If you were setting up a new reel on a 7’ MH/F to be as versatile as possible, would you choose 6.3:1 or 7.3:1?  (26.5 or 30 IPT) 

I would chose a 7.3:1 gear ratio reel... its not too fast or slow, its kind of the sweet spot IMO. The 6.3:1 is slower, and meant for baits that are meant to be moved/work by the reel (like crank baits, etc.).

7 for sure. I only use 6 on my crankbait rods. 

7 speed, for sure.  They catch up quick enough and pull moving baits that don't offer too much resistance excellently.  7.3:1 with 29" IPT is probably my favorite ratio.

Agree with everyone else. my pair of 7-speeds on MH/F are my 'catch all' rigs, 6.3 is on my crank-bait rig.

Thanks. 

 

I'm coming off mainly 5.3:1 ABUs, so it SOUNDS very fast to me right now, but I'll adjust. 

For spinners and 1-3' crank baits, is the 7.3 still good to go? 

Personally I think you will be fine with either.  Look at the IPT.

 

   I recently saw a batch of 100$ reels for 50 each on the auction site and they were 6.5 to 1 gear ration and I jumped on it and bought them. If you really think about it, it's not that big of a jump... you can slow down or speed up a little, and the 6 can be used quite well as a cranking reel.  But that being said, you the 7 is pretty good for most applications too. 

 

10 years ago, 6 was the median and viewed at versatile, now it's the slow reel.   I wouldnt hesitate on either.  Hard to go wrong as long as you stay between those two selections.  Theres alot of us guys with older gear that is still quite successful with the 6:1 reels for majority presentations.  

21 minutes ago, Teal said:

Personally I think you will be fine with either.  Look at the IPT.

 

   I recently saw a batch of 100$ reels for 50 each on the auction site and they were 6.5 to 1 gear ration and I jumped on it and bought them. If you really think about it, it's not that big of a jump... you can slow down or speed up a little, and the 6 can be used quite well as a cranking reel.  But that being said, you the 7 is pretty good for most applications too. 

 

10 years ago, 6 was the median and viewed at versatile, now it's the slow reel.   I wouldnt hesitate on either.  Hard to go wrong as long as you stay between those two selections.  Theres alot of us guys with older gear that is still quite successful with the 6:1 reels for majority presentations.  

99% of the fishing in my life has been on 5.3s, ha. So either one is going to be a change for me. 

 

I feel like the 7.3 is a safe choice, as I don't throw too many deep diving cranks. However, I do throw spinners a lot, and I've hear people say they think the 7.3s are too fast for them (hope that's not the case). 

 

I guess I can always just keep one of my older ABUs around for when I feel the need to crank one deep (or have an excuse to pick up a lower geared Tat CT... *sigh*)

29 minutes ago, AmmoGuy said:

I feel like the 7.3 is a safe choice, as I don't throw too many deep diving cranks. However, I do throw spinners a lot, and I've hear people say they think the 7.3s are too fast for them (hope that's not the case).

My 7.3:1 President was my prime spinnerbait/chatterbait reel last year. This year spinners and chatters will either be on my 7.3 President XT or 7.1 Supreme.

 

30 minutes ago, AmmoGuy said:

I guess I can always just keep one of my older ABUs around for when I feel the need to crank one deep (or have an excuse to pick up a lower geared Tat CT... *sigh*)

I still have my old Abu 5.4:1 sitting on a shelf - don't really miss using it all that much.

Another option is the Fuego CT - which is, for all intents and purposes, the Tatula CT without the T-Wing system...same frame, same main gear, same spool, etc-etc-etc.

There's no answer. Everyone thinks differently on the topic.

28 minutes ago, waymont said:

There's no answer. Everyone thinks differently on the topic.

I pretty much knew this^^ WAS the answer when I posted, haha. 

But gave it a shot anyway. 

4 hours ago, AmmoGuy said:

Thanks. 

 

I'm coming off mainly 5.3:1 ABUs, so it SOUNDS very fast to me right now, but I'll adjust. 

For spinners and 1-3' crank baits, is the 7.3 still good to go? 

Gear ratio doesn't mean much, inches per turn is more important.  The 5.3 in the Abu pulls in a similar amount of line per turn as a 6.x (~24 to 27 IPT) gear in a low profile, and the 6.3 Abu pulls in what a 7.x (~29 to 32 IPT) does in a low profile.  They have much deeper spools than many of your low profile reels.  I feel a 7.x would suit you best, just a pinch faster than what you're used to in your Abu reels.  You should be able to cover a wide range of techniques with that.

Had the same debate a few months ago, went with the 7:3. No regrets, it's a good in between by today's standards. 

I find my most versatile reel is the shimano curado 71hg (7.2:1), at 28ipt it falls in right between most 6.3 and 7:1 ratio reels, it’s slow enough that I can still shallow crank with it and fast enough for me to burn spinnerbaits too