Let's the play Reel Gear Ratio Matching Game!!!

[Big Matty L]

Ok guys.. match your recommended gear ratio to the technique (for those of us who are yearning to learn what is what)

gear ratios: 5.x 6.x 7.x

techniques: pitch/flip, t-rigs, wacky, shaky,  spinnerbaits, deep cranks, shallow cranks, top water pops, top water sticks, wake baits, soft plastic swims, hard swims, buzzbaits, c-rigs

thanks guys =)

bonus points... pick your rod (length,power,action)

[skillet]

Use Citica (6.2-1) for all my fishing, but

5-1 Crankbaits

6-1 anything the 5-1 or 7-1 doesn't handle

7-1 Burning a bait like buzzbait

I think it's pretty much that simple :-/, if not HELP! ;D

                   As Ever,

                    skillet

[billbrum]

5:1 Cranks and spinnerbaits

6:1 Everything

7:1 Buzzbaits, worms, jigs, lipless cranks

Hope that helps some

[S I G M A]

7 - plastics, jigs, etc

6 - everything else

5 - big cranks

[Mattlures]

Do any of you actualy burn buzzbaits and consistantly catch fish? the reason I ask is, I always see fast reels assosiated with buzzbaits. IMO a fast reel is the WORST chioce for a BB. I think a 5.1 is just about right for them. I have caught 100's of buzzbait bass. It is one of my top 5 techniques and evrybody I know that are good with the buzzer uses a sloooow retreive. So I am sincerly curious if you guys have "heard" that fast reels are best for buzzers or do you actualy preferr them?

[Bassin_0502]

OK, now you all have me more confused than ever! I thought crankbaits were to be retrieved very fast and so a 7:1 would be the right tool for the job. On top of that, I thought worm fishing was slow  slow   slow. RW had a post some time ago where he described the technique for fishing worms, "cast it parallel to the bank and let it sit for 30 seconds, twitch it  a little and wait again till it gets back to the boat" (I've badly paraphrased RW's post, but I think you know which one I mean.) So why the heck does worm fishing get hooked up (no pun intended, ...well maybe a little) with a 7:1 reel?

Help?!

[WIII-60]

I could be way off here but:

the 7.X I use for jigs in situations were I pitch a jig and don't necessarily work it all the way back to the boat. Burning lipless cranks. I use it also for c-rigs because most of the dragging is done with the rod and the ration pulls up the slack. I like it for some worm fishing for the same reason, and because it's good for keeping up with hard runs towrds the boat.

the 6.X I use for anything other than the above or below.

5.X big summertime cranks. It just easier to fish them. You do want to keep a constant retrieve in most cases, but the ratio make it less of a workout. I have'nt really dipped into swimbaiting, but I THINK the same theories apply.

I also don't claim to know what I'm talking about.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I believe Reel Mech has stated that the "burner" reels are not necessarily designed to increase speed on your moving baits.

Their main purpose is quicker line pick-up w/ techniques such as flipping and pitching, allowing you to cover more water.

And Matt, I do like to crank a buzzbait for all its worth, but I am only using a 6.2:1.  Sometimes they seem to like it fast  

[Big Tom]

OK, now you all have me more confused than ever! I thought crankbaits were to be retrieved very fast and so a 7:1 would be the right tool for the job. On top of that, I thought worm fishing was slow  slow   slow. RW had a post some time ago where he described the technique for fishing worms, "cast it parallel to the bank and let it sit for 30 seconds, twitch it  a little and wait again till it gets back to the boat" (I've badly paraphrased RW's post, but I think you know which one I mean.) So why the heck does worm fishing get hooked up (no pun intended, ...well maybe a little) with a 7:1 reel?

Help?!

The reason people like a fast reel with worm fishing is because they can make multiple presentations fairly quickly.  The fast reel is only for retrieval purposes in this case.  When you fish the worm, you are still letting your rod do most of the work and a slow presentation is just about more than most bass can stand.  The high speed reel shines in two departments.  First, if you do not get bit, you can reel in and quickly make another presentation.  The other advantage is that if you do get bit and the fish is swimming toward you, you can catch up to it easier and adequately set the hook/fight the fish.

