Best gear ratio on a reel for Crappie fishing

[sooners08]

Does gear ratio matter? It is a preference or do you need a faster one? I have fished slow and fast ones! Just am wondering! Thanks.

[Gobob]

If you are jigging ,trolling, pushing cranks , pulling cranks no it doesn't matter. If you are casting cranks you may want one that reels in more per turn. Same as bass fishing with cranks Hope that helps you

[Cray]

5.1 should cover about anything you are going to do Crappie fishing. Good all around ratio.

[sooners08]

If you are jigging ,trolling, pushing cranks , pulling cranks no it doesn't matter. If you are casting cranks you may want one that reels in more per turn. Same as bass fishing with cranks Hope that helps you

Thanks I am looking at new reel for cheap and it's gear ratio is 4:1:1, I guess since I cast jigs a lot from the bank I will stay away from it!

[sooners08]

5.1 should cover about anything you are going to do Crappie fishing. Good all around ratio.

Thanks, will research that gear ratio!

[doggone]

check out a Shimano Sienna,comes in front and rear drag and has a couple features to increase casting distance.

[floatntiny]

5.1

[CrappiePappy]

4:1 or 5:1 gear ratio isn't that big a deal on small spool UL reels. The ratio's are 4 or 5 line wraps around the spool for every 1 turn of the handle ... so how many more inches of line retrieved per handle turn is dependent on the size of the spool. (circumference of the spool fully filled with line) And, YES ... it will speed up the retrieved amount of line, the closer you get the bait back to the rod tip.

SO, if my 4:1 gear ratio reel wraps 6" of line x4 per handle turn ... that's 24" per turn. A 5:1 gear ratio reel of the same size spool would retrieve 30" per turn. A 6:1 = 36"/handle turn ... a 7:1 = 42"/handle turn.

But, the speed of the bait being retrieved can also be controlled by slowing down or speeding up how fast the handle is turned ... regardless of the ratio. And in some cases, like a 4:1 ratio on a large spool reel vs a 5:1 ratio on a smaller spool reel, the lower ratio reel can actually retrieve faster (more inches of line per handle turn).

So, IMHO ... I wouldn't necessarily discount a 4:1 gear ratio reel as being less effective than a 5:1 reel ... without comparing circumference measurements of the fully filled spools. Or, if you are fortunate enough to find a specs chart showing how many inches of line are retrieved per handle turn, you can use that info to compare between two reels of interest.

... cp

[fair weather]

Its my personality to hurry. I have to really discipline myself to reel in slow enough. Like "hurry up and catch one so I can catch another." Or hurry and get the grub back so you can cast again. After several years fishing , I've decided you can't reel in too slow, but you can sure retrieve too fast. So due to me being a Type A personality I buy the 4:1 or 5:2. Just something to consider, another angle.

[Fatman]

My Shimano's are 5.1 or better.

My new one Shimano Syncopate 1000FG is a
Model SC1000FG
Bearings 4
Gear Ratio 5.2/1
Weight(oz.) 7.6
Mono Capacity (lbs./yds.) 2/270
4/140
6/110
Line Retrieve Per Crank (in.) 25 inchs
Max Drag (lbs.) 7