Deep Cranking

[RTipton]

I just started doing some deep cranking and man, is it fun (nice slab crappie even had to have it)! First, I would define deep cranking as 6XD and up (16 plus feet). I have not thrown a 10XD style bait yet.

 

My question is around reel gearing. I understand, like most everything else, its very much a personal preference. I have read up on quite a bit and have seen a 5 gear ratio reel recommended, and then some say a 6 is fine.

 

What I would like to ask is - have any of you that are into this specifically tried a 5 and a 6 ratio on deep cranks, and did you feel like it makes that much of a difference? 

 

 

 

[Bankc]

It's just a difference on your hands.  The lower the ratio, the faster you have to crank, but the less resistance there is against the handle.  So in theory, a slower reel will be easier on your hands during a long day.  

 

Personally, I kind of like the 7:1 ratio reels for deep cranking.  I can get the lure down to depth quicker, and I don't find that they wear me out.  However, I work with my hands all day, so I tend to have stronger hands than most people.  

[garroyo130]

I bank fish but am able to throw deep cranks (16-20ft) due to the slope of the quarry I fish so take that for what its worth. Anyhow, as I've mentioned before, the big difference for me is that I feel like sensitivity is increased with the slower reel. Personally once I hit bottom I slow down and crawl the crank as opposed to others who burn it through, and a slower reel helps me react to changes in bottom contour quicker. 

 

As mentioned above with modern cranks its more about personal preference. The only deep crank I have that pulls a bit much for a 6 ratio is the Hot Lips Express.

[mrpao]

I like a 5 gear ratio for all my crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Thats just personal preference.

[Bluebasser86]

I've used both and found the 5 to be much easier on me if I was doing it for an extended period of time. 

[Columbia Craw]

I don’t do 10XD but pretty close to it and  although I’ve run 5 ratios for years, I went with a 6.3 in a 200 series. The 100 mm handle is the deal. I have no fatigue issues.

[GreenPig]

Crank with a 6 ratio for anything under 8xd. 8xd and up I'll pull out the 5 ratio.

[CountryboyinDC]

It's probably something like with bicycle pedaling, there's an optimal rotations per minute range where you find that you fatigue less (with bicycling, most of us are around 80 RPM).  I know that I prefer 5:1 reels for most cranking, just because unless it's square Bill's or something I want to burn, I have a tendency to go too fast.  Be warned that deep cranking will wear you out, and not just the arm/wrist/hand doing the cranking.  I fish from a kayak, and I tend to approach the target area staying a ways off, cast and retrieve a little, then pedal backward.  It's the only way I can hit 20' or more and it leaves me less tired than cranking hard pulling plugs.

[Dwight Hottle]

For deep cranking I use a bantam PG 5.5 & a curado 200 PG in 5.5 both with Hawgtech 110 mm handle. This is the best equipment for throwing 10xds with a low profile reel from my experience to reduce fatigue.

[RTipton]

22 hours ago, Bankc said:

It's just a difference on your hands.  The lower the ratio, the faster you have to crank, but the less resistance there is against the handle.  So in theory, a slower reel will be easier on your hands during a long day.  

 

Personally, I kind of like the 7:1 ratio reels for deep cranking.  I can get the lure down to depth quicker, and I don't find that they wear me out.  However, I work with my hands all day, so I tend to have stronger hands than most people.  

Thank you, makes sense!

21 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

I bank fish but am able to throw deep cranks (16-20ft) due to the slope of the quarry I fish so take that for what its worth. Anyhow, as I've mentioned before, the big difference for me is that I feel like sensitivity is increased with the slower reel. Personally once I hit bottom I slow down and crawl the crank as opposed to others who burn it through, and a slower reel helps me react to changes in bottom contour quicker. 

 

As mentioned above with modern cranks its more about personal preference. The only deep crank I have that pulls a bit much for a 6 ratio is the Hot Lips Express.

I appreciate the response. That is very interesting on the sensitivity. 

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I've used both and found the 5 to be much easier on me if I was doing it for an extended period of time. 

Thats a good point - I imagine the difference is more significant depending on how long you are deep cranking. 

[Deleted account]

Lower gear Ratio, longer handle, and bigger knobs, proportional to the size and depth of the cranks I'm fishing.

[RTipton]

9 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

I don’t do 10XD but pretty close to it and  although I’ve run 5 ratios for years, I went with a 6.3 in a 200 series. The 100 mm handle is the deal. I have no fatigue issues.

Ahhh, didn't think about the handle length. Thank you!

5 hours ago, CountryboyinDC said:

It's probably something like with bicycle pedaling, there's an optimal rotations per minute range where you find that you fatigue less (with bicycling, most of us are around 80 RPM).  I know that I prefer 5:1 reels for most cranking, just because unless it's square Bill's or something I want to burn, I have a tendency to go too fast.  Be warned that deep cranking will wear you out, and not just the arm/wrist/hand doing the cranking.  I fish from a kayak, and I tend to approach the target area staying a ways off, cast and retrieve a little, then pedal backward.  It's the only way I can hit 20' or more and it leaves me less tired than cranking hard pulling plugs.

I agree, its taxing on you. 

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

For deep cranking I use a bantam PG 5.5 & a curado 200 PG in 5.5 both with Hawgtech 110 mm handle. This is the best equipment for throwing 10xds with a low profile reel from my experience to reduce fatigue.

I see a Bantam in PG in the JDM version, but I havent found a Curako K in PG. Do they make it?

5 minutes ago, RTipton said:

Ahhh, didn't think about the handle length. Thank you!

I agree, its taxing on you. 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

27 minutes ago, RTipton said:

Ahhh, didn't think about the handle length. Thank you!

I agree, its taxing on you. 

I see a Bantam in PG in the JDM version, but I havent found a Curako K in PG. Do they make it?

 

 

Most of the PG's are offered in JDM but not USM. 

[Bankc]

One thing I forgot to mention is the longer handle.  I like the higher than normal gear ratios for deep cranking, but the longer handle is key.  It gives you more leverage, and allows you to rotate your hand in a larger circle.  It doesn't have to be a super long handle.  A lot of modern reels come with 100-110mm handles, and that's plenty long enough for me.  

[JWOA]

i personally like 5.1 reels my hands hurt very hard after use with anything harder