Slower gear ratio really more powerfull?

[BlakeMolone]

Ive heard a 5:1 gear ratio is more powerfull than a 7:1. I dont understand this. I heard a slower ratio acts like a wench but woudnt a faster ratio just be a faster winch lol?

[Koop]

higher gear ratio has a higher inches per reel return. Thus a 7.x.1 would bring line in faster than a 5.x.1 (this is good for example when a fish darts at you and creates slack line). On the contrary, a reel with a 5.x.1 is better for trolling or bottom fishing as it offers better cranking power. After that it comes down to your line and rod. The lower gear reels may be better paired with a heavy flipping rod for pulling the fish out of heavy cover. Beyond that, I don't really worry about the cranking ability of a reel to excessively. I suppose the cranking power and low gear set would become more important with salt water fishing.

Think about it like a truck, in 5th gear you can get up to 80mph at 5000 rpms. In 1st gear you can get to 5000 rpms, will be going much slower but creating significantly more torque. The trade off is speed vs torque.

[burleytog]

If you've ever ridden a multi-speed bicyle, you will understand the difference.

[FishDontLikeMe1301600221]

its like my motorcycles,my sportbike i have geared low ratio for more pulling power and speed off the line (torgue) GREAT for wheelies   ... my fatboy i have geared higher for more topend speed and cruising,same for cars and your reel...a lower gear ratio is more for toque and pulling power,strength but no high top end speeds...a high ratio you get less power/torque but gain in topend speed.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Some even say that a high speed reel will lock up on you if you try and winch a fish in say heavy cover. I flip and pitch slop with all 7:1:1 Revos and have never had this happen to me. I use slower reels for swimbaits and deep cranks only! BTW, have you ever fished a deep crank on a high speed reel....................not fun man!!!

[daviscw]

Throw a spinnerbait on a 7:1 then a 5:1. You'll notice a huge difference.

[Bassoholics Anonymous]

Ive heard a 5:1 gear ratio is more powerfull than a 7:1. I dont understand this. I heard a slower ratio acts like a wench but woudnt a faster ratio just be a faster winch lol?

You can have speed or power, but not both. The bicycle example given by Burley is spot on. It all has to do with conservation of energy and how that energy is imparted into the reel.

[flechero]

No matter the gear ratio, the rod does all the heavy work.  Give me a 5:1 or an 8:1 and I'll move the weight the same rate...  with the rod, not the reel.  If you actually use the reel for the fighting, then you will get the fish in slower than anyone using the rod, regardless of the ratios you both have.

The only time the reel is doing the "heavy work" is with little to no weight... and in that case the higher ratio wins.  

[RoLo]

No matter the gear ratio, the rod does all the heavy work. Give me a 5:1 or an 8:1 and I'll move the weight the same rate... with the rod, not the reel. If you actually use the reel for the fighting, then you will get the fish in slower than anyone using the rod, regardless of the ratios you both have.

The only time the reel is doing the "heavy work" is with little to no weight... and in that case the higher ratio wins.

In New Jersey during the 1970s, I did a lot of so-called standup fishing.

Very short rods called strokers were used to beat yellowfin tuna and large sharks without a fighting chair.

Fish weighing several hundred pounds were routinely whooped toe-to-toe using rods about 5½ ft long.

Contrary to what some believe, the shorter the rod the greater the power on the fisherman's end (like low gear in a car).

With each upward pump of the rod, the fish is horsed closer and closer toward the boat,

but the "reel" is needed merely for taking up slack line.

Roger

[sweet daddy]

I think a 6.2:1 works best. The only time I use a slow speed reel is for deep deep cranks, and jigs in deep open water structure.

[JellyMan]

This is why I stick with 6's for my ratios. Not too slow and not too fast. Great for pretty much everything. Just choose line and rod type for each type of fishing.

[tyrius.]

No matter the gear ratio, the rod does all the heavy work. Give me a 5:1 or an 8:1 and I'll move the weight the same rate... with the rod, not the reel. If you actually use the reel for the fighting, then you will get the fish in slower than anyone using the rod, regardless of the ratios you both have.

The only time the reel is doing the "heavy work" is with little to no weight... and in that case the higher ratio wins.

Do you find any benefit in using the lower geared reels when deep cranking or retrieving heavier lures?

I agree that you shouldn't see a major difference between ratios when fighting fish, but I'd think that when retrieving deep cranks and such you'd feel the difference.

[J Francho]

Rod moves the bait: faster ratio.

Reel moves the bait: slower ratio.

There are exceptions....

[flechero]

Do you find any benefit in using the lower geared reels when deep cranking or retrieving heavier lures?

For big, deep diving crankbaits, absolutely.