Afternoon.  I have decided to go with one of the two referenced above and was looking for recommendations on which to pick.  I will likely be fishing spinnerbait most of the time, but also want to add in versatility.  In regard to bearing speed, should one go with 6:2:1 or 7.1:1?  Target fish is bass.  Thanks in advance for the insight.

Most guys will recommend the 7. I personally like a 6.something on my bc's. They seem smoother with less resistance. When I'm fishing I really don't feel handicapped by the speed difference. I think the emphasis on speed has gotten kinda silly in recent years.

I would go with the 7, but if they didn't have that in stock I would get the 6 and reel faster if needed. I personally don't notice a "feel" difference from 6 to 7, but I don't doubt there could be a noticeable change to many people.

 

 

I would pick the 6.2 since you say you mostly use spinnerbaits. I use 6.3 for all moving baits and I prefer to use a 7.1 for bottom contact baits only. 

I prefer a slower gear for spinnerbaits.

More torque and less retrieving resistance.  

Personally choice but all my spinnerbait reels are 5:1 gears.

I have the 6.2:1 on a glass rod for crankbaits, and it's a tad fast for my taste.  I probably would say that ratio would be great for spinnerbaits, maybe okay for baits that you fish a ways and then just bring back (jigs, T-rigs), and probably on the slow side for some topwater baits like frogs or buzzbaits.  You could fish any of tlhose baits with it too, a 6:1 reel was a fast reel not so long ago, but we've become impatient all of the reels that pull in 30+ IPT these days.

It's all about personal preference.  Most of my reels are 8.1. I find it easy to slow down and I am usually moving bats with the rod. I also find it easier to slow down with spinners as I get direct feedback. If I were you, I would be grabbing the 7.1, especially since your IPT will be reduced on long cast....Truth  be told, my only slower reels are for deep crankbaits and large swimmers.  That is just what I prefer.....No right or wrong with questions like this