i got a couple 7.1 reels for christmas but im really not sure if they will make that big of a difference over a 6.4:1 reel. just wondering if i should return them and stock up on baits.

your thoughts?

Depends on the IPT rating of the reel. Inches Per Turn.

ahhhh I figured they would all be relative but after googling it seems ipt varies from reel to reel even in the same ratio

LOTS of variation actually.

Yes, it can make a difference. It all goes back to what Mark said, Inches Per Reel Handle Turn (this is assuming the reel is full, all measurements IPT). MOST 6.4:1 reels go from 24-28" per reel handle turn. MOST 7.0:1 reels go about 28" to 35" per reel handle turn (again, when the spool is full). SO, look at the inches per reel handle turn on your new reels and your old reels to tell the difference. Becase there is quite a difference of 24-35". What I do with my 7.0 reels is throw traps on them, to take up slack after ripping it loose. Good also for picking up line quickly after a bump on a jig/t-c-rig. Great presentation for anything that you need to take up slack quickly on. Hope this helps.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

It's not enough difference to justify having them based soley on the printed specs. You can easily accommodate the differences in the ratios by cranking a little faster or slower.

Now, I say that, and I have a 6.3, 7.1, and a 7.9. Haha. But they are kinda used in a technique specific way for me. I use the 6.3 on swims, traps, and cranks. I use the 7.1 for jigs only. My 7.1 is a lefty on my "finesse jig" Falcon. The 7.9 is used on my 7ft4" rod to rock t-rigs, top waters, and frogs. It's what I like to really get the slack up before a hook set.

So, if you can have the luxury of multiple reel, then keep them. If you can't, just reel faster or slower.

Tie a ribbit on both speeds. It will become very clear.

Nobody ever mentions it, but depending on the brand of the reel, you can just add a longer handle to a 7:1 reel and it will feel more like a 6.4:1. I never under stood why companies jack up the gear ratios and then compensate for the loss of torque by adding longer "power" handles. It just puts you right back to where you were. It's all advertising. Don't ever think about "inches per turn", but "think about it as inches per second." Long handle with high gears equals short handle with lower gears. Also, the lower geared reel will have a larger pinion gear which makes the gear mesh much smoother.

Leverage doesn't change inches per turn or reel ratio, just gaining more leverage woth a longer lever. They probably do it because you can reel much faster without spinning the handle frantically.

360* = 360* of rotation period... Not following your logic here... There is a serious mechanical difference in what a lower gear reel does vs a higher gear, regardless of handle length.

Handle length increases torque. It doesn't change the ratio. Lol.

You'd be surprised how much difference having your spool full versus half full makes.

Fish with both and keep what you like.

Yeah I think he's misunderstanding what the reel feels like vs what it does to the lure in the water i.e. easier/harder to turn handle to move baits.

There is a huge difference between reeling in 24" of line for one full rotation of the handle vs reeling in 36" of line for a rotation of the handle. For example, reeling a 24 inch per turn reel as FAST as you can possibly work the handle... you'd still be able to retrieve the bait 50% more quickly with a 36IPT reel.


Perhaps an added difference most don't mention... lower gear ratio reels tend to feel lighter and smoother when reeling to me personally, but higher gear ratio reels feel more sensitive/connected to the bait for me, and let me load up on the rod more quickly. It's also hard to have a varied/erratic retrieve with a 5.4:1 low speed gear ratio that moves low 20's IPT vs a 36+IPT higher speed reel. You can slowly engage the first 1/4 or 1/2 turn on a high speed reel then slam the next half turn home fast and get erratic retrieves because the bait moves 8-18" at normal speed then darts quickly the next 12"-16". Also nice to be able to burn baits back to the boat when you've crossed the spot you're fishing and want to recast.

All in all, I would say if we broke reels up into slow at under 24" per turn, normal at 25"-29", fast at 30"-34", and ultra fast at 35"+, I personally do about 70-80% of my work with fast reels, and if I need a slower reel I drop down to a slow reel, for cranking/baits that push a lot of water, not a 'normal' speed reel.

thanks for all the info. it really helps and i appreciate it. these reels are just the $80 h2o xpress motive reels. no where does it say the ipt.

mulholland thats for sure interesting about the smoothness in higher gear ratios. the mettles i own are smooth but these arent near as free feeling.