[.RM.]

I believe Reel Mech has stated that the "burner" reels are not necessarily designed to increase speed on your moving baits.

Their main purpose is quicker line pick-up w/ techniques such as flipping and pitching, allowing you to cover more water.

And Matt, I do like to crank a buzzbait for all its worth, but I am only using a 6.2:1.  Sometimes they seem to like it fast  

You are right I do.. Matt is right on with the way I fish. I use my high GR 6.2 or higher reels for T-rig worm/Jig fishin, and 5.4:1 for all my spinner and buzz bait fishing. I get into 4.5:1 and 3.8:1 for cranks.

I haven't gotten into swimbaits so can't comment on them...

Tight Lines All!  

[Grey Wolf]

OK, now you all have me more confused than ever! I thought crankbaits were to be retrieved very fast and so a 7:1 would be the right tool for the job. On top of that, I thought worm fishing was slow slow slow. RW had a post some time ago where he described the technique for fishing worms, "cast it parallel to the bank and let it sit for 30 seconds, twitch it a little and wait again till it gets back to the boat" (I've badly paraphrased RW's post, but I think you know which one I mean.) So why the heck does worm fishing get hooked up (no pun intended, ...well maybe a little) with a 7:1 reel?

Help?!

You have got it backwards.

[Bassin_0502]

Thanks all for the replies. A little counter-intuitive at first, but your descriptions helped out a lot.

Thanks!

[Big Matty L]

I'm glad I asked cause i had it all backward

[Bassin_0502]

I'm sure glad you asked too, apologize if it appeared I hijacked your thread. Sorry!

[fivesixone]

Do any of you actualy burn buzzbaits and consistantly catch fish?

I kind of just want an answer to this question... All my buzzbait fish have pretty much been on the slowest retrieve possible.

[roadwarrior]

#1 Buzzbaits...Fastest retrieve possible in general, but a slow

retrieve that can be achieved with a Cavitron also works, sometimes!

The Cavitron is a buzzbait that gives you several options, but I still

like FAST!

#2 I work jigs and soft plastics S...L...O...W and don't think

you need a fast retrieve reel.

8-)

[fretfishman]

5:1 - spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, anything you need to "slow down" on.

6:1 - all around.

7:1 - rat'l traps, buzzbaits or buzzfrogs, jigs-worms-anything that is slack-based.

[Evan Pease]

5:1 deep cranks, slow rolling, swimbaits

6:1 spinnerbaits, cranks, worms, jigs.... everything

7:1 flipping, Ive thrown some swimbaits with the intent of getting the fish to the boat faster as well.

[detroit1]

I don't have a 7:1, and don't know how many more inches it brings in compared to a 6:1, but i feel i don't need one. The 6 & 5 do well for me. I broke out my old Quantum 3.8:1 last week and threw some big 'ol cranks...

[Catt]

5.0:1 Slow Rolling a Spinner Bait or Slow reeling a Buzz Bait

5.8:1 for every thing else  

[bmadd]

Like some have already said...

5:0 Deep Cranks/Slow Rolling Spinnerbaits

6:2/3 General fishing, Tx rig, Spinnerbait, shallow cranks, jigs, topwater, jerkbaits, rattle traps, etc

7:0 Burning Spinnerbaits or Traps, when flipping pitching, when fishing nasty cover so I can move fish away quick, grass fishing, frogs.

[Al Wolbach]

Do any of you actualy burn buzzbaits and consistantly catch fish?

I kind of just want an answer to this question... All my buzzbait fish have pretty much been on the slowest retrieve possible.

I generally fish a buzzbait as slow as possible and still keep it on top, however I use a high speed reel. I use a buzzbait in shallow water and need to get the bait up and moving quickly after a cast. A high speed reel helps to do this. I do not want the bait to sink and possibly get hung up. In a tournament situation the time spent retreiving a lure that is hung up robs me of several cast and that could be the difference in cashing a check or not. It seems as though a buzzbait that is not moving(sinking) can hang up on a twig of grass. You don't need a high speed reel to fish a buzzbait but it helps me be more efficent..........................Al