I know what some of you are going to say, but I am still scared of the backlashes I see my friends getting on their bait casters. So for a spinning reel what kind of gear ratio or line take up numbers should I be looking for?

5:1 to 6.5:1 is a good range for most applications. Upper 20's to low 30's for the inches per crank revolution. The higher the numerical ratio, the easier it is to control the lures speed (to a point).

I fish with spinning gear 90% of the time and I find the lower gear ratio to better for crank baits.

OKUMA Metaloid MDS 30 (6.3:1 ratio w/10 BEARINGS!) - $35.00 + $12.00 shipping - Ebay. IMO:o)

I fish with spinning gear 90% of the time and I find the lower gear ratio to better for crank baits.

When you say lower are you refering to 5:1 that pfluemis mentioned or lower?

before I went to baitcasting I used a 6735 PFLUEGER PRESIDENT ( 5.2:1) 60 bucks I used it for Shad Raps, Fat Hsat Raps, DTS and Norman 22@@'s with good results.  8-)

The gear ratio can be a misleading stat, especially with a spinning reel.

The reel's line recovery rate is a more telling indicator.

For example the 7.1 200 Curado D 7:1 reel has a line recovery rate (LRR) of 30" and the same sized 5:1 reel possesses a 21" LRR.

Now, let's look at a Symetre 2500. It has a gear ratio of 6:1 BUT its LRR is 31", giving it a 1" edge over the "burner" Curado D.

Comparing the gear ratios between bc and spinning reels is an apples and oranges comparison, but even within the same reel family the gear ratio alone is misleading. The 4000 Symetre has a gear ratio of 5.7:1 yet its LRR is also 31" :

If I were you, I would invest the time to learn how to use a baitcast reel. This will enable you to fish with a reel whose lower gear ratio will have an LRR in the lower to mid 20s. From personal experience, I have noticed more success with reel's whose LRR is in the lower to mid 20" range.

The fact that your friends backlash quite well should not lead you to believe that you will follow suit, unless they teach you. ;D It is far easier than you think, especially with a decent quality reel. Do not let their glorious backlashes deter you.

A wise angler would see both reel types as tools that will shine where the other might be found lacking. Besides, you now have an excuse to get a new rod and reel now. 8-)

Besides, you now have an excuse to get a new rod and reel now. 8-)

I like the way this guy thinks!!! ;D

I 100% agree with Islandbass,. I learned how to baitcast this year, it took a lot of practice and the amount of problems I have with birdsnest is no more troublesome than dealing with line twist. I still have one spinning set up, I use for light Rapalas and stuff but I have a lot more control and feel throwing cranks with a baitcaster !

Darn it. I knew you guys were gona try to convince me to switch to bait casting. Now I gota go back and start all over in my search for rod and real. >

I will have to wait a month or two so I can aford, but I guess I can start my search for a good rig now.

Thanks for the info.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_90570_100001001_100000000_100001000_100-1-1

This is a good crankbait reel.