I am thinking about getting a new reel for throwing crankbaits. I hear different stories on gear ratios and how fast for retrieve. 5:4-1, or 6:3-1? It seems I have had better luck this year on slower retrieves, so maybe I should get a slower retrieving reel? I was looking at the Daiwa Tierra, but it only comes in 6:3-1. Any reccomendations? Not looking to spend 200+ dollars. Also, do you use the same gear for lipless cranks? Thanks in advance.

For small/shallow running baits and lipless baits a high speed reel works fine. But, if you are going to throw the big, deep cranks like a DD-22 a lower gear ratio makes it MUCH easier. I use a BPS David Fritts cranking reel and love it. 4.7:1 GR and makes throwing that DD-22 not much harder than a Bandit 200. Only about $80, too.

I secod the David Fritts real... They also make it in 5.0:1 ratio.

I read an article where KVD prefers to throw lipless cranks on a 5.1:1 ratio reel, so dont think you can only throw big cranks with it.

ttt

i use a Johhny Morris 5.4:1(or close to that). its silver and I think its under $200. love it for the power needed to crank a DD22 for several hours.....

the fritts model would be a cheaper alternative and BPS has a good policy on returning thier own stuff, should anything happen to the internal workings.

Old Ambassadeurs are kind of heavy but strong. I use old 5500C's at 4.7:1 and a 5000 at 3.8:1. DD22's aren't bad on the 5000 at all.

bump

Something to remember gear ratio is how much line is taken up on the spool per 1 turn.
Speed is how fast you turn the handle.

Can't you just get another set of gears with a slower speed and change them out when you needed? I've got 5.1 and 7.0 ratio gears for a couple of my Curado's.