Gear Ratio for overall use

[Fishlegs]

2 hours ago, Ravox said:

Hello everyone 

I'm looking currently 2 options to buy on a baitcaster 6.3.1 or 8.1.1

 

My idea is to use with texas rig plastic workms/creatures ,  lipless cranks / minnows etc  and maybe some frogs (don't use too much but possible)

 

what is the recommended Gear Ratio in this case for overall use?

 

Is a bad idea to get a faster baitcaster?

I have both. I really like both, but I prefer the 6:1 for almost everything except t-rigs. The 8:1 seems way, way faster. So fast that I have a hard time keeping moving baits off the surface with it. YMMV, but I'd go with the 6:1 for all around use, and an 8:1 specifically if you need to take slack up quickly. You'll have a nice reel either way though.

[PhishLI]

26 minutes ago, Ravox said:

So may different opinions lol.. im kinda lost now

And there you shall remain until you form your own opinions based on your own experience and positive results. After that, and on a daily basis, you'll be entertained by mind boggling statements posited by seemingly reasonable people that run in stark contrast to what you've seen with your own eyes, or deduced. If at that point you feel tall enough to broadcast your thoughts, they'll conclude that you're nuts too. Have fun!

[BassNJake]

1 minute ago, PhishLI said:

And there you shall remain until you form your own opinions based on your own experience and positive results. After that, and on a daily basis, you'll be entertained by mind boggling statements posited by seemingly reasonable people that run in stark contrast to what you've seen with your own eyes, or deduced. If at that point you feel tall enough to broadcast your thoughts, they'll conclude that you're nuts too. Have fun!

seemingly reasonable people ......

I'll be laughing about that for days, thanks

 

People I work with say I just wanna talk fishing or crypto, both alien concepts to them

[Jaderose]

You've already answered your own question, you just don't realize it.  If you are gonna use this for Frogging.  Even a little.  Get the 8.  You can use the 6 but the 8 is better.  As others have said, you slow down your retrieve for other things but you want that speed with a frog

[Ski]

Let us know what you decide on.

 

[Ravox]

Big questions is any problem to use the 6.1 with texas rig?

[fishingtx]

2 hours ago, Ski said:

Just my 2 cents, If you go 8:1 you can slow your retrieve down if you like, However if you go 6:3 that's as fast as you will go. Just me but I would go 8:1.

 

I disagree. I would go with the 6.3:1 because you can still slow roll things easily and I have been able to speed up my retrieve with it. Why would you need anything to go faster than a 6.3:1?

[Deplorable Fisherman]

2 minutes ago, Ravox said:

Big questions is any problem to use the 6.1 with texas rig?

Not at all. I really only have two hi speed reels. One I use frequently (Zillion 10) and I mostly use that for heavy cover (in to cover, a few jiggles of the bait, then out quickly to hit another spot unless there's a fish on the line then I want it out of that cover asap). Most of my reels are in the 6 and 7 ish speeds.

Up until a handful of years ago, 6 ish speed reels were hi speed and 7 ish were considered super hi speed. 

[PhishLI]

10 minutes ago, Ravox said:

Big questions is any problem to use the 6.1 with texas rig?

That's fine, but here's the thing: The gear ratio, or IPT thing, splits into two camps of people with some who can comfortably slow crank a faster IPT reel, and others who can't control themselves. A typical 7 spd reel is a nice choice if you possess a smidge of self control.

[Ravox]

Just for comparison what is the IPT for 6.1 against 8.1? thank you

[J Francho]

Something with 28-30 IPT works well for most everything. 

[928JLH]

8:1. Just turn it slower in the cold months. You'll appreciate the higher retreive rates after a hookset and a bass charges straight at you.

[Ski]

27 minutes ago, bass4life.... said:

 Why would you need anything to go faster than a 6.3:1?

 With a fast retrieve ratio reel you can retrieve slack line swiftly, set the hook hard and then tame the fish quickly – as well as reel in fast to make another cast – so the speed of the reel has less to do with the actual presentation than it does with managing your line and controlling the fish.

