Reel choice?

[bassfshin24]

So I tend not to spend a lot of money on reels. I usually spend $100-$150. A Revo SX being my highest priced reel. If you were to only be able to buy 1 high end reel what application would you use it for? What gear ratio would you get?

[Jeff13]

I'd spend the big bucks on a reel I would use a lot. I like to pitch heavy jigs in cover so I'd spend my money on a high speed reel with the power to pull them out of the thick stuff fast.

It's nice to spend the money on something nice but if your not going to use it a lot why spend the big bucks. I say what ever your favorite presentation is spend it there.

[Lals]

I finally bought a Shimano Chronarch this year ($199) and man it is so smooth. I have considered buying for many years but finally pulled the trigger this past summer and I have been extremely pleased. I have Lews, Abu's and Shimano Curado's and they are all good but Chronarch feels a step above.. If you tried one I think you find the same thing. I have it on my jig rod since I throw those a lot. My preference is a 7:1 ratio reel for most applications.

[smalliehunter]

I got the chronarch 150 CI4+ (269.99). Pretty awesome. I have 2 other chronarchs one high speed for deep jigging one slow for cranks. The CI4 is worth the extra money.

[delmuts]

I'll put in a vote for the Plueger Patriarch. Depending on how to will use it, they offer it in a 7.1/1 and a 7.9/1 ratio.

[bassfshin24]

I'm thinking about trying out the 13 Fishing Concept A reel with 8.1:1 ratio. I haven't read a single bad review on it yet. Would definitely go on my jig rod.

[RuddyDuck]

I do like the looks and feel of those Concepts A's. Heck, go for it all and get a Steez EX or the MGXExtreme! Let us know how it works.

[Todd S.]

do it! I've never used that high of a ratio but certainly can see where it can be advantageous at times. Interested to hear anyone's experience with that high of a ratio.

[TR21HP]

Really cant understand the need for a high speed ratio on a jig rod. On a jigging technique you are using the rod for action and I doubt you will notice any differences between a 6.4 and a 7.1. Where you will notice the difference is when you need the reel to perform the action such as cranking baits or topwater. This is more of a horizontal versus vertical presentation and that is where you would notice it the most. Torque is about the same in both reels there is not much difference there. A high ratio reel definitely has its place on deck but for the right application.

[bassfshin24]

I guess I've always heard to use the High ratio on jigs to pick up the slack faster when you get a fish on. A lot of tend to run when hitting a jig and a high ratio will allow you to catch up to the fish faster. Especially when you are fishing jigs on docks. It seems whenever I am fishing docks and fish grabs a jig it swims off right away.

[Jeff13]

I have 4 rods for jig fishing, flipping, punching. I have Daiwa Tatula Type-R reels on them all. 8:1 ratio it does work well for picking up line fast. You will notice some difference with line pick up if you go with the 13 brand with the 8:1.

[bassfshin24]

So you have the 8.1:1 on your Daiwas? If so do you like it or do you wish you would have had a lower ratio?

[Jeff13]

Yep I have the 8:1 on the Tatulas. I like it you can catch up to fish quick!

[TR21HP]

I guess I rarely, if ever, have that much slack in my line or have the drag set properly so that fish won't run. I do have a high ratio reel and about the only thing that really is an advantage is when I'm top water fishing and I miss the fish I can get right back there quicker.

[Jeff13]

Another thing I like is when I'm out on Tonka and pitching jigs along a 22 foot weedline on the east side for 8 hours, the high speed reel is nice just to reel in your jig fast to make the next pitch.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I was going to state the same thing as Jeff... The high speed is to get to your next cast faster, not as much to catch up with fish. More casts means more fish when it comes to jig fishing.

[Raider4ever]

I have 7:1's on my frog and topwater rods for quicker line pick up. I would definitely put an 8 on my frog rod. A fish blows up but never touches it, you can get back to it a little quicker (yeah, only dead people have the capability to "Wait 'til you feel the fish" when frogging). Where it really pays off is when you're frogging and come out of the pads and have that 10-15 yards of "dead water" (or on a few of my lakes, "The Northern Zone") where you can just buzz it in and get on with it. I don't like to get right on the pads because I get a lot of strikes on that 6 foot edge zone. I cannot do 7's on other sticks because I cannot slow my retrieve speed down (WWWAAAYYY to hyper out on the water). I NEED to use a 5.4 on my swimjig rod. 6.4's on my spinnerbait, and lipless rods. Right now I have a 6.4 on my wakebait rod but I will probably bring that down to a 5.4 this year. Just did not like how it worked/felt. Seemed too quick for me.

[RuddyDuck]

BF24, how do you like your Revo SX? Is it a gen2 or 3? I've been checking those out and they seem like nice reels. They pass the handling test at the Reel counter anyways. I've read some complaints about the gearbox size, but it didn't seem to be a problem when I handled them.

[M1dwestF1sh]

RD I have a gen 2 sx and stx and love them. That was before I switched to lews but they are great reels. I replaced the drag washers in the sx but the new washers only cost around ten bucks. The sx has taken such a beating and it still is one of my favs.

[bassfshin24]

Its definitely my favorite reel right now. Smooth as can be and can crank some monesters out of thick cover. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one that's for sure. Mine is a Gen 2.

[RK]

I much prefer a HS reel for jigs, mainly for the reason DD said - faster line pick-up when I'm reeling in to cast again. Plus I fish pretty heavy jigs so I can get slack between hops that needs to be picked up quick.

For frogs, I use a 6.3:1 but it's a Pflueger Patriarch wide spool, so even though the gear ratio is smaller the line pick-up is fast because the spool diameter shrinks less on a cast. Same principle as an Abu 7000 for bucktails for muskies. It's a 4.3:1 reel, but still 'fast' in terms of line pick-up due to the spool diameter. So kind of the best of both worlds - more power + better line pick-up. Not sure if Pflueger even makse wide spool models anymore. The Lews BB-2Z has a wide spool tho, for the same reason...

[MuskieFever]

The revo sx has been my most expensive and fastest reel for a while. Awesome reel, although I am going to swap out the drag washers with carbontex, the stock ones weren't as powerful as my other revo reels. I actually won a 13 Concept A reel in december, can't wait to try it out.