I need a reel for my carrot stix cranking rod

[Hula_Grub]

Well, I got me a carrot stix 6'9" parabolic medium action rod over the winter. The plan is to throw cranks (lipped and lipless) with it. I'm looking for reel suggestions, please. What gear ratio? I have 7.1:1 Abu that I was going to put on it, but I'm sure the majority opinion will be that 7.1:1 is too fast.

Should I just leave the 7:1 abu one the 6'6" MH rod it came off of?

What does everyone think of 5:1 or 6:1? Why?

I doubt I'll be fishing more than 10 to 12 feet deep with it.

It seems that there are far more 6:1 options than there are 5:1 options. I realize that these questions might have been answered before, but I can't find all the answers I hope I get in one place.

Thanks!

[Cecil]

6:1 ratio would be best IMO. Will allow you to keep the lipless up and not so fast that you can't slow it down for deeper cranks.

[slopmaster]

i would also go with a 6:1 for cranking. Im like you and dont fish over 12 feet very often. Most of mine is shallow cranking over weed tops and it works good for what i do.

[TonkaBass]

ditto

[Hula_Grub]

Thanks guys- I was thinking 6:1, too. 5:1 just seems so slow. I can imagine the advantages, but the lack of 5:1 reels on the market tells me most folks aren't seeing the need to get that slow.

[musky999]

What is wrong with say 7:1 but just reeling slower?

[Cecil]

You would have to slow down a lot if you were throwing a bait like a DT10. I just think it's easier to not have to slow down THAT much. And 6:1 is plenty fast for lipless baits.

[Craigums]

Does having a high gear ratio impede the diving depth? I thought with cranks you wanted to reel fast to get the bait to the desired depth then change to a slow constant retieve to bring it in

[Deitz Dittrich]

Craigums, you dont have to reel them all that fast, just not really slow.. The reason people use the lower gear ratios is quite simple.. fatigue. If you throw a DD22 for any period of time you will understand..

[Hula_Grub]

Well, I stopped by Thorne Bros. big sale and got a Revo SX 6:1- I put Gamma 10 lb. test on it. I'm going to see how I like the Gamma. I've been a Suffix Siege guy for a while.

If only the river would go down some...

[Cecil]

What did they have the Revo at?

[Hula_Grub]

$150-10%= $135. Free spool of line.

[NCLaker]

Great price on that revo sx ... you'll love it. I have that same real on a 7' med action - it is one of my most used setups for vertical lure presentations.