Newb alert: Is a baitcaster really a fast retrieve than a spinning reel?

[TimTheWiner]

Good afternoon gentleman.  I am seeking a bit of clarification on something.  A "liesurely" amateur bass fisherman for 15 years on and off, I've grown up and become accustomed to using a spinning reel.  My good friend who always has the best of the best is utilizing a $200 and I'm always in awe at the sick retrieval speed when it's need to clear weeds from the lure from a bad cast, or get some good speed on a top water buzzbait.  He is trying to "convert" me to the realm of baitcast from spinning, but I don't know that I'm 100% sold and certainly fear of the time it will take to become a master so I'm not nesting every cast.  Getting to the point I guess, is I know a lot of it is preference and certain types of bait each type is better, but from what I've read even though a spinning reel often has a lower gear ratio, the spool is much wider diameter (especially when full of line) and thus when looks at stats of "inches of retrieve per revolution" it actually appears that most spinning reels offer a longer distance retrieve than a baitcaster with even a slightly higher gear ratio.  Isn't this spec directly correlated with retrieval speed?  For instance, I am looking at a 6.1:1 spinning reel at Cabela's that states 39" retrieval per revolution, vs a similar baitcast reel that may be a 7.1:1 ratio might be 34" retrieval per revolution.  Further confusing me is the box in the screenshot below.  I know my bait type should be dictated by the time of year, conditions, etc. however I find myself using top waters, buzz baits, frogs and "jerk" baits 90% of the time with decent enough success.  Haven't using rat-l-traps, deep divers, jigs or a spinners for a while.  Any insight is greatly appreciated.  I'm going rod and reel shopping tomorrow to upgrade by aging equipment.

 

 

[Logan S]

You've got it right.  Spinning reels typically have a lower gear ratio, but the 'real world' speed is actually faster than baitcast reels of the same ratio.

 

Example: 

 

Stradic Ci4+ 2500 - 6.0 gear ratio - 35 inches per turn (IPT)

Curado 200K - 6.2 gear ratio - 26 inches per turn (IPT)

 

The Stradic spinning reel is actually on par with the Curado XG that has an 8.5 ratio (36 IPT).  The 4000 size Stradic has 39 IPT with 6.2 ratio....On a casting reel it would take a 9+ ratio in most reels to get that IPT .  

 

There are plenty of examples where casting reels are a better option than spinning, but gear ratio isn't one.  I wouldn't put much stock in 'Karl'.

[MN Fisher]

More examples

Baitcaster: KastKing Speed Demon 9.3:1 gear ratio - 39.1 Inches per turn of the handle on a full spool

Spinning: Pflueger Supreme-40 6.2:1 gear ratio - 38.6 inches per turn.

 

Not much of a difference and one you really won't notice that much.

[MN Fisher]

Oh - one other thing to mention. The higher the gear ratio, the less power the reel has. So hauling in a big fish on that 9-ratio reel is going to be more work for you than bringing it in on the 6-ratio.

[WRB]

Gear ratio vs IPT ( 1 full 360 degree reel handle turn ) is dependant on the reels spool dia and amount of line on the spool. Inches of line = circumference (pi xD) of the spool diameter X the gear ratio. I have no idea how reel mfr's' determine IPT, they calculate it by the outside spool rim diameter because measuring with line 1/16 below the spool rim is always lower.

The average 2500 spinning reel spool is is over 3/4" larger then a 200 size bait casting reel spool.

Tom

[islandbass]

Just because you get a bc reel doesn’t necessarily mean you have to “give up” using spinning gear completely.  
 

This is an opportunity to expand your fishing horizons and add to your arsenal. 
 

Fortunately for you it’s never been easier to learn how to use a bc reel. I’m not kidding. My base line is the curado so if you buy a reel in that class or a comparable daiwa, you will pick it up quickly. I guarantee it. ?

[JustJames]

Nah not much bigger Tom, most of 2500 spool around 45mm 200 size baitcaster 34 mm. 10mm ~ 1cm ~ .39” ~ 3/8” ? 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Nah not much bigger Tom, most of 2500 spool around 45mm 200 size baitcaster 34 mm. 10mm ~ 1cm ~ .39” ~ 3/8” ? 

Tom's probably talking circumference rather than diameter as the distance around the spool affects IPT. +3/8" diameter is +1.18" circumference.

[JustJames]

Let see here from shimano japan the 2500 using 46.5mm spool

46.5mm = 4.65cm = circumference of 14.608cm time by revolution of gear 6 = 87.65cm divided by 2.5 = 35.06” per turn of handle.

Im just messing with you Tom lol.

 

[RoLo]

 

Speed & Power move lockstep in 'opposite' directions.

Go very easy on high-speed reels (i.e. IPT), because the farther you depart from a 'Handline',

the more power you give up (that's physics).

 

Roger

 

 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

Speed & Power move lockstep in 'opposite' directions.

Go easy on high speed reels (i.e. IPT), because the farther you depart from a 'Handline',

the more power you give up (that's physics).

 

Roger

 

 

I thought I said that.

[Nibbles]

I mean it's basically no different than with a car transmission. You go faster when shifted into the higher gears but give up torque in the process.

 

Now I'm just wondering when Daiwa will release an overly engineered enthusiast reel with gear shifting...

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Nibbles said:

Now I'm just wondering when Daiwa will release an overly engineered enthusiast reel with gear shifting...

Just downsize the already (for years) available dual-speed salt water reels.

Shimano has a couple models, so does Diawa...other brands too probably.