Aaron Martens Gear Ratios 2025

BasshunterJGH reply :

I was just watching an interesting video on bassresource with Aaron Martens about the gears ratios in his reels. He only uses 7:1 and up. Does anyone else do this? It seems like everyone on this forum at least uses 5:1 and 6:1 for cranking.

Sam reply :

KVD used to suggest using a 5:1 cranking reel a number of years ago.

Ike came along and said to use only monofilament for treble hook baits.

Since then, the pros have become more vocal regarding their equipment and now any reel ratio you want and either flouro or mono for treble hook baits are acceptable.

The reel's ratio is a personal preference.

I like the 5:0 for cranking treble hook baits on mono but I am an old goat and it is hard to change my ways.

Of course, I will still use a 6:1 family reel for crankbaits and have been known to throw the treble hook baits on fluorocarbon line.

Anything goes in bass fishing. Just give it a try and see if you like it. If not, change it out.

Bass_Fanatic reply :

Im a fan of a 5:1 gear ratio reel for deep cranking. I throw deep cranks on 16lb sunline sniper and have caught tons of fish with it. It works for me...

ABW reply :

I don't deep crank, so I use a 6.4:1 for squarebills, and 7.1 for just about every other technique

IAY reply :

Its just preference. I like to cover a lot of water, so Metanium HG is perfectly fine for me to use on cranks.

Grantman83 reply :

Things get interesting here. Kvd suggested a 5.3:1 BUT he specifically said his reels were designed with a larger capacity so as to increase the inches per turn and still have the power of a low gear ratio. Keith combs deep cranks with a 7.1:1. Matt allen, a guide on clear lake had me cranking deep with 7.1:1 reels and 15lb braid. I normally use a low gear ratio but After awhile I got used to it so it can be done

WRB reply :

This year (2014) I purchased 3 Daiwa Tatula R reels with 8:1 ratios and use them for both jigs and worms and they are perfect.

Tom

Catch and Grease reply :

I like fast reels for everything... (6.4 and up)

Ozark_Basser reply :

I use an 8:1 for all my shallow to pretty deep cranks down to DT 10's. Anything deeper gets thrown with a 5.4:1. I'm not trying to be specific. It's just what I have. I would throw extra deep divers on higher gear ratios. It's just a matter of getting used to it.

WIGuide reply :

I've got a few slower reels, but almost all of mine are 7.X:1. I don't usually crank real deep, but I'd still be using the faster retrieve reel if I did.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

There's no right or wrong to pretty much any of this. Personal preference rules at the end of the day and experimenting is half the fun. When it comes to bass fishing, A cranking reel is a lot more pleasurable to use deep cranking all day, but beyond that it's kinda splitting hairs imo.

thehooligan reply :

I think the pros that cover alot of water like the faster gear ratios. I dont deep crank anymore, occasionally throw shallow/squarebills/lipless cranks and have no problems with 7:0 and faster ratios.

aavery2 reply :

On 11/19/2014 at 9:32 AM, Grantman83 said:
Things get interesting here. Kvd suggested a 5.3:1 BUT he specifically said his reels were designed with a larger capacity so as to increase the inches per turn and still have the power of a low gear ratio. Keith combs deep cranks with a 7.1:1. Matt allen, a guide on clear lake had me cranking deep with 7.1:1 reels and 15lb braid. I normally use a low gear ratio but After awhile I got used to it so it can be done

Can you explain how a reel with a larger line capacity will increase IPT. In my mind I just see a deep spool with a much smaller arbor, that would allow it to hold more line, but I don't think it would increase IPT.

Catch and Grease reply :

Line capacity itself doesn't effect IPT but the diameter of a full spool does... A full spool is gonna give you more IPT then a half full spool.

A shallow spool and a deep/high capactity spool can have the same diameter when full but one contains way more line....

