Years ago, I purchased a 7:1 gear ratio bait casting reel and was totally disappointed. It had very little cranking power - even reeling a spinnerbait caused the reel to labor.

Now many reels are being made and sold with gear ratios in the 7:1 to 8:1 gear ratios. Do these newer bait casting reels have the ability to easily reel in spinner baits, smaller crankbaits, rattle traps, etc.(don't require hard reeling, seemingly straining on retrieve,)or are they more geared to pitching and flipping?

I have a Revo Rocket (8-1) and with the exception of big/deep cranks it seems no different than all the 7-1 or even 6/4-1 reels I have and I love it for lures I retrieve fast or even "burn" like buzzbaits, rattletraps... Just makes it easier to retrieve the lure fast when fishing them for long periods. Not necessary but nice.

You missed one..Daiwa 9.1 zillion with TWS. Yes, they are better than the rest. Engineered to outcast and out retrieve the competition and built solid. Not just for flipping/pitchin but for everyday burning back!

Zillion TWS

I use 7:1 and higher for my lipless cbs and squarebills. No laboring with the Lews.
I burn them fast too. It may be the rod more than the reel.
You need to pair the reel up with a 7' MH moderate tip for these, less fatigue and it holds fish better.
For bigger cbs I use a 6.4:1 or a 5:1.
Spinner baits I use a 7:1.
Plastics I use 7:1 or higher.

I now own two of the Quantum smoke speed freaks 8.1 reels and love be them. Smooth, fast and an excellent drag system.

I recently read that Aaron Martens has 25 baitcasters in his boat and 24 of them are 8.5:1 Metaniums.

Higher speed equals less torque that's why ur having issues and they do have plenty of power all the pro flip and pitch with fastest reels they can get

I have a Revo S reel that I have had for 5 or 6 years in 7:1. It is my trap rod, on a 7'3" MH rod with a fast tip. No fatigue here, but it IS fun to catch 5 and 6 lbers on it. There is a little bit less torque on those bigger fish, but WHO CARES????????????? Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

I have a few 7.9:1 reels. They have 100mm handles to offset the eaxtra effort it normally requires. The trade-off, I guess, is a larger circumference with regards to the motion of your hand. Lol. I dunno. I don't notice any increased effort required. In fact, I find my slow cranking reels to be a pain in the [censored]. Feels like my wrist get tired cranking it 200 times per cast. Haha.

i have 3 CURADO 200 DHSV WITH BEARING UPGRADES 7-1 reels and love them !!!!

Actually the Rocket is 9.0:1 gear ratio. There is a model of the STX that is 8.0:1. I have both and won't have anything lower except for a couple for cranking deep divers.

Here is a link to the Aaron Martens Video.
High Speed Gear Ratios for Everything Bass
I have a couple of the high speed Metaniums and they are my favorites to use. I use them for most applications with the exceptions of deep cranking. I can cast a large rattle trap close to the bottom of the spool.

I love my Revo STX 8.0:1.