I have been looking for a new rod or two to buy. I am pretty sure which rod or rods I will get but I am unsure about good gear ratios on my reels for those rods. What are the best gear ratios for different situations? For example crainkbaits, spinnerbaits, worms and other soft plastics?

 

http://www.insideline.net/il-online/2009/features/09-0821-whitten.html

The only bass fishing application that benefits greatly from a specific gear ratio ( actually IPT ) is deep crank-baiting. The rest are more personal preference. Mine is for a high speed reel for jigs/plastics to take up slack for a good hookset when they swim towards you. 

  I only use fast gear ratios...i do have an abu garcia winch though for deep deep diving cranks

3.8 for shallow wake baits.6.4 for jigs worms.5.4 for jerkbaits

I use mostly 6:1 ratio for cranks and spinnerbaits, 7:1 for soft plastics to pick up slack quicker. I don't have a 5:1 reel because I don't deep crank enough to have a dedicated set up.

I highly recommend 5:2:1 or even slower for worm fishing. ( wish I still had one of my old casters to compare a 4:3:1)( thinking that what I used to use years ago.)

The fish have told me no matter how hard I try il end up fishing to fast with a 6:2:1. Even when just picking up slack u will get to fast. If your worming usually it's cause there not running things down. The only way your going to get the big girls is to go slow.

Not sure how much difference it makes as I've never measured the actual line retrieved. But I use a longer handle ( Lews ). On my worming rod now, which will lower the retrieve speed even more. But it also gives a lot more cranking power. You'll need it for big girls.

As for the rod you want the most sensitive you can find. Notice I didn't say afford. Some of the best rods I've had where around $40 bucks down side is they are sometimes more brittle and break easier. Team Diawa (worming rod ) for $100 is a nice rod if they still make them.

Try taping the tip lightly on the floor when looking at them at the store you should be able to feel it. Note don't look at it, turn your head. And feel it, make sure your not just hearing it. Try a few you'll see what I mean. Then comparing the best two by finding something softer to tap on.

If you can feel it in the store like that. It will feel like some one hit the end of it with a hammer when a big girl sucks it in. And when the winds blowing and you can't see your line you'll still feel the strikes. Even with slack hanging down you should be able to feel the fish looking at it.

With slack hanging down like a weightless Senko you will feel it every time, none of that line moving sideways like a lot go guys say on here. I can't say I've ever had that happen.

If you cant feel the tap on the floor il assure you your missing fish you never new where there when fishing it.

As for the 7:2:1. Before I buy one I want to try someone else's. I just can't see them having enough cranking power. But they sure would be nice for buzz baits. And the rare occasion I get to burn lipless baits.

Just my two cents ya feel me

There are few factors to consider; the size of the reel spool, diameter and width. The size reels cranking handle. For example a round reel with larger spool diameter and width may have a 5.4 to gear ratio, recovering 26" of line per turn. The round reel with 28 IPT is with a full spool of line, all reels rate the IPT at full spool. With 90' of line casted out the round reel spool is still 75% full, the IPT drops to about 26"

The low profile reel with 7.1 to 1, rated at 31" IPT at a 90' cast may only have 50% spool capacity, the IPT drops to 18" or less'

A reel with a 3" handle has far less power than a reel with 4" handle, handles are important.

Bottom line; low profile reels with smaller spools benefit from higher gear ratio, 6.4 to 1 to 7.1 to 1 good for most presentations, if the reel has a wider handle.

Tom