Hello All,

 

So I am taking the plunge and getting another high end JDM baitcaster.  Given the cost of the reel, I want to get as much versatility out of it as possible.  While mounting it to a rod appropriate for the required technique, I see myself using this reel for Worms/plastics, jigs, spinnerbaits, and occasionally crankbaits (fishing the top 3-5 feet of water) all targeting bass.  While I can get 7-9 fewer handle cranks per cast with a 7.4, I'm thinking that the 6.2  gear ratio will provide better presentation speed with the crank/spinner baits than the 7.4.  All I'm losing with a 6.2 when fishing plastics/jigs is retrieve time through dead water.  So I'm thinking getting my new high end baitcaster in a 6.2 gear ratio.  I'm a weekend warrior fishing 3-4 hours a day on the weekends from now until October, so I'm not too concerned with fatigue.  I have a dedicated finesse spinning combo and a punching/pitching/flipping bc set ups. 

 

Am I correct in the logic I'm using when comparing the two gear ratios for maximum versatility?

Id go with the 6:2 if you already have a pitching/jig setup

Having one of each is the most versitile!

Having one of each is the most versitile!

 Why buy one when I can have both at twice the price!

It's up to you, I use my rod to move my soft plastic

Not the reel, I reel up slack as I lower my rod back down.. I believe in your case the bit slower retrieve would fit in better with multiple presentations. I've never felt at a disadvantage using a 6.3:1 or slower reel

The difference between these two is subtle and more about personal preference. I'd go with Jfrancho's line of thinking. Deep cranking is the application where ratio/IPT comes more into play for me. 

U need sum slo rell 2.

Mine sez 5.0:1

unless you are deep cranking, go with 7.4:1. You can burn a bait super fast, or slow it down for baits that you want to slowly crawl along.

Its easier to slow down with a 7.4, than to speed up with a 6.2.

U need sum slo rell 2.

y u do dis?

To me, when using a reel for fishing worms/soft plastics/jigs and casting bottom contact baits, it's particularly nice to be able to pick up line as fast as possible as often I find myself working an area and reeling through a lot of dead water to get to the next cast. With cranks that run as shallow as you are suggesting, you won't really need a lower geared reel to help with fatigue, and you won't have that hard of a time slowing down enough with a 7.4 to present moving baits the way you like. So I guess if I had to have one, it would be the faster speed.

Buy the extra gear set.