Gear ratio question

[Justbass11]

What gear ratio should I use for swim baits??? And would it be the same for glid baits??? Thanks for the input

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Big bait specialists like Ben Milliken use everything from 5-8 speed reels for various different types of swimbaits.  There isn't a definitive answer on this subject, it's subjective.  

 

Personally, I use a 7.1 which handles all the baits I throw perfectly fine.    I mainly throw glides, and I think a 7.1 is perfect for them.     I also throw Magdrafts and Bucca Burritos on it.  

 

The juice is really in the rod imho, lots of reels make a good fit.  

[JediAmoeba]

Depends. I use 6, 7 and 8. 8 is good for getting quicker input to the baits. For wakes and slow methodical baits I use a 6. A 7 will handle everything ok.

[MediumMouthBass]

I have a 3 different swimbait setups.

My big one (3-6oz) has an Ambassadeur C3 with a 5.3:1, a little slower than what most would like but it does great for slow crawling 3oz and 6 oz Savage Gear line thru trout.

Middle one (2-3oz) has a Tatula 150 7.3:1, this is perfect for anything. I can reel as slowly as possible for crawling near/on the bottom but speed it up and burn a 6th Sense Trace above vegetation.

Light one (1-1.5oz) has a BB1 Pro 7.5:1, it works ok for throwing 6" Daingerous (magdraft) with a 3/8oz Owner Beast hook. But its not ideal, even when trying to reel it as slow as i can its hard to keep it on the bottom. I think i might switch the reel out for my BB1 Pro in 6.2:1.

 

Point of that^ is to show that each reel speed has a completely different effect depending on what you are throwing, the ounces it weighs, and what part of the water column you want to fish it in. Also how do you plan to fish it and where.

 

Theres lots of questions here, what size swimbait and glide bait/wakes are you using?

What line?

Are you going to be slow crawling on the bottom of deeper parts of the lake? Burning it over shallow grass/vegetation? or Just casting out and reeling back in?

Are the lures fast sinking, slow sinking, floating?

Do you tend to reel in very fast? or slowly?

Does the swimbait have a huge paddle tail/boot tail that makes lots of drag?