My goal for this year is to actually "catch" (not just snag) a fish on a jerk bait.  I was talking with a guy this weekend that does a lot of JB fishing and he said that he uses an old reel that is a 3.1or2 gear ratio reel for this.  I had never heard of a reel that was geared that low.  The one he is using is so old that the name has worn off and he couldn't remember who made it.

Does anyone know of a reel on the market right now that is geared this low?  Just wondering.

No, but you certainly don't need one to fish jerkbaits.

In fact, faster reels are better because they pick up

line quicker after the pause.

8-)

Okay, but now I'm confused - I thought the object when fishing with jerk baits was to sloooow dowwwn as much as possible - it seems like a really low speed reel would help with that.

"Slow down" means to lengthen the pause with jerkbaits.

This is sometimes what it takes in cold water, but that is

not always what the bass are looking for. At any rate, slow

retrieve has nothing to do with the reel's line pick-up capability.

8-)

Okay, but now I'm confused - I thought the object when fishing with jerk baits was to sloooow dowwwn as much as possible - it seems like a really low speed reel would help with that.

You don 't work a jerkbait with the reel, you work it with the rod; so "slow down" means you lengthen the time between twitches.

High speed reels are better suited for baits you work with the rod: soft plastics, jerkbaits, jigs, topwaters ( with the exception of wobblers ), etc.; to pick up the slack line fast.

I have a quantum energy E500 (black reel) that is a 3.1.1 I want to say.  This was the first versions of the energy reels I believe.  I am actually willing to sell this if anybody is interested.

I have a quantum energy E500 (black reel) that is a 3.1.1 I want to say. This was the first versions of the energy reels I believe. I am actually willing to sell this if anybody is interested.

That would make a good medium/deep diving crankbait, slow rolling spinnerbait reel.

Quantum made a gold colored 3.81 to 1 reel in 1984 ( i have a few ) great for deep divin cranks as well as I like them for carolina rigs. I have a tendancy to fish tooooo fast that cures that problem. For jerk baits I want like Warrior a fast retrieve to keep caught up with the fish...