This is the information you need before you buy!
Understanding gear ratios in fishing reels will increase your efficiency and accuracy on the water while decreasing your stress level when faced with a big purchasing decision.
The gear ratio tells you how many times the spool turns in one revolution of the handle. The number before the colon denotes the rotations the spool makes per one complete turn. For instance, a 6.4:1 ratio means every time you turn the handle, the spool inside turns exactly 6.4 times. The larger the first number, the more line retrieved on each crank.
The faster the handle is turned, the faster the spool rotates. A reel with a gear ratio of 5.1:1 is going to be a much slower reel than one with a 7.1:1 gear ratio—the spool of a 5.1:1 reel will spin 5.1 times with each handle turn, while the 7.1:1 spool will turn 7.1 times with each handle turn.
Baitcast vs. Spinning Reels
Baitcast reels offer a wider range of gear ratios than spinning models. Most spinning reels feature a gear ratio of 5.2:1 to 6.2:1. Bait casting reels are for the more experienced anglers who want better control and accuracy. Gear ratios on most brands of baitcasting reels range from 5.0:1 to 9.1:1.
Types of Gear Ratio
Low gear ratio reels | 5.1:1 thru 5.4:1
The low gear ratios like 5.2:1 and 5.3:1 are great for fishing baits that pull hard like deep crankbaits, big swimbaits, and deep water spinnerbaits. The low gear ratio helps you reel the bait slower, keeping it in the strike zone longer when fishing moving baits in the deep water. These reels have the highest amount of torque, allowing you to put less effort into retrieving the bait and more energy towards finding the fish.
Medium gear ratio reels | 6.0:1 thru 6.4:1
Mid-range gear ratio is great for multiple techniques and presentations. They are an all-around good choice. You can use any fishing technique with a variety of bait like squarebill crankbaits, medium depth crankbaits, shallow spinnerbaits, and shallow castable umbrella rig while maintaining excellent performance.
High gear ratio reels | 7.1:1 thru 8.1:1
High gear ratios are best for techniques where taking up slack and bringing a bait back to the boat are critical. Topwaters, jerkbaits, jigs, plastics and even lipless crankbaits warrant the use of a high-speed reel. These techniques create a lot of slack in your line, and if you get a bite 25 yards out from the boat, a high gear ratio comes in handy for getting a solid hookset.
Baitcast Reels within a Budget
The Daiwa Tatula is an innovative baitcasting reel offering a new “T-Wing” casting system. The T-Wing concept is a special designed line guide to reduce friction and obstruction on the cast, while maintaining a uniform level line winding onto the spool on the retrieve. There is less restriction on the line, allowing you to cast farther and smoother.
The Tatula reels comes equipped with a carbon drag stack, Magforce-X casting brakes, 8 bearings, and in several gear ratios, all at an affordable price.
Redefining the industry standard of performance, the Shimano SLX 150 DC Casting Reel takes the proven SLX series to new heights with the implementation of Shimano’s cutting-edge Digital Control (DC) braking system. Marking the first time that Digital Control has been offered at this price point, the Shimano SLX 150 DC Casting Reel features four external braking options that optimize performance based on line type and conditions. Catering to anglers of all levels, the Shimano SLX 150 DC Casting Reel helps elevate the performance of experienced anglers, and drastically reduces the learning curve for those who are getting used to a casting reel.