7:1 gear ratios

For which techniques do you like a high speed 7:1 gear ratio on a casting reel?

4 me, that is 2 fast

But I would B using one with this ratio 4 spinner baits

hope I’m not steering U wrong

would like to see what others think also

I have a couple that I use for river bass, but I want to hear how others use them (if they use them). I check back after work today and explain how I use mine. I’m pretty unprofessional, so that’s why I’d like to hear from the river gods.

Use them for everything.

I have several 7:1 reels. they are a must to me for top water and slop. for the top water you are able to move your bait much faster and trigger a lot more reaction bites. Most of the time when fish feed on top water the are very active and have no problem catching fast moving baits. If you feel you are moving your bait too fast just reel slower or don’t put as much line on the reel. For slop fishing a 7:1 is very useful because when you get that fish hooked up you are able to pick up a lot of line fast and keep that fish on top of the slop, reducing the chances of the fish diving down and coming unbuttoned in the grass or pads.

I’m sure someone will correct me if they disagree with me but I feel it’s much more important to look at inches per crank as opposed to ratios.

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I’m sure someone will correct me if they disagree with me but I feel it’s much more important to look at inches per crank as opposed to ratios.

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That is the ultimate thing to look for, early Quantum burners were about the same as Shimano 6:1s but I would say that now most 7:1s have right around 30-31″/turn.

I use them for everything short of cranks and spinnerbaits. Love them…

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I’m sure someone will correct me if they disagree with me but I feel it’s much more important to look at inches per crank as opposed to ratios.

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Absolutely! A 7:1 reel with a smaller dia spool will actually take in less line per turn of the handle than a 6:3…inspite of a higher gear ratio. That really tells which is “faster”. Although many reels have similar spool sizes.

Good point!

I have 2 7s and I only use them for some deeper pesentations,I don’t like the feel of the fight as I can’t just tourqe a fish in when I want, once they get to the surface they do slide quicker.I’ll stick w the 6.4 to 1’s
stan

I use mine mainly when i’m fishing the weeds/slop, texas rigging. Last year, I used my 7:1 alot for crankbaits/spinnbaits but felt that I was moving the bait too fast most of the time. This year, i’m looking to get a lower ratio baitcaster to slow things down. I know I could reel slower, but after awhile I find myself reeling faster and not realizing it. They are great when you want to burn a spinnerbait though.

I use my 7:1’s for two basic presentations. I fish surface baits on a lot of riprap just off deep main channel current and the smallies often are so tight to shore that there is about a 1-2 foot strike zone then I burn the bait back to the boat and recast before I drift too far. That speed helps get in more casts per drift, and it often gets me out of trouble when things are going sour. Use another 7:1 for jigs and T-rigs in the same situation. Neither are involving high resistance lures, so retrieve torque isn’t an issue.

Good point on the inches per crank. My Core Mg7 pulls in 28″ per turn, and my Revo Premier gets 31″ per crank. If I fished lakes I wouldn’t put a premium on retrieve speed, but in serious current on the Mississippi River I like that speed.

I stay with a slower 6.4:1 for spinnerbaits and 5.8:1 or 5:1 on crankbaits.

Thanks for the replies. I’m just dreaming about those summer smallies.

When I first used a 7:1 gear ratio, I was told that I would lose torque and it will be too fast. After my first time on the water with it, none of that was even relevent. It was just fine. Being a spinning reel guy, my spinning reels are far faster in line retrieval per crank. That’s a good thing especially for a subsequent cast. Of which I have a crazy technique when the bite becomes nonexistent.

I like to make multiple quick short casts to a certain spot to make it looke like there’s a few more baitfish around with the activity. Now fast lure retrieval is the key there. Then I will deliver one cast and pause the lure there until the ripples subsides, just to twitch the lure to mimic an injured baitfish. And that’s what I will see the faster gear and line retrieval speed for.

Yeah, the 7.1-1 gear ratio is great for flippin. Get your bait right where you want it. If no takers reel it in quick and move on. Or miss a strike and reel it in quick and get it right back in there. They don’t work good for big musky baits like the double cowgirl. Musky fisherman have had to get gear reductions in their reels to handle those baits. I’ve got one 7.1-1 four 6.2-1 and one 5.3-1 for crankin.