Hello! I have seen and heard different gear ratios are better for different things. What is a good ratio for a bait caster going to be used for plastics? and when would you go down to the 6's rather than 7's for gear ratio? Thank you!!!

I like 7 for soft plastics because I can take up like relatively quick compared to a 6, ill even use an 8 if I'm fishing from shore. I like 6 for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swimbaits, cranking. I tend to have a med/fast retrieve naturally so I like a slower gear to keep my moving baits at a good rate in which I retrieve them. YMMV 

To compare apples to apples, use "inches per turn" or IPT to compare different brands.  I generally like a higher speed reel for when I use the rod to move the bait.  For mid column moving baits, somewhere in the middle.  Deep divers, I like a slow reel.

I use 7.1:1 on one of my plastics rods and 8.1:1 on the other. I personally would never go lower than 7.1:1 for any bottom contact baits, the ability to pick up line quickly and work your bait is crucial. I like 6.4:1 for spinnerbaits/chatterbaits/smaller swimbaits/shallow crankbaits. And a 5.4:1 for deep crankbaits and big swimbaits. Just my preferences. 

6 for CB

7 for top water and swimmers

8 for jig and worms

As other mentioned, you need to consider spool size as well. For an extreme example, a 6.2:1, 150-sized Shimano reel does 26 IPT, while a 6.4:1, 500-sized Shimano reel does 43 IPT.

 

For any kind of bottom contact presentation, fast reels are good, because you often need to pick up slack quickly. Most of my plastics reels are at least 33 IPT. In this case, I'd make the blanket statement that faster is better.

 

Cranking is more complicated, because you don't want to have to work too hard retrieving baits. Lower gear ratios and/or bigger reels make it easier to retrieve hard-pulling baits. I personally can't stand slow reels (less than 28 IPT, say), so when I need more power, I just use a bigger reel, maybe with a power handle.

Personally I use 5.8:1 or 23" per turn ?

15 minutes ago, Catt said:

Personally I use 5.8:1 or 23" per turn ?

 

I remember when these were high speed.

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

I remember when these were high speed.

 

Fast enough to catch fish!  ?

The component that changed how we use bait casting reels was the instant anti reverse feature. Before instant anti reverse reel handles rotated backwards if you let go of the handle, then improved to rotating backwards about a 1/4 turn. We always had to overcome the force or resistance the deep diving lure created and this also put wear on the gearing. 

Today all baitcasting reels have instant anti reverse and larger fine cut gears that provide superior torque making high ratio reels a choice without sacrificing power.

Tom

The beauty of fishing is it can be personalized to individual preferences!

11 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Fast enough to catch fish!  ?

 

/ thread.

I don't use baitcasters. Only spinning rods and reels. My favorite of the three I own is a 6'6" MF Lew's Carbon SS Speed Stick IM7 with a Lew's SG300 reel 6.2:1 gear ratio or 32" per turn. I just love it! ?

Even inches per turn is not a precise measurement. Ipt is less when you first start your retrieve after the cast then when you wind up the last few feet. But, it's more accurate than the gear ratio.