In what application(s), would you need a reel with 8.1:1 gear ratio?

[Eddie101]

I'm looking at a new Metanium reel which basically offers two models w/diff gear ratio; 7.1:1 and 8.1:1. All my reels are old - like me - so I want to try something new and "different". I think my old Calcutta 100 reel has something like 5.8:1 ratio which, by the way, has served me well over the years. Anyway, coming from a layman, I'd think 7.1:1 is plenty for any bassfishing applications so where would you need 8.1:1 gear ratio for? Just to make one x-tra cast before you call it a day? 

[PourMyOwn]

They're nice for buzz baits, but you said "need." I don't think they're a necessity for any lure, but they sure are nice. 

[RichF]

I'm a big fan of 8's for pitching a jig.  I fish fast and cover a lot of water.  The 8's help get my bait back to the boat faster so I can hit more targets.  I also like them for open water frogging for the same reason.  

[Matt_3479]

I like them for frogging, pitching a jig or t-rig. Just allows you to bit your targeted zone, get back to the boat fast to get to the next Targeted zone. And for frogs it allows you to try and get the fish out of the slop as fast as possible before he gets you tangled and wrapped up 

[Heartland]

Because the newer reels sometimes  have small shallow spools to aid in the casting of lighter baits it is not advisable to use gear ratio alone to determine the speed of a reel.    Sometimes gear ratio's like 7.1:1 and 8.1:1 can be misleading in terms of reel speed with the lower gear ratio recovering more line due to the spool size. The better standard for reel speed is IPT, this will give you a range in Inches Per Turn of the handle, and give you a true idea of just how fast a reel is. 

 

Faster reels are good for a lot of the things mentioned in previous posts and I would add a buzz bait to that list, they help get the bait on top of the water quickly.   However I do feel that a lot of the speed thing is just another tool of the marketing team to sell reels.      

[Jig Man]

I use 7s and 8s for  everything except Arigs, then 5s.

[Luke Barnes]

I have a 8.2 I just got that I use for frogging and jigging. I like it alot. Even when I burn it back in, its not insanely blazing fast. I feel like it's still manageable if i wanted to throw a spinnerbait or crankbait, I just feel slower. But wont try it because it's on a 7'2 H with 60lb braid!

[waymont]

8 speed reels are my preferred reels for jigs and T-rigs. Everything else I rock a 6 and 7.

[Dens228]

IF, and that's IF I was going to use a ratio that high, maybe topwater frogs or bottom jigs. To get the lure back to me for another cast once I'm past my target area. 

 

[bwjay]

Any technique where you take up slack (like bottom contact) benefits from a higher gear ratio. I also like it for frogs; when I've covered the area I want to cover or I see a blowup, I burn it back in and cast it back out. It's not a night and day difference from a 7:1 ratio reel but it's definitely a better option. It is a bit fast for chatterbaits/spinnerbaits/cranks though and it takes some concentration to slow down. I prefer a 7:1 as an all around ratio.

[RoLo]

 

Casting for $100 bills

[Bankc]

I can't tell the difference between a 7.1 or 8.1, unless I just immediately switched from one to the other.  Basically, if you spin a 8.1 reel's handle around 7 times, you get the eighth turn for free.  So it only saves you one rotation out of every 8 rotations versus using a 7.1 ratio reel.  If you're reeling so much or so fast that it makes you uncomfortable, then that extra turn might make a difference at the end of the day.  But for me, they're more or less the same.  You almost have to double the ratio before I start thinking in terms of "this reel is better for this and that reel is better for that" based on ratio alone.  

[BassNJake]

2 hours ago, Heartland said:

Because the newer reels sometimes  have small shallow spools to aid in the casting of lighter baits it is not advisable to use gear ratio alone to determine the speed of a reel.    Sometimes gear ratio's like 7.1:1 and 8.1:1 can be misleading in terms of reel speed with the lower gear ratio recovering more line due to the spool size. The better standard for reel speed is IPT, this will give you a range in Inches Per Turn of the handle, and give you a true idea of just how fast a reel is. 

