In Praise Of The 6:3:1 Gear Ratio Bait Cast Reel ?? 2024

ChrisD46 reply :

In this day and age - most folks seem to have made the move to 7:3:1 gear ratio (or faster !) bait cast reels ... *For those that still have slower 6:3:1 gear ratio bait cast reels in their arsenal - what applications / tactics are you still using them for ? ... Thanks in advance !

Dens228 reply :

Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatterbaits.

LionHeart reply :

Spinner baits, crank baits (pick a size), and I like a 6 speed for top water poppers.

NHBull reply :

Heck, most of mine are 8's????

My 6's are for deep diving CB and larger swimbaits.

Mike L reply :

A "6" something reel is a good all around speed that can be used for everything you throw.

Not too long ago they were considered fast reels.

A slower "5" or faster "7 or 8"

are intended for specific presentations, like most everything else there are no rules.

The majority of my arsenal are "6's"

Mike

Johnbt reply :

Uh, everything I own is a 6.x.

I hook so many bass halfway back to the boat or almost under the boat that I'm never in a hurry to crank it in and cast again. Tuesday morning around 10 I had a 1.5-pounder bite the spinnerbait 10 feet from the boat and there was another one the same size trying to take the bait from him right up until the moment I pulled him out of the water.

CrankFate reply :

Paperweights.

dodgeguy reply :

I fish cranks and spinnerbaits with 6.8 Lew's Lfs . Rest are 7.5 reels Lew's Lfs. Debating getting an 8.3 for flipping stick..

LonnieP reply :

I use 6.3 on all moving baits.

newyorktoiowa57 reply :

On 5/23/2019 at 8:50 PM, LonnieP said:

I use 6.3 on all moving baits.

onthewater102 reply :

Gear ratios were perverted as a marketing ploy a long time ago to the point they're all but meaningless now.

Gear ratio differences don't directly equate to line retrieval speed. The spool size can vary from reel to reel and more than make up for the differences in the gearing in many cases. Look at the line retrieved per turn. Your 6.3:1 could retrieve just as much line as a different 7.0:1 (ie - have the same "speed"), but it will have more torque available to you to horse fish out of heavy cover.

Mike L reply :

You're better off comparing ipt

for each reel you have or considering buying for what you want to do with it.

Use the stated ratio as a guide.

Mike

RB 77 reply :

Spinnerbaits

Djohn reply :

Don't notice much difference between my 6.x and my 7.1

TBAG reply :

Crankbaits

EGbassing reply :

I love 6.3:1s. I've tried my 7.3:1 for spinnerbaits, swimbaits, cranks, but it's way too hard to crank.

ChrisD46 reply :

On 5/23/2019 at 10:03 PM, newyorktoiowa57 said:

X2

Thanks - Looks like the 6:3:1 is best used for constant retrieve baits / reaction bait strikes :

Spinner Baits

Chatter baits

Crank Baits

Swim Jigs

Smaller Swim Baits

I suppose you could also add poppers , dead sticking a Senko or slowly crawling a T-Rig worm or a jig on the bottom as well ... While using your rod to move a bait usually pushes you up in gear ratio (7:1:1 or faster) these lures are slow enough that a slower gear ratio doesn't affect you so much ... Still tends to be a case of the right tool for the job (with some over lap of course) .

Jason Penn reply :

i use them for spinnerbaits & cranks. i'm also thinking of using them for jigs & plastics in cold water. i sometimes think i may be fishing way too fast during cold months

fishballer06 reply :

I fish primarily moving baits. That being said, the majority of my reels are 5:1 or 6:1 ratios.

The world needs more lefty 5:1's!!!

bunz559 reply :

Basically what everyone's mentioned, moving baits. Once I started picking up 7 and 8 gear ratios, I wouldn't have anything else for plastics, finesse, and slow crawling lures.

Heartland reply :

everything but my crankbaits and I throw them on 5.1:1 reels.

newyorktoiowa57 reply :

On 5/24/2019 at 3:00 AM, ChrisD46 said:

Thanks - Looks like the 6:3:1 is best used for constant retrieve baits / reaction bait strikes :

Spinner Baits

Chatter baits

Crank Baits

Swim Jigs

Smaller Swim Baits

I suppose you could also add poppers , dead sticking a Senko or slowly crawling a T-Rig worm or a jig on the bottom as well ... While using your rod to move a bait usually pushes you up in gear ratio (7:1:1 or faster) these lures are slow enough that a slower gear ratio doesn't affect you so much ... Still tends to be a case of the right tool for the job (with some over lap of course) .

