Read a lot on here and it seems like people are all over the place on this. I want to start trying this presentation here in about a month once it gets cooler and wanted to have an idea what to start with. I have a Daiwa Fuego CT 6.3:1 but it just seems to me that you would want something that takes up excess line fairly quickly if you are working it on a somewhat slack line with quick little pops. Thoughts here?

I prefer a 7 or even 8 ratio reel to pick up the slack quickly.

I use 7.x for jerkbaits

Somewhere around 7:1 is a good choice.

I use spinning reels for jerk baits because when & where I generally throw jerk baits it is windy and for me (assuming I pay attention to wind knots and such) spinning gear works better in the wind for me.

I prefer a subtle action on jerkbaits so I don’t throw a lot of slack into the line. I don’t find it critical honestly. 

I prefer a reel that picks up 30 or 31 ipt. Most of the 7.1 or so gear ratios fall into this category.  I'll throw it on a faster reel if necessary but my dedicated jerkbait rod has a 7 ratio lews tournament pro lfs on it

6.3 to 1 for me

I have 2 jerkbait/fluke setups and they are both 8.1:1.  

I’m in the 7.1 camp @pauldconyers

I like 28 IPT for jerkbaits.

I do a lot of jerkbait fishing and I have used reel ratios from 5:1 up to 7:1. They all work based on your personal preference. It depends on what you get into a rhythm with & how you like to work a Jerkbait. If you are using a lot of slack then a faster ratio is probably best. If you use more rod tip action then a slower ratio will work just fine. I would just use what you have until you develop a feel for what your doing. There is no absolute proven way to work a Jerkbait it’s more intuitive in action based on the bait selected & how you want it to perform.

7 speed for me. I DO jerk the slack line to get erratic action in my baits and find it critical to have a faster reel to take up slack when I detect a strike.  A moderate action rod to keep them pinned as well. 

6.3 ..I don't leave enough slack line to have a need for a faster reel..

I've used everything from a 5.0:1 to a 8.1:1. It didn't really matter until a fish was attached. I prefer a 6/7 ratio is what I've found.

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I've used everything from a 5.0:1 to a 8.1:1. It didn't really matter until a fish was attached. I prefer a 6/7 ratio is what I've found.

This ^.  I don't turn the handle when I'm working JBs, as much as I bump it, nudge it, and slap it, so using the same reel is more important to me than the gear ratio/iPT.

I'm tossing jerkbaits on my Trion spinning reel. At 25.9 IPT it's around a 6.2 to 6.4 BC depending on the spool size. So I guess that'd be my answer.

Not sure it matters as much since you move the bait with the rod, but I make major twitches and I prefer 8.1, but probably wouldn’t buy a new reel if I had one kicking around

6.4:1.   Never had any issues and I fish a jb quite often.

6.4:1. Don’t think the reel is as important as the rod for this technique.

I fish jerks on 7 and 8 geared reels.