 

Faster reels are good for a lot of the things mentioned in previous posts and I would add a buzz bait to that list, they help get the bait on top of the water quickly.   However I do feel that a lot of the speed thing is just another tool of the marketing team to sell reels.      

When I was searching for a specific type of reel, I was amazed that someones 7.1 would reel in 2 inches per turn more than another reel. Also depending on how full the spool is also affects the inches per turn

[ChrisD46]

4 hours ago, Matt_3479 said:

I like them for frogging, pitching a jig or t-rig. Just allows you to bit your targeted zone, get back to the boat fast to get to the next Targeted zone. And for frogs it allows you to try and get the fish out of the slop as fast as possible before he gets you tangled and wrapped up 

+1  ... There you go !

[Hammer 4]

4 hours ago, Heartland said:

Because the newer reels sometimes  have small shallow spools to aid in the casting of lighter baits it is not advisable to use gear ratio alone to determine the speed of a reel.    Sometimes gear ratio's like 7.1:1 and 8.1:1 can be misleading in terms of reel speed with the lower gear ratio recovering more line due to the spool size. The better standard for reel speed is IPT, this will give you a range in Inches Per Turn of the handle, and give you a true idea of just how fast a reel is. 

 

Faster reels are good for a lot of the things mentioned in previous posts and I would add a buzz bait to that list, they help get the bait on top of the water quickly.   However I do feel that a lot of the speed thing is just another tool of the marketing team to sell reels.      

^^^^^ This.

[Chip189]

On 7/13/2020 at 3:15 PM, ChrisD46 said:

+1  ... There you go !

It has no torque when hooked up to a big fish, idc if you have a 12:1 ratio reel, I bet a 6:1 gets it out and to the boat quicker💯

[steve carpenter]

I always have always used 6.something reels. I can fish them faster or slower as needed. Like to be consistent.

[padlin]

My SIL uses a RevO Rocket for almost everything, suppose once you’re used to it you can crank as slow as you want.

[Jar11591]

I use an 8.x:1 for applications where I’m using the rod to move the bait. Topwaters, jigs, plastics etc. I want to be able to pick up that slack with a single turn of the reel

handle.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

“Need” imo , none. A 5.x :1 for deep cranking, big Colorado blade spinners or other high resistance baits is the only application where I see a mechanical advantage. The highest speed reels are just a preference. 

[WRB]

You never had high speed bait casting reels until Smaller more compact 100 size reels with small diameter narrow Spools became popular. The reason is IPT after casting 30 to 40 yards reduced the IPT up to 40%. This means your 8:1 gear ratio is only recovering 18” to 20” of line per handle rotation at the end of the cast.

The ABU Ambassador reel of yesteryear are equal to today’s 300 size casting reels that hold the IPT rate after casting. The Ambassador reel with 5.3:1 had a higher IPT after casting 35 yards todays 100 size reels with 8:1!

Tom

[PaulVE64]

I only use spinning gear but I need alot of line pickup on the rivers I fish.

Anything I throw upstream comes back really fast

[Catt]

Y'all fish way too fast!

 

Even with buzzbaits I prefer a slow revive, I use a 5.0:1, same with spinnerbaits.

 

Soon y'all gonna throw it out, reel it in, & it will never touch water.

[JediAmoeba]

9 minutes ago, Catt said:

Y'all fish way too fast!

 

Even with buzzbaits I prefer a slow revive, I use a 5.0:1, same with spinnerbaits.

 

Soon y'all gonna throw it out, reel it in, & it will never touch water.

I have a 10:1 reel mostly for buzzbaits...

Of the baitcasters I fish frequently I have the following:

5.x:1 - 4

6.x:1 - 8

7.x:1 - 14

8.x:1 - 4

10.x:1 - 1

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, JediAmoeba said:

Of the baitcasters I fish frequently I have the following:

My entire arsenal is such:

6x:1 - 2 - My two crank rigs - one for shallow-mid/squarebills/lipless, one for mid-deep

8x:1 - 2 - Pitching & Frogs/Buzzbaits

7x:1 - 9 - Everything else