[J Francho]

It's a wonder we ever got along with those hi-speed 5:1 reels, lol. 

[fishingtx]

7 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It's a wonder we ever got along with those hi-speed 5:1 reels, lol. 

I've got an old reel that I think is a quantum iron in 5:1 and I use it for frog fishing.

[Ski]

32 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It's a wonder we ever got along with those hi-speed 5:1 reels, lol. 

I still use one for spinnerbait fishing.

[RDB]

IMO, it’s going to depend on you.  It takes a certain degree of discipline to slow down a retrieve.  I have fished all my life and still have to remind myself on occasion.  If you are comfortable adjusting your retrieve speed based on the presentation, the 8 will probably cover a wider range.  If not, the 6 is probably the safer bet.

[J Francho]

I kind of have to relearn some feel things when slowing way down. Things feel differently when your bait goes bump in the water. It probably doesn't make sense. I have a range of reeling speed that I work best in, which is why I use many different gear ratios. Yet other techniques, gear ratio doesn't matter. I've used from 5:1 to 10:1 for jerk baits and spooks. It takes about a minute to adjust. 

[Ravox]

5 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I kind of have to relearn some feel things when slowing way down. Things feel differently when your bait goes bump in the water. It probably doesn't make sense. I have a range of reeling speed that I work best in, which is why I use many different gear ratios. Yet other techniques, gear ratio doesn't matter. I've used from 5:1 to 10:1 for jerk baits and spooks. It takes about a minute to adjust. 

On your opinion which one should i get for overall use?

[RDB]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I kind of have to relearn some feel things when slowing way down. Things feel differently when your bait goes bump in the water. It probably doesn't make sense. I have a range of reeling speed that I work best in, which is why I use many different gear ratios. Yet other techniques, gear ratio doesn't matter. I've used from 5:1 to 10:1 for jerk baits and spooks. It takes about a minute to adjust. 

Completely agree...and it does make sense.  I would also venture to say you are likely a pretty seasoned angler.  I would suggest that if the angler has challenges slowing down, I would go with the slower ratio.  IMO, the biggest mistake most anglers make is fishing too fast, not too slow. 

[garroyo130]

20 minutes ago, RDB said:

IMO, the biggest mistake most anglers make is fishing too fast, not too slow. 

 

^ if you intend on moving any baits with the reel I would avoid the 8x:1 reels

[J Francho]

6 hours ago, Ravox said:

On your opinion which one should i get for overall use?

North of 6 and south of 8. I have more of those reels than anything else and they're pretty much interchangeable. The faster reels (a couple are 41 IPT) are for very specific things. As are the slower 3-5 : 1. 

[Bluebasser86]

I can't slow down when I get a fast reel and I'm using a moving bait, I've tried, it doesn't work. Fishing a deep crank or big spinnerbait with an 8.1 reel is exhausting too, mentally and physically.

 I used the green Curados for years for everything and caught who knows how many fish on them. If I had to pick one ratio for the rest of my life, it'd be something in the 6.2 range. 8.1 is great for the specific uses I have for it, but the 6 ratio reels are my workhorses that could make work in place of those specialty reels if I needed to. 

[Lead Head]

Im similar to bluebasser. Anytime I try to slow down with a fast reel the second I lose focus or look away my spinnerbait is on the surface (or my crankbait is blown out). I personally do far better just reeling faster than normal when needed. My "do it all reels" are 6. For me, 8 is specifically for t-rig, jig, and frogs.

 

I envy you guys who have no trouble keeping spinnerbaits down with 8 speed reels. 

[Ravox]

1 hour ago, Lead Head said:

Im similar to bluebasser. Anytime I try to slow down with a fast reel the second I lose focus or look away my spinnerbait is on the surface (or my crankbait is blown out). I personally do far better just reeling faster than normal when needed. My "do it all reels" are 6. For me, 8 is specifically for t-rig, jig, and frogs.

 

I envy you guys who have no trouble keeping spinnerbaits down with 8 speed reels. 

I will probably use with all those baits you mentioned decided to get the 6.3.1 reel hopefully i can use with texas rigs also without any trouble