So I have 2 new Abu Garcia Revo Rockets but they don't have line on them yet. I went fishing today with my friend and used my Abu Garcia Revo SX with a 6:4:1 gear ratio. I caught about 7 bass on topwater walking the dog and lost about 3. One was a really big bass. I was using a KVD Sexy Dawg most on all of my losses and the hooks are super sharp on this brand new lure.

 

 

On the ones I lost, I set the hook pretty solidly and as I attempted to reel in the slack to set the hook again the fish would be gone. I kept the rod high with a lot of bend in it as to keep the pressure on the fish but they still got off. And I had reeled like a madman to get the slack in. I think if I had had a faster gear ratio I could have taken up the slack quicker and set the hook again and not lost those fish.

 

 

Am I wrong to think that?

You were probably setting the hook with to much force

You were probably setting the hook with to much force

The first hook sets where weak. That's why I was going for a second.

Treble hooks don't need a very hard hook set. You probably yanked it out of the fish's mouth.

Sometimes they just slap at topwater baits and don't actually get the hooks in their mouths well.  You aren't going to catch every fish that bites, especially on topwater baits.

Dude, make better hooksets ! I' ve caught thousands of fish with reels much slower than yours.

to be able to do a second hook set it usually means you have slack in the system somewhere which means lost fish.  I would also agree with everyone else....treble baits don't need a hero hook set.

 

Also the difference between a 6.4:1 and a 7.1:1 you are talking about 3" per turn which is not much at all. A faster ratio reel wouldn't have helped you in my opinion

Dude, make better hooksets ! I' ve caught thousands of fish with reels much slower than yours.

 

That's funny! True for me as well. It wasn't long ago when 5 something was as fast as you could find. We still managed to catch an occasional fish...

 

Most of my reels are 6.4ish, and if I could only have one, a reel with a 26-28 IPT would be my choice. Turning a fish in heavy cover is one spot where a little faster is handy. The other is ripping a bait back to the boat to get it back in the zone.

Already said. The issue isn't the reel. My setup is 6'6" MH rod, Abu Silver Max and 15lb mono.

I primarily fish the chrome Sexy Dawg with no issues. The only change was Mustad hooks.

Wait to feel the bass pulling and then set the hook. Keep plugging away at it!

I sweep steady and smooth on everything with trebles.

That's funny! True for me as well. It wasn't long ago when 5 something was as fast as you could find. We still managed to catch an occasional fish...

 

e.

My oldest BC reels are XLT Plus series Abus, 521 XLT Plus Ambassadeur ...... 4.7: 1, about 19" IPT, man it was a real " burner " !

Lol I still use my bantam 100's and I'm not sure what the gear ratio is exactly but it has to be somewhere between 4-5 haha

Lol I still use my bantam 100's and I'm not sure what the gear ratio is exactly but it has to be somewhere between 4-5 haha

4.7:1, another water smoker.

You set the hook, then reeled in slack to set it again. You've already identified the problem. If you set the hook and allow any slack, chances are that the fish will come off. There's no need to set it again for any reason. Set it once, keep the line tight, and start bringing them in.

It's funny, when I first got into fishing, all I had were super fast reels except for cranking. Now I have several 6.1-6.5 gear ratios as they just seem to be better all purpose ESPECIALLY with moving baits. Topwaters can be fished just fine with that gear ratio. The issue is the treble hooks, not the speed of the reel. If it was all about speed, nobody would catch a crankbait fish lol

I've talked to people who only use slow reels like 6 or below for everything, I just think they're crazy and really at a disadvantage, the only time I use a 5.5 is for deep cranks not one other thing except the occasional deep spinnerbait. If your using a 5.5 reel for Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, etc. . you need to just try a 7 or 8:1 reel for awhile and see if you ever go back...

Its funny because they always say that the power is why they like the low speed reels haha

I did however see a video awhile back (don't know how long ago) of KVD using a 5 something for a lipless crank and he said he used it so he wouldn't reel to fast lol

I agree with what everyone else has said. Shouldn't be an issue of the gear ratio

You could always work on pausing a second or two longer from the strike to the first hookset to ensure the fish has the lure in its mouth. I've seen a lot of pros say a good 1-2 second wait can help with the hookset on topwater baits.

Yep part of topwater fishing, I have had mornings where most fish were lost, and the ones that weren't were all hooked anywhere but in the mouth! But I still love watching them blow up on em!!!

imo..  there is really no "hookset" on a topwater with treble hooks...they either have it or they don't..i pause..then sweep...

 

i agree with Felix....change the hooks to a good sticky hooks...that will definitley help too..

imo..  there is really no "hookset" on a topwater with treble hooks...they either have it or they don't..i pause..then sweep...

 

i agree with Felix....change the hooks to a good sticky hooks...that will definitley help too..

 

Agree with this....trebels hook themselves. 

As the saying goes "set it, then forget it", never ever allow slack in the line after hookset. Even if you don't think it was a solid hookset, the slack line will result in more lost fish than ones caught due to a 2nd hookset.

Always follow up a topwater strike with a soft plastic. I turn most of my missed strikes into landed fish this way.  Also to anyone saying high speed reels arent necessary go fish small mouth on a 5:4 ratio when they pick up and run with it. You'll wish you had the 7:1 or even 8:1 to catch up to them.

if the curado i was in 8:1 id have an 8:1

Am I wrong to think that?

 

Yes. "Tis a poor craftman that blames his tools"