Who uses what?

When I first started throwing swimbaits i used a crappy 6:1 low pro reel. Now I use a crappy 5:1 reel.:D Anyways...I think I like the 6:1 better. You can go just as slow with it and burn the big mamas in way quicker.

Just wondering what other people are using...and why.

With swimbait reels I dont buy one based on the ratio, I buy one based on durability and functionality. If the reel I want has different ratio options, I would always go for the higher ratio (ever had a bite where you couldnt catch up to the fish to get a good hookset, or when you set you feel like during the whole fight your rod is at 1 o clock and your are constantly trying to catch up to it?) . However, we dont have that option with the standard swimbait reels such as Calcutta 400's (if we do then I havent been paying attention).

Seems you went from crappy to crappy. Go from crappy to good, and forget about the ratio! Save your money, and buy a high end reel and you will be happy.

Most of the round reels are in the 5.x:1 range. I prefer those reels for the gearing, and put less emphasis on the retrieve ratio.

It's also worth noting that the bigger your spool is, the faster you pick up the line. A CTE 400 picks up 25" of line per turn of the handle with a 5.0:1 ratio. A curado with the 5.0:1 ratio only picks up 21" of line per turn. That's something to think on for a while.

The other issue in reels is feel. These new "total efficiency" and 7:1 ratio reels have a different feel than any reels available up until about 3-4 years ago. I don't know if it's some kind of reduction gearing, or better tolerances, but the new reels do not have the same feel as the old reels.

I think this is a case where technical progress overruns the practical aspects of fishing. If you've read my Curado 200DHSV review you know that I loved the reel from a technical standpoint, but was frustrated by the lack of feel. You get "feel" through your reel whether you realize it or not. I did not realize it until I picked up that 7:1 retrieve reel. It drove me insane with jigs and senkos.

With swimbaits, feel is much less of an issue. The TE does not have great feel, but I know when I'm bit on a swimbait so I don't worry about it. With that in mind, I want to use the fastest reel I can get. If they made a 7:1 CTE, I'd fish it. Making the adjustment to reel slower is not hard because you should rely on your rod to tell you about the action of your lure, not the reel.

If this all sounds mental, just fish swimbaits for like 10 more years and you'll start to tune in to all the nuances. I still become aware of new subtleties in fishing all the time. Being in tune with your tackle is huge.

cool....thanks for your response guys. I knew I would get some solid answers here. I got 8 more weeks till school is done, so maybe then I'll be able to move to a "good" reel.

For some reason, I've heard people say use a 5:1 with swimbaits so you can horse them in. That has always made me wonder. I can horse in a fish with a 6:1 much faster, so why not use that. I actually lost the first three swimbait I hooked on my cardiff 5:1. If I could of afforded it that reel woulda went strait to the drink after the third lost fish.:D Steve one of those was due to exactly what you were talking about, not picking up line fast enough. Especially with hudds, you have to keep as much pressure as possible and ski that mama in or your going to lose that fish for sure.

Looks like I'll be making the change back to 6:1 as soon as I can afford it.

Is there any instances where a 5:1 would be better then a 6:1?

thanks gents!

>
>Is there any instances where a 5:1 would be better then a
>6:1?
>

Yep... when you set the hook into a fish that pulls so hard that you literally can't turn the handle because the gears are too high, that's when you're going to wish you were holding a 5:1.}(

trust me... it happens. (and it happens with 5:1's too. x(

>>
>>Is there any instances where a 5:1 would be better then a
>>6:1?
>>
>
>Yep... when you set the hook into a fish that pulls so hard
>that you literally can't turn the handle because the gears are
>too high, that's when you're going to wish you were holding a
>5:1.}(
>
>trust me... it happens. (and it happens with 5:1's too. x(

Matt,
I had this happen to me twice this year....man the stories that I came up with after losing both those fish
:7 :7 :7
-NB

Sounds like you fellas got owned...hahaha. I can't wait for that to happen to me and get pulled around in my toon:D

thanks for the info.