Agreed on the above list, I would add buzzbaits in there too. I like 8:1 for frogs, jigs, and any kind of T-rig., including senkos.

jbrew73 reply :

On 5/23/2019 at 10:19 PM, onthewater102 said:

Gear ratios were perverted as a marketing ploy a long time ago to the point they're all but meaningless now.

Gear ratio differences don't directly equate to line retrieval speed. The spool size can vary from reel to reel and more than make up for the differences in the gearing in many cases. Look at the line retrieved per turn. Your 6.3:1 could retrieve just as much line as a different 7.0:1 (ie - have the same "speed"), but it will have more torque available to you to horse fish out of heavy cover.

I don’t think this is an accurate account. Ipt is the effective ratio between 1 turn of the handle and X” of line retrieval. The torque required to pull a given load will be essentially the same for a certain Ipt regardless of spool size or gear ratio. It’s like having larger tires on a truck, you have too lower the axle gear ratio to compensate for the tires.

Boomstick reply :

Most moving baits. For topwater, I prefer 7.3:1 so I can reel slowly and reel up slack. Although to be honest if I had only 6.3:1 reels, I'd be fine with that.

Big-Bass reply :

TD-Z reels in 6.3:1 might be the best thing going...:)

But then again, the SV103H (6.3) and XS (7.9) have all bases covered...

Best wishes on the water.

jbsoonerfan reply :

Most of my moving baits. Squarebills, lipless, chatterbait, spinnerbait, buzzbait, etc.

ChrisD46 reply :

Thanks for the replies - good to see the applications for the 6:3:1 (or approx. 29 IPT ) .

frogflogger reply :

I use mostly 6's - feels very fast compared to the old Langley Lurecast's and Shakespeare tournament no level wind reels I started out with.

Hulkster reply :

I love my curado 200 PG which is 5.5:1. I find that even the 6 ratio reels are a bit fast for most moving baits.

The 5.5:1 ratio is perfect, spoons flutter not spin, crankbaits are easy to retrieve as are big spinners.

however, they are a dying breed of ratio, at least for shimanos these days. when my 200i dies i will have to maybe look at another brand.

Allen Der reply :

I prefer 6.x:1 on all my reels. I think it's easier to get used to one gear ratio and adjust your retrieve speed as needed. It's easier for me to speed up than slow down with a faster reel

Johnbt reply :

"I use mostly 6's - feels very fast compared to the old Langley Lurecast's and Shakespeare tournament no level wind reels I started out with."

That's the truth. I still have the two I started with back in the late '50s, early '60s.

Diggy reply :

I use them for everything basically. I have pretty much all speed retrieve ratios up to 8.xx and haven't had any problems using my 6s for everything.

My 1st bait casting reels were a citica 200e and a revo sx gen 2 both in 6s. If they were still my only 2 reels I had, I wouldn't have any problems.

Jaderose reply :

All my BC's are 6.3 except my frog which is 7.5. Work just fine

stratoliner92 reply :

Crankbait

Swimbait

Swim Jig

Chatterbait

Spinnerbait

Buzzbait

Lipless cranks

I use 7x and 8x ratio reels for bottom contact baits and some topwater

Josh Smith reply :

I use them to make me slow down :lol:

Bankbeater reply :

All of my baitcasters are in the 6x range except one. I use them for everything from moving baits to bottom contact soft plastics. The baitcaster I use for jigs is in the 7x range.

Hower08 reply :

My deep cranking rod is 5.1:1 I also use it for chatterbaits. My topwater squarebill and jerkbait rods I use 5.3:1 my flipping and frogging rods are 7.5:1 and 8.3:1

Big-Bass reply :

I was fishing my TD-Z 103H Type R+ yesterday with jigs and it was handling them just fine. And it also threw spinnerbaits perfectly. I think there is a lot of hype in "speed" of a reel rather than IPT.

