How fast can you reel ?

[cyclops2]

I have a couple of lures with no hooks on them. From 1.5" to 6" long. I use them as searching & attractors when kids are gettting to few at a time.  I Have not been able to retrieve faster than SMB. Pike or most perch. Others I can outrun.

 

The real fun is fresh cut bait tied onto the line with no hook.  Just heavy enough split shot to make casts. 

 

I have caught enough fish in my lifetime ?   .

 

 

[ironbjorn]

I'll clock my lipless 40 next time I'm out

 

[scaleface]

40 mph 

[GaryH]

Mine must be really fast. I’ve been out many of times and nothing can catch up to my lures. ?

[MickD]

I don't think anyone can reel faster than any fish can swim.  Except maybe for big catfish or carp. 

 

 I had a couple hybrid bluegills in my decorative pond and when they would feed they would come out from under the lily pads so fast they basically couldn't be seen.  Just a flash and a splash.

 

And predator fish can catch them.

 

The initial runs of all the sport fish I've caught, I believe, are faster than anyone can reel.

 

I've seen smallmouth bass "zooming" after tiny minnows, and they are just a streak across the water.   

[Scott804]

10 minutes ago, MickD said:

I've seen smallmouth bass "zooming" after tiny minnows, and they are just a streak across the water.   

One time I got to watch river otters chase a 3lb largemouth while wading and that was basically the moment I realized that if a fish wants my crankbait he will get it, even if I am reeling as fast as I can. There is no "too fast" in that regard. Incredible how fast fish can be when in immediate danger. 

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, MickD said:

I don't think anyone can reel faster than any fish can swim.  Except maybe for big catfish or carp. 

 

 I had a couple hybrid bluegills in my decorative pond and when they would feed they would come out from under the lily pads so fast they basically couldn't be seen.  Just a flash and a splash.

 

And predator fish can catch them.

 

The initial runs of all the sport fish I've caught, I believe, are faster than anyone can reel.

 

I've seen smallmouth bass "zooming" after tiny minnows, and they are just a streak across the water.   

 Big catfish and carp can swim really really fast . Bigger = stronger 

[throttleplate]

i can reel so fast that i have cavitation burns on my spinner blades.?

[Columbia Craw]

Faster than a game warden can lift his binoculars.

[Team9nine]

You can back-calculate and get a rough idea on actual reel speeds. As an example, using a faster reel in the 31” IPT range, and using a generally standard steady quick retrieve at between 100-120 rpm (handle turn rate), after a little math you end up at around 3 mph. This would be a very common trolling speed. If you burned a retrieve in at 200 rpm, which you probably couldn't keep up for any extended length of time, you might brush 6 mph. Slower 5:1 or 6:1 gear ratios probably put you in the 1.5-4 mph range. Most every fish could probably chase down those typically slower speeds. Faster fish like pike, musky or even bass in very warm water can sometimes be caught trolling in the 5-10 mph range, so in those instances, you couldn't reel faster than the fish could chase and eat. 

[Tatsu Dave]

35 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

You can back-calculate and get a rough idea on actual reel speeds. As an example, using a faster reel in the 31” IPT range, and using a generally standard steady quick retrieve at between 100-120 rpm (handle turn rate), after a little math you end up at around 3 mph. This would be a very common trolling speed. If you burned a retrieve in at 200 rpm, which you probably couldn't keep up for any extended length of time, you might brush 6 mph. Slower 5:1 or 6:1 gear ratios probably put you in the 1.5-4 mph range. Most every fish could probably chase down those typically slower speeds. Faster fish like pike, musky or even bass in very warm water can sometimes be caught trolling in the 5-10 mph range, so in those instances, you couldn't reel faster than the fish could chase and eat. 

That ^^^^ you can't reel fast enough...........

[WRB]

Adult size bass and pike swim about 12 mph, burst speed to 20 mph short distance.

Musky are the fastest and can swim 30 mph.

Compare that to blue water ocean predators like tuna and Wahoo that swim 43 mph with burst speed to 68 mph and marlin can reach burst speed to 78 mph.

Depending on the reel spool diameter, line capacity and gear ratio fresh 8:1 bass reels about 3 to 5 mph with all out effort or less the 1/4 the bass or pike speed.

Tom

[GreenPig]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

 Big catfish and carp can swim really really fast . Bigger = stronger 

When you stick one in the back you'll see serious speed & power.

[cyclops2]

Opening day of stocked trout season in N J . Narrow creek off of the big Delaware River. Cast my 3 corn kernels & split shot in. I set the hook & the speed demon covers about 200' in 1.5 seconds. I am just standing there amazed as it races back the other way. I Release a beautiful MALE 16"  carp. Fantastic speed demon.

[MickD]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Adult size bass and pike swim about 12 mph, burst speed to 20 mph short distance.

Musky are the fastest and can swim 30 mph.

Got good, technical, data?  I have a hard time believing that bass and pike can burst no faster than I can ride my bike.

[cyclops2]

ALL my fish are the fastest ones.

 

 I use 4# test.  ?

[WRB]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

Got good, technical, data?  I have a hard time believing that bass and pike can burst no faster than I can ride my bike.

Researched this topic a few years ago for a reply to a BR thread. Data out there for anyone to research.

Tom 

[Born 2 fish]

You can’t reel fast enough if a bass wants it it’s going to get it. Watch this video till the end. 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

3 minutes ago, Born 2 fish said:

You can’t reel fast enough if a bass wants it it’s going to get it. Watch this video till the end. 

 

That is too cool. 
 

but in response to thread, idk. I hardly ever reel fast.

6 hours ago, throttleplate said:

i can reel so fast that i have cavitation burns on my spinner blades.?

Wait are you for real? 

[Mat_ski]

I reel so fast my shadow can’t keep up, yet the fish do. 

[WRB]

Common adult carp about 9 mph.

Tom

[flyfisher]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

Got good, technical, data?  I have a hard time believing that bass and pike can burst no faster than I can ride my bike.

that burst happens in a fraction of the time and distance it takes you to get up to that speed.

 

[WRB]

Look at the physical shape of bass vs Musky gives you a clue as to forward speed vs turning radius. Bass can turn around quickly they to be maneuverable to catch prey, not forward sustained speed. Musky on the other hand are built for forward sustained speed with big tail, rear fins and long muscular body. Bass are short muscular fish with smaller tail with fins near the center of the body. 

When you look at Salt water fish are streamline muscular fish big tail about 2X their body width for fast sustained speeds.

When you consider a marlin is faster the most boats and bass  about faster as a human can run, swimming speed is based on survival needs. Marlin eat tuna that can swim over 40 mph and escape Mako sharks that can swim as fast as tuna.

 Bass eat slower moving prey in tight quarters where forward speed isn’t needed to escape predators.

Tom

 

 

[MickD]

10 hours ago, flyfisher said:

that burst happens in a fraction of the time and distance it takes you to get up to that speed.

 

Yes, but it has to be faster than 20mph.  I guess there are no data.  We are all just "guesstimating." 

[WRB]

4 hours ago, MickD said:

Yes, but it has to be faster than 20mph.  I guess there are no data.  We are all just "guesstimating." 

Google How Fast Can Bass Swim, paper on bass behavior that states 2.5 X body length per second =20” bass can swim 12 mph.

Tom