5.0:1 Reels

[Saint Paul Dan]

I was reading the thread about line for deep cranking and wanted to get some clarification if possible. So, I am planning on getting a slower ratio reel for my cranking rod this year (citica 5:1), but I don't think I fully understand the benifits of this versus a higher speed reel. I'm not totally in the dark but my understanding is that the spool revolves five times to every full revolution of the reel handle. My intuition tells me that with a slower 5:1 reel, you would actually be cranking the handle more in a day compared to the same ammount of work done with a faster ratio. If this is an accurate analysis, why is it easier on the fisherman's arm to use a 5:1 reel? Believe me, I'm not disagreeing just want to understand. And any suggestions on good 5:1 reels would also be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan

[Daze Off]

Here's my take on it - the ratio really speaks about the line recovery per revolution rather than turns of the handle. Each time you turn the handle on a 5.0:1 reel you will recover a lot less line (hence slower retreive) than a reel with ration of 6.3:1 or a burner at 7.0:1.

Kind of like golf clubs - same swing but different clubs yield different distances rather than change swings. Here the issue is tempo of reeling - can reel at the same speed as "normal" but bait comes back much more slowly.

You will still reel more because less line comes back for each revolution so it will take more turns to get your bait back to the boat but you will accomplish slower speed easier than trying to remember to reel more slowly.

It is more difficult to catch up to fish if they run at you or create slack some other way but I also think I heard that the lower gear ratio gives you more cranking power than the high speed reels. Anyone?

Anyway, might be way off but that's how I understand it.

Daze Off

[Fluker]

Lower ratio gears have more power, so yes, they are called power gears. If you're throwing a big deep diver it's likely creating a lot of drag. Yes, you might to crank 6 turns to return as much line as you would in 5 on a normal speed reel, but the 6 turns on the lower gear real will be easier to turn. It's take less force for you to turn the handle on a lower ratio reel, thus at the end of the day fatigue is less.

[RK]

Hiya -

The other two posters covered most of it, but a couple more thoughts...

With big lipped baits like a DT-16 or DD22, the cranking power of a lower gear ratio reel is a big help. Much easier on the wrists. Think of it as riding a bike uphill. Would you rather do it in 7th gear, or 4th? The higher the gear ratio, the more effort for each crank of the handle. That's why so many muskie guys (me included) use a low gear ratio reel like a Garcia 7000 (4.1:1) for pulling big baits. The BB-1s and BB-19s I use for cranking have a 4.3:1 gear ratio. I don't think you can even find a bass reel that slow these days... (And I have a 3.8:1 Quantum 1310MG laying around here someplace...)

The other reason, and the main one for me really, is that it keeps me from moving the bait faster than I want to. I think guys tend to fish cranks too fast, especially around deep weeds, and a low speed reel helps keep my coffee-fueled pace down to a reasonable level... With a low speed reel, I can crank at a comfortable rate and keep the speed in check, and when I really want to slow down, I can crawl a deep crank along, which is great along deep weed edges.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[cjac]

I have a 3.8:1 Curado but it felt too slow to me. I switched this off season to a 5.0:1 Citica. Maybe I just wasn't patient enough but I don't do the deep cranks as much as I should, but I also fish more than just bass, so I just haven't dedicated the time to deep weedline bass that I'd like to and have time for. To RKs point, the high speed craze has made it next to impossible to find a low gear reel on the market.

One point not made yet, lower speed reels are not just for cranks. We all use a jig 'n' pig presentation at some point, personally I do a lot, and I know I'm guilty of fishing it too fast. Sometimes mine comes in looking like an in-line buzzbait I'm bringing it so fast! Not by intent, but a by-product of 6.2 or 7.0:1 gearing. J'n'P is obviously not a search/speed presentation like a spinnerbait or buzzbait, so a lower speed reel helps keep it in the zone longer.

Please keep in mind I'm totally a recreational bass guy, so correct me if I'm off base.....

Chris

[delmuts]

another advantage of the lower geared reel with crankbaits is; many times with a highier speed reel you can over power the lure. a crankbait works better at a slower speed to get the depth needed.with a highier speed reel you can go to fast and not get the depth.( i use this trick sometimes to present a deep diver shallow !) del

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Also I'll add, to make a high speed reel you need more teeth on the gears so they are smaller, on a low ratio gear you have less teeth but they are bigger. In the long run those bigger teeth on the gear hold up much better.

As far as bass fishing I only use slow ratios for cranking but I have heard of them being used when fishing in the thick slop with scum frogs. When you set the hook you raise your broomstick like rod and and start cranking hard. Basicly its like using a winch/pulley to get the pigs out of the slop.

When it comes to fishing plastics and jigs I use faster ratios since I can pick up slack line quicker and reel in quicker to get my bait back out to another prime spot.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I also like a faster ratio for jig-n-pig just because it is handy to be able to pick up line in a hurry. Also, when I'm fishing a jig, most of my action is done with the rod and the reel is just used to pick up slack.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I really only use the lower gear ratio reels for deep cranks.. ones like DT16 or DD22.. Poes 400... Like somone else mentioned.. not for jigs or anything else like that.. Though it may help slow someone down if they had a tendancy to fish to fast.

[ocf1]

I have a Pflueger Purist 6:3:1 and was wondering if that is a good all around technique ratio. What areas am I lacking with that reel?

[Daze Off]

That is a fine ratio - pretty much the standard for baitcasters. Can use it for anything but should remember to reel more slowly with cranks - especially deep runners - and some finesse presentations.

Aside from the two burners I have and the cranking reel 5.2:1, pretty much every other baitcaster is between 6.0:1 and 6.3:1 depending upon the manufacturer (I have Pfluegers, Shimanos, but mostly Quantums)

Daze Off

[Saint Paul Dan]

Thanks for all the input. Hey Daze off, we'll try not to catch every fish in Table Rock, but no promises. I see you guys are going down in May. Good plan. With my luck it should be snowing in mid April. I'll probably send you an email with a question or two before we go (if you don't mind).

Thanks again everybody,

Dan

[Daze Off]

 Originally Posted By: Saint Paul Dan

Thanks for all the input. Hey Daze off, we'll try not to catch every fish in Table Rock, but no promises. I see you guys are going down in May. Good plan. With my luck it should be snowing in mid April. I'll probably send you an email with a question or two before we go (if you don't mind).

Thanks again everybody,

Dan

Dan -

Actually we are going April 5-12th - did I make a mistake somewhere in posting it? I thought you were going in March...

Contact me anytime - love to share info.

Daze

[Saint Paul Dan]

No, you posted it right. My mistake, I was a month off. Just not used to planning a fishing trip before May. We are going in March and staying in shell knob from the 17-22. sorry for the confusion.

Dan

[cjac]

Hi all,

Looking to clarify my earlier post about lower speed reels for jigs.

After watching an In-Fisherman show today I saw exactly what I meant to imply in my post. I was not referring to a so-called traditional J'n'P presentation in the summer where the reel is primarily picking up line, as mentioned above.

Today's episode was turnover bass; and Jim Lindner was fishing a J'n'P presentation slowly swimming across a weed flat, hitting pockets, then coming down the edge, while Al worked a DT 6 Rap. He was swimming it thru first, then letting it fall. This is where I was thinking a lower gear ratio reel will help to SLOWLY bring it along, and not Bee-Line it across, as a novice like me would be inclined to do with a 7.0:1 reel.

Hope that makes sense,

Chris