Shimano_1 reply :

As stated the ratio is irrelevant at this point. Inches per turn should trump the ratio. I do still use slower ratios for my deeper cranks, spinnerbaits and bigger swimbaits. Companies are getting better tho. I remember the first couple high speed reels I had felt over worked with any baits with resistance. I've thrown a rigs on burner reels now and maybe not ideal had no problems. I hate the crazy fast reels tho. My buddies rocket is too fast for me even for jigs and such

Bluebasser86 reply :

Spinnerbaits, traps, poppers, bladed jigs, big swimbaits.

Big-Bass reply :

Isn't it amazing though how we have changed to think that faster and faster is always better and better. Back about 15-20 years ago, a 6.3:1 was a bottom presentation fast as lightning ratio. The baits didn't change but we seem to now think that we need a 12:1 to fish a jig anymore.

redmeansdistortion reply :

Like many here, I fish a lot of moving baits. I have a few reels that are 6.3:1, but most are 5.3:1. I also have a 4.7:1 and even a 3.8:1 in my arsenal. I really love the 4.7:1 for throwing big #5 Mepps. The 3.8:1 never gets used as I haven't found a purpose for it.

PourMyOwn reply :

I still remember when my Abu Royal Express 6.3 was the fastest reel out there. It made buzzbaits a lot easier to fish.

redmeansdistortion reply :

On 6/4/2019 at 12:53 AM, PourMyOwn said:

I still remember when my Abu Royal Express 6.3 was the fastest reel out there. It made buzzbaits a lot easier to fish.

It's still a quick reel. The 6.3:1 ratio of a classic Ambassadeur brings in 30" per turn. Some of the low profile reels out there need 7:1 or even 8:1 in some models to bring that much line in. It isn't so much about the gear ratio as it is the spool depth.

newyorktoiowa57 reply :

I land much more fish on 8.x:1 for frogs, jigs, and texas rigs. For all moving baits I like 6.x:1. To me the 7 speed is an in between speed I don't find particularly good for any one thing, but works for most things.

Log Catcher reply :

On 6/3/2019 at 10:23 PM, redmeansdistortion said:

Like many here, I fish a lot of moving baits. I have a few reels that are 6.3:1, but most are 5.3:1. I also have a 4.7:1 and even a 3.8:1 in my arsenal. I really love the 4.7:1 for throwing big #5 Mepps. The 3.8:1 never gets used as I haven't found a purpose for it.

I use a 3:8:1 when the water temp is below 55 degrees. Fish usually aren't chasing anything real fast in water that cold.

Maxximus Redneckus reply :

Most of my abus are 5.4 or 4.3 i have a few 6s never needed more ...i dont tourny fish so time isnt a essence and i sure dont cast a million miles trying to cover all the water i can...i disect a area with close to mid range accuracy and rely on just a few lures with a good catch ratio....im good no speeding here and doin fine like 30 yrs ago...speed sells for sure

Glaucus reply :

I use 6.3:1 and 6.4:1 for almost everything. I have a couple 7.3:1 I got for bottom contact baits and frogging. If I'm honest, I find 7.x:1 to be useless in the sense that I don't like them for moving baits at all, and I do not notice any difference whatsoever in my ability to hookup with bottom contact baits qnd frogs between them at the 6's. That whole "pick up the line faster" thing is silly to me unless you need every single possible advantage if you're fishing for big money. The idea of reeling in line faster to cast back out there faster gets an Owen Wilson "wow" from me. I regret the 7's in the sense that none of my setups is dedicated to solely one thing and I find the 6's make me happy with everything and the 7's don't (moving baits).

Glaucus reply :

On 6/4/2019 at 7:05 AM, newyorktoiowa57 said:

I land much more fish on 8.x:1 for frogs, jigs, and texas rigs. For all moving baits I like 6.x:1. To me the 7 speed is an in between speed I don't find particularly good for any one thing, but works for most things.

Maybe this is why I find my 7's useless. Maybe I should trade them or sell them to get 8's and actually dedicate those setups. I find no difference between 6 and 7 in bottoms and frogs.

5by3 reply :

I fish mostly 6.3:1s and have not felt that I’m at a disadvantage for doing so.

I like the fact that 6.3:1 gives you versatility to fish nearly every application. I don’t want to be tied down to only being able to use certain reels on certain rods because of the gear ratio.

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In Praise Of The 6:3:1 Gear Ratio Bait Cast Reel ?? 2024

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