Been using 6.3 for a few years for chatterbaits and I feel that in situations where I rip it out of grass it takes too much effort to pick up the slack line.  Has anyone switched from 6.x to a 7.X ratio for chatterbaits and felt it was better suited for the job?

I was fishing mine on a 7:5.1 and switched to a 6:8.1 because I felt I was retrieving the baits too fast.  May have just been in my head but I feel better about fishing a chatterbait on the 6.

I guess it depends on the situations. I prefer faster gear ratio because I’m running it around emerging pads and grass in shallow water. I want to keep the bait in the top foot of water and be able to pull the fish out of the grass. 

1 hour ago, YoTone said:

Has anyone switched from 6.x to a 7.X ratio for chatterbaits and felt it was better suited for the job?

yup

I use low 7 (7.1-3).

I fish them on my 7.1 Supreme or 7.3 President XT - if I want it to go slower and drop, I reel slower. It's easier for me to slow down than speed up.

2 hours ago, YoTone said:

Been using 6.3 for a few years for chatterbaits and I feel that in situations where I rip it out of grass it takes too much effort to pick up the slack line.  Has anyone switched from 6.x to a 7.X ratio for chatterbaits and felt it was better suited for the job?

I like a slower reel for ChBs.  I understand the "you can always slow down" concept which theoretically is true.  Its easy to slow down for a few casts especially if it produces.  The hard part is maintaining that slower retrieve on tough days when bites are few and far between.  It comes down to preference.  

I prefer a faster reel. I can always slow down, but taking up slack from ripping it or running it tough on a slower reel. If you forced me to pick 6.x or 8.x I'd take the 8.

 

Lew's reels as an example 

5.6:1 = 23" per turn of the handle 

8.3:1 = 35" per turn of the handle 

 

Y'all think speeding up or slowing down will offset those numbers?

 

When I wanna "rip" a lure out of grass I do it with my rod & catch up slack with a 5.0:1 gear ratio.

On 5/12/2021 at 2:03 PM, FishinBuck07 said:

I was fishing mine on a 7:5.1 and switched to a 6:8.1 because I felt I was retrieving the baits too fast.  May have just been in my head but I feel better about fishing a chatterbait on the 6.

This, except I went to a 6:3.

5.7:1 for me ~ 

A-Jay

21 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

5.7:1 for me ~ 

A-Jay

 

Back at you.....

 

4 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

Back at you.....

 

Very Nice ~

A-Jay

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

5.7:1 for me ~ 

A-Jay

 

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

 

Back at you.....

 

 

Calcutta 50A 5.0:1 ?

36 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

 

Calcutta 50A 5.0:1 ?

When you know enough to stick with what works . . . .

 #oldschool

A-Jay 

 

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

 

Calcutta 50A 5.0:1 ?

That is a beast in little package.

The longer and deeper a crankbait dives the lower the gear ratio should be to overcome the lures water resistance.

Tom

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

5.7:1 for me ~ 

A-Jay

Better for fighting pike