So no, line capacity doesn't effect IPT

Grantman83 reply :

"His reel is custom built to maximize the effectiveness of the plug as well. He worked with Quantum to create what he feels is the perfect deep cranking reel; a Tour KVD 5.4:1 gear ratio TKVD150PPT; but he cautions not to think this is a slow reel. “I wanted the power of the lower gear ratio, but didn’t want to sacrifice the speed, so Quantum combined the gear ratio with a spool that holds enough line to pick up 24-inches of line per turn of the handle.” He said it is also a reel designed to handle the pressure of the KVD style of cranking, with bearings that support every vital function in the reel; making them more durable."

Granted, this article is from 2010,but I see where read his idea. Nowadays 24ipt is seen as slow, but combined with the speed he cranks, I'm sure those plugs are moving pretty quickly.

Catch and Grease reply :

I mean if there is some way line capacity effects IPT then by all means explain it too me but I don't see how it would.

A shallow spool with 1 diameter when full and 50 yard capacity and a deep spool with 1 diameter when full and 200 yard capacity will have the same IPT on a reel with X gear ratio??

J Francho reply :

Width would have an effect on how much IPT changes as line is retrieved, and fills the spool, not depth....

WRB reply :

Width and diameter; larger diameter combined with wider spool width= more constant IPT and the reason using a round reel with larger and wider spool is a big advantage for lures like crankbaits and swimbait that have ratio's in the 5:1to 6:1 averaging 24" to 26" IPT stays fairly constant during a long cast.

My 8:1 with 33" IPT is about 25" IPT at 40 yards, good for my jig and worm presentation and very similar to using a round reel with 5.8:1 ratio.

Tom

bass1980 reply :

I can easily slow down a reel to fish cranks if I'm using a high gear reel. However you can't substitute the torque power of a low gear reel when using resestence lures like deep diving cranks. Even adding a longer handle will only help it a bit.

J Francho reply :

I often "crank" by moving the rod, not the reel, so I can better feel and react to cover the bait is contacting. In that case, gear ratio, torque, handle length, etc. matters little.

OntarioFishingGuy reply :

I use a 6 gear spinning reel, 20b braid and an 8.5 foot steelhead rod for deep cranks. The reel has a fairly high IPT.

aavery2 reply :

On 11/20/2014 at 12:37 AM, Grantman83 said:

"His reel is custom built to maximize the effectiveness of the plug as well. He worked with Quantum to create what he feels is the perfect deep cranking reel; a Tour KVD 5.4:1 gear ratio TKVD150PPT; but he cautions not to think this is a slow reel. “I wanted the power of the lower gear ratio, but didn’t want to sacrifice the speed, so Quantum combined the gear ratio with a spool that holds enough line to pick up 24-inches of line per turn of the handle.” He said it is also a reel designed to handle the pressure of the KVD style of cranking, with bearings that support every vital function in the reel; making them more durable."

Granted, this article is from 2010,but I see where read his idea. Nowadays 24ipt is seen as slow, but combined with the speed he cranks, I'm sure those plugs are moving pretty quickly.

Thanks for the info, he does move a crankbait about as fast as anyone I have ever seen.

TrippyJai reply :

I prefer a 6:1 for moving baits. I tend to fish a little faster than I should so it's the perfect ratio. I don't deep crank or I would have kept my 5:1.

7:1 for everything else. I don't see a need for anything faster YET.

Grantman83 reply :

Ha! I'm not crazy lol. New article on another site talks about this very issue

“That said, a larger 200-size reel is always going to retrieve faster than a smaller spool. I can use a 5.3:1 in a 200 EXO ower, casts farther and still retrieves as fast or faster than a 6.6:1 reel with a 100-size spool.”

Greg hackney talking about his reel choices

Jeff H reply :

I've seen Clunn talk about the reel size effect but he was mainly getting at the capacity aspect. I don't recall what they were, didn't see them up close but he was using some pretty large reels.

Catch and Grease reply :

On 11/21/2014 at 10:39 AM, Grantman83 said:

Ha! I'm not crazy lol. New article on another site talks about this very issue

“That said, a larger 200-size reel is always going to retrieve faster than a smaller spool. I can use a 5.3:1 in a 200 EXO ower, casts farther and still retrieves as fast or faster than a 6.6:1 reel with a 100-size spool.”

