do you HAVE to have 5.4 or lower?

what are the reasons for the lower gear ratio other than slower retrieve?

I have a 5 to 1 ratio casting reel. I believe the lower gear ratio reels give you more "power," or torque in reeling in bigger fish or bigger baits.

The answer is no. I would speculate that most bass fishermen these days fish with a 6.4:1 or higher

do you HAVE to have 5.4 or lower?

Do you HAVE to - no. Do you WANT to - maybe. Depends on whether you plan on doing any cranking with deep-diving crankbaits or heavy spinnerbaits with big blades. The lower gear ratios offer a mechanical advantage that makes retrieving those baits much easier than the higher gear ratio reels.

I have a 4.7 (19 ipt) on my deep-cranking rod, and a 5.2 (21 ipt) on my heavy spinnerbait rod. Other folks use 25 ipt or higher reels for everything...

IMO, it's just easier, mentally, when you want to retrieve the bait slower; and I not just talking of crankbaits. For me, with a slower reel, I can reel at my own pace, let the bait do its thing, and concentrate on the fishing. The flipside is you can't pick up as much line when you actually want/ need to.

You obviously dont HAVE to, but I would highly recommend it. Im an avid crankbait fisherman and I just seem to catch more fish with a 5:1 gear ratio and it has alot less resistance on your wrist when reeling.

Do you HAVE to - no. Do you WANT to - maybe. Depends on whether you plan on doing any cranking with deep-diving crankbaits or heavy spinnerbaits with big blades. The lower gear ratios offer a mechanical advantage that makes retrieving those baits much easier than the higher gear ratio reels.

I have a 4.7 (19 ipt) on my deep-cranking rod, and a 5.2 (21 ipt) on my heavy spinnerbait rod. Other folks use 25 ipt or higher reels for everything...

I was thinking about the heavy spinner bait ............glad you brought that up.

(yeah I'm new)

I believe in 4.7 to 1 I have three I use daily its so much easier to crank all day and you can always turn the handle a little faster if you need to .most people fish crankbaits way to fast most of my bites come on a slow retrieve. Its easier to speed up with lower gear than it is to slow down with higher gear

Keep in mind that the most true measure is IPT (inches of line retrieved per turn of the handle). Lower gear ratio doesn't necessarily equate to lower IPT but it is a good indicator in most cases. With that said, I like a low ratio reel for big, deep diving crankbaits that have a lot of resistance on the retrieve. I find this a little less tiring when chucking and winding all day. It also keeps the bait in the stike zone a little longer without having to concentrate on slowing down. This is just preference, by no means a "have to".

I like my Sol/Alphas for cranking, hard jerkbaits, and spooks. I think it's 5.8:1, 24 IPT. Not too fast, not too slow.

When fishing deep deep divers....if it's too hard to reel, then you are reeling too fast. Most attain greatest depth and run true at slower speeds.

I like my Sol/Alphas for cranking, hard jerkbaits, and spooks. I think it's 5.8:1, 24 IPT. Not too fast, not too slow.

When fishing deep deep divers....if it's too hard to reel, then you are reeling too fast. Most attain greatest depth and run true at slower speeds.

I agree completely, with the exception of one bait.... there just isn't many speed options that are comfortable with a Mann's 30+... I have tried about everything except the Curado 3.8 But i still have my doubts aboutit with them big baits lol

There is nothing "easy" about those 30+ baits, LOL. They tear your shoulder up throwing them, and give you carpal tunnel reeling them in.