What's the proper gear ratio for crankbaits??

[The Rooster]

Is a 6.4 or 6.1 or similar gear ratio too fast for crankbaits??  I read once that it should be slower, like 5.1 or less.  

[Raul]

It depends on the type of crankbait.

[The_Natural]

No.  I've come full circle.  I had a Quantum 3.8 gear ratio crankin' reel back in the day.  Waaaay slow.  The 5.1:1 was my choice for a while, but these days I like a 6.2:1.  Why?  You can get conditioned to crank it slow...any experienced crankbaiter can feel the amount of resistance coming from their rod tip coupled with the rate of vibration coming from the bait to determine the proper retrieve speed.  The higher gear ratio lets me reel in my bait faster when I am out of the strike zone, and is just more conducive to power fishing.

[The Rooster]

Makes sense to me.  I have had decent luck this year using my 6.4:1 BPS Extreme reel and cranking Bandit crankbaits.  Caught several bass using that reel and never felt like I was overfishing the lure with excessive speed.  

So, anyone looking for a new baitcast combo for crankbaits, would you just go ahead and get a 6.1 to 6.4 ratio reel??  I'm looking for a new setup to fish crankbaits with, and the reel I have now I'm about to make my jigging rod reel.  Since I'll need a new one would you just stick with the same ratio or get something slower??  I was looking at the good deals I can get right now on the Quantum Accurist AC500CX reel, but it's 6.2:1 and I thought it might be too fast.  

[Fishing Doug]

No. I've come full circle. I had a Quantum 3.8 gear ratio crankin' reel back in the day. Waaaay slow. The 5.1:1 was my choice for a while, but these days I like a 6.2:1. Why? You can get conditioned to crank it slow...any experienced crankbaiter can feel the amount of resistance coming from their rod tip coupled with the rate of vibration coming from the bait to determine the proper retrieve speed. The higher gear ratio lets me reel in my bait faster when I am out of the strike zone, and is just more conducive to power fishing.

X2 I like a 6.2:1 as well. I am better at slowing down a fast reel than speeding up a slow reel.....

[roadwarrior]

As a dedicated rig for deep divers and big lures, I like 5.0:1.

For general use and most shallow baits or fast retrieve, 6.2:1.

Unless you plan to fish deep divers a lot, you really don't need

a special reel or rig.

8-)

[dodgeguy]

No. I've come full circle. I had a Quantum 3.8 gear ratio crankin' reel back in the day. Waaaay slow. The 5.1:1 was my choice for a while, but these days I like a 6.2:1. Why? You can get conditioned to crank it slow...any experienced crankbaiter can feel the amount of resistance coming from their rod tip coupled with the rate of vibration coming from the bait to determine the proper retrieve speed. The higher gear ratio lets me reel in my bait faster when I am out of the strike zone, and is just more conducive to power fishing.

i agree %100!!!

[MALTESE FALCON]

The Natural said it perfectly.

Falcon

[Aaron]

I agree, I have a Curado 200DPV that rarely sees water because I don't fish deep cranks enough.

My 6.2:1 reels handle most of the crankbaiting duty.

[basser89]

Here's a good example of why a faster reel is needed for shallow running crankbaits. I was fishing a lake last fall and came across a pretty good crankbait pattern. While I was fishing an isolated log near a dropoff, I hooked into a heavy fish. The fight only lasted about 15 seconds or so because after I hook her, she made a run straight at me and I couldn't keep up with her with my 4.4:1 reel. She got some slack in the line, came up and threw the bait.

6.2:1 would be my recommendation as well. You can always slow down but it's hard to speed up when you don't have the gear ratio to do it when it's needed!

[djmax22]

I havea 5:1 for deep divers, but for medium to shallow cranks I have started to burn them. Like Natural, I have come full circle too.

[Team9nine]

Since I use cranks a bunch of the time, I still prefer to specialize when it comes to setups and gear ratios. For really deep cranking (20+, DD-22's, DB-III's, Poes 300/400's) I love the 4.3 - 4.4:1 ratios. To me, 3.8's were always too slow even for those applications. I also still have a few specific applications where 5:1 or there abouts works best for me. It is tied more to the specific lure action and resistance more than anything, plus it forces me to slow down a tad so I don't get to overpowering the situation, which is easy to do when you get hyped over a good bite. Lastly, the 6.2:1's for a good majority of the shallow cranking and ripping, including things like 'Traps and other bait burners. Tried the 7:1's but have never really liked them.

For most guys the 6:1 ratios will probably work as the best all around setup and will provide great crossover potential for other non-cranking applications. But if you live or fish on a good structure/river channel lake and get to throwing the deeper divers frequently, it will pay to have a second setup with a slower ratio.

-T9

[TournyFish001]

I use a 3.8 Curado for deep divers(DD22's deep X200's Luhr Jensen) and also my paddle tail swim baits- something about moving those big cranks and swim baits slow and deep bring on the bites and heavy fish for me- around here it is my kicker fish bait after I have a good limit. I use this when I have time to dedicate a proven big fish tactic, like 2hrs left of the tourny. I go to a deep point and chug it several times, then the next point and on and on til weigh in. I think the 3.8 is key- I am a hyper guy and this is probably the only way to slow me down, some of you other guys probably don't need a 3.8 or at least I am going to tell you that  ;D