Gear Ratio

[bassfinder]

i would like to know what everyone uses a 7:1 gear ratio for,can it be used for anything or is it more for specific technics

[aavery2]

i would like to know what everyone uses a 7:1 gear ratio for,can it be used for anything or is it more for specific technics

I use my high speed reels for topwater baits and pitchin plasitics. In allot of circles the high speed and low speed reels are considered to be more technique specific, with the 6.4:1 type reels more of an all around.

Remember there are no rules when it comes to these type of things in fishing, I am sure you can make a high speed reel work for most applications.

[Jim_M]

I have no clue really, but I know where to look. Enjoy. Hope they are helpful!

j

[Jig Man]

I use them for everything cause that's all I got.

[Bluebasser86]

I use mine mainly for jigs, plastics, and carolina rigs. I feel like I fish too fast with most everything else. They are really nice to be able to reel in quickly to make another cast or to quickly catch up to a fish that is coming right at the boat.

[tomustang]

It can be used for anything, it doesn't have to be specific

[deep]

OP, if you want to play it by the rule book, use 5:1 for cranks and slow-rolling blade baits, 7:1 for bottom contact baits, 6:1 for everything else. But as others have pointed out, it's all up to what's comfortable for you.

[guitarkid]

I use two gear ratios. I use 5.1 for crank baits and jerkbaits, and 7.1 for everything else.

-gk

[aavery2]

Not to add confusion but Gear Ratio is only one part of an equation that determines true reel speed. The other half of this equation is spool diameter. These two factors together determine Inch Per Turn or I.P.T. and it is a more accurate number to determine true reel speed.

Depending on your particular reel, you may find that even though it has a higher gear ratio, it actually retrieves the same or maybe even less line than some reels in the 6.4:1 gear ratio.

[SirSnookalot]

aavery2 is correct. I always vary the speed of my retrieve, many of my fish are caught on a drop or the pause, bait is barely moving. Jerkbaits and twitchbaits I kinda move with arm and just real in slack Not to confuse the retrieval anymore but in addition to retrieval speed I adjust the depth of the lure by lowering my tip to the water for a slighter deeper dive and raise it high to skim surface. I prefer not to be too "mechanical".

[FD.]

I use a 7.1 for everything. Most of my fishing is done in heavy cover so I use high speed reels and long rods to get fish out of the crap quick.

[bigbassctchr101]

I use the high speed for traps, frogs, pitchin, and c-riggin. I don't like to use it on my bottom contact baits like t-rigs and jigs. Only because I feel like I fish them too fast anyway. When its comes to 27-29" of line per every turn of the handle, that would translate into about 3-4 ft of line everytime I moved the rod up and down. That's a lot of territory I'd be skippin over. Thats my fault and a failure of my patience, and realistically, moving to a 6.1:1 with 24" of line every crank, isn't much different. Its a mind thing for me.

At one point in time, a 5.1:1 was a high speed reel. But I think 7.9:1 are out now. You could get by with anything and make it work, because everyone did before these higher speeds came out. It can just make things more proficient. When every cast counts, it could help out a lot.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

As stated earlier, the truest metric is IPT. The 7.9:1 takes up the same amount of line as a typical 7.1:1 due to the small spool.

[K_Mac]

I like the faster reels (~30" IPT) for all techniques where I primarily use the rod to move the bait. For applications where movement is primarily done by the reel, a 6.4:1 (~26" IPT) is my preference. If I did a lot of deep cranking something a bit slower would be preferred.