looking for a cranking reel that is a 5 gear ratio in this price range? Thanks!

Daiwa Tatula CT 100P 5.5 is a good one.

Keep your eyes open on Amazon.  I picked up a Abu Garcia Winch Gen 4 for $145.  This is the best cranking (5.x) reel I have ever used. 

Shimano Curado K 6.2 on eBay for $145. I have one in the mail right now for a new deep cranking stick. 

 

Slow your hand down a tiny bit.

Tatula 150 P , I picked one up for $119. Aluminum frame and side plate gear side.

I would go Curado K in the 6 speed.  Very powerful under load, which is especially important for cranking. 

Lews BB1 would be my choice, followed by the slowest Tournament MB.  The BB1 retails a bit higher than $150, but you can find either of them under $150 from a reputable merchant.  I have an Abu on one cranking rod and a Chronarch on another, and while the Chronarch does better at casting lighter plugs, I have BB1s on every other cranking setup and like them better too. 

Shimano Cardiff 300A series, 5.8:1 with larger enough spool to make long cast without severely impacting the IPT, good drag, stronge 1 piece aluminum reel frame, makes a good swimbait and deep diving crankbait reel. Under $110

Tom

I like my Calcutta 250 GT and the Calcutta TEGT for throwing cranks, but they are a little more $.  I recently pulled a couple of Calais out of storage and had them professionally cleaned & lubed.   Using a medium action rod, I'm amazed at how far that reel will throw a smaller balsa bait on 10 lb line.  I got those 2 reels relatively cheap on a cash close out deal - that deal will never happen again.

I have a Curado 200E - filled with 17 lb mono that I use to throw poppers, Sammy's & spooks and that reel throws those baits very well.  I think that reel is just a little more $.

 

Basically, I'm a Shimano guy and I think that spending a little more for reaction bait reels is money well spent.  As I get older, I am finding the Calcutta reels just a little heavy.

 

Back before I became a Shimano bigot,  I had a couple of Quantum IR4 CW - the wide spool version of the old Quantum IRON.  Once I got those reels broke in, they were great reaction bait reels.  They held so much line, you could break off a dozen times and still not really notice any loss in inches per turn - compared to using the Curado 200 where after a couple of break offs and trims to lose nicked up line, inches per turn loss is a little noticeable.