Understanding gear ratios

[BottomBouncer]

Now I know that a 3.8:1 is supposed to have more power than a 6.3:1 but I don't really understand why?

First let me make sure I under stand something. A 5:1 mean five revolutions of the spool for one handle turn, right?

In that case a 6.3:1 would gain line faster than a 3.8:1. Wouldn't that make it have more power since it is gaining line faster?

If I want to pull a fish away from cover faster I would want a 6.3:1? How is a 3.8:1 stronger?

[flathunter]

I believe the lower ratio is stronger because the teeth in the gears are bigger and will stand more torque than the smaller teeth in the higher ratio gears....They are not faster however as you know

[mrfish/OH]

The lower ratio is stronger. You're right about what it means A 5:1 mean five revolutions of the spool for one handle turn, right
Lower ratio has more power just like 1st gear in your vehicle. You wouldn't want to start in 2nd or 3rd gear, they are faster, but not more powerful like 1st gear is. Most of your big spool reels have lower ratios because you are still pulling in lots of inches of line as opposed to a smaller reel where the spool has a small circumference.
Does that clear it up ?

[flathunter]

I think a 5 to 1 is about perfect for most applications.

[Flatheadmaniac]

the lower gears are for pure stump pulling power..the higher the ratios are used for working lures faster and taking up a lot of line faster..like in a 100 yrd cast.
I prefer the 6:3.1 for long distance fishing, so it doesnt take 15mins to reel in your line to recast...but Jack is right..somewhere in the 5 to 1 ratio is a good med. range for all around fishing.
Thats the reason you see 2-speed reels that shirft automaticly..when there less resistance..it will shift to high gear to take up line fast..when your fighting a big fish..it will shift down to low gear for power...like Jim said its just like a Standard trans..more pulling power in 1st that say 3rd!

Also Jim was correct in the bigger the spool the faster the retrieve..they help adjust this by combining a big spooled reel with a lower gear..also a small spool reel with a high gear ratio...i think my UK baitrunner with its monster sized spool picks up around 30+inches per turn...also bu increasing youur reel handle legnth will increase your ration a lot to..same as a shorter handle will lower the ratio too(incase you saw those handles on Hatteras Outfitters that they sell?)

[Ðe§perado™]

Well put FM.;)

[BottomBouncer]

I understand all that.....okay, now you're fishing straight down over cover in deep water. You get a big fish on that wants to drag you into that cover. NOW.....if I have a 6.3:1 I can gain line a lot faster and pull that fish away quicker than if I had a 3.8:1. Wouldn't that make it more powerful? If I can pull that fish in faster......3.8:1 would give that fish more time to dig into the cover.

[jeffmo]

i don't know if it would be any more powerful but it is faster.

[silverbullet]

If you were just retrieving line,yes it would be faster,but with added weight and pull of a fish,not so.I think you would work harder per revolution to retrieve the fish with the steeper gear.

[BottomBouncer]

Now that makes a little more sense....

[mrfish/OH]

I know some reels "feel" good. I found that my IR330 reels feel much different under use than my 7000C3 reels. They are about the same, and another thing that will affect the feel is how much is spooled on & line diameter. Overspooling a reel makes it react different. I had too much line on the IR at first- but the river has a way of taking care of that extra line pretty quickly.:(
The speed the lure/bait is actually retrieved makes a world of difference on water resistance & that ratio comes into play then. Suddenly it's like pulling a steep hill in 5th gear ! Now if you're throwing a topwater bait, you want that option to pull fast. What you're fishing for ( size of fish) & the types of baits( 1 oz lures vs 5 oz sinkers & 8" skipjacks) will help determine what's best for your situation.

[BottomBouncer]

Thanks for using the steep hill/5th gear example.......for those of us that can't seem to understand it any other way:p

What speed is the reel you use to fish for wipes and stripes?

[mrfish/OH]

By Ahab, the mega Drag series, #16 & #20 with 14# spiderwire fusion line. They have a 4.6:1 ratio They are quite fast. Alot of the striper guys are using a new long cast oversize spool reel from Diawa, but they just don't have the right "feel " for me. I've let a few of them cast my Ahabs & they always remark how smooth they are. I can retrieve just as fast as they do, ever thought they have a faster ratio. What happens is the water resistance plays into it. My gearing PULLS . The Ahabs are also heavy- just under 2# so I use a fighting belt to support the weight.
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