Greg hackney talking about his reel choices

Yeah I didn't even think about the really wide spools, they can cast far without losing a lot of diamrter allowing them to keep high IPT

aavery2 reply :

On 11/21/2014 at 10:39 AM, Grantman83 said:

Ha! I'm not crazy lol. New article on another site talks about this very issue

“That said, a larger 200-size reel is always going to retrieve faster than a smaller spool. I can use a 5.3:1 in a 200 EXO ower, casts farther and still retrieves as fast or faster than a 6.6:1 reel with a 100-size spool.”

Greg hackney talking about his reel choices

Kind of an apple to oranges comparison don't you think?

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Spool capacity is a function of width, arbor and diameter combined. The 100 vs 200 logic is somewhat flawed since there's no standard. It's the diameter of the full spool and ratio that determines IPT. Yes, IPT decreases as line peels off the spool, so a narrow, deep spool will have a little more variance than a wider spool of the same depth and diameter.

J Francho reply :

The 100 and 200 species of EXO reels are drastically different in size. The 300 is just a bit wider than the 200, but spool diameter is the same.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Yes, and I should have clarified, I was talking comparing reel sizes about across brand lines.

J Francho reply :

This will help illustrate Hackney's comments. I have no idea what the IPT measurements are on each of the ratios, so I can't really confirm his assertions.

ww2farmer reply :

I have always deep cranked with a 5.something :1 reel. I think next season I am going to use a 6.3:1, at least to start to see if I like it, but also.........for two reasons #1 It's a lot easier and less fatiguing to reel slower with a fast reel, than to reel faster with a slow reel. #2 Today's 6:1 reels with there over size gears, and longer 90 or 95mm handles handle high torque with less strain then the reels of just 10-12 years ago. And #3 A lot of the deep diving crankbaits on the market today, like the SK 5xd, 6xd (which are what Iuse), pull very easy on non-cranking specific gear, the same can't be said for some of the other baits I used to use.........Manns depth + and Norman baits come to mind.

J Francho reply :

I'm sort of with you....I crank with Sol/Alphas reels - 5.8:1. They're small spools, but I tried a few other "cranking" reels, namely a Zillion Crazy Cranker, and Revo Winch, and they were too slow for me. I have a Pinnacle cranking reel on the way, for deep divers so we'll see how I like that reel. I think it's 5.5:1.

Grantman83 reply :

On 11/22/2014 at 2:05 AM, aavery2 said:
Kind of an apple to oranges comparison don't you think?

My only point in posting this and the KVD quote was that guys are using lower gear ratios but those reels have wider spools which bring in line faster than a low gear ratio normally would. In essence, they are attempting to gain line pickup and have an easier time doing it. Aaron Martens/Keith Combs just suck it up and uses the higher gear ratio. Both groups (hackney,kvd vs. Martens/combs) are going for a fast retrieve, just in different ways

J Francho reply :

Width has an indirect effect on IPT, through out the retrieve. A wider spool loses less IPT as line is cast out. Spool Diameter has greater effect. Spool depth and/or capacity has no effect without knowing width and diameter, relative to the other reel you're comparing.

aavery2 reply :

On 11/22/2014 at 5:34 AM, Grantman83 said:
My only point in posting this and the KVD quote was that guys are using lower gear ratios but those reels have wider spools which bring in line faster than a low gear ratio normally would. In essence, they are attempting to gain line pickup and have an easier time doing it. Aaron Martens/Keith Combs just suck it up and uses the higher gear ratio. Both groups (hackney,kvd vs. Martens/combs) are going for a fast retrieve, just in different ways

I think it is a good idea, to an extent. A spinning reel would offer similar results. I am not sure my thinking is clear, but couldn't you put a shallow spool in a cranking reel and achieve a similar result?

WRB reply :

Circumference = pi (3.1416) x diameter.

Wider spool the spooled line diameter remain full longer, smaller line diameter reduces the spooled line diameter slower.

2.00 diameter spooled line = 6.283" circumference

1.75 diameter ". ". = 5.498. "

1.50 diameter. ". ". = 4.712. "

Do the math.

Tom

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Aaron Martens Gear Ratios 2025

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