Wut does the gear ratio on a fishing reel mean and how does it affect the reel performance?

Answer 1

Gear ratio has to do with what you are fishing for and types of lures you want to use.
Big heavy fighting fish you would like a tough lower speed reel to lug in big heavy fish.A high speed reel can handle bigger fish but is made more for fishing a type of lure mainly!When fishing certain crankbaits or buzz baits you would like to be able to bring the bait to the surface fast or crank the lure to the needed depth fast and it then allows you to keep the lure in the depth range the lure was made to run at.

Answer 2

If I tossing artificial lures, I want a reel that has a high gear ratio, over five spool turns for every turn of the reel handle. This way I could contol the lure better. If I'm bottom fishing with lead, the gear ratio only matters if I want to reel in my line fast, only important if I'm fishing deep water.

Answer 3

It has to do with how many times the bail spins on one complete revolution of the reel handle.
I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the technical aspect of reel specifications. Any reel will catch a fish, I don't care what ratio it has. You do want a decent reel though from a reputable brand. Stainless steel ball bearings are more important than ratio.

Answer 4

the gear ratio does not matter- you should be looking at the line retrieval rating instead.
people with baitcasters are buying reels with 8.1:1 high gear ratio but spinning reels with 5.2:1 or 6.2:1 gear ratios pick up more line per 1 handle turn. I would rather have a reel with 5.2:1 gear ratio that retrieves 30 inches of line per turn compared to a reel with 7.2:1 gear ratio that retrieves only 24 inches of line.

Answer 5

Think of it has horsepower and torque on a car. The higher the gear ratio, i.e. 6.7:1, the higher the horsepower. The lower the gear ratio, i.e 3.2:1, the more torque. You need torque when your bringing in big fish. If i buy a reel thats not going to be for big fish, i prefer a higher ratio. if its for larger fish, lower ration. trying to catch a yellowfin on a reel with a high ratio is like trying to overtake a semitrailer in 6th gear.

Answer 6

Gear ratios control how fast (speed) a certain type of fishing reel retrieves lines, once the lines and lure's/ baits are cast out. Different Reels have different Gear Ratio's that control the speed as you retrieve the fishing line. In addition, Gear ratio controls how much line is retrieved with each full turn of the Reel's handle......The higher the Reel gear ratio..the faster and more fishing line is retrived with each full turn of the handle.....

Answer 7

If you are on the water all day casting to structure you would want to go with a higher gear ratio....it will get the lure back to you faster..........and you can cover more water....
if you are fishing for northern pike you would want a higher gear ratio to keep the lure moving fast..... a slower lure will mean more pike following the lure, a faster lure does not give them time to follow so they will strike before it gets away...