I am a little confused on this because I have both high speed(7.1:1) reels and standard speed(6.4:1) reels and don't really notice much of a difference.  I have researched it and done the math that there is about a 3-3.5" IPT on the HS vs Standard. Does that extra 3-3.5" IPT really make that much of a difference? Thanks is advance for any and all help!

I noticed the difference when fishing texas rigged worms.  The higher speed reel picks up slack quicker which can be critical when a bass hits.  There has been times when I would feel the hit, reel the slack and nothing is there.  I honestly believe that my hook up percentage has increased from using a high speed reel.

IMO, gear ratio isn't as important as IPT, and even then it only matters if you're fishing moving baits.

If taking up the slack as quickly as possible was as important as people make it out to be, we'd all be using large spinning reels. They take up far more line with each crank than a casting reel.

3 IPT really isn't that much or too noticeable most of the time.  If a hooked fish is running at you or if your trying to burn your bait in so you can make another quick cast the speed helps.  Its also nice for getting buzzbaits going quicker and keeping them at the top.

IMO, gear ratio isn't as important as IPT, and even then it only matters if you're fishing moving baits.

If taking up the slack as quickly as possible was as important as people make it out to be, we'd all be using large spinning reels. They take up far more line with each crank than a casting reel.

How so?  One would think that lower gear ration when fishing high resistance baits like a DD22 is going to be less effort, and it will wear less on the reel over time.  Not only that, but your gear ratio is going to determine the IPT.

  I'm not coming up with the same math as you are, showing closer to a 5" difference between the two.  If that's the case, when you've moved the bait the entire 10', the 7.1:1 will have moved 50" further than the 6.4:1.  That's a pretty substantial difference.

If your looking at 5" difference per turn, it would be a 50" difference after 10 full rotations of the handle.  10 turns on a 30 IPT reel would be 25'.  The 25 IPT reel would be 20'10".

If your looking at 5" difference per turn, it would be a 50" difference after 10 full rotations of the handle. 10 turns on a 30 IPT reel would be 25'. The 25 IPT reel would be 20'10".

You're completely right, I worded my response incorrectly.

IMO, gear ratio isn't as important as IPT, and even then it only matters if you're fishing moving baits.

If taking up the slack as quickly as possible was as important as people make it out to be, we'd all be using large spinning reels. They take up far more line with each crank than a casting reel.

How so? One would think that lower gear ration when fishing high resistance baits like a DD22 is going to be less effort, and it will wear less on the reel over time. Not only that, but your gear ratio is going to determine the IPT.

I'm not coming up with the same math as you are, showing closer to a 5" difference between the two. If that's the case, when you've moved the bait the entire 10', the 7.1:1 will have moved 50" further than the 6.4:1. That's a pretty substantial difference.

Spool diameter determines IPT, not gear ratio. Two reels with identical gear ratios but different diameter spools will have different IPT, with the larger spool taking up more line per revolution.

Also, a lower gear ratio doesn't necessarily equate to more torque and less effort when reeling. I have a 6.5:1 baitcaster that requires considerably more force than my e7 to retrieve the same 1/2 oz spinnerbait.

It's gear ratio in conjunction with spool diameter that determine IPT.  Think about it: 1:1 you have only one revolution of the spool in one handle turn.  5:1 you have 5 spool revolutions in one handle turn, you have 5 times the line brought in in the same crank of the handle.

As far as more torque goes it most assuredly does.  Any time you have a lower gear ratio you are transferring greater amounts of torque through the gear. 

I have several 6.4's and 7's. I really don't notice much, if any difference, between them. The only time I pay attention to it all is if I'm wanting to burn a crankbait to trigger bites, then I'll go for one of the 7's. But that is not very often at all for me.

Also, a lower gear ratio doesn't necessarily equate to more torque and less effort when reeling. I have a 6.5:1 baitcaster that requires considerably more force than my e7 to retrieve the same 1/2 oz spinnerbait.

Can anyone tell me more about how gear ratio/LPT relates to high resistance baits such as a large colorado bladed spinner bait? Which would be better, a 6.x:1 or 7.x:1?