Wanting to know if any of you guys have bought this reel, I'm looking for left hand for swimbaits.

It's either this or the older Lexa 300.

The new Lexa 300 HD has a power handle, will that be ok to use for swimbaits, or am I better off with the older Lexa 300 with paddle handles?

Also gear ratio 7.1:1 and 8.1:1, will these gear ratio's be ok for swimbaits? Freshwater applications mostly and possibly saltwater.

Everything I have read on swimbaits is the need for slow rolling them so I am kind of unsure as to the need or want of such high ratios.  

Considering I am trying to get into swimbaits myself, I'm eager to see the experts weigh in 

I'm using a lexa 300 as well, when I bought mine it had a power handle as well. I tried to find a used handle but had no luck so I bought this handle: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-DAIWAROD.html?from=basres

I'm using to 7:1 ratio as well which a lot of guys say is too fast of a reel, but I dont seem to be having any problems with it. You just have to remember to reel sloooow, My swimbait rod also pulls double duty for stripers and I like the fast reel for when I'm striper fishing as I'm not always fishing with swimbaits for stripers.   

They at least used to make a 6.2:1 ratio in that reel, so you could buy the gearset for it.  I like having the lower ration for the slow rolling and for the extra torque pulling some big baits through the water.  The Lexa 300 is a very solid not frills reel to start swimbaiting (along with Cardiff 300 from Shimano and 5500 from Abu)