Perfect Gear Ratio for Fishing Reels
Fishing is more than just casting and waiting for a fish to take a bite. It’s about using technology and thinking about things like gear ratio for a successful catch.
Important
Gear ratio is one of the basic things to consider when buying a fishing reel, as it impacts your ability to retrieve, control, and catch fish successfully.
Undoubtedly, buying a fishing reel can be really frustrating for many anglers, especially novices, as there is a wide range of options available. I will explain in detail what gear ratio means and its significance in fishing, and also explore which gear ratio is suitable for which fish species.
Understanding Gear Ratio
Gear ratio refers to the speed at which the line is retrieved. In other words, it represents how many times the bail goes around your spool (Best spinning reel) or the number of times the spool turns in a conventional or baitcasting reel for every full turn of the handle.
Simply put, gear ratio in fishing is like a way to calculate how fast your fishing reel can bring in your fishing line.
How is Gear Ratio Determined?
In every fishing reel, there are two essential components, known as drive gear and pinion gear. These two components work together in coordination, allowing you to bring in your fishing line and catch your fish. So, the question is, how do you calculate the gear ratio?
Important
The gear ratio is measured by the number of teeth on the drive gear divided by the number of teeth on the pinion gear, which shows how fast or slow a line is retrieved.
For example, consider a reel with a gear ratio of 6.4:1; this indicates that for every complete turn of the handle, the spool rotates 6.4 times. Moreover, a reel with a 5.1:1 ratio retrieves the line more slowly because its spool turns 5.1 times for every handle rotation. On the other hand, a reel with a 7.1:1 gear ratio will be much faster since its spool makes 7.1 rotations with each turn of the handle. Therefore, the difference in gear ratios will influence the speed of line retrieval.
Low Gear Ratio
The gear ratio of a reel has different levels, known as low, medium, and high. Each level represents the different speeds of line retrieval in fishing reels. A low gear ratio means slow line retrieval and is often around 5.1:1 or lower.
Fishing reels with low gear ratio are ideal for techniques that require steady and controlled retrieve, such as deep-sea fishing or when handling larger fish.
Furthermore, these reels provide an excellent amount of torque, which makes it much easier to reel in the bait and allows us to focus more on locating the target.
Low gear ratios are excellent in effectively retrieving large and heavy baits, including spinnerbaits and swimbaits, at a slow pace. Additionally, it also helps maintain these baits in the best strike zone for an extended period, which is especially valuable when you are using lures that move slowly, making them more tempting to fish in deep water.
Medium Gear Ratio
Medium level offers a balanced speed for multiple fishing techniques and ranges from 5.2:1 to 6.9:1. These fishing reels are very popular for bass anglers. If you want to provoke an immediate reaction from the fish, you can opt for a 6.4:1 gear ratio, which allows the bait to move quickly, attracting the most aggressive fish to bite the bait swiftly.
Whereas for crankbaits swimming at depths between 8 and 14 feet, using the 6.1:1 gear reel is the best option. Medium gear ratio reels are best for fishing with specific types of lures, including square bill crankbait, medium depth crankbaits, shallow spinnerbaits, and shallow castable umbrella rigs.
High Gear Ratio
Pro Tip
Lower gear ratios provide greater torque and power, whereas a high gear ratio is linked to high speed.
A high gear ratio reel is an excellent choice if you are fishing any bass fishing lure that needs a lot of rod work. Bass anglers opt for high gear ratios for different techniques, such as flipping, pitching, and crankbaits.
A high gear ratio is also advantageous when handling a big bass. This is because you need maximum speed to swiftly steer the fish away from objects in the water that can potentially damage the fishing line.
Concluding Statement
In conclusion, the gear ratio in a fishing reel determines how fast your reel can bring in a fishing line. Selecting the perfect bass fishing gear ratio can be troublesome, but once you understand what the gear ratio number signifies, it becomes easier to make an informed decision.
A standard gear ratio for reels ranges from 5.2:1 to 6.2:1. Gear ratios in fishing reels that fall below 5.2:1 classify as slow, whereas those exceeding 6.2:1 categorize as fast.
