Alright, so first and foremost, you should know the difference between a conventional fishing reel and a spinning fishing reel and which one you need. If pier fishing is your thing, then consider a reel with mid to high speed reel and match it with the best inshore spinning rod. Fast gear ratio reels are the most efficient choice for anglers who are presenting baits at relatively defined target areas, or are fishing a bait primarily worked by moving the rod tip, or fishing baits that are being "ripped" quickly, or using baits that are fished in heavy cover where getting the fish into open water immediately upon hookset is helpful. What is the best gear ratio for bass fishing? Good points, Kurt. How to Choose a Fishing Reel: Numbers, Gear Ratios, etc. Another hour goes by and your buddy has caught another 5 fish in the spot that you just moved from. No pauses, no jerks, just slow and steady. When it comes to spinning reels, and most importantly for myself larger spinning reels, making sure I have the right gear ratio reel for what Ill be using it for can make a huge difference to my fishing. See, its not that crazy complex! | WEB DESIGN BY DEVOTE DIGITAL | Privacy Policy. In a nutshell, fishing reel gear ratio is the number of times the spool turns per turn of the reel handle. This is why youll see larger reels (and reels that are meant to reel in very big fish) with lower gear ratios. So in reality, a fishing reel with a slightly lower gear ratio could pick up as much line per handle turn as a reel with a higher ratio. Over the course of the day, that can greatly increase the amount of time your bait spends effectively fishing. Gear ratio is a subject that you can make as complicated or as simple as you want. This range keeps your lure at the best water-depth when youre slow-reeling or trolling deep water spinnerbaits. The number on the right represents 1 full turn of the handle. Another really good article that outlines the relationship between gears, gear ratios and line recovery rate can be found here: https://www.bassfishingandcatching.com/fishing-reel-gear-ratio.html. XG gearing is ideal for anglers looking to target fast moving fish like tuna, trevally and mackerel using topwater lure presentations. If youre just starting out, we recommend something mid-range somewhere around 6.2:1. There is no better gear ratio than anotherthey are simply higher or lower, and each has different uses in the world of fishing. Reels with high speed have the fastest retrieve rates and span from 7:1 to 10.1:1. You can roll with a low gear ratio on an all day trip if you want, but be prepared to do more cranking. If you have any other questions or queries, please shoot us a DM on our Facebook or Instagram or give us a ring on 02 9533 0000! Youll typically see the line capacity for mono (monofilament) either to the left or right of the braid capacity. Of all the things to consider when figuring out how to choose a fishing reel for your rod and style, this is extremely generic and extremely important. My Spinfisher VI 4500, for example has the following specs for line capacity: The top text overviews how much braided line I can fit on the reels spool per pound-test. Thats the only way you can apply it to your fishing arsenal and catch more fish. Its a slow steady retrieve. The goal is to find the gear-ratio-of-best-fit that can accommodate a large variety of fishing methods. In the case of baits that are jerked or otherwise fished in short movements with a twitch of the rod, the fast reel allows instant slack uptake, not only allowing for better contact with the bait, but a better chance to get a firm hookset. For deep sea fishing, trolling, kite fishing, etc., a conventional reel that can hold a ton of line and apply a lot of torque is likely the way to go.
Choosing the right quick reel with a high gear ratio gives you more control over the speed and movement of tiny bait. And vise-versa, the less line on your spool, the lower IPT.
This is because some reels have bigger spools which means more spool to turn. The quest for faster gear ratios might make you think that faster is always better. Nonetheless, a gear ratio suited to your style of fishing can enhance your effectiveness and reduce fatigue. Answer to the brainteaser: Your buddys lure was moving faster because his spool diameter was 2-inches while yours was 1.5-inches.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'surffishingsocalsd_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_11',139,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-surffishingsocalsd_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0')}; Thank you Nick. Is High Tide the Best Time to Go Fishing? Typically, you should stick with line that is within this range in terms of pound-test (as thats what the manufacturer has rated the rod to be capable of handling) unless youre experienced enough to venture outside of those standards. I suggest you start targeting crappies, they are good fish to target for beginners and heres a review of the Best Crappie Reels of 2022 to make it easier for you. What that means is how much line with each turn of the handle comes onto the reel, and in some cases it can be over 30cm of line put back onto your spool every full turn of the handle. Some examples of baits that match well to a fast gear ratio are jigs, big worms, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits, and topwaters. Line pickup is exactly what it sounds like the amount of line per handle turn the reel picks up. But keep in mind that tarpon can grow to a huge size, so if youre stalking a trophy then downsize the gear ratio a touch. I find it very hard to use a high-speed reel for jigging for kingfish or winding in sinkers when surf casting, and at the other end trying to spin metals for mackeral or tuna with a low-speed reel can be tiring as Im having to wind a lot faster to get my lure moving fast enough. High or low speed and understanding their uses can make your purchase a pleasure or a pain to use. To learn more about how we use cookies. High gear ratio reels work well with many types of lures, including smaller baits, ones used in more shallow waters, and ones that rely on quick and precise control. Throwing lures, baits on Carolina rigs, fly-lining live bait from a kayak, bottom fishing offshore from a kayak, shark fishing from the surf, everything for me Ill use a spinning reel. These baits work best on reels with a 7.1:1 gear ratio. Gear ratios in reels are simply an expression of how many times the reel spool turns each time you turn the reel handle. For example, a 4.4:1 gear ratio reel with a 2-inch-diameter spool will recover 13.8 inches of line per turn of the handle. If youre targeting inshore fish like tarpon, bonefish or reds you can roll with a higher gear ratio. Spinning reels are more versatile (I think theyre more user friendly too), and its generally accepted that spinning reels are used more often when fishing for relatively smaller fish as opposed to big game fish, although you can can still catch massive fish on spinning gear. Prev
The smaller the spool diameter, the lower the IPT. Other anglers are the exact opposite and might choose either a conventional reel or a baitcasting reel, but thats okay! Great info Nick! A gear ratio of 4.9:1 is great for all-around use of lures as well.
