I've been lurking here for a few weeks (man there is some great info and posters on here!) I'm making my first post on here and I really hope you guys can point me straight here. My uncle has offered be an AWESOME gift for graduating college of the Shimano Curado K reel I was looking at! Now the problem is figuring out which gear ratio I should go with for what I will be using it for. I am going to be putting this on a Dobyns Fury 705CB with 12 pound FC line. I am going to use this combo to throw .5 oz lipless crank baits, square bills and smaller diving cranks.

 

I've read a lot on here about IPT and how that is affected by gear ratio and spool size. This reel has a 200 size spool and again I would be going with 12 pound FC on it. The two models I am considering is a 6.2:1 ration with a 26 IPT and a 7.4:1 ration with a 31 IPT. I just want to get this right here, I do not want to get one and 4 months later which I had gotten the other one and at that point it would be too late to exchange it. And as a poor college student still I couldn't afford to just go buy the one I should have initially. And I probably imagine both will do the job I just want to buy the "right" one initially.

 

Also out of curiosity after say 4 or so months of using it how would I know if I am presenting these baits too fast or too slow?

6 gear ratio is my recommendation. 

7 ratio is what I would recommend. Especially for a lipless bait. You can always slow down your retrieve with a 6 ratio (it's hard to make yourself do, but you can) but you can't make it go any faster than it will. I like to burn a lipless through or on top of grass so I prefer a faster ratio, I actually prefer an 8 ratio for them.

I usually use 6:3:1 but if fish want it faster like ripping a trap faster I'll just use my other rod/reel w/ 7:3:1. 

For lipped cranks, I run a 6-speed. Lipless either on the 6 or a 7.

the lower the better for those type lures. I use the 5.5:1 Curado 200i but shimano has abandoned the crank bait fishermen now so 6.2:1 is the lowest we get in a lower profile reel for the north american market. 

In the end,  there's not a huge difference between the two so I don't think you're gonna regret the purchase either way.  The fast one is 19% faster.  Personally, I would go with the 6.3 if you're only going to use if for crankbaits.  I used a 4.7 for years for lipless crankbaits.  Gave me a chance to get some exercise while out on the water ?.

 

39 minutes ago, michael1 said:

Also out of curiosity after say 4 or so months of using it how would I know if I am presenting these baits too fast or too slow?

Vary the speed of your retrieve and the bass will let you know.

I use the Curado K 6.2 on all my crankbait rods.

47 minutes ago, michael1 said:

I've been lurking here for a few weeks (man there is some great info and posters on here!) I'm making my first post on here and I really hope you guys can point me straight here. My uncle has offered be an AWESOME gift for graduating college of the Shimano Curado K reel I was looking at! Now the problem is figuring out which gear ratio I should go with for what I will be using it for. I am going to be putting this on a Dobyns Fury 705CB with 12 pound FC line. I am going to use this combo to throw .5 oz lipless crank baits, square bills and smaller diving cranks.

 

I've read a lot on here about IPT and how that is affected by gear ratio and spool size. This reel has a 200 size spool and again I would be going with 12 pound FC on it. The two models I am considering is a 6.2:1 ration with a 26 IPT and a 7.4:1 ration with a 31 IPT. I just want to get this right here, I do not want to get one and 4 months later which I had gotten the other one and at that point it would be too late to exchange it. And as a poor college student still I couldn't afford to just go buy the one I should have initially. And I probably imagine both will do the job I just want to buy the "right" one initially.

 

Also out of curiosity after say 4 or so months of using it how would I know if I am presenting these baits too fast or too slow?

welcome! get a 7 so you can use it for other applications when the lipless bite slows down in the mid months of 2020. I actually throw mine on a 13 fishing concept c 8.1.1. I fish lipless in shallow water burning over cover more often than not, and it makes it a hell of lot easier staying up above the junk in the water column without reeling so fast your rattletrap starts running sideways

7:1 is the most versatile and you can slow it down just fine for lipped and lipless crankbaits. You may get more reels later and want the 200K for a different application. 7:1 is perfect IMO.

Since you want an all purpose cranking reel, the 6 is the way to go. 

Personally I prefer two different reels for those techniques - a 5:1 for cranks and an 8:1 for lipless. If I had to pick one from your list I would choose the 7.4:1 and just run it more slowly for regular crankbaits.

The difference is subtle in actual use. Don’t agonize over it. Personally I think it’s easier to slow down cranking than to wind like crazy so I use 7:1 reels mostly. 

6 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

The difference is subtle in actual use. Don’t agonize over it. Personally I think it’s easier to slow down cranking than to wind like crazy so I use 7:1 reels mostly. 

I find the opposite to be true for me. I find slowing down is harder. I find the 6 gear ratio Curado a better all-purpose cranking reel. Ultimately all is personal preference. Best of luck

Hello @michael1 and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

Plenty of useful advice offered here already. 

IMO, your plan of going with the 6.2:1 reel is solid.

That speed reel works for me when in many applications and find it to be a decent middle ground.

Additionally, I am also a man who prefers to speed up my retrieve if I need to because 

I find it somewhat difficult (insert torturous) to slow down.

Good Luck with your decision

A-Jay

As you can see, it is a matter of preference.  Take consolation know that whichever one you choose, you will wish you had chosen the other.

 

Is this your only rod and reel?  If so, go 7 speed no doubt about it.

the mentioned baits have little or no resistance so there is no need for any torque in the gear ratio so a 7 something will not be a disadvantage.

To answer your question, I have other rods and this would be a technique specific combo. I knew this would be tightly contested and it speaks to the decision I have to make here. Again, I am sure both would suffice but I want to make the best or right decision here if possible. So far the vote is 9 to 7 in favor of the 6.2:1 ratio. No one has answered it yet but how would I tell if the one I end up with was too fast or too slow? How does the line I plan to use and on a 200 spool size effect the IPT and which I should go with?

If the fish aren't biting its either too fast or too slow. 

 

If that's the case you can send me the Curado K and I will gladly trade you your choice of Piscifun or Kastking reel in the appropriate ratio. ?

 

As most folks said you're likely overthinking this. I am not sure if this is your first reel or not but many people including myself started on a 6.2:1 reel and used that for many many techniques. Buy the reel and enjoy it. With experience youll see patterns in when bass prefer presentations at a certain speed. When the time comes you can just update your arsenal with another reel. 

 

I have to agree with all the other posts on going with a 6:2:1 for crankbaits of any kind. I also find it harder to make myself slow down when using higher speed reels.

Welcome aboard, Michael!

 

I'm not a big crankbait guy, but for baitcasters I like 'em fast.

I just reel slower for stuff that needs a slower cadence. Yeah,

not necessarily the best, but hey, whatevs. 

 

Just don't overthink things....

I understand your dilemma here and agree with you that either probably would be just fine. I would agree that traditional thinking would say do the 6 ratio. However someone else correctly stated that none of these baits are going to offer much "resistance" so it's not like you need more power really. Perhaps someone who owns these reels will weigh in here?

How would I know I am retrieving it too fast or too slow?

I use 6.x reels or less for cranking.

1 hour ago, michael1 said:

How would I know I am retrieving it too fast or too slow?

That is a great question.

 

For me, if I ever stop to think about it, because my speed is not right.... I am retrieving too fast.....except on rare occassions that I'm retrieving too slow.