I'm actually looking for a better understanding of how gear ratio mixed with spool size equates to physically effortless deep cranking. I have the Revo winch 5.4:1. Love the ease of use but not thrilled with the reel overall. I'd like to find a better reel for better casting distance (throwing a Dobyns CHXP 805cb) but still maintain the effortless cranking or stay close to that which the 5.4 provides. Is that a 6.1, a 6.2, a 6.4, normal spool, deep spool? What's the magic combo here that gives me what I'm looking for because I don't really see another reel besides the winch that's a 5.4.

13Fishing Concept 5.3:1 only 21 IPT

Lews Super Duty 5.4-1
Daiwa Tatula CT 5.5-1
Lews Super Duty wide spool 5.1-1

Its like riding a 10 speed bike. Lets say you are in 3rd gear. You are pedaling fairly quick but not moving very fast, but it is very easy to pedal.....5-1 gear ratio reel, turning the handle fairly fast but not bringing in a bunch of line quickly but the handle is easy to turn. Now shift into 10th gear, it is harder to pedal but you are moving fast.....8-1 gear ratio reel....harder to reel with a deep diving bait but you will be cranking the bait in a whole lot quicker.

I prefer the old 5.1:1 gear ratio. Luckily, I bought 15 Curado B 5.1::1 reels back in the late 90s and early 2000s. I still have 1 NEW IN BOX to fish with. I prefer a 5.1 kor 5.2 or 5.2 reel to the 5.4 years. I LOVE the power they have on them for fighting big fish with deep diving CBs. I even fish some shallow diving billed CBs on them. They are not used to seeing a slower retrieve in shallow water, so it gives me a hand up on catching fish. The above mentioned Lews Super Duty wide spool in 5.1:1 is a GREAT reel and will serve you for a long time w/o wearing you out. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

I deep crank a lot. I use a 6.4:1 Lew's Tournament Pro (the older ones) and they come with a short carbon fiber handle. I upgraded to Boca bearings and to a slightly longer handle. The reel handle or reel speed helps a little, but the biggest improvements come from my mechanics. I point my rod tip at the crankbait most of the time.

I deep crank 8xds and 10xds with an 8' rod. That rod can cast a bait far but once it's out there, I choke up on the rod and tuck it deep against my ribs to get the reel close to my body. I use my elbow against my body to lock the rod in and I relax the hand I use to cradle the reel seat. If I tire anything out, it is the hand I cradle the reel with because I'm gripping too tight.

Effortless cranking has more to do with body mechanics than the spool size/gear ratio. Any reel that can cast far is a good option. Sometimes speed triggers the bite and the 6.4:1 feels more efficient to me. Just my opinion on this.

Great advice right here.

Try “super tuning” your Winch. Boy, that statement leaves the door wide open, huh? But seriously, consider upgrading the bearings on the Revo Winch you already have.

I thought the winch was nearly the industry standard for deep cranking? I’ve only thrown a winch a few times but I was very pleased with distance. Are they like the SX and only have they magnetic control or do they offer both brakes like the STX?

What line and how heavy of a crank bait? That 805 is very often recommended for the DD22 so many are happy throwing 5/8oz on it but not sure about going smaller?

I throw 5xd and 6xd on the 805 with the Winch.

How many of the brake arms do you have out?

The winch is a good reel but it is not the industry standard for deep cranking by far. The winch gets a lot of hype by most that haven't compared it to other good cranking reels out on the market.

Ok I get the easy versus harder to reel in but is there any difference in depth a different gear ratio will achieve?

For simple math let’s say I cast a crank 64 feet and an 8:1 reel brings it back in 8 turns and a 6.4:1 reel brings it back in 10 turns. Also, I reel it in at the same speed.

Which one will get deeper? Sooner? And stay down longer?

Yes, there is. The lower speed reel gets deeper, because it is in the water column longer. I have fished 5.1:1reels for along time and won't trade them for faster reels. SURE, sometimes a faster reel will get more bites, but when I am fishing deeper, I trying for HAWG

I'd like to start by saying there is no such thing as "effortless" when you are throwing a 6XD or larger crankbait. Throwing a big plug all day is going to wear on you no matter the gear ratio on your reel. I've got two generation1 Quantum Smoke 150 reels that are 6.6:1 paired with Falcon Cara Deep Cranker and Cara Composite Cranker rods. I've been throwing those combos since 2013 and the reels are still holding up. Their casting distance is still really good and the drag is still smooth. They have an aluminum main gear which makes them lighter but louder..... They are no longer quiet when I'm reeling which could be bothersome to some folks. Quantum still makes that reel but now its called the Quantum Smoke HD 200. Its the same body as the old 150's but with a deeper size 200 spool. They retail for 200$ but you can steal them on ebay. They come in a 5.3:1 ratio if that is your preference. When mine finally quit on me I'll get a couple of those as replacements.

The best deep crankbait reel I have ever had is a Shimano Tranx 300A in 5.8:1. I is a bigger reel. It hold a lot of line. It will cast a mile. It comes standard with a big handle and can crank a 10XD like most reels crank a 6XD. I use it for A-rigs and big crankbaits. Works great.