You could roll with a 7.1:1 8.1:1 or higher gear ratio without worry. High gear ratios will be best when you are looking for swift movement, jerky movement, and precise control over the amount of tension on your line.
Although the line and spool are a little bigger, the reels still operate using gear ratios. If youre planning an all-day or week-long excursion, consider a reel with a mid to high gear ratio. It is also common to use lures that roll or spin when using a low gear ratio reel. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), take a look at my recommended rods and reels, Surf Fishing for White Seabass: Catching Ghosts from Shore. Gear ratio determines how fast or slow the spool pulls the line thats why its such a big deal to serious anglers when selecting the best gear ratio. The huge benefit of XG reels when topwater fishing is that the extra line pick up it offers, helps you keep constant contact with your lure between sweeps, reducing slack line, meaning youll be able to instantly strike and set your hooks. There certainly is no right or wrong when it comes to ratios but as anglers we are all trying to make sure we get the most out of our gear. Roughly speaking, "slow" reels have ratios below 6:1; medium reels are 6 to just under 7:1 and fast reels are 7:1 or faster. THIS WEBSITE USES COOKIES TO IMPROVE YOUR USER EXPERIENCE. The first thing you should consider is matching your fishing reel to your fishing rod. And also it can keep a good pressure on a fast moving fish once hooked. Doing so certainly doesnt necessarily equate to catching more fish, but can add another interesting element to surf fishing/casting as it has for me. 100% agree. Assuming the reason your buddy is catching more fish than you can be directly traced back to the speed at which your lure is traveling, is your buddys lure moving faster or is yours? Here are some things to keep in mind about fly reels, This depends on your specific fishing needs. Keep in mind that baitcasters may have high ratios from 8:1 10.1:1, while spinning reels max out at 7.1:1. Whether youre fly fishing, slinging a baitcaster or casting a spin reel same gear ratio applies to each one. You should get a reel that matches your rod. Strange coincidence for the land of 10,000 lakes. One consideration when choosing a gear ratio is the IPT of the reel, or Inches Per Turn. It could be 10-20, 6-12, or anything similar. In this caseyes, it can be very significant if this becomes exhausting and tiresome. .23mm / 355m .25mm / 290m .30mm / 230m, Braid: 15lb / 390 yds 20lb / 320 yds 30lb / 250 yds. Youre casting is identical and youre buddy (being the nice guy he is) lets you take his exact spot and cast exactly where he was casting. Its only important if you want it to be. Finally, for flipping, pitching and other heavy-cover applications, extremely fast reels are very helpful in horsing bass out of the brush. Smallies head to deeper, warmer water during the winter months. A low gear ratio would fall between 4:1 and 5.4:1 in most cases. Youre both working the same exact lure with the same exact rod and line. When the bait is working for a short stretch before making another presentation, its important to catch a fish quickly if it heads towards the boat, making a faster reel more important. You did yourself a solid by learning about gear ratios. Having said that, a spinning reel has some pretty cool advantages . In the early days of tournament fishing, 7:1 reels were not sturdy enough to stand up to long-term serious fishing, but today they are. Hammers are what you need to drive nails, but they don't do much if you're trying to loosen a screw.
Well, generally speaking, high gear ratios are preferred by anglers who need to present their baits in quick or intricate ways. A 6.2:1 ratio reel with a 1.5-inch-diameter spool will recover less than 11 inches of line per handle turn. Many anglers use this measurement as a more accurate way to determine reel speed. Even if you own all the best quality equipment, it is important to understand how all of it works in order to use it properly. These types of lures require particular techniques that may necessitate the higher speed of a high gear ratio reel.