Am I the only one??? 2025
JawjaBoy reply :
Am I the only one that reads through all of the "which speed is best for ____?" threads wondering how we fished for so many years and caught so many fish using basically 3 gear ratios? All of which, by the way, were slower than current "cranking" ratios!! I know I can't be the only one!
new2BC4bass reply :
On 2/3/2018 at 3:20 AM, JawjaBoy said:Am I the only one that reads through all of the "which speed is best for ____?" threads wondering how we fished for so many years and caught so many fish using basically 3 gear ratios? All of which, by the way, were slower than current "cranking" ratios!! I know I can't be the only one!
3? I fished for umpteen years with one....a Mitchell 300.
JawjaBoy reply :
My formative fishing years were the late 70's, and I started getting seriously addicted in the mid 80's. Baitcasters then were pretty much 5.1:1 across the board with a couple of 3.8:1 and 5.4:1 reels thrown in!
OCdockskipper reply :
What is funny is to now switch back to a lower gear ratio and try fishing with it.
I put some 4lb test on an older Shimano spinning reel to test if I got more bites on a Ned Rig than with 8 lb test. The combination of a no feel retrieve and having to reel like a madman to take up slack was really unnerving.
BassWhole! reply :
Older reels were slower, but not by how much the numbers would suggest, spool diameters (as well as widths) were generally larger.
Catt reply :
The fastest gear ratio I own is 5.8:1 ????
Angry John reply :
I live and breathe 6.3. I have faster ones but don't use them.
The Bassman reply :
On 2/3/2018 at 4:27 AM, Angry John said:I live and breathe 6.3. I have faster ones but don't use them.
I really feel this is the sweet spot for most apps.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
We all know if it's not an 8.1:1 then there's no way we can ever keep up with that fish when it shoots straight for the boat ????
BassWhole! reply :
On 2/3/2018 at 5:43 AM, DINK WHISPERER said:We all know if it's not an 8.1:1 then there's no way we can ever keep up with that fish when it shoots straight for the boat ????
At this rate I'll soon be able to spool my reels with one turn of the handle (I'm guessing right after ICAST)....
Angry John reply :
On 2/3/2018 at 5:43 AM, DINK WHISPERER said:We all know if it's not an 8.1:1 then there's no way we can ever keep up with that fish when it shoots straight for the boat ????
Well I guess the 7.9 that sits on the shelf still missed the mark
The Bassman reply :
One thing to consider also is that other factors affect retrieve rate. How large a spool is, as @reason mentioned and how full it is play into the equation.
nascar2428 reply :
It's all about the Inches Per Turn(IPT) for me. Gear ratios are just numbers, IPT is an actual distance. I can relate to a distance better than a gear ratio. That's just me.
CroakHunter reply :
On 2/3/2018 at 4:17 AM, Catt said:The fastest gear ratio I own is 5.8:1 ????
And probably picks up line just as fast as most 7.1:1 reels. As long as you have a full spool
On 2/3/2018 at 4:17 AM, Catt said:The fastest gear ratio I own is 5.8:1 ????
And probably picks up line just as fast as most 7.1:1 reels. As long as you have a full spool
Catt reply :
On 2/3/2018 at 8:23 AM, CroakHunter said:And probably picks up line just as fast as most 7.1:1 reels. As long as you have a full spool
Why would I not have a full spool?
Human torpedo reply :
my guess is the gear ratio has steadily increased due to the smaller spool diameter. It seems like the modern reels are smaller and easier to palm so I guess that translates to smaller spools. My 90's reels all had 5 or 6:1 ratio. 7:1 was blazing fast for buzzbaits....
On 2/3/2018 at 8:24 AM, Catt said:Why would I not have a full spool?
IMO, a half or less full spool will backlash less.
the reel ess reply :
I don't own a baitcaster slower than 7.1:1 anymore. Well, I own one, but I just retired it. I just see no reason to crank more than necessary. Especially if they cost the same as slower reels.
LAO162 reply :
On 2/3/2018 at 8:24 AM, Catt said:Why would I not have a full spool?
For me, Fishing jigs in a quarry leads to less than full spools and a lower inventory of jigs 
CroakHunter reply :
On 2/3/2018 at 8:24 AM, Catt said:Why would I not have a full spool?
Well I wasn't really implying that you would. But just reiterating the fact that low gear ratio reels still can have a good amount of ipt because of spool size/capacity.
LionHeart reply :
Just changes as tech matures. I'd say just about every piece of fishing gear there is has improved as time goes by. Better rods, line, boats, and yes, reels.
Not that faster is always better, but for certain techniques, faster is better.
MichaelCopeland reply :
6.2:1 is the slowest that I use of what I have. 7.1:1 is the fastest. I have a couple 5.1:1 those are on cheap Wal Mart rods. I don't use them anymore. I'll eventually get more Lew's combos, spinning and baitcaster, to meet my needs though.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I learned to fish a worm with a 3.8:1 Lew's. Caught a lot of fish with it, but also lost a bunch of fish because of it. I'm glad to have the options we have now.
Jaderose reply :
The only place speed matter to me is froggin. I didn't believe that for the longest time and was happy using a 6.3:1 until the day I lost what would have been my personal best because I couldn't take up slack fast enough. Currently using an 7 something and seriously looking at the KastKing Speed demon. I want those big girls SKIING outta that slop
scaleface reply :
What were the old Abu's 4600C ? Thats all I fished with for about thirty years .
Boomstick reply :
Not at all. I'm convinced if I only had a 6.3:1 or even 5:1 ratio, I would still manage just fine. I will however put a 7.1:1 or a 8.1:1 reel on rods where I know I'll take advantage of the extra speed however.
WRB reply :
Legacy Abu Ambassaduer 5000, 4500/4600 reels were 3.8:1, 4.7:1 and 5.3:1 depending what year period. "High Speed" C series were 5:3.1 with 26" IPT a I recall and someone more familiar will correct me! I did check the IPT before I knew what IPT was. Keep in mind the older Ambassaduers have a fairly larger diameter spool, the 5000 have a wider diameter spool, the 4500/4600 a narrower spool.
What matters to me is the IPT after making a cast and I keep my spools as full as possible without interfering with casting. A 40 yard cast with my 4500C reels the IPT dropped about 25% around 20-21" IPT. My 100 size Daiwa TD's with 6.3:1 had 26" IPT dropping to 16" IPT at 40 yards. When Daiwa came out with Tatula R with 8:1, 33" IPT about 5 years ago I bought them. The 8:1 ratio reels had 21" IPT at 40 yards, my confort zone very close to the old 4500C the distances I normally fish at.
Gear ratios and IPT should be what you are comfortable using at the distances you cast.
Moving lures you use the reel, bottom lures you use the rod to move lures and the reel to keep line tight to control bass.
Tom
PS, Shimano Calcutta/Cardiff 250/300 is about the same size reel spool as the legacy 5000C, the reason I like them for swimbaits/crankbaits.
boostr reply :
I use 7:1s only if I'm punching mats, pitching cover or grass, and throwing a frog. Cranks, spinners I use lower gear ratios, and never had an issue.
related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
previous topic
most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
© 2025 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.