For shallow-medium cranking (3-5’ rivers) do I want a 6 or a 7 speed reel?

[dk2429]

I use a 7.3:1 for square bills and a 6.2:1 for deep divers (5XD/6XD)

 

The 7:1 for shallow divers is perfect IMO. But for the deep divers, I honestly wouldn’t mind a 5:1. 6:1 works fine but man it can get tiresome. 

[Ohioguy25]

4 hours ago, dk2429 said:

I use a 7.3:1 for square bills and a 6.2:1 for deep divers (5XD/6XD)

 

The 7:1 for shallow divers is perfect IMO. But for the deep divers, I honestly wouldn’t mind a 5:1. 6:1 works fine but man it can get tiresome. 

Would you consider a 5-9’ rock crawler to fall more under shallow or deep?

[rangerjockey]

medium

[dk2429]

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

medium

Yep 

[Ohioguy25]

15 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

medium

 

13 hours ago, dk2429 said:

Yep 

Right, I realize it is obviously classified as a medium crank I’m just wondering if I should treat it under the high resistance category that necessitates more torque or if the retrieve is closer to that of a squarebill.

[rangerjockey]

8 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 

Right, I realize it is obviously classified as a medium crank I’m just wondering if I should treat it under the high resistance category that necessitates more torque or if the retrieve is closer to that of a squarebill.

The most important thing when fishing a Rk Crawler or wiggle wart is to get it down in the rocks or bottom and bouncing around and digging. They don't pull like a 6xd or dd22 but it's just a different technique than a squarebill.

I can tell you that they guy who designed the Rk crawler lives on Table Rock and he fishes it on a 5:1 in the winter and 6:1 as the water warms up.

 

[Ohioguy25]

9 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

The most important thing when fishing a Rk Crawler or wiggle wart is to get it down in the rocks or bottom and bouncing around and digging. They don't pull like a 6xd or dd22 but it's just a different technique than a squarebill.

I can tell you that they guy who designed the Rk crawler lives on Table Rock and he fishes it on a 5:1 in the winter and 6:1 as the water warms up.

 

Why does he fish it with such a slow reel?

[rangerjockey]

3 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Why does he fish it with such a slow reel?

Because in cold water they just aren't as active. IMHO about 53 degrees is where they will start to chase a wiggle wart. I like 55 and up. 

Mike McClelland designed the RC to be a deeper version of the wart.

Spro has several versions of it now including the 50 size.

Back in the day we used to throw the wart on 6lb line on a bait caster in a effort to get it deeper. 

[dk2429]

18 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 

Right, I realize it is obviously classified as a medium crank I’m just wondering if I should treat it under the high resistance category that necessitates more torque or if the retrieve is closer to that of a squarebill.

I’d personally roll with a 6:1 for that 

[Ohioguy25]

38 minutes ago, rangerjockey said:

Because in cold water they just aren't as active. IMHO about 53 degrees is where they will start to chase a wiggle wart. I like 55 and up. 

Mike McClelland designed the RC to be a deeper version of the wart.

Spro has several versions of it now including the 50 size.

Back in the day we used to throw the wart on 6lb line on a bait caster in a effort to get it deeper. 

Ah gotcha you said once the water warms up I took that to mean prime time. I am not fishing the deep crawler, just the 55 (5-9’) on 12 lb fluro in 55-70 degree water. 

5 minutes ago, dk2429 said:

I’d personally roll with a 6:1 for that 

Problem is I am also throwing shallow squarebills on this setup as well.

[rangerjockey]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Ah gotcha you said once the water warms up I took that to mean prime time. I am not fishing the deep crawler, just the 55 (5-9’) on 12 lb fluro in 55-70 degree water. 

Problem is I am also throwing shallow squarebills on this setup as well.

6:1 would be fine for both.