Reel gear ratios, bucktails and joint pain...

[Uncle Grump]

Hi all

I post this due to the fact that I've got arthritus developing in my joints, not terribly bad yet, but there

are days my joints - mainly wrists and elbows just ache, which means I can't throw/retrieve bucktails and some of my other lures for very long.

I have 3 Amb. reels, a 6500, 5500, and 6000. I think the

gear ratios are 6.5:1 and 5.3:1.

If I understand this correctly, for each turn I make of the reel crank, the line spindle turns X times, correct?

Are there lower ratios available? Will a lower ratio reel have a great effect on the behavior of a lures attractivness to a muskie?

Any one have any suggestions for lures that would pound my joints less?

Thanks

UG

[Cooter]

Hey Grump

A couple suggestions for you. First, I've heard the Abu 7000HSN is great for working bucktails. Hopefully someone else can verify that. Also, I like to take my reels apart, remove the factory grease and coat gears, bearings, etc. with light oil such as Rem Oil or Quantum Hot Sauce. They not only cast better but crank easier as well. Finally, stick with smaller bucktails with french and willow blades. Try the Blue Fox musky bucks or the Mepps -I'm sure others will have some recommendations on easy pulling bucktails.

[RuKiddingMe]

Head over to Thorne Bros and get yourself some Power Handles, these will make an incredible difference.

RU

[delmuts]

exsperiment with different lures as mentioned and going to a little larger reel handle with help too. also. first have you tried taking glucousimine ( sp?) it does help. secondly . talk to either a good chiropractor or a phys, therapist about some excercises you can do to help . there is no cures, but many little things one can do to help get some relief and keep us doing the things we love to do!

[shamalex72]

first have you tried taking glucousimine ( sp?)

I just started to take that. I seen it on the news a while back and thought I would give it a try. It's only been a few days, so I can't say if it helps me or not.

[delmuts]

you won't notice any difference for a month or more. what you start feeling is that your joints will ache. the reason for this is that your body is building new cartilege. if /when you start feeling this; get out and exercise. what this will do is help to mold/smooth the cartilege out.( i was warned about this from my brother and found it out myself!) it sucks getting old ; but it is better than the other option!!

[LunkerBaitCo]

Uncle Grump, I make a lure that is part bucktail and part wood body bait which I designed to enable the user to effortlessly "bulge a bucktail" back to the boat. I call it "the Bulger." I sell them for $17.50, and they are top shelf quality with No. 8 blades, Mustad hooks, Bucher split rings, .051 wire and 10 inches long. They are extremely easy to reel, and you can also work them slower without having them sink and snag bottom like regular bucktails. I got tired of the heavy crankin' necessary to bulge a large bucktail, and this lure was the answer. I'm sure it'd help you out. Email me if you are interested, and I will send you pictures. Several big 'ski's have fallen to these lures, too.

[email protected]

[RK]

Hiya,

Some good suggestions here already. A couple more thoughts though:

- Look into a Garcia 7000. They're big, but the 4.1:1 gear ratio is great for hard pulling baits, and easy working baits can seem like they aren't there. They have a very large diameter spool, so they pick up a lot of line despite the lower gear ratio. Someone suggested the 7000HSN. I wouldn't go that route if you're looking for easier pulling. They have a 5.3:1 gear ratio, and with the big spool, they can be a lot of work if you're cranking fast. Stick with the 4.1:1 models like the 7000C3 or 7000B.

- Your rod selection may help as much as reel selection. If you're using short, stiff rods, that may be causing you more trouble than your reels. Especially on the cast itself. Consider looking into a longer, softer rod for bucktails and topwaters - something in the 7'6" to 8' range, with a Medium-heavy power rather than heavy or x-heavy. And really look out for rods that are tip-heavy. They're murder on the elbows and wrists.

- Change up your rod selection from time to time throughout the day. I have a 'take a break' rod I pick up when I'm starting to feel flaked out. It's basically a heavy bass flipping stick, but it's fine for small to medium sized muskie baits. The muskie hasn't been born that you can't whip on a flipping stick.

- Make bait selections based on effort, i.e., how much work does it take to use it... Once I go through the bait selection process, which for me means running depth and speed, cover considerations, and what my gut tells me will work, my last criteria is, 'of all the baits that will do the job, which one is the least amount of work?' If you want to fish a bucktail, fish one with a small French blade instead of a big Colorado or fluted Indiana... Half the work to crank fast, and they catch fish like you can't believe. Maribou skirted baits are great too. Easy to cast, but they 'fish big' meaning they look big in the water. Use single-spin spinnerbaits as search lures where you'd normally use a bucktail. Replace the #8 colorado with a #6 or #7, and trim about 1/3 of the skirt off so it's easier to cast and pulls easier. Fish no effort jerkbaits like Burts or phantoms. Muskie lures don't have to be painful to work. I can wear a lot of the guys I fish with out because I'm conscious of how fatiguing baits are, and I intend to be doing this when I'm 70, so I'm really conscious of not breaking my body down. If you think about the baits you use, you'll be amazed at how much less effort muskie fishing can take.

Hope this helps a little...

Cheers,

RK

[Uncle Grump]

I've been away from FM for awhile - so sorry about the delayed response. My thanks to those who replied - some definite possibilities here.

Been to see my doc about the arthritus - am on some meds, but time will tell. Going to look in to the larger crankin handles, and check out the Amb 7000 reel.

Another question - can gear rations be changed - ie swapping out the inner workings?

Thanks again

UG

[RuKiddingMe]

UG,

There is a store online where you can purchase "Reel Candy" do a search for hatteras outfitters, you find new gears, new bearings the big handles all kinds of fun stuff.

RU