gear ratios?

[Dynasty]

Anyone care to explain the whole gear ratio thing to me? What is the best all around? What are good gear ratios for the different types of fishing?

[Mr Special]

I'm no expert by any means. But here it goes.

For my finesse rig like Texas, Carolina, Drop shot "still learning", I like a average gear ratio like 5:1

For Spinners, Cranks "haven't caught a bass on one yet", Topwater and Pig-n-Jig. I like the faster ratio like 6:1
With the faster ratio, I can burn that bait fast if need and get them big doggs out of heavy cover quick.

Hope this helps

[sami0115]

a lot of my baitcasters are 6.3:1, this means that for every 1 revolution of the handle the spool turns 6.3 times... this set up would be good for most applications. it would not be very good for crankbaits (they would be moving too fast on the retrieve) something in the 5:1 range or lower would be best. the lower gear ratio reels have more "cranking leverage" but the fish doesn't come to the boat quite as fast. i had a real slow baitcaster (approx 3.5:1) that i was using on my "scumfishing" setup for horsing fish out of the heavy slop, but i switched because i was not able to get the fish to the boat fast enough. and when fishing weeds it is real important to keep the fish from diving into the weeds. this is where i think having a real stout rod/fast ratio reel combo works real well...

my preference would be:

6:1 or higher for plastics or finess fishing (works well when pitching because if you miss your target you can reel back real fast and re-cast

5:1 and slower work real well for cranking. spinnerbaiting and topwaters..

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YIPPPPEEEEEEEE

[Mr Special]

Forget what I said.
Just took a Census at work here. Only find to out that I'm the odd ball and Sami has the right idea. I just might need new reels now.

Good luck

[Yaeger Guide]

Almost all of mine are 6.3:1. I subcribe to the Kevin VanDam theory. I pitch to most of my targets and therefore when retrieving in "non-active" zones I prefer the quicker retrieve. My one or two 5.2:1 I run cranks on. I used to use 5.2:1 for working heavy cover, but when a bass takes off in your direction I can keep up with the 6.3:1 easier. Also when I am pitching, I use the rod to pull the bass from the cover.

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God bless,
Judd Yaeger
Yaeger Guides
(Twin Cities Guides)
www.yaegerweb.com/guide

[Dynasty]

Wow thanks guys this really helped a bunch.

[Deitz Dittrich]

On a lure where you supply the action. Jig, most soft plastics, where you move the rod to give the lure action and the reel only pulls in the slack. The higher the gear ratio the better. On a lure that has its own action, IE cranks, spinnerbaits, where the reel give the lure action. a lower gear ration 5.1 or so works well. Its less fatiguing to reel more times but have less pressure on your forarm. Its kinda like a pully type deal. you can move the weight of the lure easier.

The only 2 lures that break my rule are a buzzbait and a rattle trap. These are fast baits, and I use higher gear ratios...

[sami0115]

well stated Exude...