What gear ratio do you like for bottom contact baits?

[woolleyfooley]

I’m curious what people on here like as far as gear ratio for bottom contact baits like jigs and Texas rigs. Maybe even for stuff like weightless senkos. 

 

It seems most people prefer a higher gear ratio for bottom contact baits with the premise being that you’re moving the bait with your rod and using the reel to take up slack. When I say high ratio, I’m talking about 8.x:1 and up or around 33-35 IPT and up.
 

The other benefit of a high speed reel for bottom contact is that when you need to set the hook, the high speed helps you reel down the slack faster to get a better hookset. 
 

The only downside I can think of would be that higher gear ratios have less power. I can see an argument that it would make it harder to pull big fish out of heavy cover. I think that’s a moot point, as you generally use the rod more to move the fish in those circumstances.

 

So, what do you prefer? And why?

[PBBrandon]

7 or 8 speed, I wanna get that slack up as quick as possible. If I’m horsing them out of cover I’m using the rod and not the reel

[Reel]

Something around 7.

[crypt]

7 to 1 .....most of my reels are that......I throw a lot of bottom baits.....

[WRB]

Gear ratio is 1 factor to consider as it doesn’t change. IPT constantly changes with line diameter, line capacity, spool size diameter and width.

The reel mfr list IPT at maximum filled spool with unknown line diameter, unreliable data.

The BFS reels with very shallow spools filled with small diameter braid line have more reliable IPT the a standard 100 size reel with deeper spool filled with larger diameter line. For example 100 size reel with XYZ gear ratio the IPT using .012 diameter line drop off about 40% after casting 35-40 yards. 8:1 ration will recover line faster then 7:1 therefore when casting lures 35-40+ yards the higher gear ration helps to control bass and recover line faster.

Tom

[Catt]

7.5:1 - 31" per turn

 

Why? Cause I like it 😉

[FishTank]

7.x:1 for soft plastic and 8.x:1 for jigs. 

[Jar11591]

I prefer an 8:1. Wanna pick that slack up in one turn of the handle. 

[little giant]

I use 8 speed as well. 40 lb braid, flouro leader

[Bankbeater]

I'm currently using a 6.3:1.  I used to fish with a higher speed reel, but I was constantly having to force myself to slow down.

[GReb]

6.3:1 

I tried higher gear ratio but found myself spacing out and reeling too much slack in dragging the bait. 

[GreenPig]

8 something

[WRB]

High speed for Abu Ambassasdor reels between 1960 to 1980 was 4.7.1as I recall the IPT was unknown. How many DD bass were caught using jigs and worms over that 20 year proton mono line? Thousands, I caught my 1 st 100 DD by 1973 using 4:7.1 Abu Ambassadors with mono line on jigs and worms.

Today I use 8.1 SLX MGL reels with FC line for Jigs and Worns. The new reels 7:1 are about equal to the older 4.7.1 regarding IPT or line recovered per handle turn.

Tom

[Mike L]

11 hours ago, Catt said:

7.5:1 - 31" per turn

 

Why? Cause I like it 😉

Yep

Thats about right. 
 

Depending on your reel the perceived lack of torque can be mitigated by your thumb at certain points of the retrieve 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike 
 

 

[Alex from GA]

Up until a couple of years ago I used a Shimano Bantam 100 4.7 reel for worm fishing and even caught a fish.  Then, when I used my last one because pinion gears were unobtainable, I bought some 7 and 8:1 reels.  Can't say I'm catching more fish or casting further but they're lighter and wind the worm in faster past the strike zone.

[MediumMouthBass]

I use 7 speeds, because they are all i use for everything thats not a crankbait. Then ill use a 6.

I couldnt tell you a thing about IPT. I just cast, reel, and fish, so far that 7 speeds working well for my Texas rig and jig fishing.

I could see using an 8 speed if i was in very bad areas of the lake (filled with tons if vegetation, that if i hooked a big bass it would run to it fast)

[woolleyfooley]

I had never thought of a high speed reel pulling a jig/Texas rig past the strike zone too fast. When you work a jig/T-rig, aren’t you moving the bait with the rod and then using the reel to pick up slack? I’m not quite sure I understand how a faster ratio would cause issues. Can anyone saying this give me a bit of insight into what they mean?

On 1/24/2025 at 6:42 PM, FishTank said:

7.x:1 for soft plastic and 8.x:1 for jigs. 

Soft plastics as in weightless or Texas rigged?

[FishTank]

7 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

I had never thought of a high speed reel pulling a jig/Texas rig past the strike zone too fast. When you work a jig/T-rig, aren’t you moving the bait with the rod and then using the reel to pick up slack? I’m not quite sure I understand how a faster ratio would cause issues. Can anyone saying this give me a bit of insight into what they mean?

Soft plastics as in weightless or Texas rigged?

 

For me, I watch line to see how much I am picking up and reel accordingly. Once I am past where there might be a bite, I burn it back in. For soft plastic both weighted and weightless, I might reel a little slower or faster depending on the bait so a 7.x:1 is a safe go between. For jigs, I am often picking the line up quickly to make my next cast so a 8.x:1.

 

I also use several 6.x:1 reels. I just pay attention to what I have going on with the bait and line and try not to over think it. 

[woolleyfooley]

On 1/25/2025 at 8:00 PM, FishTank said:

 

For me, I watch line to see how much I am picking up and reel accordingly. Once I am past where there might be a bite, I burn it back in. For soft plastic both weighted and weightless, I might reel a little slower or faster depending on the bait so a 7.x:1 is a safe go between. For jigs, I am often picking the line up quickly to make my next cast so a 8.x:1.

 

I also use several 6.x:1 reels. I just pay attention to what I have going on with the bait and line and try not to over think it. 

Ah, ok. That makes sense!