To get it out of the way - I'm ignoring some important technical stuff here, and talking in generalities. (See below*).

 

I know that for many applications, broadly speaking, slower is better, for example, deep cranking, slow rolling big blade spinnerbaits, etc is much easier with a slower reel.

 

But what about for the following mix of common baits that can be fished shallow:

T-rigged plastics: flukes, worms, craws, jerkbaits, minnowbaits, shallow cranks, rattle baits, walking baits, poppers, frogs, etc.

 

Any reason why an 8x:1 is too fast for this mix of lures?  I'm debating between a new 8x:1 and 7x:1 - I mostly have 7x:1 reels and can't think of a time when I've felt like they were too fast for the lures I use most.

 

 

*I recognize that "fast" is a relative term; and the technical stuff, e.g. one models' IPT for a 6.3:1 reel is different from another models' IPT; and IPT will vary with the size and how full the spool is.

3 minutes ago, snake95 said:

what about for the following mix of common baits that can be fished shallow:

T-rigged plastics: flukes, worms, craws, jerkbaits, minnowbaits, shallow cranks, rattle baits, walking baits, poppers, frogs, etc.

 

Any reason why an 8x:1 is too fast for this mix of lures?  I'm debating between a new 8x:1 and 7x:1 - I mostly have 7x:1 reels and can't think of a time when I've felt like they were too fast for the lures I use most.

A fast reel will work better for most of the baits you mentioned, especially jerkbaits, frogs, walking baits, and poppers.  The fast reel helps to pick up the slack for a hookset, which is important for the baits I mentioned because they are all slack line techniques, so you will usually be setting the hook from a slack line.  As long as you can force yourself to slow down (not everyone can) you can use a fast reel for anything.  The only real drawback other than that is that the speed of a reel is inversely proportionate to the amount of power it possesses, which is not always important.  But you will work your arms off throwing a deep crank on an 8:1 ratio reel all day, so they are not by any means a catch all.

For general use I like a 6-3 to one reel especially for small to mid sized cranks, traps, spinnerbaits, wake baits, chatterbaits, and popping type topwaters.  I just do not want to physically slow my hands down that much to fish them correctly. I do believe there are times I want to burn a bait but a small crankbait or trap can be overfished in my opinion.  For baits like a Zara Spook or frog I want a very fast reel like an 8-1. I do not fish the bait that fast but rather I want to bring it in fast and rapidly cast again in the case of a missed blow up. your 7.3-1 is a good compromise for all of the above and if I were only fishing with a few rods I would set my arsenal up that way. I have over a dozen rods in my rod locker.  So they are setup according to uses and what reel ratio and line works best for those techniques.

Baits like texas rigs plastics, carolina rigs, jerkbaits and minnow baits do not matter since all the reel does is pick up slack. You move those baits by either dragging, hopping, or jerking the rod.   

The first 8:1 reels I bought was Tatula R 100 because I wanted to recover line faster when jig fishing making 40+ yard cast to get better hook set and control of big bass at that distance. The reason is I realized the 100 size spools didn't recover line fast enough at a long cast like my old 4500C reels did. Measuring the IPT was shocking, the 100 size spools dropped 50% @ 40 yards, the old 4500C dropped about 15%. With the smaller spool reels you need high speeds to off set the loss of IPT unless you make short 20 yard casts.

Tom

Yes exactly what wrb said, anything smaller than a 200 size reel I always go high gear to pick up the slack line.

19 minutes ago, WRB said:

With the smaller spool reels you need high speeds to off set the loss of IPT unless you make short 20 yard casts.

 

A-ha!  I hadn't thought of that.  I feel enlightened.

 

my general rule is 8.x:1 (or higher) for all baits that are moved with the rod rather than the reel. i also prefer this high speed for lipless and buzzbaits and any moving bait with low resistance. i do not find it hard to slow down when needed.

 

i think 7.x:1 is a good all around speed to cover everything except deep cranks.

 

I wouldnt go over 7

1 minute ago, d-camarena said:

 

I wouldnt go over 7

 

@d-camarena I've heard people say that, but I don't recall ever seeing the reason why.  Any reason in particular?

Just personal preference. When throwing a spinner bait or a swimbait on days were i have to slow down i have to reel painfully slow to get the right presentation. I rather use a 6 or 7 gear reel because of that. But overall i fish real slow. I understand why some guys like faster reels

good read guys nice insite thanks

I would imagine it depends on the individual fisherman, but speaking for myself,

I appreciate the higher power of a low-speed reel, more often than I appreciate

the high speed of a lower-power reel. For instance, there are many days

when I'm winding a swimbait through lily pads, not the pads that lie flush on the water

but spatterdock (cow lilies), the pads held above the water surface on stalks.

If properly fished, the lure will get bogged down a hundred times a day,

but with a 5:1 ratio reel I can bull through the veggies and keep it coming.

 

Roger

I use 7:1 gear ratio or higher for almost everything. The only times I use a lower gear is finesse fishing (6:1) and deep cranking (5:1 or low 6:1).

 

I saw a video where Aaron Martens uses only 8:1 ratio for everything.

Yes.

 

I use a 15.1:1 speed on my shishamo the faster the better the more bearings the better.!

1 hour ago, Pilot. said:

I use a 15.1:1 speed on my shishamo the faster the better the more bearings the better.!

 

You laugh, but I bet if/when they come out with a 12:1 reel people will buy it. If fast is good, faster is better right?

I'm so glad there was only books, magazines, and a couple of radio and TV shows and no InterWeb® when I got started, I'd own 12 rooms of tackle instead of 4...

It comes to personal preference. I can speed up when needed easier than i can slow down my retreive speeds. 

For me its 

6.3 most cranks, wirebaits, chatterbaits, and moving baits in general

5:1 deep cranks, slow rolling buzzbaits

7:1 bottom contact baits to keep slack picked up for max sensitivity

8:1 flipping, punching, and times i need to move fish quickly out of slop. 

I use 6:1 and 7:1 reels for everything.

 

Usually the 6:1 reels for most moving baits, and the 7:1 reels with jigs and soft plastics....I do like the 7:1 reels for moving baits in clear water where I have to zip them along pretty quick, like swim jigs, frogs, etc..

 

The newer reels with their over-sized gears, coupled with modern deep diving cranks, or other high water resistance lures that pull through the water far easier than those of yesteryear have made slower geared reels obsolete for me. I can fish SK XD cranks all day on 6 and 7:1 reels comfortably, where just a short time ago, some of the older deep diving lures like Norman DD22's and the big lipped Mann's baits needed more powerful reels because they pulled hard....

 

I also find it much easier to reel a fast reel slow, than try to speed up a slow reel. Cranking like a mad man on a slow reel gets old, fast.

Looking at the Curado 200K. 

 

8.5:1 - 36" IPT

7.4:1 - 31" IPT

 

90% of the fishing I'll be doing with this reel is pitching and frogging.  The "catch" is, does the faster reel confine me to these techniques?  I worry about the other 10%. While both will get the job done in picking up slack or turning a fish in cover, is 8.5:1 too fast?!

 

Anyone on here throw both ratios in the Curado 200k?

I prefer a smoking fast reel for jigs, worms etc. Any moving style bait I prefer a 6.3 no faster than a 7.1. Fish traps and square bills on a 7.1, Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits on 6.3