I am looking for a reel to add to a new jerkbait/top water rod. What gear ratio would you use for this set up?

for jerkbaits i use a 6.4 to 1 but for topwater i use a 7.0 or higher so if your looking for a reel for both maybe in the middle

 

goodluck

Topwater: 7:1:1

I have found a reel with 28 IPT to be ideal for me on how I fish those techniques.

I am currently using a 7.1:1 for frogs and a 7.9:1 for jerkbaits. I would recommend something on the faster side for both.

For both techniques I prefer 7.x:1 retrieves. It's nice to be able to pick up line when you need to, and also to be able to pick up more with shorter movements of the handle.

Slack line so 6.3+

Heck, I prefer 23IPT for this.

 

I twitch jerkbaits and poppers very, very lightly and there's not much slack to take up.  Much more than 23IPT and I move the lure when I don't want to.

 

Josh

7:1

I use my 200e7 for topwater

For jerkbaits I really use a 3000 ci4 stradic and exsence....

A 6.1 and up should do the job for both. It's not rocket science

7:1 or 8:1 for both.

7:0 - 8:0 works best for me.

Fastest gear ratio possible IMO, 7:1+. Especially with walking topwaters, it will make it much easier and you'll be less fatigued.

6 or 7:1 is fine, your just rolling up slack...

I find it doesn't really matter. I adapt to the reel. Balance and long term comfort are more important to me for jerks and tops.

I think faster is better, like 7.x:1, but I think it really comes down to a personal preference. You aren't moving the bait with the reel, you are just picking up slack, so any reel could work, you'd just have to adjust how much you crank.

Topwater is higher, like 7.1:1, I use 15-20lb braid. Jerkbaits are like a 6.3:1 and I use Fluoro. So I have two different reels, if you had to pick one I think it'd be safer to use a 7.1:1 with mono, or maybe braid and use a fluoro leader.

One year later, I've come to want a higher speed reel. I've turned my old school tournament pro into my new jerkbait reel. 

Here is a simple rule of thumb to go by. any bait or lure that you move primarily with the rod you'll want a fast reel to pick up slack line fast, any bait or lure that you are moving primarily with the reel you'll want a slower reel. A pretty good solution is to get a reel in the 6.?:1 ratio, it is fast enough for worms and jigs as well as topwaters and jerkbaits, yet it is still not too fast to fish most types of crankbaits. So for the baits you are talking about, I use 7.1:1 but I'd say anything from a 6 on up will work fine.

I narmally will pickup 6.1 for top water / jerk since I trend to reel in too fast. I use 7.1 for plastic where I can cast reel in and cast again.

The faster the reel the better for jerkbaits and topwaters

I've found very limited use for an 8:1:1, yet 7:1:1 and 6:4:1 seem to be more appropriate for my uses. Jerkabit my preference is 7:1:1 or around there. 

I usually associate those techniques with moving the bait with your rod not the reel, so for me as fast as I can get. No need to go searching for an 8 or 9 speed reel but if you had the choice between a 6 or 7 for those techniques I'd go 7. 

On 3/29/2015 at 3:44 PM, Lucky Craft Man said:

I have found a reel with 28 IPT to be ideal for me on how I fish those techniques.

I feel the same as I did a year ago.