed stays more consistant during the retreive. 300 size reel with 5.8:1 with IPT at full spool is 26", at 40 yard cast is about 22". The larger 300 reel with 5.8:1 is faster retreiving lures then 100 size with 8.1 during the retrieve after casting.

Tom

[swhit140]

I have 6:3:1 that I use on my crankbaits & 7:3:1 on everything else.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Why don’t you use the rod to move the fish and the reel to take up the line?

[Teal]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

IPT* changes with line capacity on the spool, gear ratio stays consistent. * inches per turn (1 full handle rotation).

Combination of larger size spool diameter, width and depth determines line capacity.

Example a typical size 100 bait casting reel 6.3:1 ratio with 110 yard capacity of 12 lb mono (.013 diameter line) the IPT with a full spool of line is 26". After casting 40 yards the IPT is reduced 50% to 13", the gear ratio hasn't changed.

Increase the gear ratio to 8:1, same reel, the IPT at full spool is 33", at 40 yds the IPT is about 17". The reason you see higher gear ratio's using 100 size reels is increasing IPT after casting. 

Increase the reel size with larger and wider spool the IPT is reduced less then 20% after casting 40 yards. The lure speed stays more consistant during the retreive. 300 size reel with 5.8:1 with IPT at full spool is 26", at 40 yard cast is about 22". The larger 300 reel with 5.8:1 is faster retreiving lures then 100 size with 8.1 during the retrieve after casting.

Tom

Hey Tom, ive probably heard you explain this before, but for some reason it's just now really clicking.  

     So if I wanted to be more consistant with the line being taken up at a higher rate, a larger reel (or reel with a larger spool) is what I'm looking for?   basically what I'm asking is, if I wanted to ensure in getting 22inches (for example purposes only) I should switch my cranking or swimbait reel to one of the larger offerings?  That's definately worth looking to.   Thanks for explaining it to us.   I appreciate it.  

[papajoe222]

26 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Why don’t you use the rod to move the fish and the reel to take up the line?

You bring up a very valid point about controlling and bringing in fish after they're hooked. There are way too many proficient anglers out there that never learned how to pump the rod when fighting a big fish.  All they've ever seen is the pros muscle in a nice fish with 50lb. line and a heavy power rod.

I had a buddy out last season that tied into a 30lb cat with his MH/fast rod and 12lb test mono on the reel.  I told him to pump the rod and he had no idea what I was talking about. I talked him through it and after a lengthy fight we netted it. 

[Heartland]

2 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

Technically that is backwards and you get more torque not leverage.  The longer handle will apply more torque to the input shaft.  It's not leverage if the object is being twisted or rotated.  You get a longer crowbar to get more leverage to pry on something.  You get a longer handle or cheater pipe on a wrench to apply more torque.  Same principal but we have special words for each context for some reason.  

The extension of the handle is not accurately described as torque, as torque is a rotational force, the extended length of the handle allows you to provide more torque to the shaft by increasing and using the advantage of leverage.

[WRB]

In simple terms you must crank the reel faster to increase the amount of line recovered onto to the reel spool. Reels hold line rods fight fisht fish.

Tom

[jbrew73]

And to also clarify another area of confusion.  Reels are measured in gear ratio not “speed”.  6 speed or 7 speed would indicate the amount of gear ratios within a device. Like a 3 speed transmission in a truck or a 10 speed bicycle.   

6:1 or 7:1 is how reel gear ratios should be expressed.

[Heartland]

12 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

I got schooled a while ago on this very topic and found it interesting.  

 

It is the extension (radius) of the handle that produces the increase in torque provided that the input force remains the same.  "Leverage" is the use of a lever and pivot point to apply a force.  In slang however we use leverage as a expression to imply that we are increasing a force through the use of a lever or lever length.  In a torque application we say "leverage" rather than radius because we are all laypersons.  

 

"Bubba got a longer pipe and got more leverage on that bolt" vs "Bubba increased the radius of lever arm and applied more torque to the bolt"  We are both saying the same thing but one sounds like a science weirdo while doing it.       

Cool, put a name to the mechanical advantage that is gained by increasing the distance from the pivot point while applying force and I think we will be there.

[WRB]

15 hours ago, Teal said:

Hey Tom, ive probably heard you explain this before, but for some reason it's just now really clicking.  

     So if I wanted to be more consistant with the line being taken up at a higher rate, a larger reel (or reel with a larger spool) is what I'm looking for?   basically what I'm asking is, if I wanted to ensure in getting 22inches (for example purposes only) I should switch my cranking or swimbait reel to one of the larger offerings?  That's definately worth looking to.   Thanks for explaining it to us.   I appreciate it.  

I use size 300 reels for deep diving crankbaits and 300 or 400 size for swimbaits  because of the longer rods and casting distance. Swimbaits are retreived slowly most of the time but when a strike occurs moving the lure quickly to get a hook set and keeping the hook set requires. Crank baits it's important to get the lure down quickly to running depth then control the speed to vary the action. Using smaller reels you wear yourself out trying to get the lure down after a long cast with the low IPT and miss hook sets.

On the other hand I prefer 8:1 ratio size 100 reels for jigs and worms for the lighter weight and balance with the rods I use. 8:1 helps me with long cast hook sets and controlling the bass. 

Tom