Not a cranker, but want to order a cranking reel.

Is a slower gear ratio that important? Why? With a 4.6-1 or 5.3-1 do you have trouble catching up to fish when they bite?

I am having a crankbait rod built and want a quality cranking reel to put on it for deep cranking 15-25 ft.

What do you guys recommend? Which gear ratio? All I care is right hand retrieve.

Thanks guys

I use a green Curado 200B5 with 5.0:1 gears for deep cranking and never had a problem catching up to a fish running toward the boat. Not saying you can't use a 6.2 ratio reel for deep cranking but it sure makes things easier with a lower ratio reel. Personally, I won't go below 5.0 ratio. As far as brand/model, that's player's choice and I would only say that it's important that the reel be able to make long casts that will let you get a deep diver into the strike zone for as long as possible.

This topic always gets replies all over the map. Some folks give an answer based on mechanical advantage (lower numerical ratios), some give an answer based on being able to "burn" a deep crank and say just slow down when you need to (higher numerical ratios)...although these people must have wrists and forearms the size of tree trunks...

Me, I use a 4.7 ratio (19ipt) reel on my deep-cranking rod; I have a 5.2 (21ipt) ratio reel on another rod that would work nearly as well. Some folks (few nowadays) that really like to work the bottom slow favor the older 3.8 ratio reels. Some will say that a 6.x (24-26ipt) ratio works well. Then there's those "burner" folks with the "wrists of steel" that say a 7.x works well...

Slow gear ratio in the 5 range for cranks or slow fishing spinnerbaits. Also prefer a slow reel for dog walkers and poppers as well.

Deep cranking I would recommend a lower ipt, around 19-21 inches per turn. Most reels this equates to a 5.0 reel or so. I like my Curado e, you can readily find them on sale now. Good luck