Hey guys,

Over the off season I have promised myself to get a spinnerbait setup to improve my spinnerbait fishing and add it to my arsenal. I have fished them before, but I do not come from experience by any means. I watched all of these videos and they all say "high speed baitcast reel". Is that a 6:3.1 gear ratio or a 7:1.1 ratio? I do have an idea that a rod between 6'6" to 7'0" is good with a MH action. I am mostly concerned about the reel and line.   

Are you going to be fishing shallow water around alot of wood and other things ?? or slow rolling them in deeper water??

Either speed is fine you can always slow down. In heavy cover I like using 50 lb braid. In most open water or like cover I use a 12lb fluorocarbon. I use a MHXF rods which helps with my hookups.

There is no such thing as med heavy action , there is med heavy power though.

I agree with Uncle Leo , extra fast action/med heavy rod.

MH rod, 7.X:1 ratio reel, and 14-17lb test.

  -gk

I prefer the 7.1 because you can always reel slower.

I also agree on the MH/XF, but if you cant find one you like or in your price range A MH/F will work too.

I'll be fishing for largemouth and smallmouth in a variety of situations. I think a 7:1.1 would be nice because I can have the ability to burn it, but I can always slow roll or dredge the bottom. One thing I just learned is that you don't want the fish to see it for a long period of time, unless they are active. I think the shimano compre 6'10" MH EF tip is the best choice. I already own two compres and they do the the job well. As for the reel, I am still thinking about it. I am choosing between the quantum energy or the curado. Each are good, but now it gets into the classic "which reel is better" debate. We all know how that is going to turn out. Anyway, what reel would you choose? Plain and simple.

Curado plan and simple.

I have four rods I throw spinnerbaits with.  Three are 6.3:1, and one is 5.8:1.

Is the 6:3.1 a good midway ratio that you can both burn and slow roll with? If I go with a 6:3.1, which I already have on my cranking rod, I can put that on the spinnerbait rod and get a new cranking reel. If I got a cranking reel, I am a lefty, so I can't get a curado or an energy. What about a calcutta 101B or a revo winch? Any other suggestions?

I would go with the 6.3:1 and if not the quantum then the revo if you are going for a 5.x:1 reel for cranking duties. My cranking reels are a Cabelas Prodigy and a Daiwa Exceler for casting both in the 6.x:1 range, both lefties. Spinning its a Quantum Catalyst B.

If I were to move my Quantum catalyst 6:3.1 to my spinnerbait rod (is that the right call?), then I would get a cranking reel to replace the catalyst that was on my original cranking rod. I am left-handed, so companies like shimano and quantum hate us. I want a reel that has a ratio that is fast enough for traps and shallow cranks, but has the ability to throw my little john md's. I am leaning toward the calcutta 101B, but I am open to anything....