Reel ratio?

[bassheel]

What determines a reel ratio for a particular bait for you? Inches per turn, need for speed after the strike zone, etc. Love to hear your opinion.

[Mike L]

Mine range from 6:1 to 8:1 with the majority in the 7 range.
6:1 for on top (except for frogs) and hard baits. 
8:1 for all bottom contact. 

Everything else gets in the 7’s

 

 

 

Mike

 

[MN Fisher]

I'm a little different - and everything is based on IPT

33"+ for Pitch/Punch and Frogs

Under 27" for Cranks and Chatterbaits

28"-32" for everything else.

[JackstrawIII]

When I started fishing baitcasters, I bought really slow reels to force myself to slow down my presentations... but I'm slowly moving to faster reels for most things, because I can always reel slower at times if needed, but I'm realizing that faster reels help a lot for:

1. retrieving your bait after it leaves the strike zone faster

2. reeling down on fish after a bite so you can set the hook

3. keeping tension on the line when fighting a fish that's headed straight towards you 

 

So, I still use 6.3:1 for crankbaits (which I rarely fish) and slow rolling spinnerbaits and chatterbaits... but have moved up to 7.1 or 8.1 for everything else. Swimming baits get 7.1 and topwaters and bottom baits get 8.1 most often. 

[WRB]

Mfr’s stated IPT isn’t close to actual IPT, gear ratio’s are accurate. My guess is the IPT is calculated based on spool diameter but when measured it’s a lot lower.

Spool diameter and width plus line diameter and fill level affects IPT.

My experience is using .012 diameter line on a 100 size bait caster with 8:1 gear ratio the IPT stars out at normal fill level around 28”. After casting 40 yards the IPT drops to 16”, 35 yards is 18”. Mfr’s IPT is 33” for reference.

Tom

[Bankc]

I don't much care about reel ratio.  I can speed up or slow down my retrieve to the get the bait to move at the speed I want pretty easily.  I don't need to rely on the reel for that.   

 

I will say that I prefer a higher ratio reel for fishing some stuff like buzz baits.  A higher ratio reel tends to wear me out less if I'm going to be fishing them for a long time.  Same thing with certain deep diving crankbaits that pull really hard.  But in the opposite direction, preferring lower ratio reels to get more torque.  But outside of the most extreme situations, I don't think it matters much to me.  Even for frogs or fishing in heavy slop, I use my rod's leverage to bring the fish in, and just use the reel to take up the slack line.

 

But to answer your question, lower ratio = more torque.  Higher ratio = more speed.  If I'm in a situation where I need one or the other, I'll choose a reel based on that.  But for 95% of the fishing I do, I really only care about the rod and the line.  The ratio of the reel is a non-factor. 

[Catt]

IDC "I don't care"

 

For 35+ years all I threw was a Calcutta 100A-5.8:1 & a 50A 5.0.1.

 

I did everything  including punching & frogging with em.

[GReb]

I generally buy 6 gear ratio reels because I grew up using them and that’s what I’m used to. I have a few 7 but nothing over that. 

[Alex from GA]

I used to buy Shimano reels with XHS, extra high speed, and the ratio was 5:1.  Recently I bought 2 8:1 Tatulas and they're worth it.  Less fatigue on my old body.

[LrgmouthShad]

5 speed for spinnerbaits,crankbaits, and swimbaits

6 speed all other moving baits 

7 speed bottom contact or baits you work primarily with your rod