What's up with reels getting faster and faster??

[The Rooster]

I was just on Quantum's site and they have a KVD reel with ratios of 6.6:1 and 7.3:1.  Seems reels have gotten faster and faster as time goes by.  I would think there's such a thing as too fast.

[Redlinerobert]

They aren't all getting faster, manufacturers are just offering speedy reels as another option.

There are plenty of techniques that can take advantage of the added speed.  

[cart7t]

I remember when I bought some aftermarket "Buzz" gears for my old red Ambassadeur in the late 70's.

It raised the ratio to a scorching 4.7:1!

Now that was some speed baby.

[rubba bubba]

Anyone know the ratio's offered on the magnesium Pocket Fisherman?...

[Grey Wolf]

Hey Rooster , you don't have to buy the high speed reels , they are just another option for the people who want them.

[Dave D]

I think it's all about variety. People just want variety and there seems to be a time and place for every rod/reel.

This is my first year using burners and boy do I like them. I t-rig a lot so it's very nice to be able to pick up slack fast when you're getting charged. ;D

[ALbasser]

I personally don't have much experience with them but my dad just bought a Curado 200 E7 for worms and jigs and he loves the extra speed. He has stated that he finds himself fishing too fast at times. I still like my old Curado BSF personally   8-)

[The Rooster]

I picked up a 7.1:1 reel earlier this year too, but just for fishing worms and jigs only. Lures I'd use the rod to fish and use the reel for taking in line only, either for a charging fish or for quick retrieve after fishing through the strikezone. I won't allow myself to fish too fast with it cause of the baits I fish with it and how I fish them.

I mostly just wondered why the trend was to make a ton of fast reels and then increase the speeds yet again. I'm seeing now that a lot of reel lines don't include anything below the 6.x range as I flip through the BPS catalog and Cabela's too. A few have a 5.x model, but a lot start at 6.x and go up from there. Hardly any have a model less than a 5 ratio anymore.  Not that I really need less than a 5 (although I see a couple of cranking reels in the 4's and 3's) but I don't want the 5's to go away either.

[Jeff H]

I've gotten so used to the 6.3:1's that I'm starting to reconsider my need for a 5:1, even for cranks.  The 7's are certainly nice for worms and jigs and I use one on my trap rod too.

[cart7t]

I picked up a 7.1:1 reel earlier this year too, but just for fishing worms and jigs only. Lures I'd use the rod to fish and use the reel for taking in line only, either for a charging fish or for quick retrieve after fishing through the strikezone. I won't allow myself to fish too fast with it cause of the baits I fish with it and how I fish them.

I mostly just wondered why the trend was to make a ton of fast reels and then increase the speeds yet again. I'm seeing now that a lot of reel lines don't include anything below the 6.x range as I flip through the BPS catalog and Cabela's too. A few have a 5.x model, but a lot start at 6.x and go up from there. Hardly any have a model less than a 5 ratio anymore. Not that I really need less than a 5 (although I see a couple of cranking reels in the 4's and 3's) but I don't want the 5's to go away either.

It's about sales and marketing.  As I noted in my above post, reel speeds have been used in the past to sell more reels,  the reel industry has to have something new to sell.  Whether it's speed, weight, number of bearings, profile, color, etc.  

[21farms]

i attribute it to two things:

1. years ago, when daiwa first decided to sling the gearbox down the side of the reel foot, it opened up a new world of possibilities for bigger main gears while maintaining a low profile for easy palmability. the bigger gears allowed for more efficient cranking, even at the higher ratios without wearing you out.

2. the increased popularity of tournament fishing in turn created more "power" fisherman who fish fast and need to cover a lot of water. if you've even seen gary dobyns fish, that's what i'm talking about.

[BigMoneyGrip]

I would think the fish need nitrous to catch the bait. Some of these reels smoke. I thought my Citica with 6.2 was fast...

[Bronzefly]

I would think the fish need nitrous to catch the bait. Some of these reels smoke. I thought my Citica with 6.2 was fast...

You may be surprised to see how fast a retrieve fish will chase down and hammer.  Sometimes I have to absoultely burn baits with a 7:1 to get reaction strikes.  I'm a big fan of the high speed reels for most of my fishing, with a few exceptions.

[umahunter]

i personally love the high speed reels i fish alot on a river drifting in current where ya fish fast with the faster reels i hit more spots