I'm going to be mainly cranking with squarebills and shallow divers (<10'). Would I be better off with a 6.X:1 or 5.X:1 ratio reel. I currently have a BPS Pro Qualifier Tournament (6.4:1) which is not matched to a rod. Will this reel suffice or should I get a lower ratio reel?

Thanks for any advice.

Mark, good question.

It really boils down to personal preference.

At the old Bassmaster University classs the pros said to use a 5:1 ratio and therefore the Curado 200E5 was a good option.

Today, if you read what the pros are using for cranking they are going with a 6:1 to get the cranks down to their proper depth faster.

I use both ratios. I start with my Curado 200E5 and then to a Curado 100 or 200.

Although the reel ratio is something to consider I think your retrieve is more important. A snap of the rod tip up, down and to the side; stopping the crank for a second; hitting structure; bouncing the crank off the bottom; dragging the crank on the bottom; fast retrieve; slow retrive; and silent or with a rattle are probably more important than the reel ratio.

You will receive many opinions on our question which is great. However, visit some of the pros' web sites and read what they have to say.

This is a personal preference I think.

My friend and fishing partner uses a 7.1:1 gear ratio for deep cranks. I like my Curado 200E5. I find it more comfortable to throw big cranks on the E5.

I can slow way down, or I can crank fast and speed up a bit....

The reel you have will handle those cranks very well.

Under 10 feet 6.x is fine deeper than 10 feet go slower with a 5.X.

Slow is better for cranks IMO. I have a curado 200e5 for my crank reel. Go with the 5.2:1 pq and you will do fine. Load it with 10 pound mono or fluoro.

I like 6.4:1 for it's all round ability, and it will definatly work for your application.

Try out your PQ 6.4.1 first, if you don't like it look for a different ratio then

Under 10 feet 6.x is fine deeper than 10 feet go slower with a 5.X.

This is my view on this subject as well. And it has nothing to do with getting bites, because I used to get more bites with the 6.3:1 and similar reels. The faster they are the better they reflect off cover. But when it came down to trying to be more comforable...I had to use slower gear ratio with deeper plugs. It wore me out physically and it started giving me tendonitis in my wrists really bad. At 20 (now 26), that wasn't a good thing.

The only time I drop down to a 5.X:1 reel for cranks now is if I'm using something like a hot lips, DD22, or a 6 XD. Otherwise a 6.X:1 reel handles everything else.

6.2:1, 6.3:1.6.4:1. and even 6.6:1 is fine for what you want to do, I was using a 6.2:1 but now I switched it out to a 6.3:1 which makes zero difference. I find that when I'm using a crank like a DT Thug I get it down to wher I make contact with the bottom and then I begin to fish it almost like a worm in that I use the rod to move the bait while reeling to keep the slack out of the line.

Too slow and you'll be beat when she turns and makes a much speed b line towards you. Keeping up with a 5:1 is nearly impossible without cranking your arm off. Personally its easier to slow down than to go full blast.