First baitcaster…gear ratio selection

[bgaviator]

I think I’m gonna pull the trigger on my first baitcaster. I’m looking at the Daiwa Tatula CT. Just not sure what gear ratio to select. I’m torn between the 6.3:1 or the 7.3:1 model. I want it to be super versatile. I want to pretty much be able to do all techniques. I really enjoy weightless Texas rig setups and I like fishing squarebills and lipless cranks as well. Also enjoy fishing Zoom flukes. Appreciate advice. Thanks. 

[Sphynx]

If you want an all around you'll probably enjoy the 6 speed reel more if your going to be doing any cranking on it, if you don't crank get the 7 speed, you could use the 7 speed for cranking too, but it will be more fatiguing on you.

[Hammer 4]

The 6 speed will work for many applications.

[DaubsNU1]

6 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

The 6 speed will work for many applications.

 

I have two 6.2:1 and two 5.2:1's....they all four work great.

 

I prefer the 5.2's, for what it's worth. 

 

 

[purpurite]

2 hours ago, bgaviator said:

Just not sure what gear ratio to select. I’m torn between the 6.3:1 or the 7.3:1 model. I want it to be super versatile. I want to pretty much be able to do all techniques. I really enjoy weightless Texas rig setups and I like fishing squarebills and lipless cranks as well. Also enjoy fishing Zoom flukes.

 

Very similar to what I enjoy. I bought my first baitcaster this past spring, and went with a 6.6:1 ratio. I like it very much, but a couple of months later I bought a 7.3:1 ratio baitcaster. I tend to prefer the faster rate. I just find it more comfortable and easier to make it do what I want. I can slow up my crank speed if I want it to have less speed. I built up my 6.6:1 as a frog reel for heavy lettuce, and it works great. I like the faster speeds to the point that I just picked up an 8.0:1 reel to play with this fall. YMMV.

 

 

Doug

[bulldog1935]

I always prefer longer handles on high speed reels to find more finesse on working the lure.  

 

I'll vote with the lower speed guys without that change.  

[BrianMDTX]

2 hours ago, bgaviator said:

I’m looking at the Daiwa Tatula CT. Just not sure what gear ratio to select. I’m torn between the 6.3:1 or the 7.3:1 model.

I have a Tatula 100H in 6.3:1 on a Dobyns Fury 705CB. It’s a great rig for crankbaits. 

[Lead Head]

I find it far easier to speed up when needed than slow down. When using a 6 for t-rigs i notice it is slower than a 8, but its not much of a inconvenience. When I tried using a 7 or 8 for moving baits, the second I lost complete focus on my retrieve I would be screaming the bait way too fast. So for me, if I only had 1 reel and had to choose between spending a extra second getting my bottom contact lure back for another cast, and completely spoiling a good presentation, I would spend the extra second getting a lure in every time.

 

Most of my bottom fishing is shorter casts anyway so I'm likely losing fractions of a second. For me, frog fishing is about the only presentation that would be annoying with a slower reel, even then it wouldn't spoil any casts, just annoy me get back the lure on long casts.

 

This is all my personal experience, some people have no trouble slowing way down with fast reels... I'm not one of them.

[keagbassr]

I  like a 6x speed reel for all purpose

 I have a rod that is my"do all" set up and it has a 6 and ive done about everything with it without issue; spinner and buzbaits, squarebils ,tx.rigs ,jig, toads topwaters, even jerkbaits.

[LCG]

I would look at it from an inches per turn (ipn) point of view. There may be only a few inches of difference between the gear ratios. I tend to like 28-31 ipt which is generally a 7 speed reel. Then theres the whole retrieval rate diffence between a full spool and a 40yd cast due the the diameter of the spool/line, etc. Like anything,it gets more complex the deeper you dive into it. 

[FishTank]

The lower speed would be my choice.  If you want to move a bait quicker, I would just reel faster. 

[huZZah]

2 hours ago, LCG said:

I would look at it from an inches per turn (ipn) point of view.

This. I found I prefer 7.1ish overall cause I’m just way better at managing my retrieve. To each their own. I started with a 6.2…it’s now my crankbait rig.  But I never lost a fish cause I couldn’t crank it fast enough. 
The higher speed reel comes in when you’re having to work up that slack every cast. Moving baits it’s not such a big deal, although my spinner/swimbait rig is 7.2 cause I throw top waters on it too. Took practice to slow down my turns but it’s muscle memory now. 

[GreenPig]

1st I'd start with a 6 

[Kenny Yi]

I actually prefer 7 speed reels, I like rod-working baits, but I feel that I can comfortably slow down for any cranking application, that's where I started

 

However, a 6.8 speed reel seems like the true jack of all trades speed, imo

[CrankFate]

I prefer a 7 speed. But like @bulldog1935 said, they are better with longer handles.